The Design Institute for Emergency Relief Systems (DIERS) was formed in 1976 as consortium of 29 companies to develop methods for the design of emergency relief systems to handle runaway reactions. DIERS spent $1.6 million to investigate the two-phase vapor-liquid onset / disengagement dynamics and the hydrodynamics of emergency relief systems. Of particular interest to DIERS were the prediction of two-phase flow venting and the applicability of various sizing methods for two-phase vapor-liquid flashing flow.
DIERS became a Users Group in 1985 with over 200 companies (75 percent domestic and 25 percent international) ultimately requesting membership and having their corporate representatives participate in the semi-annual meetings.
DIERS (formerly the DIERS Users Group) is a Technical Entity within the AIChE. Individuals with a degree in a STEM field (e.g., Bachelor's, Master's, PhD) are eligible to become members of DIERS. The basis for Membership in DIERS has been changed from corporate representation to individual membership. Eligibility for DIERS membership is contained in the new DIERS Bylaws (as revised in December 2020). Individual membership requires a yearly payment of $25 to AIChE for the benefit of DIERS. For more information, please refer to the DIERS Introduction Letter.
The Purpose of DIERS to reduce the frequency, severity and consequences of pressure producing accidents, and to develop new techniques which will improve the design of emergency relief systems.