Protecting workers from harm in high-hazard areas is a top priority for employers and site managers. Developing a Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) plan based on a customized facility siting study is crucial for maintaining a safe work environment. While some safety standards are mandated by law, best practices are also available via the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) or industry-standard guidelines.

When it comes to blast-resistant buildings, safety is everything. But what does “safety” entail? Protection from an initial blast? What about other hazards that occur in the event of an explosion?

If you've talked to a blast resistant building supplier, or had a facility siting study performed lately, you may have heard the term “multi-hazard protection." But what does that mean? This blog post will shed light on what “multi-hazard” is, what hazards you can protect from, and how to know what level of protection your facility requires. We’ll also dive into how RedGuard takes multi-hazard protection one step further with what we call “Precision Safety.”

This list was originally published in 2018, but has been updated in 2024 to reflect changes in the industry. Every day, our RedGuard sales directors are out in the field, meeting with customers and potential customers about blast-resistant buildings. With potentially hundreds of meetings a year, our team, comprised of seasoned oil and gas professionals and subject matter experts, takes the time to understand needs, deliver informative "lunch and learn" presentations, and actively listen to the concerns of our valued stakeholders.

This blog post was also published in the July/August issue of BIC Magazine. It is published here, in its longer, complete format. Modular blast-resistant buildings offer exceptional protection in high-risk environments like oil and gas refineries. They set the bar for industrial protection projects when it comes to speed of construction, flexibility and scalability, cost-effectiveness, safety and more. Traditionally, steel has been the material of choice for modular blast-resistant buildings, but recently, there’s a new entry in the industry worth examining—the precast concrete modular blast-resistant building.

This article was originally published in the May/June 2024 issue of BIC magazine. The author, Jeff Hitt, works on custom projects for the company's SafetySuite brand. If you’ve worked in the industrial sector, you are likely familiar with the concept of a facility siting study (FSS). It may have come up as part of your facility’s process hazard analysis. It is an evaluation that is vital in our industry and to the safety of your team. It should be completed every five years and involves the assessment of the facility’s layout and the position of structures and equipment within chemical processing plants. The study identifies potential hazards like blasts, fires and toxic risks associated with these facilities. Experts, including structural and chemical engineers specializing in impact and blast response, collaborate to assess and document threats to occupied structures or future occupied structures. An FSS could uncover a wide range of issues. It all depends on the facility's age, the number of occupied buildings onsite and whether or not this is the facility's first siting study. Here are a few examples of issues that might be found: Existing buildings that are not strong enough to be used as occupied buildings after the addition of a new process A building’s walls are not strong enough to withstand a blast, even if other structural elements are, like the roof A building contains structural elements that are no longer deemed safe. This could be due to changes in the process or layout changes of the refinery itself. Examples of structural elements this could affect are canopies over doors or windows, wall openings and the actual doors or windows themselves A building now exhibits wear and tear due to age At RedGuard, as manufacturers of blast-resistant buildings, our involvement in the FSS process entails linking facilities with an independent engineering firm to conduct the study, ensuring impartiality. We prioritize the avoidance of conflicts of interest, thus ensuring a clear separation of interests. Consequently, for the FSS, regardless of any prior purchases from RedGuard, we consistently engage a third-party engineering firm. Their recommendations remain impartial and are never directly linked to any specific manufacturer What do you do if you’ve already conducted an FSS and the results are complex, confusing or the company performing the FSS only suggests one proprietary mitigation solution? This can and does happen, which is why our second opinion program exists. Depending on the type of engineering firm you work with, some companies perform the FSS, identify the hazards and create contour maps, but then don’t offer any information on occupied buildings or mitigation options. They may simply hand you a report. If this happens, a follow-up project to do a more detailed conceptual mitigation analysis for these areas can be scheduled. While others may conduct the study, it's common to find that they propose only one option to mitigate identified issues. In this case, it’s a good idea to look at the relationships between the engineering firm and the company that sells the solution. In some instances, the company facilitating the FSS and the company offering the mitigation solution are one and the same, therefore, creating a conflict of interest. It’s okay to question whether this one proprietary solution is really the only option. We’ve also worked with facilities where no changes were made in the five years since the last study, yet they were presented with new mitigation options for issues that didn’t come up the last time the study was completed. Why? There may be a valid reason if the industry standards have changed. If not, then it’s fair to ask if the previous FSS or the new FSS is accurate. This is where RedGuard’s second opinion program comes in. If any of these situations or others arise, it’s okay to seek another opinion. If you’re confused by the results, it’s acceptable to ask for clarification. With our second opinion program, we’ll cover the cost of a 30-minute call with an internationally recognized subject matter expert in the field of blast resistance. This professional will take a closer look at your FSS, give a thorough analysis of the results and recommend mitigation options. This could include safety options in which you were unaware. This approach guarantees a new perspective from an experienced professional and empowers you with a better understanding of your options. The integrity of your facility and the safety of your employees depend on it. The initial phase involves reaching out to RedGuard to engage with one of our experts who will dedicate time to discussing your facility. During this conversation, they will inquire about the facility's particulars, any identified issues and the available mitigation options. Subsequently, we will facilitate your connection with a third-party specialist to evaluate your FSS. For more information, visit RedGuard online.

