Ignifugacion is designed to allow critical facilities to operate regardless of whether the fire is able to be brought under control or not. Typically, fires start as a result of an accidental ignition in critical facilities, but with the product, they can continue to function no matter what. In order to effectively handle fires, fireproofing is one of the most important aspects of industrial plant construction. This involves applying specific products to specific materials and structures to prevent the fire from spreading, allowing plant operators to fight fires when they occur.
There are many places where fire safety should be taken into account, such as refineries, petrochemical plants, power plants, service terminals, and many other places, where fire is likely to be a problem. Some fire protection codes mandate that fireproofing be carried out in areas with a high risk of fire. The equipment and structures of a building must be fireproof up to a certain height, or even the entire building, as required by regulations.
Why do we do fireproofing? Why do we do it?
The need for fireproofing buildings and equipment can be attributed to several factors. Some of the factors that must be taken into account are as follows:
- It is mandatory to obtain certifications from the National Fire Protection Academy (NFPA) and OSHA in order to comply with industrial safety requirements
- Increasing fire resistance is crucial if we wish to increase our ability to withstand fires
- In the event of a fire, it is essential to keep vital equipment and control systems functioning.
The structural steel in a structure begins to corrode and, after a short period of time, it is no longer able to withstand the weight of the structure due to deterioration as a result of a temperature rise of 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. With the help of fire proofing it is possible to delay the moment when the temperature reaches a certain level while it is still below the desired level. Normally, fire can reach temperatures between 1900 degrees Fahrenheit and 2100 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to fireproof a building
The following steps are involved in fireproofing mechanical equipment:
- Equipment surface preparation
- Primer should have a thickness of 65-75 microns.
- Put a tack weld on the mesh to secure it.
- It is recommended to use Pyrocrete 241
- The DFT and fireproof thickness should be measured after epoxy paint application.
- The engineer in charge or standard operating procedure can release a vessel once it has been approved for further work.
Fireproofing types / fireproofing methods
In order to get insurance coverage, industrial facilities are often required to be fireproof. Fireproofing can be divided into two categories:
- Effective and active fireproofing
- Passive fireproofing
If your building has active fireproofing, then you need human assistance to activate the system. On the other hand, active fireproofing is designed and planned to provide maximum safety. These three types of passive fireproofing are:
- Using cementitious materials for fireproofing,
- Intumescent fireproofing materials
- Firestop can be used to fireproof your home.
Fireproofing is achieved with concrete:
If the plaster-like coating has been made from gypsum, then it is similar to white stucco. Fireproofing coating is sprayed on the surfaces that need to be fireproofed in order to ensure their safety. A fireproofing material such as cementite is used to keep steel girders and beams from bending at temperatures below 540 degrees Celsius.
Intumescence as a fireproofing method:
By expanding intumescent paint, a heatproof barrier can be created. Sodium silicate is a type of intumescent paint commonly used. An intumescent paint coating thickens when heated. This traps air in the coating and provides better insulation. During the manufacturing of metal pipes, tanks, and valves, intumescent paint is applied to render them fireproof.
Firestop Fireproofing can be used in the following ways:
In addition to securing all openings and joints, Firestop fire proofing will create a fire-resistant wall and floor by sealing all openings. Generally speaking, fire dampers are used to fill in holes in ductwork, cutoffs in pipework, and wire trays.
Cementitious and intumescent fireproofing
Cementitious materials, on the other hand, are much more difficult to fireproof when they are made of intumescent materials. It is important to note though that intumescent materials are applied in a similar way to coating materials. It has the property of not allowing moisture to accumulate within the cementitious material. There is a cementitious fireproofing material, which as an inexpensive option is commonly used to protect facilities from fires, which is a popular method of protecting facilities. Fireproofing with intumescent material offers more advanced features than the standard method, though it offers greater versatility.
