Dynamic elaboration on the Art & Science of Hazardous Area Protection
Meaning of Release:
Whenever there is a release of (say) GAS from a gas-container it is from a SOURCE. This source has actually “HELPED” the GAS to Escape or get released.
This source can be in form of an opening which is formed:-
These sources of release play a primary role in quantifying the danger or Hazard of a particular area, into ZONES by:
Establishing the sources of release
and
The Grades (levels , magnitude ) of Release
All the components involved in an industrial process handling flammable gas or gases are technically A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF RELEASE, and should be checked for possibility of release. (All are guilty unless proven innocent)
If there is no such possibility then the component is NOT a source a release and there will not be any creation of Hazardous Area DUE to THAT COMPONENT. (For example: An all welded pipeline is not a source of release )
If however a component is a source of release then we move to the next step:
Establish the magnitude or GRADE of release as:
This type of analysis is prerequisite to the CLASSIFICATION OF Hazardous Area in to ZONES by SOURCE OF RELEASE method. Ref : IEC 60079-10
Source of Release is one of the many methods of Classifications of Hazardous Areas in to ZONES.
A brief description of the SOR (Source of Release) method is as follows:-
(This brief description is given here just for the interest . The practical analysis should be left to the experts of this field.)
In our description , for the sake of clarity, the component involved is a FLAMMABLE MATERIAL CONTAINER
More on this topic :Source of Release Method: IEC 60079-10