Windsock Applications

What Makes Old Style Windsocks Dangerous?

And The New Windsock Evacuation System Essential For A Safer Workplace.

Standard Windsock Safety In Low Wind Conditions.

Guidelines for the inclusion of low wind speed conditions into risk assessments.
Lines IG1, Daycock JH, Deaves DM.
J Hazard Mater.2001 May 30;83(3):153-79

Abstract
Although they are not often considered in risk assessments or safety cases, low wind speed conditions are likely to produce many of the worst case dispersion scenarios, especially for situations where dense vapour clouds would form close to the ground. The results of previous review and validation studies, undertaken by the authors for the UK Health and Safety Executive, have been drawn together in this paper to provide guidelines for the practical application of appropriate modelling of scenarios involving low wind speeds within quantified risk assessments. The production of these guidelines has been achieved by using example risk assessments covering the storage of chlorine, bromine, LPG and Liquid Oxygen, for each of which sensitivity studies were also undertaken. These demonstrated that the inclusion of low wind speeds has varying effects, depending on the material considered, which could be as much as 1-2 orders of magnitude. Most importantly, it also showed that, when low wind speeds are included, it is not only their dispersion effects but also their effects on source term and impact on the population, which need to be considered to ensure that the calculated risks are neither overly conservative nor optimistic.

The above information illustrates the importance of having a windsock system that can detect low winds. Ordinary airport windsocks cannot detect low wind direction and speed.

Our new Windsock, Evacuation Systems was designed for emergency situations, and for use in various industries to detect low and high wind speeds.. It can detect winds below 1 mile per hour and higher.

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For decades the principal use of the windsock has been to aid aircraft in take off and landings. Since then they have been erroneously used for determining the drift of chemicals, dust, smoke, and other airborne contaminates. The antiquated open end design makes it necessary for large volumes of air to enter and exit the sock.

At low wind speeds the old style airport windsock hangs limp unable to demonstrate the direction or speed of the wind. Ordinary airport windsocks were not designed for today’s modern commercial use.

Today only small prop aircraft use the windsock for visual sighting of the wind direction. Large jets would never use a windsock to land or takeoff. Instrumentation and computer guidance is in place. the old style airport windsock requires a wind speed of 8 to 10 miles per hour to “fill up”.

Using the advanced Windsock Evacuation System by Wind Tracker has proven to be reliable and trustworthy, keeping workers and others safe from airborne contaminates?

Remember, when wind is above 8 to 10 miles per hour it becomes your friend, dispersing materials into a larger volume of air. When the wind speed is lower then 10 miles per hour it “carries along” the hazardous materials, posing a dangerous threat to workers and others.

The ordinary windsock cannot illustrate wind speed. This can be important if you are concerned about “chemical trespass”. The airborne materials may originate at your location but can soon travel onto other properties.

Now for the first time there is a “windsock system” that will animate the wind at or below 1 mile per hour. Production delivery, and storage systems are complex in their methods of operation and locations.

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What is the most critical element when choosing a windsock system?

If the windsock cannot detect wind at or below 10 miles per hour it for evacuations, drift control, or field safety. The ability to detect wind movement at low wind speed is a critical factor.

Wind Direction is Multi-Directional

The wind moves in several directions at one time depending on the force of the wind, obstacles, proximity to the ground, weather conditions, and other natural and man made factors. Therefore you need a windsock system that can detect the winds movement during an evacuation, aircraft landing, loading and unloading operations, etc.

Unlike old style airport windsocks only the Wind Tracker can show erratic air movement and wind shears. Incorporate the Wind Tracker into your emergency evacuation planning.

Are you storing or using chemicals, concerned about drift control, involved in safety operations and need to know the wind movement and direction at speeds even below 3 miles per hour? Then the Wind Tracker™ Windsock Evacuation System is the best choice. One glance tells you the direction and speed of the wind.

Wind Tracker™, The only Windsock Evacuation System that can accurately show wind direction and speed for chemical drift – evacuations