ASTM G145

This guide helps those studying oxygen system incidents to select a direct cause hypothesis and to avoid conclusions based on hypotheses, however plausible, that have proven faulty in the past.

1. Scope

1.1 This guide covers procedures and material for examining fires in oxygen systems for the purposes of identifying potential causes and preventing recurrence.

1.2 This guide is not comprehensive. The analysis of oxygen fire incidents is not a science, and definitive causes have not been established for some events.

1.3 The procedures and analyses in this guide have been found to be useful for interpreting fire events, for helping identify potential causes, and for excluding other potential causes. The inclusion or omission of any analytical strategy is not intended to suggest either applicability or inapplicability of that method in any actual incident study.

Note 1—Although this guide has been found applicable for assisting qualified technical personnel to analyze incidents, each incident is unique and must be approached as a unique event. Therefore, the selection of specific tactics and the sequence of application of those tactics must be conscious decisions of those studying the event.

Note 2—The incident may require the formation of a team to provide the necessary expertise and experience to conduct the study. The personnel analyzing an incident, or at least one member of the team, should know the process under study and the equipment installation.

1.4 Warning—During combustion, gases, vapors, aerosols, fumes, or combinations thereof, are evolved, which may be present and may be hazardous to people. Caution—Adequate precautions should be taken to protect those conducting a study.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. Referenced Documents

E1020 Practice for Reporting Incidents
E1138 Terminology of Technical Aspects of Products Liability Litigation
E1188 Practice for Collection and Preservation of Information and Physical Items by a Technical Investigator
E1459 Guide for Physical Evidence Labeling and Related Documentation
E1492 Practice for Receiving, Documenting, Storing, and Retrieving Evidence in a Forensic Science Laboratory
E620 Practice for Reporting Opinions of Technical Experts
E678 Practice for Evaluation of Technical Data
E860 Practice for Examining and Testing Items That Are or May Become Involved in Products Liability Litigation
G114 Practice for Aging Oxygen-Service Materials Prior to Flammability Testing
G124 Test Method for Determining the Combustion Behavior of Metallic Materials in Oxygen-Enriched Atmospheres
G128 Guide for Control of Hazards and Risks in OxygenEnriched Systems
G63 Guide for Evaluating Nonmetallic Materials for Oxygen Service
G88 Guide for Designing Systems for Oxygen Service
G93 Practice for Cleaning Methods for Material and Equipment Used in Oxygen-Enriched Environments
G94 Guide for Evaluating Metals for Oxygen Service
G-4.4 Industrial Practices for Gaseous Oxygen Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems
G-4.8 Safe Use of Aluminum Structured Packing for Oxygen Distillation
NFPA 53 Fire Hazards in Oxygen Enriched Atmospheres
OSHA Process Safety Management Compliance Manual

Index Terms

accident; cause; fire; incident; investigation; oxygen; Accidents; Contamination--systems (materials/applications); Fire investigation; Incidents; Investigation; Oxygen service/systems; ICS Number Code 13.220.99

Citing ASTM Standards

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