emergency response plans Joint Oil Industry Fire Forum reports show that incidents occur more often than we think
High volume/ high pressure mobile pumps designed and built by Hawkes Fire
considerably higher than under NFPA. For tanks of 45-60m in diameter, the rate is 11 litres per minute/m2 for 90 mins. and for 60m + tanks it is 12 lpm/m2 for 90 mins. Foam supplies will need to be considered either from the site itself or with neighbours with similar demands. Angus Fire, as the only UK manufacturer of foam, has a proven track record in supplying bulk stock by road tanker under police escort from its emergency stocks. The positioning of so called consignment stock needs to be carefully assessed as it may not be as readily available: • Consideration needs to be given to whether or not the foam is suitable for the equipment used, i.e. 3% induction is not suitable for 1% foam and vice versa • Foam is compatible with other foam being mobilised • Foam is inextricably linked to proportioning capability. A foam proportioning unit that can be located a good distance from the fire ground enables safe continuity of supply. Feeding from road tanker or IBC’s and fork lift trucks needs clear routes in and out. Again, this cannot be seen in isolation from the water supply logistics. Modern water driven turbine proportioners and jet pumps are the preferred method of foam delivery to the monitors.
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Fire water run-off Management of fire water run-off needs to comply with PPG 18 Control of Spillages and Fire Fighting Run-off. Generally facility bunding/ containment is designed to cope with foreseeable events. When an incident is protracted to the extent of multiple tank/ bund fires, these containment procedures may not be enough. Further consideration is therefore required in line with the pre-plan that helps reduce the environmental impact and comply with the legislation based on primary, secondary and remote containment. Containment areas to be identified locally where possible to reduce the possibility of leaching or uncontrolled discharge: • Secondary bunds or clay lined pits available? What
capacity is available and can pumping operations remove run-off from active areas to passive (non involved) areas • Empty tanks available? Can they be used and how would they be filled? • Can run-off be tankered away before bunds are compromised? Monitoring of bund levels must be undertaken and should be included as a prompt on the ERP for the Incident Commander • For tank fires, can bund contents from cooling operations, including from rain, be pumped from bund extraction points via hose lines to secondary bunds? • Do bunds have extraction points available? • Sacrificial areas, bunded car parks (with drains covered) use of sand and
earth moving equipment for emergency bund formation etc, all need to be assessed locally but at all times to be applied with respect to preventing contamination of substrate and water courses • Removal from the facility should be considered. This is especially important where secondary containment is limited. Resilience of the plan As with all policies and procedures, the plans will only prove successful if effectively implemented and adopted. This means of course communication of strategy and plans to relevant agencies and members, exercising and testing needs to be implemented and periodic reviews undertaken. As part of the plan a senior role must be given responsibility for owning and, where necessary, testing and invoking the support mechanisms. If the plan is untested and review processes fail, no one takes ownership, communication links change, names and numbers alter, and support functions disappear and are not untested, the plan will fall into disrepute. While much of the above may appear onerous, the measures would be deemed reasonably practicable by the authority having jurisdiction. This is always the benchmark for the discharge of a site operator’s duty of care, not just within any legislative framework but to its shareholders, employees, neighbours and the environment. In some cases the facility is a vital part of a secure energy supply for a nation, not forgetting the bedrock of a profitable future business. A company’s very existence following a major incident is in doubt if it is found wanting so following that expert guidance in matters of fire should be a priority. For more information:
This article was written by David Owen, business development manager of Hawkes Fire www.hawkesfire.co.uk
March/April 2013 • TANK STORAGE