As Craig said, this is a significant undertaking with multiple factors that
need to be considered in the design.
Has a hazard analysis been performed for the facility or portion thereof which
is within your scope of work? The American Petroleum Institute (API) has
recommended practices (RP) for fire protection in refineries. It must be noted
that most API's are recommendations as opposed to directives. These directives
are based upon a hazard analysis of the facility which includes input from
various stakeholders - owner, owner's insurance underwriter (if any), refinery
safety officials, emergency response representatives, AHJ's, and the like.
Only after this has been performed should a system such as this be designed.
Typically, a US-based refinery itself will have Company-specific requirements
for fire protection related systems. I suggest finding out if your client has
anything like this. API RP 2001 provides guidance for Fire Protection in
Refineries and API RP 2030 provides guidance for Fixed Water Spray in
Refineries. If there is any LPG processing going on, API Std 2510 and API Publ
2510A provide some guidance and recommendations. All these API documents refer
frequently to NFPA Codes and standards. Some of the more commonly referenced
standards are 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 20, 24, 30, 58, 70, and 72. This list is by
no means complete.
There are several questions that need to be answered which could have a
significant impact on breadth of design(not to mention cost). Here is a
partial list:
- What, if any, is the fireproofing scheme to be used at the facility?
- Refinery process and equipment configuration:
- Has the equipment layout been finalized?
- Storage tank/vessel location configurations relative to each
other?
- Storage tank/vessel location configurations relative to other
equipment/process trains?
- What are the characteristics of the existing water supply, if any?
- Is FM, CE or any other approval required for system components? (Most
clients in the US require equipment listed for its intended use by an
independent testing laboratory)
- What is the maximum anticipated firewater demand for a single fire
incident including hose allowances?
- Is some other type of suppressant besides water needed or anticipated?
- Are water spray, top spray, vapor mitigation, or water mist type
systems anticipated?
- Anticipated protection of transformers, cooling towers,
- Runoff containment and environmental requirements?
- What are the monitoring requirements?
- Are there aboveground suppression systems anticipated to be fed off the
firewater loop?
- If so, where?
- What type of systems are they - automatic or manual?
- How are they monitored?
- Are there terminals in your scope? If so, there is a litany of other
standards which may come into play.
- What are the environmental characteristics of the facility's locality:
- Ambient temperature range?
- Seismic activity?
- Proximity to populated areas?
- Prevailing winds?
- What is the training level of the personnel who will respond in a fire
event?
Hope this helps,
Ryan Hinson
Burns & McDonnell
Direct: 952-656-3662
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of László
Csonka
Sent: Thursday, July 18, 2013 8:02 AM
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Re: -
Yes! I'm talking about designing the underground fire loop to service
hydrants, monitorsor etc.
The problem is that the customer don't trust the country's regulations, those
are not as safe as the US. regulations, so the fire protection shall be
according to the NFPA and API.
L.
2013/7/18 <[email protected]>
> Are you talking about designing an underground fire loop to service
> hydrants or to serve sprinkler systems as well?
>
> For such a site as that you have a big job on your hands and much of
> the design will not be out of NFPA Standards as the petroleum industry
> has considerable documentation regarding fire protection.
>
> You also need to find out what are the Codes and Standards for the
> country where it will be built as there are also regulations and Codes
> that vary around the world.
>
> This question is not one that can be easily answered on a forum like this.
>
> Craig L. Prahl, CET
> Fire Protection
> CH2MHILL
> Lockwood Greene
> 1500 International Drive
> Spartanburg, SC 29304-0491
> Direct - 864.599.4102
> Fax - 864.599.8439
> CH2MHILL Extension 74102
> [email protected]
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected] [mailto:
> [email protected]] On Behalf Of László
> Csonka
> Sent: Thursday, July 18, 2013 8:42 AM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: -
>
> Hey Guys!
>
> I have to design a fire water network in an oil refinery. Somebody
> could tell me which is the relating NFPA standard?
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
> *László **Csonka*
> *
> *
> fire safety expert
> +36 20 983 4033
> [email protected]
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