Bespoke fire-risk systems for agri and food processing

Issue 1 2023 Fire & Safety

Fire engineering specialist ASP Fire highlights its specialised expertise in the agri and food-processing industries. “In creating a bespoke system for any new or operational business, we look at each risk area and ask what it is we need to do to mitigate this particular risk,” explains ASP Fire CEO, Michael van Niekerk.

The company’s risk mitigation systems comply with the NFPA 36 standard for several solvent extraction plants in terms of fire prevention and suppression. Compliance is vital to save lives, reduce the costs of fire damage, and protect equipment and buildings from major damage.

“We install the best systems possible and ensure compliance with national and international fire safety standards. This includes sign-off from insurance companies and local authorities to safeguard people and property,” highlights Van Niekerk.

The company’s record of accomplishment includes completing rational designs for solvent extraction plant clients, operating sunflower and soya seed processing facilities in the Limpopo Province, North West Province, Gauteng and Mpumalanga. An initial oil rich mash or cake is formed, and the oil is extracted using a hexane solvent process. The highly flammable solvent that extracts the oil from the meal is then removed from the oil by a drying process.

The two major risk areas here are the preparation and solvent plant buildings, each around six storeys high, which makes escape for any occupants, in the event of a fire, a massive challenge. When the product starts to burn, it does so rapidly, which calls for fast-acting fire suppression.

The last part of the process is storing the dried meal, where there is a lot of airborne dust. This creates an explosive atmosphere, which can be ignited by a single spark, posing a potentially far greater fire risk than the hexane plant itself. There is also crude oil storage, which is not flammable, but combustible.

One of the biggest risks in industries that use solvents such as hexane is the so-called BLEVE phenomenon, an acronym for Boiling Expanding Liquid Vapour Explosion. A hexane tanker could be up to 42 m3 in size, so an incident such as brake failure can quickly become a tanker fire. This is evident in the recent gas tanker explosion in Gauteng where 41 people died.

Mitigating the overall fire risk associated with tankers and refinery structures calls for a high-velocity deluge system over the solvent tankers at the refuelling point. As the solvent is highly flammable, any fire must be extinguished immediately to avoid a BLEVE event.

Another project at a leading Mpumalanga macadamia nut processing company called for compartmentalisation, safety distances, access routes and installation of a fire-detection system. Macadamia nuts have a high fat content (70%), which is a major fire risk in any processing facility.

Macadamia nuts, supplied in bulk by farmers, go through an initial drying process. Thereafter, the nuts are shelled and sorted, before a second drying process and before reaching the packaging area. The processing facility is large and product must be moved from section to section by conveyor belt. Having the opportunity to design the system from scratch allowed ASP Fire to consider all factors without having to remove existing systems.

Interlocking, the automatic shut-off of certain processes is used to control the spread of any potential fire. The bulk conveyors that move from one section to the next generally pass through the firewalls, which means the firewalls, themselves, must be sealed off in the event of a fire, to stop any combustible product moving from one enclosure to another.

For more information, contact ASP Fire. +27 11 452 2169, michael@aspfire.co.za, www.aspfire.co.za




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

Technoswitch partners with UK’s Hyfire
Technoswitch Fire Detection & Suppression News Fire & Safety Products
UK-based wireless fire technology pioneer Hyfire, has confirmed partnership agreements that will see its products sold in South Africa, for the first time, through local fire and safety stalwart, Technoswitch.

Read more...
Incorporate fire safety in the design phase
Fire & Safety
ASP Fire CEO Michael van Niekerk says companies can prevent their infrastructure project from going up in flames by incorporating fire safety in the design phase.

Read more...
Fire-fighting force at Vergelegen
Editor's Choice Fire & Safety Residential Estate (Industry)
Vergelegen wine estate in Somerset West, and its neighbours, are set to enjoy greater peace of mind this summer, thanks to the delivery of a brand new fire truck .

Read more...
Rhino103 extinguishing control panel
Technoswitch Fire Detection & Suppression Fire & Safety Products
Technoswitch has released the Rhino103 extinguishing control panel range, designed and manufactured in South Africa to comply with EN54 parts 2 and 4, and EN12094.

Read more...
Technoswitch partners with Ciqurix for video fire detection
Technoswitch Fire Detection & Suppression News Fire & Safety
Technoswitch is pleased to announce the signing of an exclusive distribution agreement with Ciqurix (UK), a leading supplier of video fire detection products.

Read more...
Fire protection for new Fuchs warehouse
Fire & Safety
The new warehouse at Fuchs Lubricants South Africa in Isando, Johannesburg, not only incorporates the latest technology but complies with stringent fire detection and prevention requirements.

Read more...
Fire-safety risks during load shedding
News Fire & Safety
The current load shedding implemented by electricity utility Eskom, as it faces unplanned breakdowns, poses a heightened fire risk for homeowners and their families.

Read more...
FlameSpec flame detectors from Technoswitch
Technoswitch Fire Detection & Suppression Fire & Safety
The FM-approved FlameSpec detectors address slow-growing fires and fast eruptions of fire while maintaining high performance and reliable detection in all weather and light conditions.

Read more...
Improved hydraulic performance and efficiency
Johnson Controls Global Products Fire & Safety
Tyco 5.8K LFII sprinkler from Johnson Controls Global Products brings improved hydraulic performance and efficiency to residential fire protection.

Read more...
One-bolt coupling
Johnson Controls Global Products Fire & Safety
The G-Fire One-Bolt Figure 579A is a grooved, rigid coupling ready for out-of-the-box, push-on installation including self-lubricating gaskets for a smooth installation experience.

Read more...