High-risk industrial facilities found in petrochemical and liquefied natural gas require strict compliance with the safety requirements for fireproofing. The scope of fire safety serves as a guideline to provide reasonable provisions for the protection of the facility, personnel, and the surrounding environment from damages caused by fire.
The value of fireproofing is seen during the early stages of fire when the first actions are directed to the shutdown of units, isolation of fuel flow, fixed suppression of equipment, and setting up of cooling water streams.
If safety requirements for fireproofing are not observed and implemented, pipelines and equipment supports will lose their strength due to heat exposure. This can lead to structure collapse, gasket failures, and chemical leaks. Also, if unprotected power or control wirings are incapacitated, activation of emergency isolation valves or automatic water spray systems can be jeopardised.
For petrochemical plants, the heat produced or absorbed by chemical reactions must always be considered. Proper sizes for the pipes, pumps, compressors and related equipment must be ensured for maximum handling capacity. They should also withstand and perform their function well under a different range of pressures.
Drainage
Functional drainage systems are essential in managing accidental spills of flammable materials. They need to be washed away from high-risk equipment and another possible source of ignition. Drainage systems also prevent released chemicals from pooling, floating or spreading around the affected area.
Isolation and Depressurizing of Plant
The most efficient way in extinguishing fires is by removing the source of fuel aware from the fire. In industrial processing plants, this can be done through isolation valves that can either be manually or electrically activated.
Means of Escape
Having emergency exits are considered a normal standard operating procedure that spans many industries and commercial establishments. These emergency escape routes must be checked and maintained on a regular basis. Escape routes also provide a reasonably safe access for first responders, rescue operations and evacuation.
Passive Fire Protection
While the design, location, spacing, and drainage setting are substantial in planning for fire protection, additional protective measures are still necessary. One protective measure is to enhance the capacity of equipment and supporting structures with fireproofing. Maintaining structural integrity during a fire is paramount for safety and efficient control.
Fireproofing is a passive fire protection method used to make materials or structures more resistant to fire. Fireproofing systems help reduce corporate losses, protect personnel and equipment by controlling or extinguishing a fire before the effects wreak havoc and cause equipment, system, and support failure.
Active Fire Protection
A good plant design and layout includes a reliable supply of utility services in water, steam and electric power. For petrochemical plants, fire-water hydrants, fire equipment boxes, fixed monitors and dry chemical extinguishers must be installed, calibrated and maintained.
Emergency Response
Information drive and emergency drills help prepare the staff in possible emergency scenarios. Adequate signage and emergency flow charts assist in locating the nearest firefighting equipment or escape route.
Identifying the safety requirements for fireproofing in petrochemical facilities involves a combination of critical analysis, experience and risk assessment that includes creating possible fire scenarios that become the focal point of qualitative risk assessment.
Bellis Australia has been operative in the gas, oil and energy industry for more than three decades. With their impressive array of high-quality fireproofing materials, Bellis offers a turnkey fireproofing service based on the standard fire safety requirements.
Bellis have worked with major companies in the LNG and petrochemical industry around Australia and Internationally.
Contact Bellis Australia for your next fireproofing project today.