After the explosions and the subsequent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on the Deepwater Horizon platform, the port industry has shown increased interest in oil spill simulators. VSTEP, a provider of virtual training platforms, is now developing a spill response simulator for the Port of Rotterdam in The Netherlands. Cristijn Sarvaas, CEO of VSTEP, believes that although small spills happen on a regular basis, the real challenge lies in how port authorities respond to large incidents, writes Ann-Marie Knegt.

Due to the plethora of high-risk industry present, ports are even more vulnerable to a situation that could be termed a “crisis” than any other commercial or industrial hub, writes Paul Bryant, CEO of international fire engineering and risk management consultancy Kingfell – which is why effective crisis management is a must.

Airborne dispersion modelling and the technologies that employ it are nothing new, having been around for several decades. But in an industrial or transportationrelated fire event, where would responders and others turn for critical analysis regarding the by-products of combustion and the consequences of those byproducts? A new add-on product module has just been released that addresses this very real situation, reports Jose Sanchez de Muniain.

A new chapter on mass notification systems in the latest fire alarm code of the National Fire Protection Association (USA) is causing some headaches for facility protection managers. Jose Sanchez de Muniain talks to Ted Milburn, Vice President of Marketing for Cooper Notification, about both what the latest code means for facility managers, and a potential solution that could avoid expensive replacements.

Three-minute interview: Rolf Haselhorst, BASF Ludwigshafen, and Chairman of the TUIS Working Group

Since 1982 participating brigades have been making available their experts and company fire brigades to support police, municipal firefighters and other public authorities in accidents involving chemical products. In fact it is not unusual for today’s TUIS firefighters to travel several countries’ borders to offer their help in complex operations. For Rolf Haselhorst, who as well as working with TUIS is responsible for the fire safety of 2,000 buildings and 350 product sites in Ludwigshafen, Germany, emergency response is part of the normal working day.

During Interschutz the Association of Chemical Industries (VCI) in Germany provided an outline of how its Transport Accident Information and Emergency Response System (TUIS) had performed over 2009, and its plans for the future.

The particular – and sometimes unique – dangers faced by firefighters working in the petrochemical industry have to be reflected by the necessary protective turnout gear. Industrial Fire Journal speaks with Arnie Arnold, Site Fire Chief at Petroplus’ refinery in Coryton (UK), about factors that have to be taken into consideration when choosing the most fit-for-purpose PPE.

Large buildings require some kind of fire protection, usually in the form of sprinklers. In most cases the public water supply cannot provide enough volume and/or pressure to directly driver the fire sprinklers so a fire pump installation is required. David Carter, Managing Director of Metron Eledyne, provides a comprehensive summary of the different standards relating to fires pump globally and takes a peek at what the future holds.

Is linear heat detection the most effective and proven method of detection for bulk and rack storage warehouses? Ann-Marie Knegt talks with Proline Detection Systems CEO Brian Cummins, who believes there is no contest.

The replacement of fossil fuels with renewable fuels has an impact on fire safety issues in many ways. In
IFJ number 80, the challenges with the increased use of ethanol were discussed. However, the use of solid biofuels also presents new risks and challenges for the industry and first responders. One common type of refined solid biofuel is wood pellets which are often stored in large silos after production or shipping. In the case of a silo fire, it is important to understand the nature of the fire and to use appropriate tactics and equipment. This article, written by Henry Persson from the SP Technical Institute of Sweden, presents new research on silo fires and silo fire fighting, and some experience from real silo fires.

In warehouse fire protection the most important criteria for choosing the correct fire protection system is determined by the contents of what is stored in the facility. Obviously, the potential fire hazard has to be determined through sound risk assessments that will indicate which type of firefighting or extinguishing system, agent, and detection system are the most suitable to protect against the fire hazard. Ann Marie Knegt talks to Amsterdam-based Jerry Krijn, Product Manager (Benelux) for Ajax Chubb, about some exciting developments including the use of high-ex foam for warehousing aerosols.

Water mist systems are more and more designed as sprinkler-equivalent systems where fire control or fire suppression is the required objective. Matthias Ecke of the International Water Mist Association highlights some real life sample installations where the unique characteristics and suppression capabilities of modern water mist systems are used to the max.

The collection and safe disposal of potentially explosive and hazardous debris during automated drilling assemblies is an issue that is yet to be fully grasped – let alone embraced – by aerospace, defence and automotive industries. Jose Sanchez de Muniain talks with J Byron Walker of California-based Tech-Trans, a company that believes it has solved the problem with “pulsed cleaning”, a process in use by household names such as Ford Motors and Chrysler, amongst others.

The fire risks associated with the fine dust produced when wood is involved in the industrial process are well understood, and it is normal practice for the byproducts of the machining process to be expelled into a bin through an exhaust pipe. But what is less well understood is the risk that sparks produced naturally by the machinery can ignite further down the line in the bin, with the potential to cause major damage. Carol Debell talks to Milan-based Control Logic.

Abu Dhabi-based SEACOR Environmental Services Middle East (SESME) – the regional operating arm of SEACOR Environmental Services – has begun working with Emirates Aluminium Company Limited (EMAL) to provide integrated fire, rescue and hazardous materials response services. SESME is now providing these services at a new aluminium smelting complex in Abu Dhabi. Trent Fearnley, Principal Fire Engineer, SESME, writes about some of the challenges involved in the creation of effective emergency response capabilities with fire personnel from all over the world.