In hazardous work environments, we know that safety is always top priority. However, it is also crucial to create a positive work environment for on-site team members. A positive, inviting workspace isn't just a luxury—it's a catalyst for happier, more productive teams. At RedGuard, we believe that safety doesn’t have to compromise comfort. That’s why SafetySuite, our line of completely custom steel, blast-resistant modular buildings, includes options for all interior and exterior finishes, allowing you to provide your team with a safe and comfortable environment. For a detailed look at all of our customization options, from safety to functionality and design, check out our Guide to RedGuard's Features, Add-Ons, & Customizations. Now, let's dive into SafetySuite's design options, which allow you to craft an environment that seamlessly blends safety, functionality, and comfort.

Engineering firms offer crucial insights to both the blast-resistant building (BRB) industry and the oil and gas sector, ensuring the safety of workers in hazardous environments and supporting vital functions like facility siting studies (FSSs) and quality risk assessments (QRAs). These engineering firms provide a wide range of consulting services to enhance overall industry safety. With cutting-edge tech and innovative solutions, these are the top firms in 2023 that led the way, providing assessments of hazards on oil and gas sites and evaluating blast-resistant design.

This article was originally published in the November/December 2023 issue of BIC Magazine. It was written by Bryan Bulling, RedGuard's Northeastern Director of Sales.

In the world of high-risk workplaces, such as petrochemical facilities, one thing takes precedence above all else: the safety and well-being of the individuals within. The focus here is on hazardous gases—these are the invisible threats that can have severe health consequences when breathed in. We’ll explore the layers of protection in RedGuard's specialized modular buildings that keep workers safe.

Ensuring the safety of your employees is crucial. Regulations and safety measures have been established so that we can prioritize their well-being. In hazardous areas, fire can pose a significant threat to both your personnel and property. In an event resulting in an explosion or fire, it is essential to have full confidence that your team will be fully protected with the most effective tools available. At RedGuard, we take great pride in our steel blast resistant buildings, which are available at protection levels up to 15 psi. They serve as robust safeguards for both lives and assets. Today, we will address a very important question: How do our buildings withstand fire?

The best course for safety traditionally lies in ensuring people are located far from hazards. Unfortunately, there are instances when that is not possible. Oil and gas refineries are one such work site; chemical facilities, power generation, military installations, and research laboratories are a few others. Blast-resistant buildings protect those who must work close to these hazards. They may be temporary or permanent structures, but they are present due to the potential for saving lives and protecting valuable assets should a catastrophic event occur.

This article was originally published in the September/October 2023 issue of BIC Magazine. It was written by RedGuard's Sales Support Specialist, Lorna Geist.

