NEBOSH
IOG
–
Element
4:
Fire
Protection
and
Emergency
Response
Revision
Questions
Q1.
In
relation
to
fire
protection,
outline
the
principle
of
operation
of
a
Voting
system
and
when
it
might
be
used.
Answer:
Voting
systems
are
used
in
order
to
minimize
false
alarms,
in
cases
where
activation
has
consequences
such
as
shutting
down
production
(you
don’t
want
that
unless
it
is
absolutely
necessary
as
it
will
cost
significant
time
and
money).
The
principle
of
operation
is
that
more
than
one
detector
in
a
set
must
be
triggered
and
it
is
in
this
sense
that
it
is
called
a
‘voting’
system.
They
can
be
set
to
different
sensitivities
depending
on
the
risk
(typically
two
out
of
three).
Q2.
Outline
the
main
components
of
a
fixed
water
deluge
system.
Answer:
• Fire
-‐
water
source,
e.g.
sea
water.
• Fire
-‐
water
pump,
sized
to
deliver
the
necessary
pressure
and
flow
rate
and
designed
to
be
activated
quickly.
• Fire
–
water
mains
–
the
pipework
transporting
the
water
from
the
pump
to
where
it
is
needed;
these
may
be
normally
dry
or,
for
speedier
response,
wet.
• Discharge
nozzles
(controlled
by
a
single
valve
for
a
given
array
of
nozzles).
Q3.
Describe
the
difference
between
active
and
passive
fire
protection
measures.
Answer:
• Passive
Fire
Protection
is
predominantly
thermally
insulating
design
elements
that
are
put
and
left
in
place,
like
fire
barriers,
fire
resistant
coating
and
cladding.
They
help
stop
escalation
of
the
fire
and
protect
routes.
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• Active
fire
protection
means
measure
that
are
brought
into
play
when
a
fire
is
detected,
in
order
to
actively
tackle/extinguish
the
fire,
e.g.
fixed
sprinkler
installation,
hoses
and
monitors.
Q4.
Outline
the
fire
protection
that
would
be
used
on
a
floating
roof
tank.
Answer:
The
main
means
of
fire
protection
is
to
use
fixed
foam
installation,
which
spread
foam
around
the
rim
seal.
Monitors
and
water
deluge
cooling
sprays
may
also
be
used.
Q5.
Outline
what
is
meant
by
a
“Fire
and
Explosion
Strategy”.
Answer:
Basically
it
is
a
record
of
a
specific
fire
and
explosion
risk
assessment.
It
would
typically
involve
considering:
• The
foreseeable
fires/explosion
(cellulosic,
hydrocarbon
pool,
hydrocarbon
jet).
• Their
likelihood
of
occurrence
and
likely
severity
which
may
depend
on:
o Location
(accommodation,
process
module,
helideck,
etc).
o Nature
of
the
gas/liquid,
the
way
in
which
they
are
being
handled
(temperature/pressure)
and
the
amounts
in
use.
o Complexity
of
the
installation.
• Other
related
issues,
such
as:
o Human
factor
(i.e.
how
people
behave
in
a
fire/explosion).
o Remoteness
of
the
installation
(proximity
of
external
help).
This
aids
selection
of
the
most
appropriate
fire/explosion
prevention
and
mitigation
measures.
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Q6.
Outline
the
tiered,
three-‐level
approach
to
emergency
medical
treatment.
Answer:
• Level
1
–
Basic
first-‐aid:
intended
as
first-‐line
treatment
to
preserve
life
and
stabilize
the
injured;
requiring
the
provision
of
an
adequate
number
of
trained
first-‐aiders
(depending
on
level
of
risk,
number
of
employees,
installation
remoteness,
etc.)
and
first-‐aid
equipment
(first-‐aid
kits,
etc.).
• Level
2
–
Advanced
first-‐aid:
requiring
first-‐aiders
with
more
advanced
skills
(such
as
the
use
of
specialist
equipment
or
methods).
• Level
3
–
Utilizing
medics
or
paramedics,
with
remote
support
from
other
medical
professionals,
who
will
have
specific
medical
training
and
be
capable
of
administering
drugs,
advanced
wound
treatment,
etc.
Q7.
Distinguish
between
primary,
secondary
and
tertiary
offshore
evacuation
methods.
Answer:
• Primary
method
–
the
usual
non-‐emergency
method,
e.g.
ship.
