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Remote controlled

monitors

A smart and reliable answer for a safer protection

Nico Zorzetto, Director Export e Marketing Sanco Spa

• chemical plants
• oil refinery processing areas
• LNG cargos, jetty areas
• dyke areas (oil, fuel, chemical storage tanks)
• aircraft hangars
• helicopter loading paths
• offshore helidecks and platforms

Fire risks and extinguishing
agents

There are different types of extinguishing agents
Series of remote controlled afety is more than just being careful: it according to each risk to protect, so it is essential
monitors employed for oil T-
berth includes knowing what is unsafe and to identify when to use one agent rather than ano-
how to avoid the careless actions and ther.
inactions that can make an area un- For example, water is an extinguishing agent usual-
safe. ly always available and it can be operated to cool
SPoor safety practices come from a surfaces exposed to radiation or affected by fire.
lack of safety familiarity (need of trainings), while A water curtain can be useful to limit the thermal
carelessness results from a disregard for that awa- effect of radiation and, in some circumstances, it
reness. Both conditions can lead to catastrophe. may be used also to extinguish a jet of burning gas.
Yet, in some cases it may not always be possible to Water monitors are usually used to cool exposed
extinguish a fire, and, in such case, the fire should
be controlled, and vulnerable equipment should be
kept cool. “The best way to predict the future
It is usual to provide a range of means for fighting
and controlling fires, and fixed monitors are really is to invent it.”
useful tools required to provide cooling water spray Alan Kay (American computer scientist)
or foam against radiation and/or to divert vapour
clouds away from the source of ignition during fire
operations or to deliver dry chemical powder for items, such as equipment and gangways for esca-
suppressing fires (for gas fires). pe. A water stream can also be used to cool metal
supports and deck surfaces during a fire, to pre-
The adaptability of this kind of system is really no- vent weakening and buckling of structures. In the
teworthy. jetty situation, cooling has to be provided for the
In fact, SANCO monitors can be used for the pro- monitor poles/structures and the gangways betwe-
tection of many fire risks, such as en the ship and shore is important for escape.
• jetty and harbours On the other hand foam extinguishing agent sup-
• docks presses fire by separating the flames from the fuel
• oil fuel and chemical storage tanks surface, retarding vapour release and cooling the

Impiantistica Italiana - Luglio-Agosto 2017 89