News, Events & Comment

Comment

Fire protection is firmly established in our everyday world and even enshrined in codes or regulations, yet fire-related tragedies and fire incidents are still occurring. The reasons – well known – could be down to improperly fitted or unsuitable passive fire systems; that the fire protection elements have become so taken for granted that they have become vulnerable to budget cuts; or that they are simply not there. Jim Pauley’s state-of-the-nation opening of the NFPA’s annual conference and expo (p.53) did not pull its punches in apportioning the blame for this unhappy status quo, and even for some of the tragedies that had taken place over the last year. The causes of many fire-related tragedies, Pauley noted, could be traced back to the failure of one or more of the eight critical elements of the fire safety ecosystem, which include government responsibility, use of reference standards, a skilled workforce, and preparedness and emergency response. Amongst other things, he highlighted that the fire industry has forgotten that safety is a system, not a single piece of equipment. The picture painted by the NFPA president is concerning when placed in the context of the period of transformation that fire safety faces as a result of advancements in technology, such as in the realm of IP integration (p44-47) of building management and fire systems. The potential improvement in safety – managed evacuation, for instance – may indeed constitute a quantum leap. But one wonders whether the long-term challenges will change with these developments. Will the same factors that afflict current technology, be it budget cuts, lack of resources, or the ‘taken-for-granted’ element, return once the new systems lose their shine? And what can be done to ensure this does not happen?

Jose Maria Sanchez de Muniain, Editor

double oil tank fire

A fire that gutted two crude oil tanks in Terengganu, Malaysia likely occurred during maintenance works, say local reports. The fire occurred at a refinery owned by Kemaman Bitumen Company in the district of Kemaman, around 300km east of Kuala Lumpur, where heavy naphthenic crude oils are turned into naphthenic asphalt, atmospheric gas oil, vacuum gas oil, and naphtha. KBC meets nearly a quarter of domestic asphalt requirement in Malaysia. The fire broke out at about 6.15pm on 5 July in a tank holding 4,800 litres of crude oil. Shortly afterwards a second tank holding 13,700- litres of oil became involved and started threatening a third. A fire that broke out in the third tank was reportedly quickly controlled. The three affected oil tanks at the six-tank facility contained a total of around 20,000 litres of crude oil. According to Terengganu Fire and Rescue Department, 8,000 litres of foam concentrate were secured from several industrial companies to add to the fire department’s own 6,000 litres of stock. Around 140 fire and rescue personnel from Terengganu and the surrounding areas worked to control the fire with assistance from members of the Emergency Response Team, the Civil Defence Force, and other partner agencies. At the height of the fire, plans were being put in place to evacuate a nearby village due to concerns around the toxic fumes. The fire was confirmed extinguished on the evening of 7 July. The results of the investigation into the causes of the fire were expected last month.

battery fires solved?

(Photo: Gabriel Veith)

Researchers have developed a practical and inexpensive way to help prevent lithium-ion battery fires. Lithium-ion batteries are commonly used in consumer electronics and are notorious for bursting into flame when damaged or improperly packaged. These incidents have lead to serious consequences, including burns, house fires and at least one plane crash. In a lithium-ion battery, a thin piece of plastic separates the two electrodes. If the battery is damaged and the plastic layer fails, the electrodes can come into contact and cause the battery’s liquid electrolyte to catch fire. The latest solution involves inserting an additive in the conventional electrolyte. When the battery is struck, the additive solidifies and prevents the electrodes fromtouching and causing a fire. Researchers found that the solidifying effect could be achieved by adding silica in the liquid electrolytes because on impact the silica particles clump together and block the flowof fluids and ions. During testing, the researchers used perfectly spherical, 200-nanometer-diameter particles of silica. It is thought that incorporating the superfine sand would require only minor adjustments to the conventional battery-manufacturing process. The results of the latest research were presented at the 256th National 0Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society last month.The project is being supported by the US Department of Energy’s AdvancedResearch Projects Agency-Energy and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

help – hazmat incident

The European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) has published a new set of guidelines for the supply and transport of hazardous materials.

