Articles
Who
Two UK-based companies are working together to provide the oil, gas and petrochemicals industry with a fireproof enclosure that protects critical electrical control components in a fire up to 1,093°C for 30 minutes, while the internal temperature of the enclosure does not exceed 87°C.
Technology
The fireproof enclosures (pictured), co-developed by Cooper Crouse-Hinds and Thermal Designs, are based on Cooper Crouse-Hinds’ 316 stainless steel enclosure which is protected externally with Thermal Designs’ K-Mass fire-resistant coating. K-Mass is an intumescent, moulded-on protective coating that is certified to UL1709. When exposed to fire, the material begins to expand rapidly by evaporative cooling and charring on the surface of the coating.
The surface char deepens in successive layers, filling voids, insulating the critical equipment within the enclosure and cooling and reflecting the heat back into the fire. This process continues until the fire is extinguished or the material is consumed.
In the presence of heat, K-Mass expands to many times its original size. This pyrolytic reaction shields wire insulation, solder connections, circuit boards, terminal blocks, relays and metallurgy, enabling critical control components to continue operating during the fire.
The enclosure from Cooper Crouse-Hinds is an Atex-certified heavy-duty junction box that is fully compliant with the impact, thermal and ingress protection requirements of EN50014. Custom fittings such as cable glands, breather drains and blanking plugs are available.
Application
Andrew Bragg, general manager at Thermal Designs, said: “The fireproof enclosure is a compact solution for onshore and offshore oil and gas installations, where space is at a premium. Directly coating the junction box with K-Mass means that the customer’s junction box doesn’t have to be housed in a separate enclosure. This would take up valuable space and create further issues with regard to cabling and conduit.”