How Insulation Blankets Protect Critical Components from Fire

Removable insulation blankets are commonly used to control the heat of the component they are covering. Whether it is for personnel protection, heat and energy conservation, protecting nearby heat-sensitive components, lowering ambient heat levels, or in the case of catalysts, keeping the heat level within, in order that pollution control equipment can function in an optimal way – the aim of removable insulation blankets and covers is, usually, to lower the level of heat escaping to the surrounding environment; i.e. keep the heat in.

However, FireBlanket 2000, the latest product offering from Firwin, has a different goal – protecting the component it is 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 involved in developing the FireBlanket 2000.

The Firwin FireBlanket 2000’s goal is not necessarily to protect the equipment, but instead to save the equipment from fire damage long enough for shut down process to take place in emergency situations. Although the blanket may be damaged by the fire, it has kept the fire away long enough to make the component being covered to function properly.

UL 1709 Rapid Rise Fire Test

In order to achieve this goal, Firwin Corporation used an independent and globally recognized laboratory to examine the FireBlanket 2000 through the UL 1709 Rapid Rise Fire Test. The blanket was positioned inside a specially designed furnace, and then it was exposed to a 30-minute fire test at 2000 °F, with the temperature reaching 2000 °F in 5 minutes.

The test results revealed that after 30 minutes of exposure, the internal temperature of the blanket was 80 °C (126 °F), with the blanket not structurally damaged.

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.

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Firwin Corporation.

For more information on this source, please visit Firwin Corporation.