Spec For Rim Seal Fire Protection System

11.02.
25 RIM SEAL PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR FLOATING ROOF TANKS
OISD Standard -117, July, 2012, para 4.2.12, stipulates that Automatic actuated Rim
Seal fire detection and extinguishing system, approved by international agencies like UL,
FM, VdS or LPC, shall be provided on all existing as well as new external floating roof
tank storing Class A Petroleum products, approved by any of the UL, FM, VdS or LPC .
This is in addition to fixed water spray system and fixed foam system or semi fixed foam
system on all floating roof tanks storing class-A & B. However, the requirement of
Automatic Rim Seal Fire Protection system does not apply to Internal Floating Roof
Tanks.
Thus in order to make the existing Floating roof tanks OISD -117 compliant, following
two options are available –
a) Provide ―Automatic Rim Seal Fire Protection system on the ―External Floating Roof
tanks storing Class―Aǁ product For capacity greater than 5000KL. OR
b) Those existing External Floating Roof tanks can be converted to Internal Floating Roof
tanks by providing Aluminum Dome roof, which do not require Automatic Rim Seal Fire
Protection system for capacity less than 5000KL.
1. SYSTEM OF AUTOMATIC ACTUATED RIM SEAL FIRE DETECTION AND

EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM
The automatic actuated foam flooding system is a system designed to automatically

detect and
extinguish the floating roof tank rim seal fire at its incipient stage. The system is
mounted on the
roof of the tank. The minimum requirement for the design of the system is given below:
1.0 Foam Flooding System

Film Forming Fluro Protein Foam (FFFP) / Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) type
concentrate is used in the system.
1.1 Foam Application System

A large storage tank require one or more than one modular units for foam application
in the entire rim seal. Each such unit consists of a foam distribution pipe, laid along
the tank perimeter over the rim seal area. The spray nozzles for foam application are
mounted on the distribution pipe at suitable intervals. Distribution pipe is permanently
connected to a storage vessel containing pre-mix foam and both are placed on the
roof. The foam is kept pressurized with nitrogen the premix foam solution is
contained in a vessel which is kept charged with nitrogen. The system is designed
for minimum foam application rate of @ 18 lpm/ m2 of rim seal area. For effective
control, foam is discharged in approximately 40 seconds.
1.2 Alarm & Auto Actuation System

In case of fire on the rim seal, it is automatically detected by a device capable to
sense the same. The device then actuates the spray system for application of foam
in the complete area of rim seal to quickly extinguish the fire in its incipient stage. An
audio-visual alarm is also coupled with the detection & extinguishing system for
necessary fire alert. The system includes a fire detector network which senses fire
and actuates the automatic release of the extinguishing medium on the rim seal area.
Each tank shall have independent detection & extinguishing system.
The validity of the approach must be demonstrated by the designer for an effective
total flooding extinguishing system which quickly detects and extinguishes fire in its
incipient stage without re-flash. Also, the design considerations should include the
impact of the weight of the modules placed on the floating roof.
The detection system needs to be highly reliable and shall work at varied site ambient
temperatures for protection of rim seal fire.
The rim seal protection systems shall be of linear hollow metallic tube type detectors
with foam based extinguishing media or equivalent system*, for existing/ as well as
for replacements of existing system when due. These detection systems shall be
listed and/or approved by any of the international certifying agencies like UL, FM,
VdS or LPC to ensure that those systems are used which meet with highest
standards of safety.
2.Two wired Linear Heat detection & foam based suppression system.
The overall purpose of the system is to detect and extinguish the Rim seal fire at the
incipient stage and simultaneously alert the personnel at the facility so that they can
respond to the incident.
The system shall consist of a microprocessor based, site configurable two wired Linear
Heat Sensing (LHS) detection system, monitoring the rim-seal area over the whole tank
circumference. The two wired linear heat detection element, which shall be laid around
the whole circumference in the rim seal area of the floating roof tank, shall rapidly detect
the fire at its incipient stage not later than 10 seconds of its occurrence, raise an alarm
at manned location/s and automatically discharge low expansion foam over the rim seal
area of the tank. The system shall be modular type with each module protecting a
defined length of rim-seal area and all modules shall discharge simultaneously on
detection of fire at any location on the rim seal area. The detection system shall have
integrated programmable self-diagnostic facility with annunciation of status displayed
at manned location/s.
The system shall be such that after any rim-seal fire event it can be replaced by trained
site personnel without the need for specialist engineers.
The rim-seal main fire alarm panel along with PC based HMI console shall be provided
at manned locations (Control Rooms) and Local Control Panel (LCP) outside dyke for
control and monitoring of the system. PC based HMI as a repeat panel for indications /
alarm of FIRE and FAULT shall be provided at any other location inside the premises
(Location of the repeater panel shall be decided based on site specific condition).
2.1. Linear Heat Detection (LHD)
Linear Heat Sensing system consisting of minimum two sensing elements with each
element functioning on Two Wired Liner Heat Detection principle shall be able to detect
the fire at configured temperature in the range of 650C to 1100C and value of
temperature shall be decided during detailed engineering.
The outer jacket of sensing element may be extruded with numerous types of advanced
polymers to suit very aggressive environments where the sensing element may be
installed. Increase in temperature over and above ambient temperature resulting from
slow overheating or fire up to the fixed alarm temperature shall be detected by the
System.
2.2 LHD Mounting
Linear Heat Sensing elements shall be securely fixed as close as possible to the highest
point of the seal assembly. The maximum distance of the Sensing elements to the top
of the seal shall be 150 mm. The Sensing elements shall be located between primary
& secondary seal.
Linear Heat Sensing elements mounting shall be such that they can accommodate tank
flexing and movement without causing chafing or other damage to the LHS elements.
2.3. Foam based Fire Suppression System
The rim-seal fire suppression system shall include the appropriate number of equally
spaced identical modular foam units mounted adjacent to but outside the containment
area of the foam dam so as to protect the entire rim seal area. The foam units shall be
charged with pre-mixed foam solution pressurized with nitrogen as an expellant gas. All
modules on a tank shall be actuated simultaneously in the event of automatic detection
of fire from any segment (in case of more than one segment) on the tank roof or by
actuation of a manual release station outside the bund. The system shall be designed
for a minimum foam application rate of 18 lpm /m2 of rim seal area. An application
period of minimum 40 seconds shall be considered, even if fire is extinguished much
before 40 seconds.
The system shall be modular in design with each section of foam distribution manifold
protecting the equal length of rim-seal area. In order to ensure full foam coverage in the
entire rim-seal area, the placement of the nozzle shall be such that foam application
shall be uniform including the area at the ends of the manifold. The foam nozzle shall
be made of SS- 316 / chrome plated brass UL Listed/ FM approved

Spec For Rim Seal Fire Protection System

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11.02.

25 RIM SEAL PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR FLOATING ROOF TANKS

1. SYSTEM OF AUTOMATIC ACTUATED RIM SEAL FIRE DETECTION AND

The automatic actuated foam flooding system is a system designed to automatically

1.0 Foam Flooding System

1.1 Foam Application System

1.2 Alarm & Auto Actuation System

2.1. Linear Heat Detection (LHD)

2.2 LHD Mounting

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