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| FC Fireproof and Blast Reisitant Board |
To
understand why such a fire and blast protection system is required for this
type of situation, it’s worth examining the processes involved in a typical
blast and blaze incident. Some types of explosion subject the surrounding
environment to an instantaneous huge pressure wave which can cause enormous
damage in its own right. This is usually followed immediately by a wave of
reverse, negative pressure which can be equally damaging.
Other
explosions can add shrapnel-like fragmentation into the bargain – where pieces
of the explosive container are projected at great speed across the explosion
zone. Alternatively, an explosion that is incendiary in nature will allow
intense heat to be emitted at a rapid rate, thus creating a different set of
hazards which need to be contained. It’s obvious then that the first
requirement for any fire protection board is to be able to offer a high level
of containment to any or all of these blast effects, even before its
fire-protection abilities are called into question.
A
common misconception exists surrounding the ability of block work walls to
resist high levels of impact and blast pressure. A standard 150mm dense block
work wall will fail under a 4000J impact due to the weakness of the mortar
joints. Similarly, relatively low levels of blast pressure will destroy a shear
block wall (1–2psi) and shear solid 225mm brick walls (7–8psi). For comparison,
it is estimated that the blast which destroyed the Piper Alpha oil platform in
1988 measured between 10.7 and 14.3psi.
In contrast, a barrier system
such as the FC FIRE AND BLAST PANEL®
system will maintain its integrity following a 180 minute fire test and 4000J
impact. A similar system has also been successfully blast tested up to 33.8psi
overpressure, and does not require the associated foundation work or design
footprint of block work walls.
FC FIRE AND BLAST PANEL®
is a composite panel of fibre-reinforced cement, mechanically bonded to punched
steel sheets on both outer surfaces, which allow it to deliver the strength and
resistance required to withstand high impact and blast pressures. The
fibre-reinforced composite core panel enables the board to deliver the type of
fire protection that allow it to be classed as ‘non-combustible’ to BS 476:
Part 4: 1970 and A1 to Clause 10 of BS EN 13501-1:2002.
In
the event of a fire, such a system will resist both the blast and the fire,
maintaining the all-important compartmentation which is an essential element in
protecting any construction that houses a high value asset. This type of system
should be able to resist damage from falling debris during the fire itself,
while afterwards, the inherent strength of the board can also help the building
to remain stable and secure until remedial work can be carried out. In
addition, it will contribute only minimal amounts of smoke or gas, and provide
good acoustic insulation performance too.
As
might be expected, this type of advanced, high performance system will suffer
little or no damage from everyday exposure. This makes it well suited to use on
many different types of high value installation, and its use in many thousands
of projects across the world have proven its ability to withstand extremes of
temperature, demanding and hostile environments, plus the type of severe
thermal shock caused when high pressure water hoses are used to fight a fire.
In short, a system such as FC FIRE AND BLAST PANEL®
can provide virtually maintenance-free ‘fit-and-forget’ solution with a design
life in excess of 40 years.
Walls, doors and ceilings can all be
protected by this type of high performance barrier system. Normally designed to
fit onto a framework, it can be used to create a wide variety of bespoke layout
options and this generally enables the system to meet the specific requirements
of individual projects. The fire wall systems which are created can be used to
separate and shield hazardous areas, protect escape routes, construct refuge
areas and create fire compartmentation systems within buildings and storage
areas.
Such a system can also be used to create stand-alone barriers for
applications where damage must be limited by preventing the blast and the fire
from spreading between different areas via a domino effect. When used in this
mode - as opposed to being built-in to the building’s structure - the board can
be used to create barriers designed to meet most of the generally recognised
fire curves and it is normally certified by many approval bodies including UL,
FM and Lloyds. Its relatively light weight can also generate significant
savings in terms of space, installation time and costs, as simpler and smaller
foundations can be used compared to traditional poured concrete or concrete
block barriers.
This
is a particular benefit for retrofit applications where space can often be
limited and the fire protection must be installed without disturbing any
existing services or facilities. The installation process is also a “dry”
trade, which minimises the possibility of disruption to other trades working in
the same areas, thus allowing faster project completion. Barriers constructed
from FC FIRE AND BLAST PANEL®
can usually be demounted and reinstalled, which greatly simplifies any
maintenance work or refurbishment tasks that need to be completed.
The
effectiveness of this type of fire and blast barrier system - and its ability
to provide genuinely bespoke protection for virtually any installation - is
reflected by the ever-growing list of recent projects where it has been used.
In the UK alone, that list includes high values assets such as the London
Underground, Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 plus numerous Ministry of Defence and
energy projects. There are also numerous projects which may not have the same
security prominence but where reliable protection was still required, such as
the new The British Museum and the new Westfield London retail project.
It’s
worth remembering that even non-critical assets can derive real benefits from
the installation of an effective, high performance fire and blast protection
system. Equipment such as power transformers are a common, everyday sight and
can frequently is found located adjacent to commercial and industrial
buildings. However they offer enormous potential for injury and destruction as
they contain large quantities of oil and also carry high voltages - a volatile
combination even at the best of times. This is one of the key reasons why
today’s insurers and corporate risk managers often consider power transformers
to be one of the most critical electrical
components in a building, and this
factor is driving the current demand for increasingly effective fire and blast
protection boards to be used for this type of equipment installation.
It
makes perfect sense for anyone involved in the specification process to give
themselves a significant advantage by seeking advice from a specialist
manufacturer of fire and blast systems such as FC. They will be able to draw on
many years of practical experience to provide accurate and reliable advice and
help create the most appropriate fire protection solution for the project in
question. They should also be able to support that guidance by offering a full
portfolio of third party accredited solutions for fire compartmentation,
structural steel protection and fire stopping applications. And remember, the
earlier the manufacturer is given the opportunity to become involved in a
project, the easier it is to arrive at a cost-effective solution that does not
compromise on performance.
Fire protection is an area where designers, fire
engineers and building owners simply can’t afford to take any chances, and this
applies especially to high value assets. The devastating effects of an
incorrect specification are obvious to all concerned, making it imperative that
the right products for the task are teamed with expert advice and guidance.
Only that way can we be sure that our high value assets will go on performing
whenever we need them to.
Leo Wong - Marketing Manager, FC Board Group Co.,Ltd.
More info:.en.alibaba.com
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