Passive Fire Protection Systems

In petrochemical, refinery, energy and chemical plants, keeping critical valves and equipment functional during a fire matters for safe shutdown and response. OPTERM assesses flexible, removable passive fire protection systems for this equipment against the project's fire scenario and technical specification, prepares them to measure and installs them on site.

What it does

Protecting critical equipment during a fire

Passive fire protection limits the heat reaching an equipment surface during a fire, delaying the point at which steel and sensitive components reach their critical temperature. Flexible, removable protection jackets are preferred on equipment that needs maintenance access, such as emergency shutdown valves, actuators, flanges and instrument boxes. Unlike fixed coatings, they can be opened for maintenance and inspection and refitted.

Per specificationProtection time

Hydrocarbon / cellulosicFire scenario

Flexible, removableMaintenance access

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Flexible passive fire protection jacket for a valve and actuator

Fire scenario

Hydrocarbon pool fires, jet fires and cellulosic fires differ in heat flux and rate of temperature rise. The system is selected for the scenario defined in the project.

Testing and certification

Technical specifications usually call for a system tested to a specific standard. The test documents of the proposed system are assessed against the specification at the quotation stage.

Critical temperature and time

The temperature the protected equipment must not exceed and the protection time are defined by the owner based on the plant's fire and risk assessments.

Protected equipment

Where is it used?

Emergency shutdown valves

ESD valves and bodies that must close or stay open during a fire.

Actuators

Valve actuators and their associated control components.

Flanges and connections

Flanged joints whose sealing must be maintained.

Instrument and junction boxes

Boxes and panels where control signals must continue.

Cable routes

Tray and junction areas carrying critical control cables.

Critical pipe sections

Short pipe and equipment sections the specification requires to be protected.

Process

Assessment process

Specification and scenario: Fire scenario, protection time, critical temperature and the required test standard are taken from the project.
Equipment list: Type, dimensions and photos of the equipment to be protected are collected.
System selection: A system that meets the specification is identified and its test documents are checked. A solution that does not meet the requirements is not offered.
Preparation and installation: Jackets are prepared to the equipment dimensions and installed on site.
Handover: The installed system is handed over with the equipment list and relevant documents.

For our thermal insulation jackets, see removable insulation jackets.

Frequently asked questions about passive fire protection

No. A thermal insulation jacket is designed to reduce energy loss and surface temperature in normal operation. A passive fire protection system is built from materials and details tested for fire conditions; standard thermal insulation jackets are not used for fire protection.

Protection time and critical temperature are defined by the owner or project engineering based on the plant's fire and risk assessments. OPTERM assesses the system that meets these requirements.

Yes. It is installed with facings suited to outdoor conditions and details that prevent water ingress; suitability is checked against the conditions of the selected system.

The technical specification, fire scenario, protection time, list of equipment to be protected, dimensions and photographs are required for the assessment.