EXTERNAL PUBLICATIONS
HSE RR1185
Fireball mathematical models and experimental data: A literature review
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SUMMARY
Major accident hazard pipelines and sites, such as refineries and chemical plant, have the potential to harm people in the vicinity in the event of an unplanned release of dangerous substances. Dutyholders must implement effective control measures to prevent unplanned releases. Land-use planning law is an important extra precaution to limit the potential risk to the public. HSE is a statutory consultee for proposed land-use developments in the vicinity as well as applications for hazardous substances consent. HSE uses a quantified risk assessment approach as part of its decision making. HSE’s advice is aimed at mitigating the effects of potential major accidents on the population in the vicinity of pipelines and sites. This advice is informed by the use of mathematical models of potential hazards. HSE has an ongoing research programme to assess the suitability of models used.
One of the potential hazards considered is a fireball that produces intense thermal radiation. A fireball occurs when there is immediate ignition of a release of flammable material in the event of a vessel or pipeline failure. This report describes a literature review of fireball mathematical models and of experimental data that can be used for model validation. The review, done in 2015, identified that: (i) Most models use correlations to derive fireball dimensions and duration. The majority have been derived for catastrophic pressure vessel failures and are not necessarily applicable to pipelines, (ii) There are integral models that could consider pipelines in more detail, (iii) There is a lack of experimental data in the literature, particularly for large scale releases. These findings are being used as part of the assessment of whether the fireball models HSE currently uses are fit-for-purpose or whether changes would be beneficial.
This Research Report and the work it describes were funded by the Health and Safety Executive. Its contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect HSE policy.