This article was created for the July/August 2023 issue of BIC Magazine. It's presented here in its original unedited format. In the early days of the blast-resistant building industry, RedGuard was approached to design a new option for mobile modular blast-resistant buildings. In response, the company created its first generation of steel blast-resistant buildings. At the same time, it also started building LeaseFleet, what is now North America’s largest fleet of steel, blast-resistant buildings. These leasable blast-resistant structures are used for projects all over the world when a temporary solution for safe space in a hazardous area is required.

Renewable energy sources help cut carbon emissions, lower energy costs, and mitigate some of the risks of climate change. Still, the cost of developing new infrastructure for renewable energy can be high since it requires a significant up-front investment in the face of lower fossil fuel prices. But now that countries and investors understand more about the long-term payoffs, the renewable energy business is growing worldwide.

Global decarbonization goals call for expanding green energy from renewable resources such as animal byproducts, upcycled wood, wind, water, and sunlight. The renewable energy industry is growing rapidly, and with it comes the development of more energy facilities. However, while industry safety requirements exist, companies must also hold themselves responsible for ensuring their worker’s safety.

In any team project, it is essential that all members provide unbiased recommendations for the product or solution being developed. This is particularly important in situations where safety is at risk, such as in the oil and gas industry. It is imperative that the team responsible for creating the specifications to protect people from potential hazards remain neutral and unbiased. It is important that they remain separate from the manufacturing and selling process. This ethical separation is critical in ensuring that greed does not influence the solution developed.

This article was created for and originally published for the May/June 2023 issue of BIC Magazine. It is republished here in its entirety.

Building blast-resistant structures is an incredibly complex and challenging process. From designing and engineering the structure to sourcing materials and getting regulatory approvals, many steps require precision and attention to detail. That’s why it’s essential to get it right the first time. Whether you’re a contractor, project manager, or end-user, any mistakes made during the process can have serious consequences, including project delays, safety risks, and increased costs.

At RedGuard, we take safety seriously. It’s present and top-of-mind in everything we do. This includes the obvious things, like wearing PPE to protect ourselves while on the job, and the less apparent practices, like inviting team members to share stories about when they had (or observed) a safety-related near-miss that we can all learn from. It also includes safety practices that foster communication and thinking about your habits. Those are among the things we do every day to ensure safety. Safety is also of obvious importance in our products and services.

Understanding the range of electric (EVs) is an important factor to consider when purchasing one for commercial use. Most drivers today understand miles per gallon, or mpg. This is the standard unit for gas car efficiency. We know a small, lightweight, compact car with a 4-cylinder engine can achieve 30-40 miles per gallon (mpg). When hauling heavy loads or equipment, the fuel efficiency of a large work truck or SUV can be as low as 8-10 mpg. In most instances, we know that if we have to go 100 miles, we are probably safe buying four to five gallons of gasoline before moving on. And gas stations are pretty prevalent should we need to top up.

A tragedy occurred in the early spring of 2005 at a refinery in Texas City, Texas. Today marks the 17th year since a series of explosions killed 15 workers and injured nearly 200 more.

This blog was originally published March 8, 2021. This is a quickly emerging and growing market, so updates will be made periodically to reflect current facts and additional products. RedGuard has had the good fortune to work in most of the major refineries and petrochemical plants in North America and internationally. We have appreciated doing our part to protect the lives of the workforce in these facilities.

Imagine working in a warehouse with a high volume of daily foot traffic. There are always people on the move, and projects to finish. There are occasional mishaps, materials get spilled, and they get cleaned up quickly (and lightly) because you're in the middle of a big project. You assume that regular maintenance will pick up anything you leave behind later. That is... if there is regular maintenance. Unfortunately, if the floors are not properly maintained, it might not end well. The floor's surface could become slippery, cluttered, or uneven, creating a dangerous environment for workers. Properly maintained floors are important to the safety, protection, and health of your staff.

*This article was prepared for publication in the March/April 2023 issue of BIC Magazine.

