The following items should be considered regarding the safe access and location of buildings:

• The fire fighting pump house is usually located in a non-hazardous OSBL location.

• Main administration buildings and fire stations should be designed for blast resistance. They should be positioned close to the main entrance, away from hazardous areas, and upwind of process, utility and storage areas. Access to the administrative/support buildings should be direct from the property line and should not require traveling through process or storage areas.

• Control / amenities buildings shall be located in a safe area away from hazardous areas, upwind of hydrocarbon process units and storage tankage, and not alongside main routes to loading / unloading areas, with consideration to convenience for daily access and operation. Buildings can be located closer to the process plant but with an obvious cost penalty (additional cost of blast resistant building).

• Control Rooms serving unusually large hazardous units, central control houses for multiple units or control room housing computer equipment require greater spacing from fire or explosion hazards. They also require proper risk assessment as per API RP 752 ‘Management of Hazards Associated with Location of Process Plant Permanent Buildings'.