Farmers Review Africa Sept/Oct 2018 FRA - September - October 2018 digital 5 | Page 22

FEATURE second- or third-degree burns may still be incurred, as well as pressure-shock injuries,” van Niekerk reveals. To mitigate the overall fire associated with tankers and refinery structures in particular, fire-protection facilities include a high-velocity deluge system over the solvent tankers at the refueling point. This is critical because the solvent is flammable, the fire has to be put out before a BLEVE can result. “It’s all about identifying and then mitigating the associated fire risks,” van Niekerk stresses. Another fire risk associated with hexane plants is an Unconfined Vapour Cloud Explosion (UVCE). A hexane tank that ruptures results in a pool of alcohol that evaporates rapidly. A litre of hexane can result in a 300 m3 building explosion. Hexane forms an odorless, invisible vapour cloud, and the prevailing wind causes it to drift off the premises. This can cause a deflagration, an explosion in which the speed of burning is lower than the speed of sound in the surroundings. This can have devastating effects. The deflagration can impinge on the pool of hexane, which can cause the vessel itself to explode, resulting in a catastrophic chain reaction. ASP Fire experts take each of these risk areas into account in terms of mitigation. “The factors are many and varied,” van Niekerk acknowledges, as these need to encompass the building, equipment, and personnel. “We design the most comprehensive set of solutions, using the most advanced methods and equipment available. From there, insurers and local authorities certify that we’ve addressed all necessary regulations, and that all of our work complies with the strict standards governing this particular industry. Thereafter, it’s about constant vigilance and inspections, caution on the part of by all personnel, and knowing how to avoid the unimaginable,” van Niekerk concludes. 20 |September - October 2018