Fire protection of offshore platforms & vessels
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A modular HI-FOG unit ready for lifting aboard
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Sprinklers and spray heads
The sprinklers and spray heads have been developed to discharge water in the form of fine mist, providing efficient penetration of the mist into the fire.
Sprinklers
The sprinklers are used primarily in the accommodation and service spaces. They are automatically activated by high-speed heat sensitive glass bulbs.
Spray heads
The spray heads are used in machinery spaces. They are activated by opening a section valve, resulting in simultaneous discharge from all spray heads in the section. This activation may be manual or automatic.
Piping
AISI 316 L piping is used throughout the system. Progressive cutting ring fittings are used for the connections.
Pump unit
The pump unit is the heart of the HI-FOG system and supplies all HI-FOG systems onboard. Five different types of pump units are available, depending on the spaces to be protected and the availability of electrical power:
· Electrical pump unit (SPU): Used when the electrical power on the main and emergency (when applicable) switchboards is adequate. A simpler version MLPU is used for local application.
· Diesel-driven pump unit (SPUD): This pump unit is used when not enough electrical power is available.
· Gas-driven pump unit (GPU): This pump unit is independent of an external power source. It is ideal for applications such as machinery spaces on smaller structures or vessels and for local application.
· Machinery accumulator unit (MAU): A self-contained system ideal for gas turbine enclosures.
Accommodation and service areas
The small-bore piping will keep the system weight low, an important feature, especially on semi-submersible vessels with their small water plane area.
As the water is discharged in the form of clean water mist, there will be no damage to these spaces in case the system is activated.
Gas turbine enclosures and diesel packs
HI-FOG is ideal for protecting turbines. It has passed the FM and other distortion tests with a continuous discharge rate using small quantities of water.
Machinery spaces
HI-FOG is totally harmless to human beings and can be activated the moment a fire is detected. The fire will be attacked in its earliest stages, keeping the damage small. For comparison, the activation of a CO2 system requires, on average, 20 minutes for preparation.
After the fire has been extinguished, HI-FOG will cool down the space, thus preventing re-ignition from occurring.
HI-FOG total flooding system: A fully approved alternative to systems such as CO2, halon or foam without the drawbacks of these systems.
HI-FOG local application system: This has been designed and approved in accordance with the regulations for such systems, but have repeatedly shown that they can extinguish engine room fires on their own, without the activation of the total flooding system.
The HI-FOG total flooding and local application systems can be combined into one single integrated system, with corresponding savings in costs and maintenance.
Galleys
A galley contains a higher fire load than other accommodation spaces and requires more efficient fire protection than other areas. In addition to the protection of the galley itself, a special HI-FOG system is available to protect deep-fat fryers.
Computer centres
In computer centres, most damage if there is a fire is not caused by the fire itself, but by smoke. A special HI-FOG arrangement will clean the air of smoke as well as extinguish the fire.
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