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Tank farms are used for the storage of highly flammable and explosive substances; Consequently, preventive fire safety is of main significance. When rehabilitation of such a tank farm is deliberate, contractors usually suggest extensive – and thus expensive – measures. A fire-protection resolution developed by TÜV SÜD demonstrates that an equivalent level of security can be reached with a a lot more cost-effective resolution. A central function in harm limitation is performed by early fire detection utilizing thermographic cameras.
Numerous tank farms all through Germany store petrol, diesel, kerosene or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). In contact with air, these highly flammable substances can type explosive mixtures. Given this, tank farms require special measures within the subject of preventive fire protection. If rehabilitation of fire-protection systems turns into essential at an older tank farm, far-reaching measures must be taken, not only by means of precaution but in addition to exclude potential legal responsibility risks. And yet not each measure that’s technologically feasible can additionally be necessary in case of a rehabilitation, as can be seen from the example of a tank farm in Bavaria, Germany.
The tank farm is positioned at a basin of a river port in Bavaria. The a part of the tank farm in want of rehabilitation covers 24 tanks with a storage volume of between 600 and a couple of,000 cubic metres. The tank farm is used for intermediate storage of highly flammable fluids with flame points of < 21 degrees Celsius, as outlined in the German hazardous substances legislation. In fire inspections and on-site inspections after incidents, the inspectors had recognized major non-conformities in the fire-extinguishing system. To replace the outdated and non-conforming system, an engineering agency submitted an intensive record of measures. These measures fully happy all regulatory necessities but represented a really cost-intensive resolution, requiring a full rehabilitation utilizing traditional extinguishing methods. For the tank-farm working firm, the costs of implementing these measures would have added up to 1.7 million euros.
In hearth safety, the challenge lies in connecting well-founded technological data and authorized know-how. In apply this implies harmonising cheap engineering companies and legal functions to acquire a cohesive, economically feasible and simply carried out fire-protection idea.
Alternative answer developed by TÜV SÜD
At the working company’s request, TÜV SÜD’s third-party specialists validated the individual measures and the cost-effectiveness of the rehabilitation plan submitted by the engineering firm. Owing to the big number of deficiencies recognized within the tank farm, the specialists first ready a listing of priorities with the measures essential to fulfil the protection requirements and achieve the safety aims. They arrived on the conclusion that not all the proposed measures truly wanted to be carried out. Starting from this discovering, they then drew up an alternative fire-protection concept that may finally cut back the projected costs by one third.
TÜV SÜD’s rehabilitation plan included the fire-protection infrastructure already in place on the tank farm, such as a non-automatic foam extinguishing system with a total foaming-agent supply of 10,500 litres distributed across two tanks, two submerged pumps in the port basin with a pump capability of one hundred eighty m3 per hour to ensure water provide for fireplace fighting and sprinkling the shells and the roofs of the tanks, manual triggering of the shut-off valves and a transformer station powered by the regional vitality provider. The feed-in of emergency power was effected by the native skilled fireplace department.
The engineering agency, against this, had planned to replace the whole fire-extinguishing system. They wanted to install three mobile extinguishing-agent distribution techniques in container type for distant managed sprinkling and foaming of the tanks. This answer would have required the installation of latest electrical, operational and control techniques as well as new pipe routes connecting the extinguishing-agent distribution systems with the fire-fighting techniques within the tank fields. The prices for the three extinguishing-agent distribution methods in container type alone would have added as much as around 1.2 million euros.
Incipient fire combating state of affairs with intact power provide and free access to the tank farm.
Implementation of three packages of measures
The alternative rehabilitation idea developed by TÜV SÜD, which additionally met the requirements of the Bavarian Building Code (BayBo [1]), offered for three essential packages of measures to attain the safety and safety objectives.
First, installation of a totally computerized infrared measuring system made by DIAS Infrared to make sure early fireplace detection. The system’s seven thermographic cameras are put in on pan-tilt models. They detect adjustments in temperature at the surfaces of the tanks made of different materials and located in the area monitored by the cameras, earlier than these adjustments in temperature could cause a fire. As the cameras can transfer, the areas to be monitored may be divided into sectors. The cameras then approach these sectors cyclically in sequence. To shield the cameras in opposition to exterior influences, they are housed in ventilated and heated weatherproof enclosures (Fig. 1). Monitoring focuses primarily on the protection units of the tanks, pumps and motors and on the filling methods on the tank-farm premises. The management room on the tank farm and the native professional fire department are notified immediately as quickly as the temperature exceeds a sure limit. The measure package deal additionally consists of remote triggering of the extinguishing-agent supply from the control centre and automation of the security gadgets.
digital pressure gauge combating situation with power loss where entry to the tank farm is blocked by a cargo practice.
In addition, it covers rehabilitation of the sprinkler and foam-extinguisher system. In this context, TÜV SÜD’s solution provided for replacement of the leaking and corroded pipe sections with new pipes and for set up of three mounted foam-extinguishing systems within the form of foam screens to struggle incipient fires instantly. In addition, a cell foam monitor was planned as a backup.
A third focus space concerns safeguarding the ability provide required for early fireplace detection and hearth combating. According to the regional vitality provider, power outages may have a period of no less than half-hour. Given this, the tank-farm needed an unbiased power supply system that was ready to ensure energy provide for no much less than 2 hours. The specialists relied on battery buffering and a diesel operated emergency energy unit to solve this problem.
Fire protection must guarantee achievement of the protection objectives
Protection objectives and equivalent safety level reached
The fire-protection answer offered by TÜV SÜD was agreed with both the tank farm’s operating company, the municipal authority and the professional fireplace division. The three measure packages also complied with the required protection goals and the security ranges. And in the end, they proved far less expensive than the solution initially proposed. Since rehabilitation of the tank farm, early fireplace detection along side improved fire-protection infrastructure has turn into a central a part of harm limitation. Since the rehabilitation concept was carried out, the tank-farm’s working company – working with the professional fireplace division – has been capable of successfully counteract all possible situations of incipient fire successfully and at an early stage, even in circumstances of energy loss or when access to the tank farm is blocked (see Figures 2 and 3).
For extra information, go to www.tuev-sued.de/is or www.dias-infrared.de
Classification beneath the Bavarian Building Code (Bayerische Bauordnung, BayBo)
Tank farms are installations of a special sort and use (special structures). Their operation involves the dealing with and storing of extremely explosive or flammable substances. Protection measures and security precautions thus not only fall throughout the working company’s duty however are additionally a matter of public curiosity. Given this, the BayBO stipulates requirements including material necessities which, as “General clauses of fireside protection”, assist to help the protection aims defined in Article 12. However, based on article three (1) deviations from the technical constructing laws are potential if an alternative resolution is found that’s equal in terms of fulfilling the overall requirements in paragraph 1. In other words, the requirements laid down in the Building Code are deemed complied with if the widely recognised guidelines of architecture and expertise are fulfilled.
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