1st Edition
Hazardous Area Classification in Petroleum and Chemical Plants A Guide to Mitigating Risk
Due to an increase in the wide-range of chemicals in petrochemical processing industries, as well as frequency of use, there has been a steady rise in flammability problems and other hazards. Hazardous Area Classification in Petroleum and Chemical Plants: A Guide to Mitigating Risk outlines the necessities of explosion protection in oil, gas and chemical industries, and discusses fire and occupancy hazards, extinguishing methods, hazard identification, and classification of materials. This book addresses these issues and concerns and presents a simple hazard identification system to help offset future problems.
It offers information on the hazards of various materials and their level of severity as it relates to fire prevention, exposure, and control. The system provides an alerting signal and on-the-spot information to help protect lives in an industrial plant or storage location during fire emergencies. Understanding the hazard helps to ensure that the process equipment is properly selected, installed, and operated to provide a safe operating system.
This text also includes a summary of the rules, methods, and requirements for fighting a fire, introduces various hazard identification systems.
• Includes a summary of the rules, methods, and requirements needed to extinguish a fire
• Introduces various hazard identification systems
• Includes concepts for layout and spacing of equipment in process plants
The book serves as resource for plant design engineers as well as plant protection and safety personnel in planning for effective firefighting operations.
Classification of Fires and Fire Hazard Properties
Introduction
Classification of Fires
Fire Hazard Properties
Classification of Hazards
Classification of Occupancy Hazards
Classification of Construction
Fire Protection in Buildings
Hazard of Contents
Ramps
Fire Resistance
Basic Methods of Firefighting
Principles of Fire Protection
Extinguishing Methods
Suggested Hazard Identification
Hazard and Operability Studies
References
Further Readings
Hazardous Area Classification
Introduction
The Basic Physical Principles and Definitions
Area Classification
Ventilation
Equipment Protection Level
Gas Explosion Protection Concepts for Electrical Equipment
Repair
Combustible Dusts
Class-Division Schemes
References
Further Readings
Layout and Spacing
Introduction
Layout in Oil, Gas, and Chemical Facilities
Basic Considerations
Plant Layout
Layout of Control Room and Electrical Substation
Firefighting Requirements
Building Requirements
Layout in Process Units
Distances/Clearances Requirements for Storage Tanks
Layout of LPG Facilities
Equipment Layout and Spacing
Layout of Piping
Utility Layout and Spacing
Off-Site Facilities
Waste Treatment Facilities
Emergency Shutdown System
Blowdown Drums
Fire Training Areas
Tetraethyl Lead Blending Plants
References
Further Readings
Fire Alarm Systems and Automatic Detectors
Introduction
Basic Principles
Alarms and Status Indication for Plant Units
Buildings, Warehouses’ Fire Detection, and Control Panel
Fire Detection System
Gas Detection System
Gas Detectors: Materials
Gas Detector Tubes
Marking
Instruction Manual
Principle of Operation, Combustible Gas Detectors
Use of Portable and Transportable Combustible
Gas- Detection Apparatuses
Maintenance Routine Procedures and General
Administrative Control
Combination Explosive, Toxic, and Oxygen Deficiency or
Excess Detectors (Portable and Transportable)
Chemical Sensing Detectors and Tubes
References
Firefighting Sprinkler Systems
Introduction
Outline Design
Interaction with Other Fire Protection Measures
Buildings to Be Sprinkler-Protected
Classification of Occupancies
Types
Wet Pipe Installations
Alternate (Wet and Dry Pipe) Installations
Dry Pipe Installations
Preaction Installations
Recycling Installations
Tail-End Alternate Pipe and Tail-End Dry Pipe Extensions
Deluge Installations
Water Supplies
Design Density and Assumed Maximum Area of Operation
for Fully Hydraulically Calculated Installations
Water Supply Pressure-Flow Characteristics and Velocity
Temperature Ratings, Classifications, and Color Coding
Hazard to Personnel
Outside Sprinklers for Protection against Exposure Fires
Deluge Foam-Water Sprinkler and Foam-Water Spray Systems
Further Readings
Carbon Dioxide Gas Fire Extinguishing Systems
Introduction
Characteristics and Uses of Carbon Dioxide
Use and Limitations
System Components
Types of Systems
Package Systems (Kits)
Total Flooding Systems
Carbon Dioxide for Surface Fires
Carbon Dioxide for Deep-Seated Fires
Rates of Application
Local Application Systems
Manual Hose Reel Systems
Standpipe Systems and Mobile Supply
Storage Containers
Discharge Nozzles
Additional Requirements for All Systems
Safety Requirements
Further Readings
Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishing Systems
Introduction
General Information and Requirements
Powder
Dry Chemical and Expellant Gas Supply
General Design Principles
Types of Systems
Total Flooding Systems
Local Application Systems
Monitor and Hose Reel Systems
Alarms and Indicators
Safety Precautions
Further Readings
Foam Generating and Proportioning Systems
Introduction
Foams
System Design
Subsurface Foam Systems
Semisubsurface Systems
Pressure Storage of C and Lighter Hydrocarbons
LNG and NGL Atmospheric Refrigerated Storage Tanks
Foam Monitors and Handlines
Foam Concentrate and Solution
Foam Quality
Dike Area Protection
Water Supplies and Pumps
Storage
Foam Concentrate Pumps
Hydrants
Foam Concentrate Facilities
Automatically Operated Systems
Detection and Alarm Equipment
Foam Spray Systems
Discharge Rate
Medium- and High-Expansion Foam Systems
Local Application Systems
Safety Hazards
Wetting Agents
Reduction of Soil Pollution by Reducing Foam Exploitation
The Dynamic Extinguishing Strategy
Sample Calculation of Foam Compound Requirement for a
Depot/Terminal
Brief Summary of Fire-Fighting Foam
References
Fire-Fighting and Fire Protection Facilities
Introduction
Fire Prevention Practices in Offshore Facilities
Fire-Fighting Equipment
Water Monitors (Mobile and Fixed Offshore Installations)
Water Deluge Pumps and Water Deluge Main
Water Deluge Systems
Automatic Sprinkler, Fire Detection, and Fire Alarm
Systems for Fixed Offshore Installations
Pressure Water-Spraying Systems
Fire-Extinguishing Systems
Storage of Gas Cylinders
Fire Protection for Onshore Installations
Water Supplies
Bases for a Fire-Fighting Water System
Water Tanks for Fire Protection
Sample Calculation of Fire Water Flow Rate for Storage Tanks
Fire Protection System, Inspection, and Testing
References
Glossary
Appendices
Biography
Alireza Bahadori, PhD, is a research staff member in the School of Environment, Science & Engineering, at Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia. He received his PhD from Curtin University, Western Australia. Dr. Bahadori is the recipient of the Australian government’s Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Award as part of his research in oil and gas area. He also received a top-up award from state government of Western Australia through Western Australia Energy Research Alliance (WA:ERA) in 2009. Dr. Bahadori serves as a member of the editorial board for a number of journals, and he is the author of over 200 articles and six books.
"…identifying the risks and hazards of process engineering processes appears to be very essential to guarantee the safety of a new plant design and/or process. Also, it is a strong belief that safety issue is the first step in engineering and science workplaces. The materials put in the book present the safety guides and proper reactions against industrial hazards over the urgent and non-urgent conditions through clear, possible and safe ways."
––Sohrab Zendehboudi Affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada