🔥 HAZOP · What-IF · FMEA · QRA · BLEVE · Pool Fire · Jet Fire · Res. 306/2014 · Santa Fe

Industrial Risk Analysis

Qualitative hazard identification and quantitative risk assessment for industrial plants — under Resolution 306/2014 of the Santa Fe Environment Agency.

Biogroup has a first-level team of Risk Analysis specialists — one of the most specialised groups in Argentina. We evaluate all risks associated with industrial plant activity: from hazard identification (HAZOP, What-IF, FMEA) through to quantitative risk assessment (QRA) with modelling of fires, explosions, toxic releases and consequence curves — to the Contingency Plan required by Annex III of Resolution 306/14.

All Risk Analysis Studies carried out by Biogroup have been approved by the enforcement authority. A multidisciplinary team, updated process data, systematic node-by-node analysis and software packages endorsed by official international institutions.

100% approval rate
All studies approved by authority
HAZOP · QRA
Qualitative + quantitative
Res. 306/2014
Santa Fe regulatory standard
+35 years
Industrial risk expertise
✅
All Risk Analysis Studies carried out by Biogroup have been approved by the enforcement authority
Biogroup is one of the most specialised risk analysis groups in Argentina — delivering technically rigorous studies that satisfy the requirements of the Santa Fe Environment Agency (Secretaría de Medio Ambiente) and equivalent provincial authorities.
What is a Risk Analysis Study — Resolution 306/2014
The regulatory framework — Resolution Nº 306/2014, Santa Fe Environment Agency
Mandatory for industrial facilities handling hazardous substances or with significant accident potential in the Province of Santa Fe — and accepted as best practice across Argentina.

A Risk Analysis Study evaluates the various risks associated with industrial plant activity — determining, with reasonable approximation, the accidents that may occur and the magnitude of their consequences. The objective is accident prevention through systematic identification of hazards and quantification of risk to workers and the surrounding population.

Stage 1
Identification of unwanted events that can lead to the materialisation of a hazard — What can go wrong?
Stage 2
Analysis of the mechanisms by which these events take place — How likely is it? What causes it?
Stage 3
Estimation of the magnitude of unwanted effects — How bad would it be? Who and what would be affected?
Hazard identification methods — qualitative analysis
Systematic node-by-node analysis using internationally validated methods
Biogroup uses the systematic method that best describes the activity or process — selected based on previous evaluations of the plant. A multidisciplinary team analyses the entire industrial plant systematically, dividing it into nodes (plant sectors) and applying the guide-word methodology exhaustively to all process parameters and variables of importance for safe operation.
🔍 HAZOP
Hazard and Operability Study · IEC 61882 · IEC 61511

The most rigorous and internationally recognised hazard identification technique. Each process node is systematically interrogated using combinations of guide words (NO/MORE/LESS/REVERSE/OTHER THAN/AS WELL AS) applied to all process parameters (flow, temperature, pressure, level, composition).

✓ Suitable for: continuous processes, piped systems, batch operations
✓ Output: deviation tables with cause, consequence, safeguards, recommendations
✓ Required for: facilities under IEC 61511 (SIL) and Seveso-equivalent regulations
❓ What-IF Analysis
Structured brainstorming · CCPS guidelines

Structured brainstorming technique applying "What If...?" questions to each process node. Less exhaustive than HAZOP but more flexible — particularly useful for complex multi-purpose facilities and processes that don't fit standard HAZOP node definitions.

✓ Suitable for: multi-purpose plants, warehouses, utilities
✓ Output: scenario tables with probability, severity and recommendations
✓ Often combined with HAZOP for comprehensive coverage
⚙️ FMEA
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis · IEC 60812

Equipment-level failure mode analysis. For each equipment item, all potential failure modes are identified and their effects on the process and safety are evaluated. Assigns a Risk Priority Number (RPN) based on severity, probability and detectability.

