- Author
-
Isaksson, S.
|
Persson, H.
- Title
- Skydd och insatser vid gasoloyckor - En kunskapssammanstallning. [Fire Brigade Response in Accidents Involving LPG - A Literature Review.]
- Coporate
- Swedish National Testing and Research Inst., Boras, Sweden
- Report
-
SP Report 1994:57,
1994,
65 p.
- Keywords
-
fire departments
|
accidents
|
response time
|
LP gas
|
propane
|
butanes
|
storage tanks
|
transportation
|
railroads
|
relief valves
|
insulation
|
water cooling
|
BLEVE
|
risk analysis
- Identifiers
- safety relief valves; water cooling; missiles
- Abstract
- [ONLY ABSTRACT IN ENGLISH] This report gives advice regarding tactics to be used in accidents involving large tanks containing LPG. It summarizes available techniques on how to protect large LPG tanks against fire induced failure, including pressure relief valves, insulation and water spray cooling. Included are also references to risk analysis models for assessment of missile-, thermal- and overpressure hazards in accidents. This report is the result of an extensive literature study, and contains a long list of references. Failure of LPG storage or transportation tanks are rare events. On the other hand there is a potential for large consequences if an incident should occur. Therefore it is important to identify factors that contribute to the outcome of an incident. Fire brigade response shall be preplanned and personnel trained so that action is undertaken without unnecessary risk for people. Some conclusions from the literature studied are: - BLEVE's and other total tank failure modes are rare events; - A jet fire impinging on a LPG tank can lead to failure within 4 minutes; - Carefully designed water spray systems can cool tanks subjected to pool fires using 6,7 1/m²min. Downward only water spray systems are not sufficient even at 16,7 1/m²min and water spray protection systems designed to protect against impinging jet fires may need as much as 120 1/m²min; - Protecting by burying, mounding or coating are the only ways of assuring protection at all times. Coatings may need to be qualified by jet fires tests; - Thermal and pressure hazards can be assessed fairly well by models, allowing for preplanning around fixed installations; - Missile hazards are not so well understood but empirical knowledge put limits to hazard areas; - Fire brigade personnel working in the hazardous area must have sufficient personal protection equipment; - Good practices shall be followed concerning tank and equipment installation. The owner/user must be aware of the hazards involved in LPG handling; - Inspections and maintenance must be done properly.