A fire broke out in a chemical industry: the fire exploded burning thousands of litres of solvents, there was an explosion and in a short time the plant burned down.
Unfortunately, this is not the scene of a film, but it is what happened last year in a company, that deals with the recovery of solvents and disposal of hazardous waste.
Clearly the consequences of this have been devastating and the damage is incalculable.
We report this story to reflect on how dangerous some sites are and how serious the consequences of such events can be, from both health and environmental point of view.
Unfortunately, despite the regulations, there are still many companies that do not take seriously the risk of fire; too often we think “it cannot happen”.
However, there are other companies which are aware of the legislation and respect it, but do not know that there are systems that can help to reduce the risk of spreading a fire inside a plant.
We are talking about PFP (Passive Fire Protections), passive protection systems that can play a key role in slowing the spread of the fire and limiting its impact on a stream line, protecting it from flames.
When we talk about passive protection we mean all measures (whether they are devices or special materials), that can reduce the consequences of a fire, slowing the spread of flames.
Therefore, PFPs DO NOT prevent the outbreak of a fire, but limit its effects, protecting the “crucial” parts of a plant, which can thus continue to work properly until the situation returns under control.
This avoids or reduces possible interruptions.
To work properly, PFPs must:
- have precise technical characteristics that guarantee resistance to flame and high temperatures for a certain period of protection;
- be easily “adaptable” to the specific needs of each production site.
When we talk about these systems, someone is puzzled since he has in mind a product difficult to install, because not customizable according to individual needs. Or he thinks that the system can hinder any maintenance activities.
But there are systems easy to install and remove, without any downtime.
New Componit has been studying PFP systems since 2005 and after years of research and development has designed a flexible system called Pyroproof®, the insulation jacket that can be custom-made according to customer needs.
Pyroproof® is composed of several layers: an external cover, a series of reinforcement layers and insulating materials .
New Componit is able to guarantee the performance of this product in different fire scenarios, thanks to the numerous tests carried out over the years:
- Pool Fire -Type Approval for actuators up to 120 minutes -tested in France at Efectis;
- Pool Fire – Type Approval for valves up to 120 minutes – tested in France at Efectis;
- Jet Fire – Type Approval for cylindrical sections and metal structures up to 120 minutes – tested in the UK at Advantica;
- Blast Test – Type Approval for cylindrical sections and metal structures up to 1.85 bar pressure – tested in the UK at Advantica.
The main characteristics of Pyroproof® jackets are:
- Easy installation/removal (without stopping the plant);
- Easy handling;
- Water, weather, UV, cold, chemical resistance;
- Custom-made and in any shape.
Want to improve comfort and performance in your plant with a tailored solution?
Sales Engineer
Coordinates the development of the Textile Products division, focusing on the analysis of new sectors to approach and the commercial and marketing strategies to implement.
