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Ammonia – The Good, The Bad, The Smelly… Part Two
July 23, 2020 10:15 am Leave a Comment
Now that you know what ammonia is (see Part One here), how it behaves, and how to safely store it and work with it, let’s look at some areas in industry where it is used.

Anhydrous ammonia has a use in pollution control. Industrial boilers and power plants burn coal or natural gas to make steam and/or electricity. When the fuel is burned using air as the oxygen source nitrogen gets exposed to the heat as well because air is 79% nitrogen. The nitrogen gets oxidized and forms several compounds referred to as NOx (NO, NO₂, NO₃). NOx compounds are harmful to (more…)
The CE Mark and What Should It Mean to You? Part Two
July 20, 2020 2:58 pm Leave a Comment
In the previous blog (Part One) we discussed the backstory behind the two stylized letters CE and what it means to the design of machinery bearing the mark. We outlined some of the requirements of the “Machinery Directive” (MD) which include what are known as “Essential Health and Safety Requirements.” The Essential Health and Safety Requirements incorporate an iterative risk reduction process during design that takes into account (more…)
Construction Techniques to Prevent Water Penetration at Windows
June 26, 2020 3:57 pm Leave a Comment
Windows, and their interface with the exterior walls, are an important part of a building’s envelope that resists the intrusion of water. Most builders take many precautions to protect a house from water damage. One of the most important factors in keeping the water out is the installation of window flashing, a thin material that prevents water from seeping in around a window. (more…)
Ammonia – The Good, The Bad, The Smelly… Part One
June 22, 2020 2:52 pm Leave a Comment
Ammonia is a compound consisting of one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms and is denoted by the formula NH₃. Its boiling point is -28°F at atmospheric pressure, so unless it is under pressure, it is gaseous at room temperatures. Therefore, pure ammonia is typically stored under pressure in a liquid form. Household ammonia is only 5-10% NH3, the remaining 90-95% is water. Ammonia is extremely soluble in water. It is often depicted like this: (more…)
The CE Mark and What Should It Mean to You? Part One
June 16, 2020 11:03 am Leave a Comment
Two little letters, CE. Perhaps you have seen those two letters on a machine nameplate or some other equipment. What is the meaning behind those two stylized letters and how does it drive the design of safer machinery? Let’s take a closer look. (more…)
Shedding Some Light on Fluorescent Light Fixture Fires
May 28, 2020 3:06 pm Leave a Comment
Lighting systems in buildings and other structures have undergone changes over the years. Many of these changes have occurred as manufacturers have developed more efficient lighting methods. Lighting loads can represent the largest category of electrical load in many buildings, thus improved lighting efficiency may significantly lower your power bill and can lengthen time between lamp changes. (more…)
Crane Incident Handbook
April 28, 2020 3:15 am Leave a Comment
Cranes are powerful lifting devices that we see everyday in construction areas, shipping terminals, and industrial sites. They are so common that we often pass by them with little thought. Cranes, however, can sometimes become involved in incidents that injure people or damage equipment. (more…)
Failure to Maintain Tow Hook Latch Results in Bystander Death
March 27, 2020 12:02 pm Leave a Comment
An unfortunate and tragic case that we investigated involved a commercial “rollback” recovery truck that was being used to transport a four-wheel drive diesel pickup. The diesel pickup was not in running order with its’ engine in the bed of the truck. Consequently, a commercial towing company was hired by the truck owner to transport the truck. In the process of loading the truck onto the rollback, the truck came uncoupled from the winch and cable system. The truck then rolled down the inclined bed of the rollback, running over and killing a bystander. (more…)
Distributed Control Systems…Data is the Key
March 12, 2020 10:08 am Leave a Comment
Wouldn’t it be great to have a built-in camera to let you see exactly what went wrong before an incident? In many manufacturing instances there is, chemical plants especially. The computer system that operates the plant is called a Distributed Control System (DCS) and it has the capacity to monitor thousands of process variables (flow rates, temperatures, pressures, levels, valve positions, pumps on/off) simultaneously. (more…)
Waste Gas Treatment Equipment Failure: Design & Installation Defects Cause Fire
February 12, 2020 2:57 pm Leave a Comment
The thirty-thousand-foot view of manufacturing is raw material in, alter in an appropriate fashion, finished product out, by-product out. Since the finished product keeps a business in business, it gets the most attention. What about by-products or waste streams? (more…)

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