Fireproofing requirements

Determining fireproofing requirements involves experience-based or risk-based evaluation as suggested in Chapter 6. An approach for selecting fireproofing includes the following steps ... 

Anchors encased in insulation or fireproofing required for equipment within enclosed facilities may not require corrosion protection depending on service location or if in... 

At this moment, the price of the used granular PCM exceeds 10 EURO/kg due to the test production stage. Our calculation showed the cost payback time can be less than 10 years when the PCM cost would be reduced to 4 EURO/kg under the electrical utility rate condition in Japan. Further cost reduction will be needed to promote the actual system. In addition we have to care of flammability of paraffin wax as PCM in use of inside the buildings. Fortunately, PCM is placed under the OA floor board made of fireproof cement-mortal and above the concrete slab in this system. It may not have any problems under the Fire Defense Law in Japan. However, further development of noninflammable PCM granules, for example micro encapsulation of mixture of inorganic and organic PCM, is required. 

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. 

Following an explosion incident, local fires develop which it left uncontrolled, result in a conflagration of the entire facility and its destruction. Fire protection measures are provided as required to control these occurrences. The ideal fire protection measure is one that does not require addition action to implement and is always in place. These methods are considered passive protection measures and the most familiar is fireproofing. 

Cementitious materials use a hydraulically setting cement such as Portland cement as a binder with a filler material of good insulation properties, e.g., verminculite, perlite, etc. Concrete us frequently used for fireproofing because it is easily installed, readily available, is quite durable and generally economical compared to other methods. It is heavy compared to other materials and requires more steel to support that other methods. 

Normally where it is necessary, fireproofing is preferred over water spray for several reasons. The fireproofing is a passive inherent safety feature, while the water spray is a vulnerable active system that requires auxiliary control to be activated. Additionally the water spray relies on supplemental support systems that may be vulnerable to failures, i.e., pumps, distribution network, etc. The integrity of fireproofing systems is generally considered superior to explosion incidents compared to water spray piping systems. The typical application of water sprays in place of fireproofing is for vessel protection. 

A passive fire protection system requires no action to occur for it to function per its design intent. Examples of passive fire protection methods are fireproofing, spill containment, and physical separation of units and buildings. 

The actuator and power supply for any depressuring valve with a double action or an energize to open actuator that may be exposed to fire should be fireproofed for a minimum of 15 minutes, per the UL 1 709 high rise fire test. Fireproofing of the actuator and power supply is not required with the fail-open design. 

For example, if LPG vessels are considered to be within a fire-scenario envelope, they require fireproofing unless protected by a fixed water spray system. API Standard 2510, Design and Construction of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Installations (API, 2001) recommends fireproofing pipe supports within 50 ft (15 m) of the LPG vessel, or within the spill containment area. 

All rated fireproofing systems should be carefully installed to specification and manufacturer s requirements. Substrate surfaces should be cleaned so they are free from oil, grease, liquid contaminants, rust, scale, and dust. If a primer is required, it should be compatible with the fireproofing. Specifications to be followed include the specified thickness or number of layers, adequate attachment, and proper caulking, sealing, or top-coating of the systems. 

Satisfactory performance of the fireproofing material over its expected lifetime depends on the user s and the applier s knowledge of materials and application techniques and on continuing inspection by qualified personnel. Specifically, once a fireproofing system has been chosen, it is imperative that personnel involved in each phase of the project be familiar with the relevant aspects of the manufacturer s requirements and specifications. 

The top surface of a beam that requires fireproofing need not be fireproofed when that beam supports steel flooring or piping. 

Isolation valves should be easily accessible under adverse conditions or valve should be remotely operable. The isolation valve should be fire rated and the actuator and power cables should be fire proofed. Twenty minutes of fireproofing is required when the design is not "fail closed." Isolation valves can serve a dual function, such as equipment isolation. The isolation valves should be located as close to the outlet flange of the vessel as possible. 

In evident areas of bond failure, fireproofing should be removed and the substrate should be thoroughly cleaned and properly primed before new material is applied. If surface coating is required to prevent moisture from penetrating, it should be renewed at intervals recommended by the manufacturer. The previously listed inspections should be completed prior to renewal of coating so that defects are not hidden by the coating. 

Phosphate ester (e.g., Fyrquel ) Has a higher flash point than hydrocarbon oils and is considered fire-resistant, not fireproof. Its use was more common until the advent of fluorocarbon fluids. Reacts slowly with water from water vapor when in use, causing a decrease in potential vacuum. Thus it is necessary to change the pump oil more often than would be required with hydrocarbon oils. 

A fireproof safe is constructed of loosely packed asbestos contained between thin sheets of stainless steel. The safe is built in the form of a cube with inside and outside dimensions of 0.5 and 1.0 m. If the safe is initially uniform in temperature at 30°C and the outside is suddenly exposed to a convection environment at 600°C, h = 100 W/m2 °C, calculate the time required for the inside temperature to reach 150°C. Assume the inside surface is insulated, and neglect the resistance and capacitance of the stainless steel. Take the properties of asbestos as k = 0.16 W/m °C, a = 3.5 x 10 7 m2/s. 

The procedure involved in indirect cremation is much more fuel-intensive than that of direct cremation, since the former requires that the entire fireproof mass of the recuperator be heated to 1000°C (about 1830°F). The frequency of cremations has a very significant effect on fuel consumption, since the oven s firebrick absorbs most of the heat generated during the first cremations. For this reason fuel consumption is lowest when the oven is operating at thermal equilibrium. 

Topf revised its cost estimate for the third oven on September 25, 1941,82 and sent the required material to Auschwitz on October 21, a total of 3,548.5 kg.83 Construction of the foundation for the third oven began on November 19,1941, and was completed on December 3 84 work was then discontinued due to a lack of fireproof material. The pertinent invoice issued by Topf is dated December 16, 1941.85 Due to a Waggonsperre (railroad car prohibition86), however, construction of the ovens... 

Operations requiring larger quantities of heat were carried out in the courtyard in the laundry, and an old graphite furnace donated by the master of the mint, Bunsen (a relative of the famous chemist), served as an oven but one fine day in the course of one of the experiments this improvised fireproof laboratory also went up in flames. 

Active safeguards are those that require human procedures or mechanical initiation to operate (e.g., work permit procedures, scrubber caustic circulation). Passive safeguards are those that do not require any initiation (e.g., concrete fireproofing, elevated vent stack for dispersion). 

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