FAQs
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What is ioFIRST ? |
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ioFIRST stands for ioMosaic Facility Initial Risk Screening Tool
(ioFIRST). Developed by ioMosaic Corporation, it is designed to assist
organizations with prioritizing the order in which PHAs are conducted. |
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What is ioFIRST main use? |
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ioFIRST main intent is to be used as a first level risk screening
tool that addresses hazards relating to fixed facilities. It mainly focuses on
health, safety, and environmental hazards from acute, episodic releases of
hazardous materials, especially those with potential for impact off-site.
ioFIRST should not be used to perform quantitative risk assessments. For
further information on ioFIRST technical basis,
click here |
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What types of inputs are required ? |
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ioFIRST requires data inputs relating to chemical identity, age of
the facility, number of incidents over the past five years that requires
activating emergency response, quantity of released materials and its storage
temperature, limiting concentrations, population impact information, and
explosion yield factor where applicable. |
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What are chemical properties used in ioFIRST ? |
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Properties include chemical identity, molecular weight, normal
boiling point, heat of combustion, vapor pressure, specific gravity, liquid
heat capacity, flash point, heat of vaporization, and auto ignition
temperature. Independent properties are obtained directly from ioFIRST database
while temperature-dependent properties are dynamically calculated. |
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How long does it take to generate results? |
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Very quick. ioFIRST walks users through a few steps wizard to
collect inputs. Most required input data are automatically and dynamically
obtained and calculated from ioFIRST database based on user-entered chemical.
Results summary is displayed instantly. Full report can also be obtained and be
sent directly to user-supplied email address.
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How do hazard distances compare to EPA RMP lookup tables? |
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Results are consistent and falls within acceptable computer
modeling tolerances, which are within plus and minus 30 percent. |
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How are ioFIRST results compared to detailed consequence
analysis? |
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ioFIRST results are generally more conservative. All calculations
are based on certain technical basis and assumptions. For instance, ioFIRST
assumes a wind speed of 9 miles/hour and neutral stability class (D). These are
constant and cannot be changed (while detailed consequence analysis allows the
flexibility). For further information on ioFIRST technical basis,
click here
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How are diluted toxic materials handled? |
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ioFIRST currently assumes a pure chemical release. This means that release
chemical is 100% pure. To handle diluted toxic materials in a mixture, estimate
the material quantity of interest component and use it for the total material
quantity entry.
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Can I obtain an ioFirst copy for my machine? |
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ioFIRST is readily available over the internet at anytime and from anywhere you
have internet connection. If you want to obtain an official copy situated on
your server, you must sign an agreement with ioMosaic Corporation. There may
also be annual fees. Contact Us
for more information.
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How can ioFIRST be used to conduct an SVA? |
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Screening tools such as the CCPS Enterprise Level Screening Process require a
radius of potential impact to derive the Relative Severity of Attack. This
information may not be readily available for non-RMP covered chemicals, in
which case, an estimate using good engineering judgment can be substituted.
ioFIRST calculates a value for the radius of potential impact and can also be
used to screen non-RMP covered chemicals
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Why should I use ioFIRST as a screening tool for SVA? |
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ioFIRST calculates the radius of potential impact for toxic
chemical to a specified end point. Combining this radius with population
density information (available from the RMP covered cases), allows you to
determine the Relative Severity of Attack factor for any scenario.
Alternatively, the Process Activity Risk Score (PARS) generated by the program
can be used to rank the relative risk of releases.
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