This article proposes a risk-based method for domino effect characterization and potential escalation for process equipment affected by thermal radiation (i.e., fires). This methodology intends to answer two key questions: (1) which process equipment is impacted by a heat flux capable of resulting in escalation due to equipment failure; and (2) what is the associated time to the process equipment failure; that is, Time to Failure (TTF). The first phase consists of developing dedicated heat flux exceedance curves for a given location of interest. The second phase involves a dynamic simulation for the prediction of the TTF due to fires impacting the equipment identified in phase one. A two-step approach is proposed for ensuring accurate results: (1) vessel wall segmentation to determine how the Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) of the material decreases as a function of temperature, and (2) the UTS is then compared with the Hoop stress by considering the equipment internal pressure combined with the installed overpressure protection performance. This article defines step-by-step how to conduct a riskbased assessment and determine the TTF using a case study. It demonstrates the applicability and accuracy of this approach, which helps the decision-making process on how potential mitigation measures can be implemented.
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