Shout Out – Talk Detection System – Preventive Or Mitigation Or Both


This is a shout out for the IEM. My Technical Division will be  hosting a talk on the 13th July, 2013. It’ll be at 9.00 am  (makan-makan at 5.30).

Fire triangle is represented by the elements of Fuel, Oxygen and Heat Source. Vapour / Gas Explosion have 2 additional elements namely Dispersed state (stratified due to vapour density differences) and “Confined” Area for the accumulation of the gas/vapour.

In the O&G industries, detection system is more than just fire detection because it would be too late as the environment maybe hostile filled with flammable vapour or explosive gases, a catastrophic incident may occur.

The detection systems main focus probably on preventive, detecting the presence of hydrocarbon explosive gases in the vicinity, in this respect installing fixed and use of portable gas detectors are deemed as necessities. However, manufacturers using hydrocarbon in their processes seldom have gas detectors instead the use of ventilation system in diluting the area and limiting the amount of such fuel inside the area.

Electrical equipment will be a major heat source therefore the selection of the equipment must be in accordance to:
•    BS EN 60079-14:2008 Explosive atmospheres. Electrical installations design, selection and erection (Malaysian Standard MS IEC 60079-14:2008)
•    NFPA 70 National Electrical Code

Detection systems that are designed to mitigate an incident will take the by-products  of a fire to evacuate the staff within the area or activate a suppression system. In this respect, losses arising from a fire incident will be mitigated.

Ir. Gary Lim Eng Hwa; is an experienced and qualified Professional Engineer with over 20 years of manufacturing experience in these areas; Industrial Engineering (Work Study), Project Management, Maintenance, Production and Factory Management. The 20 years of his work spanned over various industries namely industrial chemicals, diary products, jam, sauces, chocolates, confectionnaires, industrial gases (liquid nitrogen, oxygen, argon, etc), blow moulding of plastic containers and paint manufacturing (highly fire hazardous).

Register here or download the form here. A map to Wisma IEM is presented here.

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