The Watchmen Fire & Gas Engineering services consulting team is focused on maximizing the effectiveness of Emergency Protection Systems used to prevent or mitigate the effects of major industrial accidents.
Our team of experts apply their extensive expertise while leveraging advanced analytical software tools in our studies. Our studies result in recommendations intended to maximize effectiveness of:
Many serious industrial accidents have occurred in industry that may have been prevented or mitigated with an effective ESD, Fire & Gas detection and Annunciation system. Early or incipient stage fires or gas releases without detection and mitigative action (such as emergency evacuation and automated process isolation) can escalate into large toxic gas releases or explosions with the potential for serious injuries/fatalities and economic loss. So why have Emergency Protection Systems historically not been more effective in preventing or mitigating releases and/or fires from further escalation? The reason for this is that many of these systems are not properly designed, installed, commissioned, tested or maintained. These failures can be traced back to each phase of the safety lifecycle (design/specification, construction, commissioning, maintenance & operation, decommissioning). This understanding is ultimately what has led to the development of the Technical Report released by ISA (TR84.00.07) which provides a lifecycle management approach to performance based FGS implementation. With the largest percentage of failures identified as occurring in the design/specification phase, great emphasis should be placed on performing these activities well.
Our team of highly trained specialists can inspect and evaluate existing installations against industry and corporate standards, best practices, and manufacturer recommended installation practices. Drawing on our expertise with modelling many other detector applications, we are able to pick out potential impairments and misapplication of technology that could prevent the safe operation of fire and gas detection systems.
Ensuring proper Fire and Gas detector coverage can have the greatest overall effect on maximizing Fire and Gas System effectiveness. Following ISA TR84.00.07 guidelines, our specialists perform a risk assessment to set application specific coverage targets. This approach ensures a "fit for purpose" design by placing detectors where they are needed most. Detector coverage is optimized using a combination of qualitative and semi-quantitative approaches depending on complexity of the application. For higher risk or complexity applications, we leverage 3D software to perform fire and gas detector coverage mapping. We work with existing 3D files when available or develop new 3D files quickly and cost effectively. The high level of accuracy that is possible with modelling enables the analyst to consider:
The effectiveness of Fire and Gas Systems are affected by the reliability of the equipment used and by the voting configuration. A reliability assessment can be performed to ensure the integrity of the system is maintained and is appropriate based on application specific risk. This activity in the ISA TR84.00.07 standard is referred to as a Safety Availability assessment and is very similar to SIL verification calculations. Watchmen can provide these reliability calculations as part of the FGS Effectiveness analysis particularly with reliability concerns from voting of fire and gas detection alarm actions.
Annunciation equipment is a key component in evaluating the mitigative effectiveness of any fire and gas detection system. The purpose of this equipment is to communicate the existence of an emergency situation to personnel that may be effected within the area. Consequences can escalate quickly during an emergency if this safety critical equipment is not properly designed, installed, tested and maintained. Our specialists can help with the initial placement and evaluation of existing installations to ensure proper coverage is in place. We perform site surveys to map audible annunciation levels and compare to background sound levels to ensure proper audibility of annunciation equipment. Our specialists can recommend audible and visual annunciation modifications in order to ensure emergencies can be communicated to those potentially affected by the hazard.
A F&G assessment is an audit performed at various stages of the lifecycle to assess the capability of the fire and gas system to provide the required protection. There are many activities required to ensure proper implementation of a fire and gas system, and many ways this can go wrong.
Audits and assessments are a good way to identify gaps in processes and performance with an eye on improvement. Watchmen provides highly experienced fire and gas systems specialists to perform these services to provide and independent and unbiased assessment. During our audits and assessments, Watchmen offers coaching for the personnel that we work with to help get them up to speed with best practices and standards required to support an effective F&G system implementation.
F&G system audits and assessments typically include a detailed review of engineering and test records, plans and procedures including an inspection of installed hardware and interviews with key personnel.
A pre-startup F&G Safety Assessment is key part of the F&G lifecycle performed prior to placing system in active service where hazards may be present. At this stage Watchmen will verify that all engineering, installation and commissioning activities have been performed as required and that the operations team has been properly prepared for safe operation of the FGS. Detector and annunciator coverage is a major consideration during this phase.
An operational phase F&G Safety Assessment is another key part of the F&G lifecycle performed regularly during the operations and maintenance lifecycle. Assessments performed at this phase will review operating and maintenance history to maintenance and testing procedures are in place and being followed, and performed on time. If a prior coverage assessment has not been performed, this would be a key focus of this effort. This assessment will take into consideration advancements in F&G technology, changing conditions to the process and equipment in the area, and potential detector and annunciator impairments or obstructions.
Regular F&G audits are performed throughout the operating phase of the F&G lifecycle to validate that quality management processes and procedures are place, up to date and being followed. Where gaps in the process are revealed by the audit, recommendations are provided to improve upon the process to ensure the F&G system provides the desired level of protection.
Watchmen recommends that the F&G System Audit be performed annually for the first few years of installation and then potentially extended out once it can be shown audits are no longer identifying significant gaps in the process. Performing an audit within the first year following placing the F&G system in service is very important, since this often reveals serious issues that may impair F&G integrity.
Our Specialists bring depth of knowledge to your Fire & Gas Engineering project. We offer detector placement and coverage assessment using 3D mapping tools or a qualitative approach depending on your needs. Mapping can be performed whether you have existing 3D models available or not. All assessments consider area specific risk. No more one size fits all approach to engineering.
As a vendor neutral service provider, our guidance is not limited by the product or technology from a single vender. You will never receive a product brochure attached to your engineering report. Be assured that detectors and annunciators recommended have been selected based only on your risk reduction needs.
Independent, unbiased expertise!
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