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During many process hazard studies in oil, gas, and petrochemical facilities, one recurring risk scenario often stands out — jet fire. Unlike a pool fire, a jet fire is fast, directional, highly erosive, and can reach extreme heat fluxes in a matter of seconds. The recommendations from such hazard studies frequently include providing Passive Fire Protection (PFP) to safeguard critical equipment like vessels, columns, structural supports, and emergency shutdown valves.
But here’s the question every engineer and safety professional must ask:
👉 Is the fire protection material we selected tested against the right standard?
ISO 834 (Cellulosic Fire Test Curve): Represents building and office-type fires. Useful for civil structures but not suitable for oil & gas fire loads.
ISO 13702 (Hydrocarbon Pool Fire Curve): Represents large hydrocarbon pool fires in process facilities. PFP tested under this curve is designed to protect equipment against radiant heat and engulfing pool flames.
ISO 22899-1 (Jet Fire Test): Simulates the most severe case — pressurized flammable release ignited into a high-velocity flame, producing heat fluxes above 250 kW/m² and flame temperatures over 1200°C.
The difference is critical: a material that performs well under ISO 834 or ISO 13702 may still fail under jet fire conditions.
Realistic Testing Setup
PFP applied on steel sections, pipes, or vessel walls.
Application method must reflect site installation.
Jet Fire Exposure
High-pressure fuel release ignited to simulate a real jet fire.
Exposure duration typically 60 minutes (longer for project needs).
Acceptance Criteria
Steel temperature must remain within safe limits (usually below 400–500°C).
No catastrophic cracking, spalling, or erosion of PFP.
Material must remain protective throughout the test.
Reporting
Test conditions: fuel, pressure, nozzle, exposure time.
Recorded temperatures, physical damage, and performance evaluation.
Imagine relying on PFP that was only tested for pool fire (ISO 13702) or cellulosic fire (ISO 834), when your hazard analysis clearly identified jet fire as the threat. In a real incident, the protection could fail within minutes, exposing critical assets to collapse or escalation.
By specifying ISO 22899-1 tested PFP systems, you ensure that the design recommendations from your hazard study are backed by testing that matches the actual fire scenario.
Every time a process hazard analysis identifies jet fire as a risk, the natural next step is PFP recommendation. But the real safeguard lies in verifying:
✅ Is the PFP tested under the correct fire curve?
ISO 834 → Building/cellulosic fire
ISO 13702 → Hydrocarbon pool fire
ISO 22899 → Jet fire
Your safety strategy is only as strong as the standard it is built upon.
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