entire manufacturing line – from developing the material and small-scale testing, qualifying and full-scale compounding to manufacturing and delivering finished products. Most of the material development has been customer-driven, as well the need for fire protection materials in offshore installations. Fire protection is often divided into two types of systems – active fire protection (AFP) is either triggered by a sensor when exposed to, for example, smoke and heat, or you must manually activate to operate. These systems include sprinkler, deluge, water spray, fire extinguishers and more. The other type is the passive fire protection (PFP) system, which exists as an integrated part of a component or as part of a structure on buildings, offshore oil platforms, or ships. PFP contains the fire within an area, thus limiting the fire and smoke spread in a given time period. When it comes to extending the life of assets and supporting operations, the focus on technical safety in oil
and gas production has increased immensely during the last few decades. The solutions must demonstrate excellent performance across a range of fire scenarios, often in conjunction with higher heat load, and documented success through certification, type approvals and test reports that illustrate not only fire protection properties, but also provide installation and handling information. Due to the need for PFP in different applications in the oil and gas segment, the Firestop technology was developed. The material was developed to protect risers, transporting oil and gas in offshore installations, in the event of fire. If a crack happens in a gas-filled pipe, and a gas leak occurs, a small spark can transpire into a severe jet fire scenario. Thus, the Firestop material was developed to handle the harshest fire scenario that the industry could foresee. The material was later qualified for use in several other applications and architectural PFP seals has been a large area of development. Since structures and equipment rarely have the same requirement with regards to fire ratings, dimensions and movement, they often need to be tailormade and designed for each installation.
Sealing and elastomers
Figure 1. Pipe penetration seal (HPT).
Elastomer-based, passive fire protection seals offer a flexible connection between rigid metal sections. Capable of handling large displacements, they connect modules, maintaining a fireproof partition, absorbing misalignments, angular deviations and eliminating concentrations of stress. Elastomer-based seals used in escape tunnels and door seals offer protection of door frames and connecting fire-safe escape areas. The benefits of elastomeric seals include: ) Elimination of the propagation of vibrations, dynamic loads and deviations caused by a fabrication process. ) Customisation to fit any shape and size to suit individual
project requirements. ) Installation on a variety of structures.
In areas where drainage is required, elastomer-based seals can be made as a drain gully that supports the design of a closed deck, eliminating the need for fireproofing of process deck structures. Drain gullies allow hydrocarbons spillage from process modules to drain, eliminating the requirement for multiple drainage boxes and integrated overflow. As the properties of each material vary, finding the most effective material and technical solution for a project is crucial.
Passive fire and corrosion protection in the offshore industry
Figure 2. Radial firestop seal.
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Factors to consider when choosing the right material include the potential source of a fire, duration, temperature, and blast, along with qualifications, certificates, and material properties. The objective of PFP is to prevent or mitigate the serious consequences of fire: ) Prevent escalation of fire to adjacent areas.
