Tank Farm Bund / Dyke
Foam makers on the bund wall for spill fire in the containment area.
At a glance
- Hazard family
- Storage tanks
- Protected by
- Foam, Hydrant, Gas detection
- Designed to
- NFPA 11, OISD‑STD‑117, IS 13039
- Foam application rate, fixed low-level outlets
- 4.1 L/min/m² of bund area
Design basis
- Foam application rate, fixed low-level outlets
- 4.1 L/min/m² of bund areaNFPA 11 — diked areas
- Foam application rate, monitors
- 6.5 L/min/m² of bund areaNFPA 11 — diked areas
- Discharge time
- 20 minutes (flash point 37.8–93.3 °C); 30 minutes (below 37.8 °C)NFPA 11 — diked areas
Standards that apply
- NFPA 11Low-, medium- and high-expansion foam.
- OISD-STD-117Fire protection for petroleum depots and terminals.
- IS 13039External hydrant systems — provision and maintenance.
The risk
A leak or an overfill runs into the bund. The bund keeps the liquid in — and with it the fire: a spill fire can cover the floor of the bund and put every tank standing in it at risk at once.
Before it ignites, an evaporating spill gives off a vapour cloud that drifts, and heavier vapours collect in low points and drains.
The scheme
Find the spill early, and blanket it before it burns or spreads:
- Gas detection at the low points of the bund, where vapour collects.
- Foam makers on the bund wall, or medium expansion generators, to blanket the spill and suppress the vapour.
- Monitors and hydrants outside the bund wall, within reach of every part of it.
- Cooling for the tanks standing in the bund.
Systems that apply
NFPA 11Foam Based Fire Fighting System
Bladder tanks, pourers and makers for tank farms, bund areas and loading gantries.
NFPA 24Fire Hydrant System
Plant-wide ring main, hydrants, monitors and hose boxes, sized to the site.
IEC 60079-29Gas Detection System
Flammable and toxic gas detection for process areas, with alarm and shutdown.
Products used
Foam Equipment · 12
Foam Bladder Tank Horizontal with Ratio Controller
Horizontal, 1,000 to 15,000 litres
Foam Bladder Tank Vertical with Ratio Controller
Vertical, 200 to 7,500 litres
Foam Concentrate Tank
Atmospheric, horizontal, 200 to 10,000 litres
Foam Mixer (For fixed roof tank)
Fixed roof tanks, glass vapour seal, 50 to 150 NB
Foam Pourer Cone Roof Tank
For cone roof tanks, fixed orifice plate
Foam Pourer Floating Roof Tank
For floating roof tanks, 50 to 80 NB inlet
HOV (Hydraulically Operated Valve)
Auto open, manual close, 40 and 50 NB
Foam Inductor
Inline, 3% or 6% induction, 50 to 200 NB
Foam Nozzle
Air-aspirating, upright and pendent, K-3.0
Foam Maker (For Floating Roof Tank)
For floating roof tanks, 50 to 80 NB inlet
Foam Pourer
Fixed roof tank application, with vapour seal
Foam Bladder Tank with Ratio Controller
Vertical 200 to 7,500 L, horizontal 1,000 to 15,000 L
Spray Nozzles · 1
Sprinkler Foam-Water
Air-aspirating, upright and pendent, K-3.0
Questions we are asked
Why protect the bund as well as the tanks?
A spill fire in the bund exposes every tank standing in it at once. Foam on the bund floor puts it out before it spreads to them.
Where should gas detectors go in a bund?
At the low points and near drains, where vapour from a spill collects.
Foam makers or monitors?
Fixed foam makers on the bund wall respond without anyone approaching the fire; monitors are flexible and back them up. NFPA 11 sets a higher rate for monitors than for fixed outlets.
Related hazards
Projects on this hazard
- Photography to followIOTL
Foam system — IOTL
Foam based fire fighting system for IOTL at Vadinar. · Vadinar
- Photography to followAirports Authority of India
Foam system — Airports Authority of India
Foam based fire fighting system for Airports Authority of India at Kolkata. · Kolkata
- Photography to followGAIL
Hydrant system — GAIL
Fire hydrant system for GAIL at Vijaipur. · Vijaipur
- Photography to followTISCO
Hydrant system — TISCO
Fire hydrant system for TISCO at Noamundi. · Noamundi
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