✓ Suitable for: mechanical systems, safety instrumented systems, rotating equipment
✓ Output: FMEA table with RPN ranking and prioritised corrective actions
✓ Required for: SIL verification, equipment reliability programmes
Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) — frequencies, consequences and risk contours
From hazard identification to individual risk contours and risk management decisions
Software packages endorsed by official international institutions · isoconcentration / isoradiation / iso-overpressure curves · individual risk maps

The quantitative stage calculates, for each representative hazard scenario, the frequency of occurrence and the severity of consequences — expressed as the probability of death for persons inside and outside the plant. Three leak scenarios are adopted for each source: small, medium and large, plus the catastrophic worst case. The individual risk at each geographical point is the sum of risk contributions from all scenarios.

📊 Frequency analysis
Historical failure frequency databases (OREDA, HSE Failure Rate & Event Data, CCPS Guidelines) · fault tree analysis · event tree analysis · probability of ignition · probability of fatality (probit functions)
💥 Consequence modelling
Source term calculation for liquid and vapour releases · dispersion modelling (Gaussian and dense-gas) · fire and explosion effect modelling · overpressure, radiation and concentration contours as functions of distance
🗺️ Risk contour maps
Individual risk isopleth maps (10⁻⁴ to 10⁻⁸ per year) overlaid on satellite imagery · population exposure calculation · comparison against acceptance criteria (ALARP, tolerability thresholds)
Consequence analysis — fires and explosions
Full fire and explosion scenario suite — from flash fires to BLEVE fireballs
All relevant fire and explosion scenarios are modelled with internationally validated consequence models — outputs presented as thermal radiation isopleths, overpressure contours and fragment trajectory envelopes.
🔥 Pool Fire
TNO Yellow Book · API 521
Ignition of a liquid fuel spill on the ground or water surface. Determines the radiative heat flux as a function of distance. Critical for storage tanks, process sumps and bunded areas.
🌀 Flash Fire
SFPE · TNO
Transient combustion of a flammable vapour cloud without significant pressure wave. The affected zone is the extent of the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) concentration. Fatality probability based on percentage of time in the cloud.
🔥 Jet Fire
API 521 · SINTEF
High-velocity combustion of a pressurised gas or two-phase release. High flame temperatures and thermal radiation flux. Critical for pressurised vessels, pipelines and flare systems.
💥 Confined Explosion
TNO multi-energy · Baker-Strehlow
Explosion occurring inside a building, vessel or other enclosed space. Overpressure build-up is significantly higher than in open air. Critical for enclosed process areas and storage buildings.
💥 Unconfined Vapour Cloud Explosion (UVCE)
TNO multi-energy · BST method
Deflagrative or detonative explosion of an unconfined flammable vapour cloud. The most energetic event type for large hydrocarbon releases. Consequences expressed as overpressure-distance curves.
💨 Dust Cloud Explosion
NFPA 652/654 · EN 14460
Explosion of a combustible dust suspension in air. Critical for grain, starch, chemical and pharmaceutical facilities. Requires Kst and Pmax characterisation of the specific dust.
🌡️ BLEVE & Fireball
TNO Yellow Book · Roberts (1982)
Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion — catastrophic failure of a pressurised vessel containing superheated liquid. Produces a fireball, overpressure wave and projectiles. The most severe individual accident scenario in the risk study.
🧱 Container Rupture
TNO · SFPE
Explosion energy calculation for pressure vessel rupture (non-reactive). Fragment formation and trajectory envelope — determines the 'exclusion zone' for potential missile impact.
🌊 Overpressure Effects
Probit functions · TNO
Determination of the probability of fatality and structural damage as a function of peak overpressure and impulse. Applied to all explosion scenarios using lung haemorrhage, eardrum rupture and structural collapse probit models.
Consequence analysis — release of hazardous substances and vulnerability
☠️ Release of hazardous substances
Source terms · atmospheric dispersion · isoconcentration curves
Quantification of the source term and subsequent atmospheric dispersion for all relevant toxic gas and vapour release scenarios.
✓ Accidental discharge of liquids — pool formation, evaporation rate
✓ Accidental discharge of gases/vapours — pressurised or two-phase
✓ Biphasic discharge — liquid + flash vapour fraction
✓ Liquid pool evaporation — source strength as function of time
✓ Atmospheric dispersion modelling — Pasquill-Gifford, dense gas (DEGADIS)
✓ Isoconcentration contours at IDLH, ERPG-2, ERPG-3, LC50 thresholds
👥 Vulnerability analysis
Probit functions · individual risk · population risk (F-N curves)
Conversion of physical effects (concentration, radiation, overpressure) into probability of harm for exposed persons — workers inside the plant and the surrounding population.
✓ Toxic emissions — IDLH, ERPG, AEGL, probit (Eisenberg/Lees)
✓ Thermal radiation — people — 1st/2nd degree burn, fatal burn probit
✓ Thermal radiation — structures — ignition of exposed materials
✓ Overpressure effects — lung haemorrhage, eardrum rupture, structural
✓ Individual risk contours — 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻⁸/yr isopleths
✓ F-N curves — societal risk assessment
Contingency Plan — Annex III, Resolution 306/2014
The final deliverable — a Contingency Plan prepared to the minimum requirements of Annex III
Prepared once the Risk Analysis Study is complete. The Plan translates risk findings into actionable emergency response procedures.

