OIL STORAGE TANKING FACILITIES FIRE PROTECTION

R.Govindarajan Managing Director & CEO Agnice

OIL STORAGE
Is where combustible/flammable liquids are received by tanker, pipelines, tank wagons, tank trucks and are stored or blended in bulk for the purpose of distribution by tankers, pipelines, tank wagons, tank trucks, portable tanks or containers.

MAJOR FIRES IN TANK FARMS

Buncefield (UK) Depot 11th December 2005

Jaipur (India) Terminal 29th October 2009

NEED FOR FIRE PROTECTION

The petroleum depots & terminals are generally located in the remote areas. However, experience shows that with the passage of time, these get surrounded by residential / industrial installations. The inventory of flammable materials stored therein necessitates inbuilt fire protection facilities. A fire in one facility can endanger other facility of the depot/terminal, if not controlled/extinguished as quickly as possible to minimize the loss of life & property and prevent further spread of fire.

CLASSIFICATION OF PETROLEUM
General Classification Petroleum products other than LPG which is a separate category, are classified according to their closed cup Flash Point as follows :Petroleum Class A means petroleum having a flash point below23 deg C. Petroleum Class B means petroleum having a flash point of 23 deg C and above but below 65 deg C. Petroleum Class C means petroleum having a flash point of 65 deg C and above but below 93 deg C. Excluded Petroleum means petroleum having a flash point above 93 deg C The locations where product is handled by artificially heating it to above its flash point, Class C product shall be considered as Class B product and class B product as Class A product.

CODES & STANDARDS

No.72-289 - French Regulation for Hydrocarbon Depots. Model Code of Safe Practices The Institute of Petroleum (U.K.) International Safe Practices of Oil Industry. OISD 117 Fire Protection Facilities for Petroleum Depots, Terminals,

Pipeline Installations and Lube Oil Installations. NFPA Codes ROP Civil Defence Codes

FIRE PROTECTION BASIS

It can be impractical and prohibitively costly to design fire protection facilities to control catastrophic fires. The usual requirement of a good system is to prevent emergencies from developing into major threat to the oil installation and surroundings. Facilities shall be designed on the basis that city fire water supply is not available close to the installation. One single largest risk shall be considered for providing Fire Protection Facilities.

FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS

Depending on the nature of risk, following fire protection facilities shall be provided in the installation.

Fire Water Pumping System. Fire Water Network Spray System. Foam System. Clean Agent Protection System. First Aid Fire Fighting Equipment. Mobile Fire Fighting Equipment. Fire Detection, Alarm & Communication System.

FIRE WATER PUMPING SYSTEM

Main, Stand-by & Jockey Pumps Fire water pumps & storage shall be located at 30 m (minimum) away

from equipment or where hydrocarbons are handled or stored. Fire water pumps shall be exclusively used for fire fighting purpose only. The effective capacity of the reservoir/tank above the level of suction point shall be minimum 4 hours aggregate rated capacity of pumps. Pumping System to comply NFPA 20

FIRE WATER NETWORK

Tank Wagon (TW)/Tank Truck (TT) loading/unloading

facilities, Manifold area of product pump house & Exchange pit shall be fully covered with a well laid out combination of hydrants and water-cum-foam monitors. Water is used for fire extinguishments, fire control, cooling of equipment, exposure protection of equipment and personnel from heat radiation. Fire water system shall be designed for a minimum residual pressure of 7kg/cm2(g) at hydraulically remotest point in the installation considering single largest risk scenario. To Confirm NFPA 14, 24 & ROP Civil Defence Regulations.

SPRAY SYSTEM
The installations storing Class A petroleum in above ground tanks shall have

fixed water spray system. Class 'B' above ground Petroleum storage tanks (fixed roof or floating roof) of diameter larger than 30 m shall be provided with fixed water spray system. When Class A & B above ground storage tanks are placed in a common dyke, the fixed water spray system shall be provided on all tanks TW loading gantries shall be provided with manually operated fixed water spray system. In case automatic fixed water spray system is provided, the gantry may be divided into suitable number of segments Spray System shall confirm to NFPA 15

FIRE WATER FOAM SYSTEM

Fixed foam system or Semi-fixed foam

system shall be provided on tanks (floating roof or fixed roof) exceeding 18 m diameter storing Class A or Class B petroleum.

Automatic actuated rim seal fire

extinguishing system may be provided based on foam or clean agent flooding mechanism on floating roof tanks having diameter larger than 60 m.

FIRE WATER FOAM SYSTEM

This is in addition to the fixed water spray system and Semi-fixed foam

system on all floating roof tanks storing Class A & B petroleum.

Foam Flooding System : Selection and design of foam based flooding

system should be as defined in latest Standard for Foam Systems :NFPA-11 & 11A.

FOAM CONCENTRATE STORAGE

Foam Concentrate is stored in a dedicated Foam

Storage Tank located in the facility.

The Quantity of the Foam Concentrate stored

is equal to 60 Minutes operation of the Foam System of the Largest Risk in the Plant.
Main and Standby Foam Pumps with Foam

Proportioner is installed.
Whenever the Foam System is activated the

Foam Pump Starts automatically and supply the Foam Concentrate to the Foam Protection Line.

CLEAN AGENT SYSTEM

Listed clean agents like Fluroketone and others can be used as fire

suppressant in control room & computer rooms For Storage tanks, the clean agent based protection system consists of an in-built fire detection, control and actuation mechanism is used for RIM SEAL fire. When fire occurs in RIM SEAL, its heat causes one or more spray nozzles to open and the extinguishing gas (clean agent) is applied on the surface of fire and simultaneous alarm is also sounded. System to confirm NFPA 2001 regulations.

PORTABLE EXTINGUISHERS
All fire extinguishers shall conform to respective IS/UL or Equivalent

codes, viz. 10 Kg DCP Type (IS:2171/UL 299), 4.5/6,8 Kg CO2 Type (IS:2878/UL 154) & 25/50/75 Kg DCP Type (IS:10658/UL 299) and bear ISI/UL mark. Portable fire extinguishers shall be located at convenient locations and are readily accessible and clearly visible at all times. The maximum running distance to locate an extinguisher shall not exceed 15 m. Portable extinguishers shall be provided at strategic locations across the Terminal. Tank Loading Gantry & Tank Farm shall be provided with Mobile extinguishers. To confirm NFPA 10 & ROP Civil Defence regulations

FIRE DETECTION, ALARM & COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

The fire and gas detection system provides early and reliable detection of fire or gas, where such events are likely to occur, alerts personnel and initiates protective actions automatically or manually upon operator intervention.
Installed electric fire siren shall be audible to the farthest distance in the

installation and also in the surrounding area up to1 km from the periphery of the installation. Communication system like Telephone, Public Address System, etc. should be provided in nonhazardous areas of the installation. In hazardous areas, flameproof/ intrinsically safe Paging System, Walkie-talkie system or VHF Set shall be provided.

FIRE DETECTION, ALARM & COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

Wherever possible hot line connection between City Fire Brigade & nearby

industries shall be provided for major installation on need basis. Installation shall have a Mutual Aid arrangement with nearby Industries to pool in their resources during emergency. To Confirm NFPA 72 & ROP Civil Defence Regulation