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CSB Investigation Report No. 2019-02-I-TX 2019 Safety Safety
KMCO Crosby Filter-Separator (Y-strainer) Brittle Fracture Explosion
KMCO LLC, Crosby, Texas
Related equipment → Filter-separator (filter_separator)
1Fatalities
30Injuries
Brittle ruptureMechanism code STD
⌗Failure Mode · ISO 14224 Mapping
Damage mechanism (recorded in KB)
Brittle ruptureSTD
ISO functional code (as recorded)
ISO 14224:2016 functional failure code
STD · Structural failure
ISO STD — Structural failure.
1What Happened

3-inch gray-cast-iron y-strainer filter-separator brittle fracture -> isobutylene vapor cloud -> explosion

2Root Cause

Gray-cast-iron y-strainer brittle fracture (casting/material defect + corrosion thinning) + inadequate isolation/relief + no remote isolation valve

3Reliability Lessons (from investigation root cause)
  • Gray-cast-iron y-strainer brittle fracture (casting/material defect
  • corrosion thinning)
  • inadequate isolation/relief
  • no remote isolation valve
4Associated Failure Mechanisms (Keywords)
filtration y-strainer separator brittle fracture rupture leak pump mechanical integrity
About the Failure-Mode Code (click to expand)

The recorded code STD is an ISO 14224:2016 functional failure code (describes what the equipment failed to do). The damage mechanism (how it failed) is shown in the Mapping block above. The two are distinct dimensions in ISO 14224.

5Evidence Source (transparent)
Authority：U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB)
Official Report：www.csb.gov ↗
Data Verification：verified_url_csb_report_2026-07-20
↗Related Failure Modes · Traceability
Filter-element Blockage -> Pressure-drop Increase fmFilter Element Rupture -> Filtration Failure fm_2Demister Failure -> Droplet Penetration fm_3Internal Corrosion fm_4Quick-opening Blind Flange Seal Failure fm_5Valve Blockage / Internal Leak fm_6Impulse Line Blockage fm_7Sensor Drift fm_8Filter-element Blockage -> Pressure-drop Increase fmFilter Element Rupture -> Filtration Failure fm_2Demister Failure -> Droplet Penetration fm_3Internal Corrosion fm_4Quick-opening Blind Flange Seal Failure fm_5Valve Blockage / Internal Leak fm_6Impulse Line Blockage fm_7Sensor Drift fm_8
Report No. 2019-02-I-TX · Data from CSB public investigation conclusions, compiled by Reliability AI, for reliability demonstration purposes only. This case is derived from public incident investigation reports for learning purposes only. AIM does not endorse or guarantee its accuracy.