Active protection measures, fire

Industrial fire protection and safety engineers attempt to eliminate hazards at their source or to reduce their intensity with protective systems. Hazard elimination may typically require the use of alternative and less toxic materials, changes in the process, spacing or guarding, improved ventilation or, spill control or inventory reduction measures, fire and explosion protective measures - both active and passive mechanisms, protective clothing, etc. The level or protection is dependent on the risk prevalent at the facility versus the cost to implement safety measures. 

Most petroleum and chemical facilities rely on inherent safety and control features of the process, inherent design arrangements of the facility, and process safety ESD features as the prime loss prevention measures. These features are immediately utilized at the time of an incident. Passive and active explosion and fire protection measures are applicable after the initiating event has occurred and an adverse affect to the operation has been realized. These features are used until their capability has been exhausted or the incident has been controlled. 

The effectiveness of fire protection measures, both passive and active. 

Water spray systems for hydrocarbon facilities are routinely specified because of the rapid application means the system can provide and the excellent heat absorption a water based system represents. Water sprays are also used when passive fire protection measures (i.e., fireproofing, spacing, etc.) cannot practically be utilized. The key to providing an effective system is to ensure the surfaces to be protected receive adequate water densities and that the arrangements to activate the system are equally fast acting. By far the highest... 

Human factors and ergonomics concern the ability of personnel to perform their job functions within the physical and mental capabilities or limitations of a human being. Human beings have certain tolerances and personal attitudes. Tolerances can be related to the ability to accept information, how quickly the information can be understood and the ability and speed to perform manual activities. When information is confusing, lacking or overtaxing, the ability to understand and act upon it quickly or effectively is absent. It is therefore imperative to provide concise, adequate and only pertinent information to do all the tasks associated with petroleum activities. This includes activities associated with emergency fire and explosion protection measures. 

An integrated system that affords protection against fire and its effects. It may be composed of either active or passive fire protection measures. The fire protection system should be commensurate with the level of hazard it is protecting. 

Fire protection measures in buildings are those features in the design and use that play a role in controlling the spread of fire and allowing the occupants to escape. They can be considered to operate in two separate ways -active and passive. 

Active measures are those that react to the presence of fire or the products of combustion and initiate actions aimed at extinguishing the fire and ensuring the escape of the building s occupants. These measures may have been installed as a result of the fire risk assessment or they may have been a mandatory requirement of the fire authority as a condition for the issue of a fire certificate. Typical active fire protection measures are considered below. 

The criticality of the equipment to continued business operations. Possible fire and explosion exposures to the facility from adjacent hazards. The effectiveness of fire and explosion protective measures, both active and passive. 

Neither passive nor active fire protection measures can be installed and then forgotten they require regular inspection and maintenance. Service contracts should be established with accredited contractors for installed equipment but the fire safety manager should also ensure that regular inspections are made of escape routes, fire doors and housekeeping standards and that suitable records of such inspections are kept. 

Fire protection of buiidings, the preventive and protective measures that wiii protect persons in the event of a fire, fall into two broad categories referred as passive and active protection. 

Measures to reduce the impact of fire include active and passive systems. Active systems include automatic sprinkler, water deluge, water mist, gaseous agent, dry chemical, foam, and standpipe handle systems. Passive protection is provided by fire resistive construction, including spray-applied or cementitious fireproofing of steel, concrete/masonry construction, and water-filled steel columns. Chapter 7 provides details on the design of fire protection systems. 

In addition, LNG storage and dispensing systems shall be protected by methane detectors that will sound an alarm and shut down the dispenser. A fire suppression system activated by infrared and ultraviolet flame sensors shall be included to protect the area where the vehicles are refueled. Additional measures such as automatically calling the fire department when the fire suppression system is activated should be considered. 

Because of this, in most countries the fire regulations specify periods of fire resistance, as measured in a standard fire-test for load-bearing elements, depending upon the size and function of the building. They tend to concentrate on passive rather than active methods of protection, and the required periods of fire resistance are frequently listed in a tabular format relating periods of fire resistance to maximum compartment dimensions and building height for various types of occupancy. 

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