Email Enquiry

Fire Training Ground at Refinery Facility

Initial Email Enquiry –

Can the JOIFF members help with correct location for Fire Training Ground at Refinery?
What standards did you apply, have you such a training facility?
Where did you site this geographically and spatially from the units?
What special features or Standard Operating Practices have you developed to ensure safe use?

Maybe our JOIFF member training ground providers at Simulation Ters and Kidde Fire Trainers may be able to provide guidance?
Answers please by ‘reply to all’ to share the learning.

1st Response –

Any standard or codes cover the requirement from the safety point of view to build fire training ground in the refinery and required distance from the plant equipment and process area.

2nd Response –

After being involved in the design and development of a complex fire training ground can I pass the following for consideration:

  • Any fire training ground must be designed in relation to core training objectives, which would reflect the type of incidents likely to be confronted with on site.
  • A risk based assessment would then be carried out to identify possible locations including:
    • Position in relation to manufacturing plants.
    • Likely consequences if a flammable or toxic release were to occur affecting training events.
    • Prevailing wind direction.
    • Vehicular and pedestrian use of the area selected.
    • Infrastructure management including water supplies, contamination run off for foam, water, fuels.
    • What is the projected plans for the area being considered for use as a fire training ground.
  • A site risk policy would then be discussed between plant management, site developers/planners and fire training ground project team.
  • Systems of work required are:
    • Risk assessments for all activities including the props in use, fuel loading, achievement of objectives.
    • Safe systems of work for: plant release of flammable or toxic materials affecting the training ground whilst in use.
    • Communications to plant control rooms of activities on the training ground.
    • Emergency shut down of fuel props if a flammable or toxic release were to occur.
    • Training delivery procedures.

Policy Statements Including

  • Ignition source exemption certificates.
  • Authorised users of the facility.
  • Training mythology.
  • Contamination to water courses (ground water regs may not apply oversees).
  • Emergency Shutdown procedures.

Consider very carefully the fuel type you decide to use, and what will be environmentally accepted.
The fuel type should relate to the specific training objectives for the types of fires being simulated, fuels can range from:
Atomized kerosene, L.P.G, propane, others dependant on local restrictions on supply

3rd Response –

Many thanks for the valuable information and still I need codes or standards refer to same subject.

4th Response –

Given this request for info, this recent incident at a US Naval Station may be have some useful learning points if anyone has further information, unfortunately I don't have any more details that what is included in the report.

Propane tank explodes at Naval Station, causing fire
(AP) - A 4,500-pound propane tank exploded at Naval Station Newport on Thursday morning, causing a large fire at the firefighting training facility there. The tank, one of two near the building, exploded with a loud boom shortly after 7 a.m., said a spokesman for the Naval station. The fire, which could be seen around the area, was extinguished around 8:30 a.m.

There were no injuries, and the cause was being investigated by the Navy, the spokesman for the Navel station said. “The initial investigation has ruled out vandalism or any kind of terrorism,” he said. The tanks were surrounded by a chain link fence on top of a large berm, and the building was surrounded by a fence, Sanders said.

The propane tanks were used to fuel fires at the training facility, where sailors and Navy crews practice fighting fires. There was no training going on at the time of the explosion, and the area is largely unpopulated, Sanders said.

Navy firefighters were assisted by firefighters from Middletown and Portsmouth in fighting the blaze.

View article: Propane tank explodes at Naval Station, causing fire


End of email correspondence on Topic to date.

Author’s identities are concealed for privacy and security reasons. Further information on the information contained in this topic can be directed to the JOIFF secretariaty.