LNG FIREFIGHTING An Angus LNG Turbex applies Expandol highexpansion foam despite the searing heat of LNG fire
Are We Adequately Protecting Our LNG Facilities? Mike Willson Angus Fire
ASIA PACIFIC FIRE
We have seen a massive investment in new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities over the past decade to provide a cleaner fossil fuel than the more traditional diesel and oil used for power generation, heating and commercial transportation. A substantial amount of that infrastructural development and investment is still being undertaken, particularly in Australia, the broader Asia-Pacific region, Africa, Russia, India and some parts of the Americas.
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ut in an industry with an exemplary safety record and very few incidents, are our fire protection systems proven to work in a real LNG fire scenario? Will they respond quickly enough to protect personnel and avoid facility damage? Is there a danger that LNG is being confused with the more widespread and familiar fire protection needs of Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPG) like propane and butane, where water sprays predominate over firefighting foam applica-
tions? Let us investigate the extensive research that helps provide some answers.
What is LNG? Natural gas is 83 percent to 99 percent methane, which reduces its volume 620 times when refrigerated to its liquefied state. This makes it attractive for transporting across continents, where no pipelines exist. LNG is stored at around minus 164째C, is colourless, odourless and flammable in 31