• Secondary
method
–
used
when
the
primary
method
is
unavailable,
e.g.
lifeboat
launched
from
the
rig.
• Tertiary
method
–
heavily
reliant
on
the
individual’s
own
effort
and
used
as
a
last
resort
when
all
other
methods
are
unavailable,
e.g.
putting
on
of
life
jackets
and
survival
suites
and
jumping
into
the
sea.
Q8.
What
is
the
difference
between
“recovery”
and
“rescue”?
Answer:
Recovery
means
that
a
person
who
has
had
to
abandon
an
installation
using
a
secondary
or
tertiary
method
is
extracted
from
the
sea
or
vessel
by
a
rescue
craft
(such
as
a
standby
vessel
or
search
and
rescue
helicopter).
Rescue
is
one
step
beyond
recovery
–
it
is
recovery
but
to
a
place
where
they
can
receive
medical
attention.
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Q9.
Briefly
outline
the
emergency
command
structure
for
offshore
installations.
Answer:
In
such
circumstances,
the
Offshore
Installation
Manager
(OIM)
is
in
overall
charge.
They
will
be
assisted
by
two
on-‐scene
commanders
(one
from
drilling
and
one
from
process),
a
permit
controller,
a
radio
operator
and
an
Offshore
Installation
Supervisor
(OIS).
Q10.
A
floating
roof
tank
used
for
storing
petroleum
products
currently
has
no
fire
protection
in
place
CCTV
cameras
are
the
only
form
leak
detection
currently
used
on
the
site.
You
have
been
tasked
with
selecting
additional
leak
detectors
and
fire
protection
equipment.
a) Outline
the
issues/factors
to
take
into
account
in
selecting
this
additional
leak
detection
equipment.
(4
Marks)
Answer:
The
issues
to
take
into
account
include:
• The
location
of
the
detectors
–
taking
into
account
the
properties
of
the
gas,
such
as
its
density
and
tendency
to
collect
in
low-‐lying
areas.
Because
of
this
placing
them
at
high
level
may
not
be
advisable;
putting
them
in
the
bund
at
low
level
might
be
better.
• What
are
local
air
flows
like
–
What
dispersal
or
dilution
properties
will
they
have?
• How
many
detectors
will
be
required,
based
on
the
number
of
likely
leak
locations,
such
as
valves,
joints,
seams,
etc?
• We
must
provide
adequate
maintenance
and
testing
of
the
detectors
and
put
in
place
maintenance
and
testing
plans
and
records.
• Detectors
will
need
an
uninterruptable
electrical
power
supply
in
case
of
power
failure
on
the
installation,
and
they
must
be
robust
enough
to
endure
the
rigours
of
the
environment
and
intrinsically
safe.
The
detectors
must
be
reliable.
b) Outline
the
meaning
of
the
term
“active
fire
protection”.
(2
Marks).
Answer:
“Active
fire
protection”
means
the
provision
of
equipment,
systems
and
methods
which,
following
initiation,
may
be
used
to
control,
mitigate
and
extinguish
fires.
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c) Identify
TWO
suitable
forms
of
active
fire
protection
that
could
be
used
for
this
type
of
tank.
(2
Marks).
Answer:
Rim
fires
are
the
most
likely
to
occur
with
floating
roof
tanks,
so
suitable
forms
of
active
fire
protection
would
include:
• A
fixed
foam
deluge
system
at
high
level,
supplemented
with
foam
monitors
on
the
ground.
• A
water
deluge
system
for
cooling
the
outer
shell
of
the
tank.
Q11.
A
large
oil
company
is
proposing
to
build
a
new
oil
and
gas
installation
in
the
North
Sea.
The
Process
Safety
Management
Team
is
analyzing
past
incidents
and
database
records
from
the
Oil
and
Gas
Industry.
Excluding
active
and
passive
fire
protection
systems,
outline
physical
design
features
of
the
platform
that
would
minimize
risk
to
operating
personnel
in
the
event
of
a
major
incident.
(8
Marks)
Answer:
• Plant
separation
• Compartmentalization
• Protection
of
personnel
/
equipment
• Means
of
escape
• Blow
out
panels
• Temporary
refuges
(communications)
&
(control)
Q12.
An
operator
is
draining
a
flammable
liquid
from
process
pipe
work
to
a
metal
container.
