Steam pipe rupture and explosion at Lisahally biomass plant, Derry

What happened

Firefighters were called to the Lisahally Biomass Power Plant near Derry Port at about 19:30 on a Sunday evening after reports of a ruptured steam pipe. The source describes the event as an explosion at the plant. A command team, four pumps and an aerial unit attended. Nobody was reported injured. After the area was cleared, fire service personnel and on-site safety personnel inspected it. The fire commander said the rupture was believed to be accidental, while adding that this was not yet fully clear and that further investigation would be carried out by on-site safety personnel.

The heat and power plant was built on a 10-acre greenfield site in 2014 and houses boiler and turbine buildings, a 33kV substation, transformers, conveyors, fans and a stack.

Contributing factors

The source reports that a steam main ruptured and that the cause was believed to be accidental. It gives no further technical detail on the failure mechanism.

Lessons learned

1. Inspect and maintain steam mains, their joints and supports, because a single rupture can cause an explosion at a generation plant.
2. Agree how on-site safety personnel and the fire service will inspect the area together before it is released back to operations.
3. Treat early cause statements as provisional until a formal investigation has concluded.

More lessons on maintenance, inspection and ageing assets, fire suppression and firefighting, emergency response and public communication, from every incident on the register.

Source

irishnews.com