This article was originally published in the January/February 2023 issue of BIC Magazine and was edited to fit in the space provided. It is re-published here in its entirety. We have to look at a few facts to answer the titular question: Can a shipping container be converted to a blast proof building?

When it comes to weight, the doors on a blast resistant modular building (BRM or BRB) tip the scales around 600 pounds. When they are on customer sites like refineries, nitrogen or olefin plants, or other hazardous sites where blasts could occur, they receive more wear and tear than their occupants may realize. The weight of the doors and the number of times they are opened and closed during a 12-hour shift impact the amount of routine maintenance that should be given to them. For example:

For Immediate Release Wichita, KS – RedGuard, the leading producer of modular, steel, blast-resistant buildings for the oil and gas industry, closed on the acquisition of Civeo Offshore, LLC on November 1, 2022. The company specializes in workforce accommodation structures for use on offshore platforms, vessels, and barges.

Explosions in the oil and gas industry are rare, but when they do occur, they can have devastating effects on workers and even nearby residents. These blasts can cause burns and shockwave injuries that cause internal damage, head injuries, and nerve damage. Also, flying debris following an explosion can cause severe lacerations and blunt-force trauma. Most workplace incidents at oil and gas refineries are caused by transportation and equipment accidents, followed by fires and explosions. The vast majority of blasts on oil and gas worksites are preventable, particularly when facilities managers uphold OSHA safety regulations. Below, we'll examine some of the causes and how to avoid them so you can keep workers safe and avoid damage to people and property caused by blasts.

If you’re thinking of buying an EV, or electric vehicle, for your business, you might think your days of filling up are over. Buying an EV ends your days of stopping at the gas station, but you will still need to “fill up” – now, with electricity. Some immediate questions come to mind.

In certain industries, the use and handling of hazardous materials is commonplace, even if few people want to think about hazardous chemicals and their use in manufacturing everyday products. Those in manufacturing or refining understand the importance of these materials and the role they play in helping make our lives, in many ways, and in many industries, easier.

The best way for companies to ensure worker safety and prevent accidents is to identify and control hazards on worksites. However, not all accidents can be predicted and prevented. In those cases, the best employers put in place protective mechanisms to keep people safe when the worst occurs. For example, to prevent injuries from worksite explosions, some hazardous sites have their team working in blast resistant buildings to avoid injuries and flying debris if a blast were to occur.

Performing a real-world blast test on a blast resistant building is one of the best ways to alleviate concerns about how a structure will react to a real disaster. No computer model can compare to seeing a building survive a blast with your own eyes.

Protecting employees from workplace hazards requires formal control mechanisms and detailed planning. The most effective way to accomplish this is to use a "hierarchy of controls," a step-by-step process that allows safety managers to choose all the relevant tools needed to eliminate hazards or protect employees from dangers.

The great thing about blast-resistant buildings is that they are almost maintenance-free. However, at RedGuard, we are the first to admit that “almost” maintenance-free does not mean maintenance-free. One area that DOES require regular maintenance, as in any building, is the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, or HVAC system.

The Great Resignation is the term that has been applied to the economic trend of members of the workforce voluntarily resigning from their jobs in large numbers. It started during the pandemic in early 2021 and continued into 2022.

This article was originally published in the September/October 2022 issue of BIC Magazine. Sometimes changes are made for length, or to reflect the publication's style guidelines. It is re-published here in its entirety.

When it comes to timelines for blast-resistant buildings, we often caution people that there are vendors in the industry that will claim they can finish a job within a questionable timeline - just to get the job. That leads to the question, “What is a realistic timeline to install a blast-resistant building?”

Safety of the Employees and Equipment Workers in the petrochemical industry are subject to numerous risks, including chemical leaks, fires, and explosions. These are in addition to the risks common throughout the manufacturing industry, such as machinery malfunctions and falls.

