Fire and explosion prevention and protection in chemical industry.

Statistics on fires and explosions in the chemical industry are showed, with the aim of knowing the equipment, ignition sources and hazard factors cause of significant accidents and prevention and protection measures are suggested for different kind of equipment with differentiated characteristics, which can serve as a guide for similar process equipment, whithout intending a complete exposition of all safety devices. Boiler furnaces, heat transfer systems, chemical process equipment and grinding processes generating combustible dust are including among that equipment. Essential requirements for flammable materials storage are given, particularly liquids and gases. Extensive legislation is included, which applied with tecnical criteria allows a planning of protection features to avoid the serious consequences of fires and explosions.