April Branch Meeting
Topic: Explosion Hazards: Designing Buildings Effectively to Manage Catastrophic Risks
Chemical industries handle and produce energetic materials that can create hazardous explosions if a process upset occurs. Explosions produce pressure waves that are characterized as high-pressure, short duration loads that often exceed conventional loading requirements that buildings are designed for. Subsequently, unintentional blast loads can cause significant building damage or even collapse, resulting in occupant injuries or fatalities. This presentation discusses the impact that blast loads can have on buildings, industry standards for blast design, and a more cost-effective means of designing building retrofits or new buildings to mitigate risk to building occupants.
What attendees will learn:
- Learn about explosion hazards at chemical facilities
- See images and videos of blast damage to structures
- Recognize that industry standards exist for performing evaluations
- Appreciate the complexity with designing buildings to withstand blast loads
- Understand that blast designs can be done cost-effectively with expertise
Speaker: Mr. Thomas Mander, P.E., Senior Engineer, Protective Structures, Baker Engineering and Risk Consultants, Inc.
Location: Marriott Meadowview Convention Center (1901 Meadowview Pkwy, Kingsport, TN 37660)
Registration: This will be an in person event as part of the two-day eChemExpo event. Please attend at 10:30am for refreshments ahead of the 11am program and feel welcome to attend other programs as a part of this free two-day event. You will need to register here to attend. There is an opportunity to earn up to 11 hours of PDH credit through the conference, with the ASCE Co-sponsored seminar providing 1 PDH for attendees.