What is the primary goal of a purging operation in the context of fire safety?

In the context of fire safety, the primary goal of a purging operation is to eliminate combustible materials. Purging involves removing flammable vapors or gases from a system, such as pipelines or tanks, to lower the risk of fire or explosion. By displacing these combustible substances with non-flammable gases like nitrogen or air, the operation reduces the potential for ignition sources to cause a fire. This is particularly important before maintenance or cleaning operations are conducted, as it ensures the environment is safe from hazardous vapors.

While maintaining high pressure, enhancing chemical reactions, and reducing storage costs may be relevant in other industrial processes, they do not focus on the immediate objectives of fire safety and preventing combustion incidents. The effectiveness of the purging operation is directly tied to its ability to remove flammable materials, making safety the top priority.