Guidelines for the Preparation of a Special Section on the Design of Safety Facilities for Hazardous Chemical Construction Projects
1Key Takeaways
This document specifies the general provisions and content requirements for the safety facility design chapter (hereinafter referred to as the "Chapter") of hazardous chemical construction projects. This document applies to the preparation of the Chapter for the design of safety facilities for newly built, renovated, o…
2Expert Interpretation
This in-depth analysis of AQ 3066—2025, "Guidelines for the Compilation of Safety Facility Design Chapters for Hazardous Chemical Construction Projects," covers the standard's scope of application, compilation requirements, hazard analysis, safety facility design specifications, and implementation recommendations, providing professional guidance for the safety design of chemical construction projects.
Background and Evolution Analysis of Standard Development
AQ 3066—2025, "Guidelines for the Compilation of Safety Facility Design Chapters for Hazardous Chemical Construction Projects," was released by the Ministry of Emergency Management of the People's Republic of China in 2025. It is an important technical support document for my country's hazardous chemical safety supervision system. The formulation of this standard marks a key step forward in the transformation of safety design management in my country's chemical industry from experience-based to standardized and systematic.
From a technological evolution perspective, this standard, while inheriting the core requirements of the former State Administration of Work Safety's document No. 39 of 2013, has undergone a systematic upgrade, incorporating lessons learned from recent chemical safety accidents and technological developments: For the first time, modern safety engineering methods such as fine chemical reaction safety risk assessment and SIL (Safety Indicator Liquidity) grading analysis have been incorporated into mandatory requirements; the division of responsibilities for collaborative work among multiple design units has been clarified; and the application specifications for digital design tools have been strengthened. Particularly noteworthy is that this standard fully integrates the "two key points and one major hazard" regulatory requirements into the design stage, realizing a strategic shift in safety supervision from end-of-pipe treatment to source prevention.
Scope of Application and Definition of Core Concepts
This standard applies to newly built, renovated, or expanded hazardous chemical production and storage projects, as well as chemical projects that generate hazardous chemicals. It explicitly excludes special areas such as long-distance hazardous chemical pipelines and exploration and mining projects, reflecting the principle of **focusing on key areas and classifying supervision**.
Key Terminology Analysis
| Terminology | Definition Highlights | Application Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Safety Facilities | General term for equipment, facilities, gear, and technical measures for preventing, controlling, reducing, and eliminating accidents | Clearly defines the boundary of the design object, covering engineering and management measures |
| Process Hazard Analysis | Identification of hazards and consequence analysis in production, disposal, storage, and transportation processes | Provides a scientific basis for safety facility design, realizing risk-oriented design |
| Abnormal Operating Conditions | Operating conditions that cannot be handled by BPCS and result in accidental energy release after runaway | Defining the triggering conditions for safety facilities such as safety interlocks and emergency shut-off |
The standard's definition of "auxiliary materials" is particularly noteworthy, as it includes chemicals that may be used in the production process, such as catalysts, polymerization inhibitors, and heat transfer oils, within the scope of hazardous chemicals management, filling the previous regulatory gaps.
Framework and Technical Requirements for Special Chapter Preparation
5.1 Timing and Qualification Requirements for Preparation
The special chapter must be prepared after the basic design (preliminary design) is completed and before the detailed design (construction drawing design) begins. This timeframe ensures the matching of the depth of safety design with the engineering design stage. For large-scale construction projects with "two key points and one major point," the design unit must possess a Class A comprehensive engineering design qualification or a Class A professional qualification in the corresponding industry. This requirement significantly raises the design threshold.
6.1 Compilation Basis System
The compilation basis needs to form a complete legal-standard-technical document system:
| Basis Category | Specific Content | Review Points |
|---|---|---|
| Laws and Regulations | National laws and regulations, departmental rules, local regulations | Accuracy of issuing agency, order number/document number |
| Standards and Specifications | National, industry, and local standards | Completeness of standard number, year, and edition |
| Technical Documents | Safety evaluation report, reaction safety risk assessment, process demonstration | Document validity and implementation of review opinions |
| Design Specialty | Core Safety Requirements | Technological Development |
|---|---|---|
| Process System | Process Safety Control, Safety Release, Flare System | Shift from Experience-Based Design to Risk-Oriented Design |
| Automatic Instrumentation | SIL Classification, Safety Interlocking, GDS Layout | Comprehensive Application of Functional Safety Standards |
| Electrical and Telecommunications | Explosion-Proof Partitioning, Emergency Power Supply, Fire Alarm | Digital and Intelligent Technology Integration |
| Building Structure | Explosion-proof design, fire compartmentation, evacuation routes | Application of performance-based fire protection design methods |
Suggestions for the Implementation of Special Chapters
Capacity Building of Design Units
Design units should establish dedicated safety design teams, equipped with professionals capable of process safety analysis, risk assessment, and functional safety assessment. It is recommended to conduct specialized training in the following areas: HAZOP analysis method, LOPA analysis technique, SIL grading verification, reaction safety risk assessment, etc. For large design institutes, the establishment of an independent safety engineering department should be considered.
Quality Control of the Compilation Process
Establish a three-level review system for the compilation of special chapters: initial draft completed by professional designers → technical review by the professional head → comprehensive review by the project head. Key nodes include: comprehensive review of hazard identification, review of the matching of safety facilities and risk analysis, and review of compliance with regulations and standards. It is recommended to use a checklist method to ensure the completeness of the compiled content.
Application of Digital Tools
Promoting the use of professional software tools to improve the quality of compilation: Using a hazardous chemicals database to manage material characteristic data; using HAZOP analysis software to standardize the analysis process; applying SIL grading tools for quantitative assessment; and utilizing a 3D design platform for safety clearance checks. Establish a specialized compilation template library to improve compilation efficiency and standardization.
Multi-Design Unit Collaboration Mechanism
For construction projects undertaken by multiple design units, the overall design unit should establish a unified safety design coordination mechanism: Formulate unified safety design regulations for the entire project; hold regular safety design coordination meetings; establish a safety design information sharing platform; and clarify the division of labor and responsibilities among each design unit. Appendix A provides a standardized framework for multi-unit collaboration by providing the outline for the compilation of the general instructions for specialized sections.
Impact and Prospect of Standard Implementation
The implementation of AQ 3066—2025 will have a profound impact on my country's chemical industry: First, it enhances the systematic and scientific nature of safety design, integrating risk analysis throughout the entire design process; second, it strengthens the responsibility of design units, requiring them to possess comprehensive safety engineering capabilities; third, it promotes the advancement of safety design technology and facilitates the widespread application of advanced methods such as HAZOP and SIL.
Looking to the future, with the development of new technologies such as intelligent manufacturing and the Industrial Internet, safety facility design will evolve towards digitalization, intelligence, and integration. It is recommended that the industry pay attention to the following development trends: safety design verification based on digital twins, hazard identification assisted by artificial intelligence, risk prediction and early warning driven by big data, and the establishment of a full life-cycle safety information management system.
As a mandatory industry standard, the effective implementation of this standard requires the joint efforts of design units, construction units, and regulatory departments.
Design firms should view this as an opportunity to enhance their core competitiveness; construction firms should view it as a foundation for ensuring the inherent safety of projects; and regulatory authorities should view it as a technical basis for scientific supervision, jointly promoting the comprehensive improvement of the safety development level of my country's chemical industry.