Fire Protection System

This section should provide relevant information on the fire protection systems as described in paras 3.65-3.70. It should justify the provisions made to ensure that the plant design provides adequate fire protection. The design should include adequate provisions for defence in depth in the event of a fire, and should provide fire prevention, fire detection, fire warning, fire suppression and fire containment. Consideration should be given to the selection of materials, the physical separation of redundant systems, the seismic qualification of equipment and the use of barriers to segregate redundant trains. 

The extent to which the design has been successful in providing adequate fire protection should be assessed this section may refer to other sections of the SAR for this information (e.g. the chapter on safety analyses). Where appropriate, the provisions to ensure the fire safety of personnel may also be described in this section. Further discussion on matters to be covered in this section of the SAR is provided in Ref. [14]. 

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Dow Fire and Explosion Index. The Dow Eire and Explosion Index (3) is a procedure usehil for determining the relative degree of hazard related to flammable and explosive materials. This Index form works essentially the same way as an income tax form. Penalties are provided for inventory, extended temperatures and pressures, reactivity, etc, and credits are appHed for fire protection systems, process control (qv), and material isolation. The complete procedure is capable of estimating a doUar amount for the maximum probable property damage and the business intermptionloss based on an empirical correlation provided with the Index. 

Carbon steel heat exchangers, cast iron water boxes, screens, pump components, service water system piping, standpipes, fire protection systems, galvanized steel, engine components, and virtually all non-stainless ferrous components are subject to significant corrosion in oxygenated water. 

NFPA 750 Standard on Water Mist Fire Protection Systems. National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. 

Critical Equipment Equipment, instrumentation, controls, or systems whose malfunction or failure would likely result in a catastrophic release of highly hazardous chemicals, or whose proper operation is required to mitigate the consequences of such release. (Examples are most safety systems, such as area LEL monitors, fire protection systems such as deluge or underground systems, and key operational equipment usually handling high pressures or large volumes.)... 

The Guidelines for Process Equipment Reliability Data with Data Tables covers a variety of components used in the chemical process industry, including electrical equipment, analyzers, instrumentation and controls, detectors, heat exchangers, piping systems, rotating equipment (pump, compressor, and fan), valves, and fire protection systems. 

Risk sensitivity results are also very useful in identifying key elements in your existing loss prevention program. For example, suppose your fire protection system was assumed to have a very low probability of failure because you test it weekly. Fire protection failures may not show up as an important contributor to your total risk (because failure is so unlikely), but your total risk estimate may be extremely sensitive to any change in the probability of fire protection failures. Flence you should not divert resources away from testing the fire protection system unless the alternate use of funds will decrease risk more than the reduced testing will increase risk. 

OTI607 Availability and properties of passive and active fire protection systems... 

Operating and maintenance costs for safety instruments and interlocks, fire protection systems, personal protective equipment, and other safety equipment. 

The third line includes fixed fire protection systems (sprinklers, water sprays, or deluge systems, monitor guns, etc.), dikes, designed drainage systems, and other systems that control or iiiitigaic ha. ardous releases. 

Mitigation System Resmnses Dikes and drainage. Hares, Fire protection systems (active and passive). Explosion vents. Toxic gas absorption... 

Ensure that the fire protection systems in the major equipim-m l1c< in.. u rooms are adequate and are periodically tested... 

Consider a foam fire protection system for the first stage pump aic. ... 

Table 6.2 presents an overview of surface-emissive powers measured in the British Gas tests, as back-calculated from radiometer readings. Peak values of surface-emissive powers were approximately 100 kW/m higher than these average values, but only for a short duration. Other large-scale tests include those conducted to investigate the performance of fire-protection systems for LPG tanks. 

Closed Cooling W.ater Systems. Auxiliary Steam. Service Air. . Instrument Air -Fire Protection System. .Miscellaneous (Auxiliary Systems). Miscellaneous (Balance of Plant)... 

Miller, M.J. Reliability of Fire Protection Systems. Chemical Engineering Progress, Vol. 70, No. 4, April 1974, pp. 22-67. 

Two different types of fire protection systems can be considered ... 

A typical block layout for a diesel engine room is given in Figure 15.29, showing the necessary auxiliaries and local control panels. Not shown but also necessary are cranes and fire-protection systems. 

In the past, copper was believed to be toxic to most microbiological species. Although this may be true in a test tube under laboratory conditions, it is not generally true in the real world. In this real world, microbial communities excrete slime layers which tend to sequester the copper ions and prevent their contact with the actual microbial cells, Aus preventing the copper from killing the microbes. Many cases of MIC in copper and copper alloys have been documented, especially of heat-exchange tubes, potable water, and fire protection system piping. 

Personnel changes Flares and vent stacks Fire protection systems ... 

To design a successful high speed fire protection system, an engineer must take many factors into consideration. In addition, each individual installation typically has characteristics that require special attention. Because of the nature of the hazard involved and the need for such extremely fast response, the design of the high speed detection system is best left to a skilled expert. 

Sprinklers and fire protection systems are required by NFPA Codes, but are often dependent on the overall size of the facility and quantity of stored flammable/combustible material. The wisest course of action is to provide heat and smoke detectors in each laboratory and provide a sprinkler system at least in the hallways. Each laboratory should have at least one ABC portable fire extinguisher. Computers have become more important to laboratories than ever. Halon fire extinguishing systems are available which are nondestructive to both electronic equipment and human life. These should be employed for fire protection. 

Operational personnel should be expected to suppress only very small incipient fires. All other emergencies are to be handled with ESD/blowdown, isolation, fire protection systems (active or passive) or exhaustion of fuel sources by the incident. 

Plant explosion spread incident and impacted fire protection systems. 

Ideally most oil or gas incidents will be controlled by the process shut down systems (ESD, depressurization, drainage, etc.) and hopeful the fire protection systems (fireproofing, water deluge, etc ), will not be required. However these primary fire defense systems may not be able to control fire incidents if previous explosions have previously occurred. Before any consideration of fire suppression efforts, explosion effects must first be analyzed to determine the extent of protection necessary. Most major fire incidents associated with hydrocarbon process incidents are preceded by explosion incident. 

Explosions are the most destructive occurrence that can transpire at a hydrocarbon facility. Explosions may happen too quickly for conventional fire protection systems to be effective. Once an explosion occurs damage may result from several events ... 

In the oil. and gas industry there are generally five foam fire protection systems commonly encountered. ... 

Where facilities are exposed to the constant radiation of the sun, sun shades are provided over exterior exposed equipment that may not function properly at elevated temperatures or would deteriorate rapidly if left continual exposed to the direct sunlight. Most electrical or electronic equipment is rated for a maximum operating temperature of 40 °C (104 °F) unless otherwise specified, e.g., hazardous area lighting temperatures are normally specified for 40 °C (104 °F) limit. Of particular concern for fire protection systems are those containing storage for foam concentrates rubber hoses or other rubber components which may dry and crack. 

Switchgear and relay rooms are required to have smoke detection per NFPA 850, section 5.8.4 and IEEE 979, section 2.7. The activation of the fire alarm should shut down the air handling system. If the facility is especially critical to the continued hydrocarbon process consideration of a fixed fire protection system should be evaluated. 

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