GASRESPONSE

GASRESPONSE- Enhancement of the effectiveness of response measures at the release of toxic gases

Synopsis

Research and improvement of response measures used by industrial and municipal emergency response crews at the release of toxic gases.

Abstract:

Toxic gases are commonly used in many industrial and technical processes. The use of ammonia as cooling agent in cold storage warehouses or the use of chlorine for disinfection purposes in swimming pools frequently leads to toxic gas releases. These releases are a considerable threat for civil population and also for critical infrastructure. On February 21^st 2012 a large release of ammonia in the inner city of Vienna lead to several injured among the general public and also caused over 30 injured emergency responders that were affected by the toxic gas cloud. The release of toxic gases is a significant risk when it comes to industrial accidents as well as during transport and storage of dangerous goods.

The measures used for the containment, mitigation or removal of toxic gas clouds are not well studied scientifically. The effectiveness of these methods as well as possible potential for improvements is not known. Best practices for fighting toxic gas releases are not available. The Project GASRESPONSE aims to create the scientific basis for the application of methods for the response at toxic gas releases like water curtains, aerosol methods or absorption techniques.

Results are created by large scale experiments with state of the art gas analyzing systems (e.g. SIGIS II System of the Vienna Fire Department) as well as by CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) models. Besides scientific research large scale experiments also create the opportunity to practice emergency response procedures under controlled conditions.

Research within the project will investigate technical as well as tactical measures for efficiency improvement.

Pre experiments with the Graz Fire Department have shown that the use of different neutralizing agents may increase the effectiveness of different response methods.

Bilder Gasresponse