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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?”

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.

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.

For many years, RedGuard has been known for its blast-resistant buildings within the oil and gas industry. It started in 2005, after a tragic event in Texas City. At the time, the company was known for the steel storage buildings that it leased to companies for their rugged and spacious storage capacity. Because they had the infrastructure and capabilities already in place, they were asked to design a protective steel modular building. The goal was to protect people the way steel containers had protected the equipment on the site of that tragedy, when personnel had perished in simple work trailers, while tool shed containers remained intact.