One of the most devastating petrochemical plant explosions in U.S. history occurred in 1989 when a petrochemical complex experienced a polyethylene leak, resulting in a flammable vapor cloud. Sometime after lunch, the cloud was ignited, causing a series of explosions and fires that killed 23 workers and injured over 130 more.

Protecting workers from on-site hazards is a complex task. However, soliciting hazard protection analyses and addressing as many risks as possible can protect workers, prevent fines, and improve a company’s reputation.

Having a safety culture isn't about just "talking the talk." You've got to "walk the walk" too. If you spend any amount of time at RedGuard, you'll quickly learn that our safety culture comes with practice. We support our belief in the importance of safe practices not just by what we say, but also in what we do.

A blast-resistant building can be a state-of-the-art facility with all the bells and whistles needed to keep your team and worksite safe. Expert building installation is a critical part of the planning and investment process. You may be surprised to learn that there is a myriad of safety and construction benefits to having your blast-resistant building developed and manufactured off-site before installation. Below, we'll look at why RedGuard's installation process is the most convenient and the safest for your workers in the long and short term.

Blast resistant glass (sometimes called explosion proof glass) is made up of materials that allow it to have the strength and plasticity to absorb much of the pressure of an explosion. In a blast resistant building, it’s just as crucial for doors and windows (which may contain glass) to be made of blast resistant materials as it is for the rest of the structure.

Blast-resistant modular buildings are designed to help prevent devastating damage to people and property in the wake of an explosion. Ideally, these buildings are strong enough to withstand ground motion, surface bursts, and compression from shock waves without collapsing or creating any flying debris that could harm bystanders.

Blast proof doors are designed to resist explosive blasts and protect people and property from the damage from blast waves, including flying fragments, fire, and toxic fumes. Since we can’t entirely eliminate the threat of explosions on worksites, it’s crucial to ensure buildings and their windows, roofs, and doors can withstand blasts.

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (June 13, 2022) – RedGuard, a producer of blast-resistant modules for the petrochemical and chemical industries, has expanded its service capabilities with a three-year master service agreement with Nomodic. This agreement makes Nomodic the preferred service and maintenance partner for RedGuard’s blast-resistant buildings on Canadian worksites.

When it comes to protection in the form of buildings, there are a few levels of protection that can be observed. For this blog post, we will focus on three building types: general protective structures, buildings that offer blast protection, and buildings that offer hazard protection.

Petrochemical facilities produce chemicals and derivatives used in a wide range of products, as varied as medical devices and cosmetics. Using heat, pressure, and other engineering techniques, workers turn crude oil and natural gas into six primary petrochemicals – acetylene, benzene, methane, ethane, propane, and hydrogen.

