Portable fire fighting equipment

Definitions

Fireproofing Zones

For liquid pool fires, the FPZ is a volume which a cylinder shall have a radius of 9 m from the Potential Source of Leakage (PSL) and a height of 9 m above the Hazard Level (HL).

For liquid or vapour torch fires, the FPZ is a volume with a special shape. The radius of the sphere shall be 9 m.

Sphere / bullet storage shell (up to their connecting flanges and nozzles) containing liquefied gases shall be considered as Fire Potential Equipment.

Structures Supporting Equipment

Steel columns, beams and any members within the FPZ designed for the purpose of reducing the effective buckling length of the columns shall be fireproofed.

When resistance to mechanical damage is required towards the bottom of a column, the fireproofing shall be made of reinforced concrete erected from grade level up to a minimum 1.8 m height.

Stairways, walkways, and platforms designed mainly for live loads and top surfaces of beams supporting floor plates, gratings or equipment are normally not fireproofed.

In the early stages of design features which shall be considered include:

Comparison of cost and construction time for prefabricated concrete structures versus steel structures and fireproofing.

Fire protection policy and plant availability.

Minimizing the need for bracing in a framework where fireproofing is required.

The weight of fireproofing.

The increased overall dimensions of fireproofed members.

Prefabrication

Measures to protect supporting steel structures from torch fires generating thermal radiation level of 350 KW / m² are in descending order of preference:

A judicious location and orientation of PSL’s relative to supporting steel structures in order to avoid impact of accidentally released product jets and in case of ignition of the resultant jet flame on the structure.

Application of fire shielding either near the PSL or near the surfaces to be protected to deflect the jet or jet flame and thus avoid impact.

If neither of the above is possible or practical, application of the fireproofing as specified.
Steel Pipe Supports

Individual pipe supports and steel structures supporting overhead piping located in an FPZ shall be fireproofed if one or more of the following apply:

The pipe is a flare line or an emergency depressurizing vent line.

The pipe contains toxic material.

The pipe is connected to equipment which would be severely damaged by additional nozzle loading in the event of loss of pipe support.

The pipe runs beneath an air cooler whose steel support structure is fireproofed (including horizontal members).

The pipe carries fire-fighting water and / or other utilities which would reduce the fire-fighting capability in the event of loss of support.

The pipe is an instrument airline or hydraulic control line whose loss would interfere with the ability to shut down the plant.

Spring hangers shall be fireproofed with suitable easy removable covers such as PYTEC fire protection system or equivalent.

Columns of pipe racks and pipe supports shall be fireproofed from HL up to 0.3 m below the lowest horizontal member of the structure.

Diagonal bracing for resisting only lateral forces shall not be fireproofed.
Vessels and Exchangers

The outside of skirts of vertical vessels located within an FPZ shall be fireproofed if the vessel contains a total of more than 2 metric tons of flammable product, the total mass (including contents) being more than 10 metric tons or it contains toxic material. The inside of skirts shall be fireproofed if the diameter is 1.2 meter and above.

Inside and outside fireproofing of vessel skirts shall be in accordance with the reference Standard Drawing

Supports for Insulation and Fireproofing.

Saddles supporting horizontal vessels and exchangers shall not be fireproofed.

If there are flanged pipe connections within the circumference of the skirt of vertical vessels, Fireproofing shall be applied to the inside of the skirt as well.

ESD Valves

Actuators of ESD valves when match “Emergency Shut Down Philosophy”, Protection flow chart shall be fireproofed using flexible covers. Flexible covers shall be installed directly on actuator casing with uniform thickness. The fire protection shall protect the actuators at least 30 minutes assuming a continuous total exposure to fire with a flame temperature of 1100 °C.

Critical Control and Power cabling serving safeguarding systems shall be installed and fire protected against direct radiation and flame impingement.

Codes and Standards

American Welding Society Publication (AWS)

AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code

Underwriter’s Laboratories, Inc. (UL)

UL 1709 Fire Resistance Rapid Temperature Rise

Occupational Safety And Health Administration (OSHA)

Code of Federal Regulations, Title 29

British Standards

BS 476 Part 20 : 1987 New Appendix D : Hydrocarbon Curve Torch Fire

Decision Flow Chart for Fireproofing of Structures Supporting Equipment

General

Materials

Material Performances

b. Shore hardness shall be at least 40.

Installation

General Considerations for Application of Materials

Steel work surfaces which are to be fireproofed with lightweight vermiculite concrete shall be prepared and painted in accordance with Specification for Painting.

Where alternative fire proofing materials are proposed, the specification for the surface preparation and painting shall be considered as integral part of this fire protection and details be submitted for approval to Contractor.
b. Fireproofing supports and mesh reinforcement

The Applicator in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, shall submit for approval the detailed procedure for the fireproofing installation to the Contractor prior to commencing work.

