Fire Protection in Refineries

API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 2001

Draft Ninth Edition

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Where the fire protection water system is intended to supply only monitors and hose
streams in support of manual fire fighting and suppression, sample flow rate ranges may be
estimated using values suggested in Table 1.

Table 1
EXAMPLE WATER FLOW RATES FOR MANUAL FIRE FIGHTING1, 2

SCENARIO AREA FIREWATER FLOW RANGES, EXAMPLE FLOW RATE

of INTEREST Per Minute in RANGES
Thousands of Gallons Based on Protected Area
2 2
(Thousands of Liters) GPM/Ft or LPM/M

Radiant Heat Protection

2 2
0.1 gpm/ft (4.1 lpm/m )

PROCESS AREAS
handling flammable
liquids or high pressure
flammable gases
2
4,000 to 10,000 gpm Cooling: 0.2 to 0.3 gpm/ft
2
(15,000 to 38,000 lpm) (8.2 to 12.3 lpm/m )
2
Suppression: 0.3 to 0.5 gpm/ft
2
(12.3 to 20.4 lpm/m )

PROCESS AREAS
handling gases or
combustible liquids
2
3,000 to 5,000 gpm 0.20 to 0.30 gpm/ft
2
(11,000 to 19,000 lpm) (8.2 to 12.3 lpm/m )

TANK STORAGE
2
flammable and 0.16 to 0.3 gpm/ ft See API RP 2021 & NFPA 11
2
combustible liquids in (6.5 to 13 l/min-m )
atmospheric tanks

LPG STORAGE tanks and See API 2510, API 2510A

2
vessels and NFPA 58

WAREHOUSES See applicable Building and Fire

Codes

BUILDINGS, Offices, See applicable Building and Fire

Laboratories, and similar Codes
structures
 :1

6.2.1.2 Determining Water Flow Rates for Process Areas

Where the considered fire area is totally or partially protected by fixed water spray,
sprinkler, or foam systems, the flow rate should be the sum of the flow rates required for
proper operation of the fixed systems, plus an allowance for simultaneous operation of
monitors and hose streams. Where there are multiple fixed systems within the fire area, the
calculated flow rate should consider whether adjacent systems may need to operate
concurrently. (See API 2030 and NFPA 15 for more detail)

6.2.1.3 Suggested Residual Pressure

The residual pressure required for fire protection should be determined separately for each
considered fire area within the refinery. The required pressure should be the highest
pressure required by any system or piece of equipment at the delivery point where it would
be operated during the fire scenario. Suggested residual pressures for common fire
protection systems and equipment items are shown in Table 2.

SYSTEM OR
EQUIPMENT ITEM
Calculated sprinkler, water
spray or foam system
TABLE 2
SUGGESTED RESIDUAL PRESSURES
DESIRED RESIDUAL MEASURED AT:
PRESSURE
As determined in the system As specified in the calculations,
calculations, generally usually at the base of the system
between 75 and 125 psi riser or the connection to the
(520 to 940 kpa) main.

Fixed Monitor 100 psi (690 kPa) At the monitor base.

Hydrant directly feeding 100 psi (690 kPa) At the hydrant.

hose streams

Hydrant feeding a fire 20 psi (138 kPa) At the hydrant

truck if no fixed equipment
is operating
The fire protection water supply and the distribution piping should be sized such that the
required pressure is met at each considered fire area when flowing the required flow rate for
that fire area.

6.2.1.4 Fire Water Flow Duration

The total water supply within the refinery should be capable of supplying the maximum flow
for a period of not less than four to six hours, consistent with projected fire scenario needs.
Where the water system is supplied from a tank or reservoirs, the quantity of water required
for fire protection should be reserved exclusively for fire protection. However, where the
tank or reservoir is automatically filled by a line from a reliable, separate supply, such as
from a public water system or wells, the total quantity in storage may be reduced by the
incoming fill rate.

6.2.1.5 Water Requirements for Tank Fires

Full surface tank fires represent large water demands for fire suppression. Pre-incident
planning should consider water sources and delivery to the fire. This may involve high
capacity foam monitors, large diameter hose and high capacity mobile pumps. API RP
2021 discusses tank fire suppression with water-foam solution needs indicated in Figure 5
extracted from that standard.
 Figure 5

Water-Foam Solution Flow Requirement for Full Surface Fire, GPM

at Varied Application Rates (in GPM/sq ft)
Application Rates
18,000
0.24 GPM/sq ft
17,000
16,000
15,000 0.20 GPM/sq ft
14,000
13,000
12,000 0.16 GPM/sq ft
11,000
10,000
9,000
8,000
0.10 GPM/sq ft
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300
Tank Diameter, Feet

-Foam Solution Flow Requirement for Full Surface Fire, gallons per
2
minute at varied application rates (in gpm/ft ).

6.2.2 Pumping Equipment

It is desirable to provide firewater pumps with different power sources for drivers to
decrease the vulnerability of the system. Most locations divide drivers between electric
motors and diesel engines. Steam turbine drivers are also used. If electric power is
generated on-site from the same steam system which supplies steam driven firewater
pumps then the electric and steam pumps are vulnerable
Gasoline engine drivers normally are not used for fixed installations because of relatively
high maintenance and lower reliability.