INTRODUCTION
Firewalls are designed to contain 100 percent of the volume of a storage
tank plus one foot of freeboard. These walls are intended to contain
fuel spilled when tanks leak, overflow, or burst and to help prevent the
spread of fuel or fire to neighboring tanks and other installations.
This block of instruction is designed to further your training so that
you can better supervise your personnel in terminal operations.
PART A - FIREWALLS
Firewalls should contain 100 percent of the capacity of the storage tank
plus one foot freeboard, and in the case of earth firewalls (Figure 9-1),
they should be at least 18 inches wide at the top. The exact height of
the firewall will depend on the amount of "real estate" or space
available in the area in which you are operating. In theaters of
operation, it is not uncommon to have "splinter walls" of brick or
concrete, 8 or 10 feet high around the tank. These serve as firewalls
and protection against low trajectory fire, blast, etc. A sump will be
provided at the lowest point inside the firewall, and the rest of the
area will be graded or drained to the sump. The sump will connect to the
outside of the firewall by a drain line with an elbow (swing point) leg
on the outside to drain water from the sump. The crane is closed by
elevating the swing joint.
Figure 9-1. Earthen firewall.
12-84
QM 5099
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