Firwin FireBlanket 2000 – Protecting Critical Components from Fire
Removable insulation blankets are often called upon to contain the heat of the component they are covering. Be it for personnel protection, lowering ambient heat levels, protecting nearby heat-sensitive components, heat and energy conservation, or in the case of catalysts, maintaining the heat level within so that pollution control equipment can function optimally – the goal of removable insulation blankets and covers is, more often than not, to lower the amount of heat escaping to the surrounding environment; i.e. keep the heat in.
Firwin’s latest product offering, however, what we call our FireBlanket 2000, have a different purpose – protecting the component they are covering from fire- i.e. to keep the heat out.
“Certain industries, especially the Oil & Gas and Petrochemical industries, need to ensure that their safety equipment can function in the event of a fire – safety valves and actuators need to shut down systems in such a case. If this equipment is damaged by fire and cannot function as intended, the results can be quite serious”, said Rael Herman, Firwin’s V.P. and Research and Development, who was instrumental in developing the FireBlanket 2000.
The goal of the Firwin FireBlanket 2000 is not necessarily to save the equipment, but rather to protect the equipment in emergency situations from fire damage long enough for shut down procedure to take place. Even though the blanket itself may be damaged by the fire, it has done its job if it has kept the fire at bay long enough to allow the component being covered to operate properly.
UL 1709 Rapid Rise Fire Test
To accomplish this goal, Firwin Corp engaged an independent, internationally recognized laboratory to put the FireBlanket 2000 through the UL 1709 Rapid Rise Fire Test. The blanket was placed inside a specially designed furnace, and was exposed to a 30 minute fire test at 2000°F, with the temperature reaching 2000°F within 5 minutes.
The test results showed that the internal temperature of the blanket after 30 minutes was 80° C (126°F), with the blanket remaining structurally intact.
Firwin FireBlanket 2000, after 30 minute exposure to 2000°F;
note blanket structural integrity still intact.
The Firwin FireBlanket 2000 is designed with a special proprietary construction method. “There is a lot that goes into to producing a FireBlanket 2000, from the construction method to the material make-up”, said Rael. “As such, it is a premium priced product, but it pays for its value many-fold over by preventing potentially huge losses, both in human and monetary terms”, added Rael. For more information about our FireBlanket 2000, please contact Firwin directly.
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