Many types of explosions often occur in industrial settings, and research is being conducted to identify the causes and establish preventive measures. The aim of this study is to investigate slag yards, where metal residues are cooled in the steel industry, often causing steam explosions. The cause of accidents and explosion simulation analyses were used to investigate the sources of steam explosions in a slag yard. The explosion intensity of 4 kg of TNT was measured for the purpose of predicting the intensity of a steam explosion. This was compared with a simulation of explosion damage that occurred in 2017. These results could not be produced from small-scale experiments, and they indicate that damage resulting from actual explosions poses a potential risk to pipes that cannot be directly observed. We conclude that this damage can lead to a domino accident, and this study provides results for estimating the possibility of future damage. (C) 2020 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.