Fire-resistant shelters, which include 1709 models, are passive, maintenance-free and resistant to corrosive chemicals.
The 1709 versions are used to protect valves and actuators in the emergency shutdown and fire fighting systems of refineries plants and offshore oil and gas production platforms, as well as separate hazardous and non-hazardous areas on ships and on offshore drilling and storage platforms.
Intertec said the development will help designers meet the future IEC 61892-7 standard for offshore platforms and vessels, capable of withstanding a hydrocarbon fire for between 60-120 minutes.
An independent agency, which verified Intertec’s shelter design, confirmed that protection period exceeded 90 minutes and the surface temperature of a sample electrical actuator did not rise above 55 degrees C (131 F) in the process.
Intertec’s Martin Hess said, "Our fire-resistant shelters provide an extended safety margin of up to 120 minutes, but without the drawbacks of other fire-protection technologies such as metal cases, intumescent coatings, blankets and bags."
"They are rigid, so they can incorporate easy-open access points for maintenance, yet they are also exceptionally light and can be mounted directly on pipework," Hess added.
Shelters can incorporate removable panels, which provide faster access than other common forms of fire protection to minimize time and costs during maintenance.
