DOW's Fire and Explosion Index Hazard Classification Guide (DOW Index) has become a standard document in many countries, including several developing countries. The DOW Index, first issued by the DOW Chemical Co. in 1964, was based upon the Factory Mutual's Chemical Occupancy Classification Guide. The latter as well as subsequent revisions of the DOW Index are based primarily on the experiences in the U.S. which, while applicable to other developed countries, will not be applicable to developing countries in toto, due to differences in costs, training, attitudes and regulations. (This is not intended as a criticism of the situation in the developing countries, since many of the developed countries had themselves passed through similar situations in previous years.) Application of the DOW Index as is, therefore, results in lower than realistic values, thus giving a false sense of security than is actually warranted by the situation in hand. Suggested below are changes that should be and can easily be made to take into account the ground realities. Mentioned in separate sections are also a few comments on the recently issued DOW Index, 7th edition, to make it more internationally user-friendly, as well as suggestions to include some more items to make the DOW Index more dynamic. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
