Hydrocarbon window

The window – from the company’s BlastLine range of blast-resistant doors, windows and facades – is designed to provide protection from the extreme fire conditions associated with ignited gas and petroleum-based products.

So-called hydrocarbon pool fires emit far higher temperatures, more quickly, than other cellulose product-derived fires where timber-based products are often the main fuel source. The common approach on many chemical sites is to reduce hydrocarbon fuel fire risk by bricking up windows.

This is unpopular with employees and can lead to health and motivational issues by creating a less attractive working environment. It is also a potential safety issue by reducing the ability to check hazard areas visually.

These problems can be overcome by installing the Crittall-Fendor HydrocarbonFire window which has been tested under BS476 part 20 time-temperature curve for hydrocarbon. The results indicate that the window’s insulation was maintained for 50 minutes so that the average temperature of the non-exposed side of the window remained less than 140 degrees C above the ambient temperature while on the face exposed to the fire the glass was being subjected to temperatures of up to 1100 degrees C. The test window continued to prevent the spread of flame for over 60 minutes.