Passive Fire Protection
Passive fire protection is an effective system for protection of hydrocarbon and jet fire on bulkhead, vessels, pipes, cable tray system and structural members. This generally consists of a coating of fire resistant insulating media applied to a vessel or steel surface. It is often used where water or other active protection media supplies are inadequate, such as in remote locations, or where there are difficulties with handling fire water run-off. Fire walls are another form of passive fire protection that is used to prevent the spread of fire and the exposure of adjacent equipment to thermal radiation.
For the protection of vessels from fire exposure there are a number of types of passive fire protection that can be applied.
- mortar based coating
- intumescent coating
- sublimation coating
- mineral fibre matting
- earth mounds
The protective systems based on coatings are normally sprayed onto the surface following mixing of the required components. A reinforcing glass fibre scrim or steel wire gauze is applied to prevent cracking and peeling of the coating under fire conditions and to provide additional strength to resist the impact of high pressure water jets. The fire protective coating is further protected by a weather protective top layer. The fire resistant performance of the coatings is dependent on the thickness of the coating. Fibre matting systems consist of fireproof mineral fibre matting clad with a protective galvanised steel sheet. The protective capability of the system is provided by the poor heat conductivity of the system.
Earth mounds are commonly used in the LPG industry, where vessels are either fully or partially buried in an earth mound. The presence of the earth mound effectively prevents a fire from developing around the vessel.
Fire walls are sometimes employed in process and storage areas to prevent the spread of fire and protect adjacent equipment from thermal radiation. These may be an integral part of a process building or warehouse structure or may consist of a free-standing wall specifically built for the purpose. Firewalls are normally built of brick, concrete or masonry and the number and size of openings should be kept to a minimum.
Alstern Technologies provide protection of hydrocarbon and jet fire on bulkhead, vessels, pipes, cable tray system and structural members using cementitious-based or mastic based PFP products. These products are capable of withstanding 60 minutes jetfire (J30) and 60 minutes hydrocarbon pool fire (H30).