This article was originally published in the March/April 2022 issue of BIC magazine. The author, Chris Priddy, is RedGuard's director of sales in the Gulf Coast Region. In recent years at RedGuard, we have experienced great success placing blast-resistant buildings on oil and gas worksites. As a result, we are proud to have added many new clients and seen a significant number of returning clients. It’s important for us to understand what has driven this growth. We have identified two differentiating factors. The first is our product lines. There is LeaseFleet, North America’s largest fleet of leasable blast-resistant buildings, and SafetySuite, our line of premium, suite-quality custom blast-resistant buildings. The second differentiating factor is that combined with this selection, we focus on impeccable customer service. When customers reach out to RedGuard, they are counseled on our product line by true subject matter experts who have an expansive knowledge of blast-resistant buildings. With the most tenured sales team in the industry, our team can help you find the perfect solution for your blast-resistant needs. In addition, we will answer any questions you may have regarding blast-resistant buildings or direct you to our online learning center, which is chock full of blog posts, videos, floor plans and collateral. Our fleet of blast-resistant buildings allows us to handle some of the largest projects in the industry. With multiple production centers around the globe, we can take on any blast-resistant need that may arise for a custom-designed and engineered blast-resistant building. At RedGuard, we take great pride in maintaining a positive culture and ensuring that we have the right professionals in all departments. When you are working with someone in our sales, service, logistics or accounting, you are dealing with a professional who understands and puts a premium on ensuring customer satisfaction is first and foremost. RedGuard consistently works to ensure clients have a positive experience. You can count on us to meet all delivery deadlines that are mutually agreed upon. RedGuard does not believe in painting a fictional picture of its capabilities in order to win an opportunity. When working with a client for the first time, we work diligently to make sure that it will be a positive working experience. The goal is to begin a long-term working relationship, based on delivering a product line that meets or exceeds the client’s expectations. We maintain a tight grip on the logistical scheduling that is imperative to our clients. Once the client is in the field utilizing our blast-resistant buildings, our service department will be focused on making sure that all issues the customer might experience will be addressed and rectified quickly. We want to ensure that our clients have little to no inconvenience while in the middle of a turnaround or outage. We understand that the kinds of projects we deliver are essential to maintaining successful operations within a facility. Therefore, when installing a custom blast-resistant building from RedGuard, you can count on a very polished experience with our service team during the installation and commissioning of your permanent blast-resistant structures and during their use in the field. In our accounting department, we take great pride in making sure that it is easy to do business with RedGuard. We want to ensure clients have pleasant and smooth transactions from the beginning and throughout the completion of any project. Efficient accounting practices ensure the client has little to no inconveniences throughout the term of any project and will be able to close out their job with peace of mind knowing that nothing has been left hanging in the balance. In addition, when working with our accounting department, you’ll find eager and friendly customer support agents willing to answer and settle any invoicing items that need to be attended to. It’s these fundamental principles that we at RedGuard hold dear and sacred to maintaining our industry-leading product and service lines. Please do not hesitate to reach out to RedGuard with any upcoming needs for blast-resistant buildings. For more information about blast-resistant buildings, visit us online or call (855) 733-4827.

This article, How to Stage a Blast Resistant Building, was originally published on our blog in its entirety in October 2021. This version was shortened for publication in the March/April 2022 issue of BIC magazine. Suppose you've researched different kinds of blast-resistant structures, like steel blast-resistant buildings, modular concrete blast-resistant buildings, or even blast-resistant tents or air shelters.

What is compressive strength? Compressive strength is a material’s capacity to withstand the pressure of a force that pushes, squeezes, or compresses it. If a building has a low compressive strength, it is more likely to buckle and fail under pressure. That's why it’s crucial to ensure a blast resistant building is made of a material with high compressive strength, like steel.

When you think of the word flex, a few things probably come to mind. One of the most recent entries into the world of pop culture is, “Weird flex, but ok” - a mocking phrase often given in response to a person who brags about something unusual.

The old business adage to “under-promise,” so that you can “over-deliver” in order to delight your customers, is almost engrained in American culture. It’s the service that most of us expect when we are the customer. But unfortunately, it isn’t the service that is most often delivered.

Those who work in the oil and gas industry are often tasked with procuring blast-resistant buildings for turnarounds and protection. They often do so by comparing quotes and proposals from multiple vendors. This process is often referred to as RFP or RFQ.

Those who work in oil and gas are likely familiar with the concept of Request for Proposals (RFP), also referred to as Request for Quotes (RFQ). In fact, depending on where you work, you may have a set of standards to follow that each RFP must conform to, with rules for each vendor who submits a proposal or quote. And for other companies, each RFP may be different and customized depending on what you are seeking.

When it comes to blast resistance, there are a few options, depending on the situation. At RedGuard, we design blast-resistant buildings to protect building occupants and equipment in high-hazard areas from the damaging effects of explosions.

This press release was sent on January 11, 2022 on behalf of RedGuard. It has been updated with the company's current offerings for chemical storage buildings in 2023.

Blast loads are something we talk about at RedGuard. We write about their effects and protecting yourself and your team from the damage they cause. The term likely comes up more in our industry than in the course of normal conversations. At RedGuard, our business is safety; and explosions and the blast loads that come with them can be deadly. It’s our job to help people survive the destruction caused by high blast loads.