The guidelines detail the fundamental requirements of an emergency response service and aim to help companies enhance their internal emergency response provisions or guide the procurement of a professional third-party supplier.

Chemical companies in Europe are either advised – or legally obliged – to include a telephone number in the transport documentation for hazardous goods that can be used to provide advice during a chemical incident.

Among the core requirements specified by CEFIC is the need to provide robust and reliable telephone infrastructure that can receive and handle calls 24/7, with fast connection to a chemical expert. This restricts the use of mobile phone networks as the sole or primary means of contact.

The guidelines state that the emergency responder should have access to the relevant data sheets and be able to provide proportional advice tailored to the circumstances of the incident. According to the new guidelines, this should be provided by a trained technical expert who has knowledge and tactical awareness of chemicals, chemical behaviour, and hazards across a range of incident types.

The new CEFIC guidelines have been adopted by all National Intervention in Chemical Transport Emergencies Centres in Europe. The guidance can be downloaded at https://the-ncec.com/en/ resources/guidelines-for-level-1-chemical-emergency-response

4 ✜ INDUSTRIAL FIRE JOURNAL ✜ third quarter 2018 read our e-magazine at www.hemmingfire.com

minimum exposure

New minimum risk levels for PFAS are expected to have a major impact on contaminated facilities across the US. The US Federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has published a draft toxicological profile for a range of PFAS chemicals. The draft report defines the level at which no harm would be expected to people from exposure at 7 parts per trillion for PFOS and 11ppt for PFOA. The limits are significantly lower than the health advisory levels of the US Environmental Protection Agency, which were set at a combined 70ppt in May 2016. The ATSDR is also proposing minimum risk levels for PFHxS and PFNA, for which there are currently no federal standards. In the absence of enforceable rules on acceptable PFAS levels in drinking water, lakes and rivers, regulators have used the EPA level as a standard. The DoD has increasingly been under the spotlight due to its AFFF firefighting foam

containing PFOA; lower safety levels could have significant impact on response and clean-up efforts at contaminated sites around the US. Currently the DoD only supplies long-term water to homes near DoD-owned PFAS-contaminated sites if levels are above 70ppt. The new toxicological profiles were subject to public comment until 23 July.

False alarms – the cost

False alarms – the costA study has been released that aims to establish the cost of false fire alarms in different European countries.

Carried out by Euralarm, the European association representing the fire safety and security industry, the study focuses on false alarm data collection and analysis from fire detection and fire alarm systems in Germany, UK, Switzerland, Sweden and Austria.

The 62-page study describes how budget cuts and the perceived high rate of false alarms have led to changes in the standard responses of different fire services. In some countries, for example, in order to avoid unjustified costs there is a verification requirement before a response is deployed.

The study seeks to establish the true cost of false alarms from country to country, taking into account not only the impact on fire services alone, but also the increased risk to human life.

False Alarm Study: False Alarm Data Collection and Analysis from Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems in Selected European Countries describes the processes to initiate fire service intervention, formulas to calculate false alarm ratios, as well as a methodology of the overall analysis. Containing recommendations and strategies to reduce false alarms, the publication discusses why false alarms should be integrated into fire protection and fire alarm strategies, and why handling false alarms must become an active part of the management of a site.

The study has been published by Eric Schmidt Verlag and is available on Amazon.

ISBN: 978-3-503-18100-1 EUR: 29.93

Read our e-magazine at www.hemmingfire.com third quarter 2018 ✜ INDUSTRIAL FIRE JOURNAL ✜ 5

csb calls for guidance

Arkema chemical plant. (Photo: CSB)

The US Chemical Safety Board is calling for guidance to help chemical facilities prepare for extreme weather events as a result of its investigation into the fire at the Arkema chemical plant in Crosby, Texas, on 31 August 2017.

Extensive flooding caused by heavy rainfall from Hurricane Harvey last year caused the Arkema plant to lose power and backup power to all its low-temperature warehouses.