Resolution 306/14 requires, in addition to the Risk Analysis Study, the development of a Contingency Plan per Annex III. Biogroup prepares this document as an integral part of the study deliverable — ensuring the risk findings are translated into practical emergency response procedures ready for regulatory submission.

🎯
Objectives
Emergency response goals, priorities and scope of the contingency plan
👥
Working Group
Organisational chart of the emergency response team with roles and responsibilities
📋
Roles
Individual role definitions — Emergency Coordinator, First Responders, Communications
⚖️
Responsibilities
Specific duties for each role under each accident scenario identified
🚒
Internal & External Actions
On-site response procedures and coordination with external emergency services — fire brigade, civil defence, ENRE, provincial authorities
Study deliverables and regulatory report structure

The Risk Analysis Study report is submitted to the Santa Fe Environment Agency (and equivalent provincial authorities) for approval. Biogroup prepares all documentation required for regulatory acceptance.

Process description and plant inventory of hazardous substances
Node definition and HAZOP/What-IF/FMEA hazard identification tables
Risk ranking matrix — qualitative risk assessment per node
Quantitative risk assessment methodology and assumptions
Frequency analysis with source and basis for each event
Consequence modelling results — tabular and graphical
Isoconcentration curves (toxic scenarios) at ERPG/IDLH thresholds
Isoradiation curves (fire scenarios) at 1 kW/m² to 37.5 kW/m²
Iso-overpressure curves (explosion scenarios) at 0.1 to 1.0 bar
Individual risk contour maps overlaid on satellite imagery
Risk management action plan with prioritised corrective measures
Contingency Plan — Annex III, Resolution 306/14
Industries we serve
⛽
Petroleum refining
Hydrocarbons · H₂S · BLEVE · pool fire
🧪
Chemical industry
Toxic releases · explosions · reactive materials
🌾
Agro-industry
Grain dust explosions · NH₃ · fumigants
🏭
Industrial gases
Pressurised storage · BLEVE · toxic releases
⚗️
Fertilisers
NH₃ · HNO₃ · explosions · toxic cloud
🔋
Battery & electrochemical
Acid mist · H₂ generation · fire risk
💊
Pharmaceutical
Solvents · dust explosions · toxic vapours
🚛
Logistics & storage
Hazardous substance warehousing
Official registrations
Provincial registry
Official Registry of Environmental Consultants, Experts and Expert Witnesses
Province of Santa Fe, Argentina
Ministerial registry
Registry of Environmental Impact Assessment Consultants
Ministry of Environment, Argentina
Related services
HAZOP · What-IF · FMEA · QRA · BLEVE · Res. 306/2014 · Contingency Plan
Need a Risk Analysis Study for your industrial plant?
Biogroup delivers complete Risk Analysis Studies under Resolution 306/2014 — from HAZOP/What-IF hazard identification through quantitative risk assessment and isoconcentration/isoradiation/iso-overpressure maps to the Contingency Plan. All studies have been approved by the enforcement authority.
Request a Risk Analysis Study →
📞 +54 341 425-6431 📞 +54 341 447-4486 ✉ biogroup@biogroup.com.ar 📍 3 de febrero 920 · Rosario, Argentina Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00