Pipe Racks and Piping

Piping in processing facilities may be routed and supported in several ways the most common are  

Grade level piping that is supported by sleepers has the potential to be immersed in a pool fire during an incident. Choice of routing and provision of 

Pipe racks and load-bearing piping supports located in areas with a high fire exposure can be protected by one or more of the following passive or active features  

A pipe trench is an installation of process and utility piping on supports within a below grade, open excavated trench. Pipe trenches may provide some protection from damage due to explosion overpressures or explosion fragments or missiles. 

Processing facilities have experienced several serious pipe trench fires. Contributing to the size of the fires were inadequate or plugged drains, lack of isolation valves, pipelines on the ground, or inadequate fire stops along the length of the trenches. Pipe trench fires can result in significant business interruption. 

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