GexCon and Arup announce Partnership in Fire and Explosion Analysis

Safety and risk management consultancy GexCon are set to collaborate closely with engineering consultants Arup in the field of fire and explosion analysis and associated structural response.

The partnership, which is being codified in a memorandum of understanding, will provide mutual benefits, the companies hope, as they offer specialist expertise to the oil and gas industry.

“There is an increasing amount of interest in the simulation technique known as non-linear finite element analysis for fire and explosion. However, there is also a lack of capability among many engineering contractors,” says Kees van Wingerden, senior vice president at GexCon.

“GexCon and Arup believe there is a real opportunity to extend and develop our services jointly in this field which will offer customers a complete solution and help reduce the capital expenditure.”

Arup simulated what might have happened to the Houses of Parliament if the Gunpowder Plot had succeeded

David Gration, director at Arup, says: “The combination of GexCon’s FLACS software with Arup’s non-linear dynamic analysis capability, using Oasys LS-DYNA, will enable the integrated assessment of complex structures under gas explosions.

“Our integrated approach will reduce uncertainty and allow the removal of significant conservatisms from the design process hence leading to reduced costs of energy infrastructure within the oil and gas industry.”

GexCon provides services in identifying hazards, complex consequence modelling, mitigating risks and contributing to improving clients’ safety performance. The business also develops, maintains and uses FLACS, the industry-standard software tool for explosion and fire modelling.

Arup, an enormous organisation with 11,000 staff based in 92 offices across 42 countries, is an independent firm of designers, planners, engineers, consultants and technical specialists with experience in offshore, nuclear power, anti-terrorist, seismic and the development of engineering best practice.

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