TSA Insight Magazine Issue 7 - Magazine - Page 19
In the year ending June 2019 there were just
over 11,000 fires in non-domestic buildings
annually in the UK.
products such as milk, fruit juice and
3. Firewater containment
The first and easiest strategy to ensure
firewater doesn’t enter a receptor is
to identify where surface water drains
are. Guidance suggests painting drain
covers a different colour on plans to
differentiate surface drains from foul
water drains.
Then site operators need to make a
plan for where firewater will go. The first
thing to do is consider the topography
of your site. Firewater will find its way
to the lowest point of your site. The
simplest option is to designate this
area as a sacrificial lagoon. In the event
of a fire sandbags could be deployed
around this area to contain the firewater
so it can be disposed of compliantly.
Other options for containing firewater
are:
•
Containment lagoons
•
Tanks
•
Pits and trenches
•
Portable tanks
The importance of ensuring secondary
containment bunds around tanks storing
hazardous materials is key to reducing the
risk of spills during a fire. Should a breach
occur, temporary tanks or containment
lagoons can be used to contain spills until
the material can be assessed and either
removed and disposed of or returned to its
original tank.
Shut-off valves or penstocks can isolate
part or the whole of a site to retain spillages.
You need to consider the capacity of the
drainage system and ensure they are
regularly maintained to guarantee their
effectiveness in the event of a fire.
Automatic sensors and closure devices
may be used on sites where an incident
5. Check your separators
Don’t forget to have your separators
in relation to the site and its potential
Consideration
damage if allowed to escape.
might not be immediately noticed.
Each option should be considered
effectiveness.
beer can cause significant environmental
should
be given to whether another form of
containment is required in the event of
an emergency to prepare them (such
as moving portable tanks into place).
4. Reducing risk from spills
If your site has hazardous materials
stored on it, spillages caused in the
event of a fire can have significant
environmental impact. It is not just
materials like chemicals and oil that
can pose a threat, non-hazardous
serviced after a fire to ensure firewater hasn’t
entered into the system. The
presence
of degreasing agents or detergents in
firefighting foam can significantly reduce
the efficiency of separators in treating
hydrocarbon contaminated water.
An environmental risk reduction specialist
such as Adler and Allan will be able to
work with you to assess the risks on your
site and produce a suitable fire response
plan. Being prepared will reduce the risk to
the environment and your operation.
For more information about Adler and
Allan, visit www.adlerandallan.co.uk
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