Fire Protection
Effective fire protection addresses both the prevention and mitigation of fires within facilities through fuel load analysis, consequence modeling, and suppression and mitigation analysis.
Effective fire protection programs are essential to decreasing the likelihood of releases and preventing loss of life, property damage, environmental impact, and plant downtime. Implementing custom fire protection programs as an indispensable component of a facility’s risk management program, ensures adequate performance, business continuity, and compliance with National Fire Protection Association and International Fire Code methodologies.
Decades of Fire Protection Expertise
For over 30 years, AcuTech has provided guidance in conceptualizing, designing, and implementing fire protection programs based on an in-depth knowledge of process safety and risk management.
AcuTech can perform data analyses, fire and explosion investigations and damage assessments. Our consultants can identify and evaluate fire hazards and recommend measures to reduce fire risk through fuel load analyses, fire and explosion consequence modelling, and suppression and mitigation analyses.
Our performance-based and up-to-code designs are built on expertise with firewater, foam, Halon, fire alarms, fire sprinklers, fire suppression and emergency lighting. Facilities gain access to recommendations to site design, improved performance, diminished risk all rooted in AcuTech’s deep knowledge of industrial standards, jurisdiction fire codes, process safety regulations and cross-industry best practices.
Fire Protection Engineering Design Review and Code Compliance
- Review of Fire Protection Philosophies, FEED Documentation, and Detailed Design Packages against NFPA, IBC, IFC, API, NRRC, IAEA, SAIS, Saudi Building Code, and Other Applicable International Standards
- Prescriptive and Performance-Based Compliance Evaluations
- Fire Protection Systems Compliance Assessment, Specification, and Design
- Alignment of Project-Phase Fire Protection Documentation with Regulatory Frameworks Before Construction and Commissioning
- Equipment Certification Compliance Review Against UL, FM, IEC, and ATEX Requirements
- Identification of Design Gaps, Non-conformances, and Conditions Requiring Corrective Action
Field Verification of Fire Protection Systems
- Field Verification of Installed Fire Protection Systems: Firewater Supply and Distribution, Fire Pumps, Automatic and Manual Suppression Systems (Water Spray, Foam, Clean-Agent, CO₂), Fire and Gas Detection and Alarm Systems, Passive Fire Protection, Portable Extinguishers, and Firefighting Vehicle Fleets
- Benchmarking of Installed Systems Against Design Documentation, Manufacturer Specifications, and Applicable Codes and Standards
Quantitative and Qualitative Fire Hazard and Risk Assessments
- Fire and Explosion Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment
- PHA, HAZOP, What-If/Checklist, and LOPA Studies
- Evaluation of Flammable and Hazardous Material Storage and Use Practices
Hazardous Area Classification Studies
Fire and Explosion Consequence Modeling
- Pool Fire, Jet Fire, and Vapor Cloud Explosion Consequence Modeling
- Thermal Radiation Assessment and Fire Escalation Analysis
- Fuel Load Analysis
- Facility Siting Studies
Emergency Response Planning
- Emergency Response Planning and Pre-Fire Plan Integration
Fire and Explosion Investigations and Damage Assessments
- Post-Incident Investigation and Root Cause Analysis for Fire and Explosion Events
- Damage Assessment and Engineering Evaluation Following Fire Incidents
Tank Farm and Bulk-Liquid Fire Protection
- Assessment of Foam Suppression Systems (Fixed, Semi-Fixed, and Manual)
- Foam Inventory Adequacy and Logistics Assessment
- Firewater Cooling Requirements and Thermal Radiation Effects in Tank Farm Areas
- Tank Fire Strategy Evaluation, Including Floating-Roof and Fixed-Roof Tank Fires
- Firefighting Fleet Capability Assessment Against Credible Large-Scale Fire Events
Fire Detection, Alarm, and Gas Detection Systems
- Review and Field Verification of Fire and Gas Detection Installations
- Fire & Gas Detector Coverage Mapping
- Evaluation of Detector Technology, Coverage, and Integration with Control and Alarm Systems
- Certification Compliance Assessment Against Applicable Standards
Fire Protection for Emerging Energy Facilities
- Fire Protection Review and Philosophy Development for Hydrogen, Renewable Natural Gas, LNG, Solar PV, Battery Energy Storage (BESS), and Wind Energy Facilities
- Fire and Life Safety Risk Assessment Review for Green Hydrogen and Energy Transition Projects
Fire Code Review and Code Compliance Analysis
- Fire Truck Accessibility Modeling
- Evaluation of Firefighting Vehicle Fleet Capacities, Performance, and Operational Functionality Against Credible Fire Scenarios
- Foam Inventory and Supply Logistics Assessment
Fire Code Review and Code Compliance Analysis
- Building and Facility Fire Code Reviews for Industrial Operations, Specialty Chemical, Hazardous Storage Rooms/Warehouses, Manufacturing Facilities, Laboratories, Chemical Plants and Loading/Unloading Operations
Standards & Procedures Development
- Generation of Fire Protection Standards and Procedures
- Development of Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance (ITM) Plans
- Generation of Operating Procedures and Pre-Fire Plans
- Strategic Fire and Emergency Response Procedure Development
Passive Fire Protection Assessments
- Establish fire exposure envelopes to evaluate protection of critical equipment and structures.
- Assess fireproofing extent and fire resistance ratings based on credible fire scenarios.
- Identify gaps in passive fire protection within established fire exposure envelopes.
Training
- Facility-Specific Emergency Response Training Through Scenario-Based Tabletop and Field Exercises
- Hazardous Material Storage, Inventory Management and Operating Practices
- Life Safety Training
- Hydrogen Safety Training Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Training
AcuTech’s consultants are well versed in codes and standards developed by industry bodies and will refer to these as well as each client’s local jurisdiction codes and standards. A sampling of the relevant codes and standards can be found below.
- NFPA 1: Fire Code. Published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), NFPA 1 provides comprehensive requirements for fire prevention and fire protection in various types of occupancies, including industrial facilities.
- NFPA 30: Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code. NFPA 30 specifically addresses the storage, handling, and use of flammable and combustible liquids. This is crucial for industries dealing with such substances.
- NFPA 68: Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting. NFPA 68 focuses on the design and installation of devices and systems used to prevent the overpressure resulting from deflagration within enclosures.
- NFPA 69: Standard on Explosion Prevention Systems. NFPA 69 provides guidelines for the selection, design, installation, maintenance, and testing of systems that prevent deflagrations within enclosures.
- NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC). While not specific to the process industries, the NEC contains important electrical safety requirements that are applicable to industrial facilities.
- NFPA 497: Recommended Practice for the Classification of Flammable Liquids, Gases, or Vapors and of Hazardous (Classified) Locations for Electrical Installations in Chemical Process Areas. NFPA 497 provides guidance on the classification of hazardous areas where flammable gases, vapors, or liquids may be present.
- NFPA 654: Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids. This standard addresses the prevention of fires and dust explosions in industries where combustible particulate solids are present.
- NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. NFPA 72 provides requirements for the installation, performance, and maintenance of fire alarm and signaling systems.
- API RP 2001: Fire Protection in Refineries. Published by the American Petroleum Institute (API), this recommended practice provides guidance on fire protection for refineries.