Workers at the facility moved organic peroxides from the warehouses to refrigerated trailers, which were then relocated to a high elevation area of the plant. Three of those trailers, however, were unable to be moved and eventually flooded and failed. With refrigeration on those trailers lost, there was nothing to stop the chemicals inside from heating up and catching fire.

CSB chairperson Vanessa Allen Sutherland said that the investigation found that there was a significant lack of guidance in planning for flooding or other severe weather events. “Based on other government reports, we know that there is a greater likelihood of more severe weather across the country. As we prepare for this year’s hurricane season, it is critical that industry better understands the safety hazards posed by extreme weather events,” she said. The CSB is calling for more robust industry guidance to help hazardous chemical facilities better prepare for extreme weather events.

The safety organisation has also published a factual update into its ongoing investigation of the January 22, 2018, blowout and fire at the Pryor Trust Gas Well located in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, that killed five workers.

The CSB has determined the incident occurred shortly after drilling crew members removed the drill pipe from the well in a process known as “tripping.” An animated timeline of the events leading up to the fatal blowout and fire is available on the CSB website.

A final report, including facts, analysis, conclusions, and recommendations will be issued at the end of the investigation.

water mist talent search

The International Water Mist Association has begun its search for 2019’s water mist talent. Since 2016, the International Water Mist Association has been rewarding young researchers who dedicate their master and PhD theses to water-mist technology. The prize, which is awarded once a year, includes an invitation to the annual International Water Mist Conference; a slot to present the thesis; travel and accommodation expenses; a year’s free IWMA membership; and a prize of 1,000 Euros. The deadline to hand in submissions for the 2019 prize is 30 April 2019. The IWMA Scientific Council will evaluate all entries and will announce the winner on 30 June 2019. For more information, visit www.iwma.net.

New owner for dutch fire academy

Falck Safety Services and Falck Fire Academy in the Netherlands are to be acquired by a private equity firm. An agreement has been signed by Polaris and Falck whereby Polaris will acquire 100% of the shares in Falck Safety Services Holding A/S and take over all Safety Services activities in Falck, including the Falck Fire Academy in the Netherlands. Torben Harring, who will continue as CEO of Safety Services under Polaris’ ownership, commented: “With the outlook to improve profitability significantly and with Polaris as a new strong owner prepared to fuel our growth, we can now fully focus on accelerating the transformation and development of our business. I’m looking very much forward to start collaboration with Polaris.” The acquisition is expected to be completed this month.

passive fire protection – more regulation needed

The European Association for Passive Fire Protection is calling for a greater focus on competence and training for passive fire protection installers and is campaigning for mandatory requirements for both products and installers to be regulated through certification and registration schemes.

During two days of discussion at the Association’s latest meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, EAPFP members highlighted the quality of installation as a key concern, in spite of a number of initiatives under way across Europe that aim to improve installer training and qualification and encourage certification.

Training programmes for passive fire protection installers are in place in the UK, Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands, while formal certification and registration schemes are being introduced in Ireland, Denmark and the Slovak Republic. New legislation is expected in Ireland and the UK, while in the Slovak Republic, a pilot project for a new national legal requirement to use approved installed fire-rated constructions is under way.

In Ireland registration of all main and specialist sub-contractors, introduced by the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations in 2014, is expected to be made mandatory in coming months. And, in the UK, the Grenfell fire has resulted in long-term reviews of the whole system for specification, design, approval and installation, with an expectation that revisions to the Building Regulations may call for greater evidence of installer competence and mandatory certification of passive fire protection products and installers.

For further information visit www.eapfp.com.

6 ✜ INDUSTRIAL FIRE JOURNAL ✜ third quarter 2018 read our e-magazine at www.hemmingfire.com

EVENTS DIARY

personal freedom, particularly in personal data protection. Expoprotection will showcase innovation with over 300 new products, solutions and services expected to be presented on the stands. The best among these will be singled out by an expert jury in the Expoprotection Awards, the results of which will be announced a month prior to the event.

