FIRE WATER SYSTEM

Water to be used for fire extinguishment/ fire control/cooling of vessels/equipment and

protection of equipment and personnel from heat radiation.

COMPONENTS OF FIRE WATER SYSTEM

The main components of the system are:

(i) Fire water storage

(ii) Fire water pumps
(iii) Fire Hydrant/distribution piping network
(iv) Water Sprinkler

STATUTORY REGULATIONS

All facilities used for storage of LPG, CNG and Auto LPG shall comply with provisions of
OISD-STD-144, 150, OISD-GDN-169-, STD-179(CNG) and 210 (LPG AUTOMOTIVE USE)
as the case may be..

S.No. Standard No. Name of Standard

1 OISD-STD-144 Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Installations

2 OISD-STD-150 Design and Safety Requirements for Liquefied petroleum

Gas Mounded Storage Facility

3 OISD-STD-169 OISD Guidelines on Small LPG Bottling Plants (Design

and Fire Protection Facilities)

4 OISD-STD-179 Safety Requirements on Compression, Storage, Handling

and Refueling of Natural Gas for use in Automotive
Sector

5 OISD-STD-210 Storage, Handling and Refueling of LPG for Automotive

Use

( The Gazette of India,EXTRAORDINARY ,PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (i)

ST
NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER, 2004, GAS CYLINDERS RULES, 2004)
OISD STD 144

The Fire Water pressure system shall be designed for a minimum residual pressure of 7.0 kg/
cm2 g at the remotest place of application in the plant. Automatic fire protection (Fixed) system
based on heat detection through thermal fuses/ quartz bulbs/ EP detectors shall be employed.

Sensors shall be installed at all critical places wherever medium velocity spray system has been
installed as described below:

a. In LPG storage area, such detectors shall be provided encircling each vessel, equi-spaced with
a maximum spacing of 1 meter at an elevation of about 1.5 to 2.0 meter from bottom of vessel.
Also minimum 2 nos. detectors shall be provided at the top of the vessel and atleast one near the
liquid line ROV to take care of failure of flanges. In case of an automatic thermal fuse based fire
protection system the instrument air supply pressure to thermal fuses shall be maintained through
a pressure control valve and a restriction orifice.

b. Detectors shall be placed at critical locations in LPG sheds (filling, cylinder storage, testing,
evacuation, etc.) loading/ unloading gantries, LPG compressor house, piping manifold, repair
sheds etc. Upon actuation there shall be alarm in control panel, LPG pumps and compressors
would trip, ROVs (wherever provided) on LPG supply and return lines would trip and the deluge
valves on fire water sprinkler system will get actuated.

FLOW RATE DESIGN

All LPG storage Vessels, Cylinder Storage/ Filling/ Repair Sheds, LPG Pump / compressor
Houses, remote operating valves /motor operating valves on LPG lines Bulk Lorry and Tank
Wagon Gantries shall be fully covered by medium velocity water spray system.(OISD STD 144
11.2 (ii))

iv) Heat Detectors for detection of fire for automatic actuation of medium velocity water
sprinkler system shall be provided. The QB/EP detectors shall be placed directly overhead or
inside the hazard. In areas without specific hazard, detectors shall be placed evenly across the
ceiling or with maximum spacing of 3 meter inside the shed. Any other detectors if provided
shall comply with the design requirements.

The fire water pumping requirement shall be calculated based on spray density as given below :

LPG Storage Vessels 10.2 LPM/Sq M. (R + 30Meter) OISD STD-144 11.4 (a)

LPG Shed 10.2 LPM/Sq. M.

(ii)

(a) LPG STORAGE VESSELS: Fixed water system with manually operated isolation valve
located at a safe distance of 15 meters shall be provided. For water flow calculations adjoining
vessels within distance of R + 15 Mts. (Where R is the radius of the LPG Vessels) shall be
considered.

(b) SHED: Fixed water spray system with isolation valve to be operated manually and placed at
a safe distance of 15 meters from the shed shall be provided.

Automatic Sprinkler System:

A system of water pipes fitted with sprinkler heads at suitable intervals and heights and designed
to actuate automatically, control and extinguish a fire by discharge of water. Automatic sprinklers
have the unique properties of automatic detection of fire by using thermo-sensitive device,
control and extinguishment of fire by automatically releasing water of activation in specific
patterns and quantities over designated areas. The fact that sprinkler system sounds the fire alarm
alerting the occupants of a fire condition, and since sprinkler discharge can control, suppress and
even extinguish a fire, contributes largely to life safety as well. However, sprinkler system fails
to serve their intended purpose, if they are put to non-automatic mode.

In case Quartzoid Bulbs are used for detection, the same shall be designed to blow at 79 deg.
centigrade (max.)