The
supervisor
is
concerned
about
the
possibility
of
an
electrostatic
charge
forming
and
stops
this
operation
until
a
risk
assessment
is
undertaken.
During
this
work
activity:
(a) Identify
factors
that
influences
the
generation
of
the
electrostatic
charge;(4
Marks)
Answer:
• Lack
of
earthing
/
bonding
• Air
temperature
• Humidity
• Overfilling
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• Liquid
volatility
(b) Outline
practical
ways
of
minimizing
the
formation
of
an
electrostatic
charge.
(4
Marks)
Answer:
o Antistatic
additives
o Reduce
velocity
o Intrinsically
safe
equipment
Q13.
Outline
physical
design
features
of
an
oil
and
gas
installation
that
would
minimize
risk
to
operating
personnel
in
the
event
of
a
major
incident.
(8
Marks)
Answer:
• Temporary
Refuge
• Routes
to
and
from
the
TR
• Means
of
evacuation
from
these
points
• Facilities
within
the
TR
for
monitoring
and
control
of
the
incident
and
organizing
evacuation
Q14.
(a)
Petroleum
storage
tank
fires
have
been
reduced
substantially
by
using
floating
roofs,
but
a
fire
risk
may
still
exist.
(i)
Outline
how
a
fire
risk
may
exist
with
floating
tanks.
(4
Marks)
Answer:
• Lightning
strikes
• Leaks
due
to
corrosion,
damaged
pipe
work
• Product
overfill
or
high
internal
pressures
• Rainwater
or
snow
load
sinks
the
roof
and
exposes
fuel
vapors
(ii)
Identify
TWO
examples
of
fire
protection
systems
used
on
floating
roof
tanks.
(2
Marks)
Answer:
• Fixed
foam
systems
• Portable
foam
firefighting
systems
• Hose
lines
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(b)
Process
modules
in
an
oil
and
gas
installation
often
contain
computer
rooms
that
require
fire
protection
(i)
Identify
TWO
examples
of
fire
extinguishing
media
that
could
be
used
in
a
computer
room.
(2
Marks)
Answer:
• Carbon
Dioxide
• FM200
-‐
DuPont
• Halon
-‐
Being
phased
out
-‐
Montreal
Protocol
1987
• Novec
1230
-‐
3M
Halon
replacement
product
Q15.
An
oil
installation
contains
a
vessel
that
requires
protection
from
fire
exposure
in
the
form
of
active
of
passive
fire
protection.
(a)
Identify
TWO
examples
of
passive
fire
protection
to
protect
vessels.
(2
Marks)
Answer:
• Mortar
biased
• Intumescing
or
Ablative
coatings
• Vessel
protection
(Mineral
Fiber
Matting)
• Fire
Walls
• Compartmentalization
(b)
Outline
why
the
metal
legs
of
the
vessel
should
be
protected.
(2
Marks)
Answer:
• Protection
of
the
steel
(buckling)
• Remains
supported
preventing
release
of
contents
(c)
Outline
how
a
fixed
water
deluge
system
should
provide
fire
protection.
(2
Marks)
Answer:
• Automatic
detection
using
fire
sensitive
bulbs
• Vast
cooling
medium
• Starvation
of
oxygen
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(d)
Identify
TWO
additional
examples
of
active
fire
protection.
(2
Marks)
Answer:
• CO2
inert
powders
• Chemical
powders
• Free
mist
deluge
systems
Q16.
a)
Petroleum
storage
tank
fires
have
been
reduced
substantially
by
using
floating
roofs,
but
a
fire
may
still
exist.
i)
Outline
how
fire
a
fire
risk
may
still
exist
with
floating
roof
tanks.
(4
Marks)
Answer:
• Leaking
product
• Subsidence
• Collisions
• Lightning
strikes
• Failure
of
the
roof
system
• Failure
of
ancillary
equipment
• During
loading
and
offloading
ii)
Identify
two
examples
of
fire
protection
systems
used
on
floating
roof
tanks.
(2
Marks)
Answer:
• Fixed
foam
systems
-‐
rim
seal
• Fixed
water
systems
b)
Process
modules
in
an
oil
and
gas
installation
often
contain
computer
rooms
that
require
fire
protection.
Identify
Two
examples
of
fire
extinguishing
media
that
could
be
used
in
a
computer
room
(2
Marks)
Answer:
• Potassium
based
aerosol
• Argonite
• FM
200
(carbon,
fluoride
and
hydrogen
mix)
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