For more information visit: www.expoprotection.com

9-11 OCTOBER, NCT ASIA, SHERATON HOTEL, HANOI, VIETNAM

With nuclear power plants bordering the country and the IED threat in neighbouring Indonesia and Thailand, Vietnam is continuously developing its CBRNe response capabilities. It has become one of the leading countries in Southeast Asian CBRN, EOD and de-mining defence and is investing heavily in preparation for CBRNe incidents.

The NCT Asia conference will be opened by Guy Roberts, assistant secretary of defence for nuclear, chemical and biological defence programmes at the US Department of Defense. He will share his perspective on the current security environment as well as key challenges and priorities. The conference stream will be chaired by Col Henry Neumann, commander of the Bundeswehr CBRN defence command. Speakers include Lt Vincent S Laca, chief of the counter-intelligence group for the Coast Guard, Philippines; Col (ret) Wolfgang Widders, senior advisor for CBRN protection systems, Kärcher Futuretech; and Sanjay Kumar, safety manager of Delhi International Airport, India.

The event is organised by the CBRNe Society in collaboration with the Vietnamese People’s Army Military Medical Department and the Vietnamese Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety.

Fore more information visit: https://www.nct-asia.com/

6-8 NOVEMBER, EXPOPROTECTION, PORTE DE VERSAILLES, PARIS, FRANCE

Organised every two years, Expoprotection promises over 750 exhibitors in the field of health and safety at work; safety/security; fire protection and fire fighting; and industrial risk reduction.

According to the organiser, a number of trends are emerging, such as taking individual responsibility for prevention, whether as part of the workforce at a company, local authority or government department. The digital revolution is also a highly topical issue with the explosion in big data and the problem of managing the huge volume of information coupled with the emergence of deep learning, artificial intelligence and augmented reality.

Finally, Expoprotection intends to highlight current and future societal issues such as the change in scope of private security; increased cooperation between public and private sector operators; and finding a balance between increased safety and

4-5 DECEMBER, VDS-FIRE SAFETY, COLOGNE EXHIBITION CENTRE, GERMANY

The conference for fire protection and security professionals consists of seven conferences and symposiums, a large trade fair and thematic forums in the exhibition hall that are open to all trade-fair visitors.

The main theme for the conference is fire extinguishing systems, and amongst the areas to be covered are water-mist extinguishing systems, foam extinguishing systems, and oxygen-reduction systems. In addition, the official results of the Grenfell Tower fire investigation will be examined.

Simultaneous German-English translation will be provided for the conference presentations.

For more information, visit www.vds.de/fla18.

5-6 DECEMBER, KUWAIT FIRE AND SAFETY SUMMIT, JUMEIRAH MESSILAH BEACH HOTEL AND SPA, KUWAIT

Fire safety in high-rise buildings and at petrochemical facilities are two of the main focuses at the forthcoming Kuwait Fire and Safety Summit in December.

The event will bring together industrial emergency response leaders with industry associations, government, and civil defence bodies in a networking event that aims to facilitate the discussion of key issues, as well as the sharing of experience, expertise, and case studies.

Kuwait is committed to ensuring the highest standards in the fire and safety environment and the country is part of a GCC-wide initiative to examine and highlight current standards of safety and security in high-rise buildings in the region and promote the exchange of ideas between regional industry professionals and international experts.

The summit aims to update and equip stakeholders with the latest global standards and developments, regulations, specific requirements and best practices in this field.

Kuwait has also taken a lead in introducing fire safety reforms. The Kuwait Fire Safety Directorate has partnered with private petrochemical companies to raise awareness of how fire safety systems, such as fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, gas cylinders, and fire evacuation can reduce the risk of loss of life and property.

For more information visit www.wpsummits.com/kfss/.

8 < INDUSTRIAL FIRE JOURNAL < THIRD QUARTER 2018 Read our e-magazine at www.hemmingfire.com