Emergency Pressure Relief Systems (EPRS)

Arthian’s process design team assesses emergency pressure relief systems for tanks and process equipment. Our services ensure compliance with industry standards and deliver reliable protection for people, assets, and operations.

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The Last Line of Defense Against Overpressure Hazards

Emergency Pressure Relief Systems (EPRS) are critical safety components designed to protect process equipment from catastrophic failure caused by overpressure events. They provide a controlled release of pressure during abnormal conditions such as:

Runaway chemical reactions
Blocked outlets or utility failures
Fire engulfment scenarios
Thermal expansion of trapped liquids

When properly designed, operated, and maintained, EPRS safeguard people, assets, and the environment, and ensure compliance with UK regulations (COMAH, DSEAR) and international standards (API 520/521, DIERS).

Why are they Important?

Overpressure incidents can lead to explosions, toxic releases, and severe environmental harm. A robust EPRS:

Prevents vessel rupture and uncontrolled releases
Protects against multi-phase and reactive systems hazards
Reduces risk of regulatory non-compliance and costly downtime
Supports corporate safety and sustainability objectives

Our Approach at Arthian

We deliver end-to-end EPRS solutions, from initial hazard identification to full system design and lifecycle support. Our methodology is based on DIERS best practices, ensuring accurate vent sizing and safe discharge handling.

Our approach is methodical and scientific, considering chemical reaction kinetics, thermodynamics and heat transfer, fluid mechanics and reactor design, and physical properties of reactants under relief conditions

Key Features of Our EPRS Service

Design Methodologies We Use

Industries We Support

Key Features of Our EPRS Service

The key features of our EPRS service include:

Custom Design for Your Process
No “standard sizes”—each system is tailored to your process conditions and credible scenarios.
DIERS-Based Vent Sizing Studies
Accurate calculations for single-phase, multi-phase, and reactive systems using advanced computational tools.
Comprehensive Scenario Analysis
Identification and characterization of credible risk scenarios, including fire cases and runaway reactions.
Regulatory Compliance
Alignment with COMAH, DSEAR, API 520/521, ASME, and IEC standards.
Disposal System Design
Safe discharge handling to prevent secondary incidents and environmental harm.
Documentation & Lifecycle Support
Full design dossier, inspection programs using RBI/RBM principles, and in-company training.

Design Methodologies We Use

Our team utilises a range of EPRS technologies, which include:

DIERS Approach: Industry-leading method for predicting overpressure scenarios and vent sizing.
API 520/521 Compliance: Correct relief device selection and disposal system design.
Dynamic Scenario Analysis: Considering runaway reactions, thermal decomposition, and fire cases.
Mechanical Design Checks: Accounting for reaction forces and structural integrity during venting.

Industries We Support

At Arthian, we’re committed to helping all industries operate as safely as possible, but we have particular experience in:

Chemicals & Petrochemicals – Reactors, storage tanks, and dryers.
Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences – Batch processes and containment systems.
Energy & Renewables – Hydrogen, biofuels, and emerging technologies.
Food & Beverage & Distilling – Solvent-based and thermal processes.
Manufacturing & Waste Management – Hazardous waste treatment and recycling.

Key Features of Our EPRS Service

The key features of our EPRS service include:

Custom Design for Your Process
No “standard sizes”—each system is tailored to your process conditions and credible scenarios.
DIERS-Based Vent Sizing Studies
Accurate calculations for single-phase, multi-phase, and reactive systems using advanced computational tools.
Comprehensive Scenario Analysis
Identification and characterization of credible risk scenarios, including fire cases and runaway reactions.
Regulatory Compliance
Alignment with COMAH, DSEAR, API 520/521, ASME, and IEC standards.
Disposal System Design
Safe discharge handling to prevent secondary incidents and environmental harm.
Documentation & Lifecycle Support
Full design dossier, inspection programs using RBI/RBM principles, and in-company training.

Design Methodologies We Use

Our team utilises a range of EPRS technologies, which include:

DIERS Approach: Industry-leading method for predicting overpressure scenarios and vent sizing.
API 520/521 Compliance: Correct relief device selection and disposal system design.
Dynamic Scenario Analysis: Considering runaway reactions, thermal decomposition, and fire cases.
Mechanical Design Checks: Accounting for reaction forces and structural integrity during venting.

Industries We Support

At Arthian, we’re committed to helping all industries operate as safely as possible, but we have particular experience in:

Chemicals & Petrochemicals – Reactors, storage tanks, and dryers.
Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences – Batch processes and containment systems.
Energy & Renewables – Hydrogen, biofuels, and emerging technologies.
Food & Beverage & Distilling – Solvent-based and thermal processes.
Manufacturing & Waste Management – Hazardous waste treatment and recycling.

Get in Touch

We’d love to hear from you – whether you have a question, a project in mind, want to explore job opportunities, or just want to say hello.

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Emergency Pressure Relief Systems (EPRS)

The Last Line of Defense Against Overpressure Hazards

Why are they Important?

Our Approach at Arthian

Key Features of Our EPRS Service

Design Methodologies We Use

Industries We Support

Key Features of Our EPRS Service

Design Methodologies We Use

Industries We Support

Get in Touch