Mesh reinforcement shall be plastified & galvanized or be stainless steel type to ensure the durability of the fire protection against environmental corrosion.

c. Top coat

Any seal coat or paint system for application to the external surfaces of the fireproofing materials must be recommended by the manufacturers shall approved by Contractor.

d. Accidental damage

Columns (steel members) which have fire proofing of light weight vermiculite concrete and which are located within 1.5 m of an access way for vehicles and maintenance equipment shall be protected from damage. The type of protection proposed shall be submitted for approval to Contractor.

e. Sealing

At all locations where steelwork emerges from fireproofing, the interface shall be sealed.

Application methods on steel profile

For steel profile up to 200 mm between wings / flanges the “Solid Fill” method shall be used. For Steel Profile above 200 mm between flanges the “Following The Profile” method shall be used.

The boxed configuration is not allowed.

Inspection and testing

The applicator shall ensure that all work is inspected at all stages for quality control in respect of reinforcement strength, coverage, thickness, finish uniformity and application.

The applicator shall ensure that all materials meet the service conditions and design requirements.

Acceptance of applied thickness shall be based upon random measurements, but in no case shall be less than the minimum stated within the fireproofing manufacturer’s application specification and this document.

Repair

Repair materials and procedures shall be approved by Contractor prior to commencing repair work.

Surface finishing of repaired material shall be identical to the finish of the adjacent original approved application.

Definitions

Ensure that this procedure is being applied for the control of all activities through Contractor Supervision and Subcontractor Management

Is responsible for the development of this procedure and monitoring compliance

Shall ensure that sufficient resources are provided to implement this procedure and that the procedure is understood and applied correctly.

Shall be thoroughly familiar with this procedure with their individual responsibilities regarding its implementation and enforcement.

Shall carry out regular inspections (daily) of their work areas to ensure that the requirements under this procedure are being followed.

Instructions

Guidelines for STARRT

Subcontractor Supervision shall ensure employee involvement in the STARRT process by:

Ensuring that all employees under their charge are trained in the STARRT process.

Establishing a system to follow-up with all of their crews to verify the STARRT process is being correctly implemented.

Requiring employees to participate in an individual STARRT review prior to the start of each shift for each new task.

Supervisors shall discuss the hazards relating to the project / facility with the employees to compile information necessary to complete the STARRT card

Upon completion of the STARRT card supervisors shall review the requirements of the card with the employees performing the work and the supervisor should sign the card.

The Card shall be translated into the common spoken language and displayed for review in the immediate work area.

STARRT cards are to be returned to the supervisor and forwarded to the Subcontractor Safety Supervisor’s office as appropriate at the end of each shift or completion of the work task. The supervisor is responsible for ensuring that cards are properly completed, signed and returned.

STARRT cards should be reviewed for proper usage / completion by the Health, Safety and Environmental Supervisor and maintained on file in the subcontractor HS&E Office.

Guidelines for Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)

The JHA may be included as part of a work plan or work package and the requirements of the JHA be incorporated into hazardous work permits (HWP) as well as project / facility specific HSE plans as appropriate.

A JHA of specific jobs or operations is required for but not limited to the following:

New jobs or tasks that present unspecified or unknown hazards.

Jobs or tasks involving new equipment, machinery or procedures.

Major job categories that shall be repeated frequently.

Jobs or tasks that have historically experienced a repeated or significant rate of accidents, injuries, exposures or near misses.

Jobs involving environmental remediation of hazardous waste.

Jobs or tasks that in the professional judgment of the responsible HSE Representative require a formal JHA.

Jobs or tasks are broken down into a series of successive steps or activities. Required or anticipated tools and equipment for each step or activity are to be included. All potential hazards within each step or activity are identified.

Include the following hazard categories in the JHA:

Chemical exposures / Oxygen deficiency / Exposures to ionizing and non-ionizing / radiation / Electrical hazards / Physical hazards / Fire and explosion / Temperature extremes / Excessive noise / Biological hazards

Input should be solicited from multi-disciplinary professional staff for hazard evaluation. This input should include safety, industrial hygiene, health physics, and engineering personnel.

After all known suspected or potential hazards have been identified and accident experience reviewed, a plan must be developed with solutions to eliminate or control hazards.

The elimination or control of the hazard should be implemented first by engineering methods, then by administrative methods and as a last resort, by the proper use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).

Guidelines For Using the Hazard Control Sheets

The Hazard Control Sheet applicable to a work activity shall be used as a reference on developing a STARRT card or a specific Job Hazard Analysis.

In circumstances where a STARRT card or JHA are not deemed necessary then the Hazard Control sheet may be used as a guideline for conducting a task team talk by supervision to their employees.

References

BS HSE Procedures / Attachments / STARRT Card

Job Hazard Analysis and Control Program Sheets

Safety Task Analysis Risk Reduction Talk (STARRT) Card

Job Hazard Analysis