The hazards posed by large-scale pool fires in offshore platforms

An experimental programme of large-scale diesel pool fires has been carried out to obtain an understanding of the behaviour of pool fires in degrees of confinement representative of offshore modules, and simultaneously to provide benchmark data against which compartment pool fire models can be validated. The test compartment 135 m(3) insulated steel rig with variable ventilation at the Norwegian Fire Laboratory operated by SINTEF, Trondheim. Data on heat fluxes, temperature, burning rate, and combustion product concentrations were obtained during fire development to quasi-steady state under different ventilation conditions. Fire severity is similar to that of jet fires, except that it is worst in over-ventilated, but confined conditions. The results are compared with predictions of global stoichiometry to demonstrate the validity and limitations of a zone modelling approach, which is then used as a basis for guidance on the hazard severity.