4. Assessment of BLEVE projection effects

4.1 General approach

The occurrence of a BLEVE requires prior rupture of the tank containing the liquefied gas. Characterizing the projectiles generated by the rupture is particularly important because :

• the low energy required for projectiles to cause serious injury makes them particularly dangerous;

• their range can be much greater than the thermal effect distances, for example;

• they are likely to generate domino effects (as was the case with the Mexico City accident in 1984, when a series of BLEVEs occurred).

It was shown in paragraph