Understanding Flame Arrestors: Their Importance and Where They Are Required

Flame arrestors are an essential safety device used in many industries to protect against the dangerous and devastating effects of fires and explosions. These devices are designed to prevent flames, sparks, and hot gases from spreading and to extinguish them before they cause damage to workers and equipment. In this blog post, we’ll discuss when flame arrestors are necessary and why they’re a critical component in maintaining a safe workplace.

Flame arrestors are safety devices installed on tanks, vents, and pipes that carry flammable liquids or gases. They are designed to prevent the spread of flames by absorbing heat and cooling the flames below their ignition temperature, thereby preventing the fire from spreading. As such, they’re an essential safety measure in industries such as oil and gas, chemical processing, and storage where flammable materials are present.

Where Flame Arrestors Are Required

• Storage tanks: Most storage tanks containing flammable liquids or gases must have flame arrestors on the vent openings. These prevent external ignition sources, such as sparks from nearby equipment, from entering the tank and igniting its contents.
• Vent pipes: All vent pipes that release flammable vapors into the atmosphere must be equipped with flame arrestors at the outlet points. These prevent potential ignition sources, such as lightning, from reaching the flammable vapors and causing an explosion.
• Tank cars and rail cars: Flame arrestors are also required for tank cars and rail cars that transport flammable liquids or gases. These devices prevent sparks or hot gases from the vehicle’s exhaust system from igniting the flammable cargo.
• Thermal oxidizers: Flame arrestors are also found in thermal oxidizers. These are used to treat and burn emissions from industrial processes. These devices prevent the spread of fire to process equipment.

In conclusion, flame arrestors are essential in industries where flammable materials are present, to protect against fire and explosion hazards. Their installation is regulated and often required by law to ensure the safety of workers and equipment.

 

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Cashco’s flame arrestors are engineered to stop the propagation of flames in gas piping systems, helping protect equipment, personnel, and facilities. For more information about Cashco's arrestors, view all models here .

Cashco is dedicated to ensuring you select the best solution for your tank protection needs. Need help choosing the right flame arrestor? Contact us and our experienced team will gladly assist you in finding the ideal product!