Dallas International is a leading provider of powerful solutions for the early detection of fire and gas. Our early fire and gas detection technologies are supplied by our world renowned partner ESSER. Our Fire & Gas detection solutions are designed to prevent disasters by giving users time to respond before life, critical infrastructure or business continuity is compromised.
Facilities and industrial plants are not designed to leak toxic or flammable gases. However, each piece of equipment used in a process line does have a potential to leak, especially if service routines are not maintained. In each industrial plant there are thousands of devices and pieces of equipment used such as gauges, valves, pumps, compressors and storage vessels. Each joint or connection point is a potential source of release. The goal is to detect an accidental release before it develops into a major hazard.
With the expertise of systems integration Dallas International can offer a totally integrated central safety control platform from which the control room operator may monitor and control all safety systems within the site.
When toxic gases and vapours build up, reaching hazardous concentrations or when a lack of oxygen in the air occurs it can be extremely harmful to human life, plant and equipment. A plant owner needs to entrust the safety and protection of his personnel, equipment and property to a perfectly working sensor since human sensory organs are often unable to detect airborne hazards and, even when they do, are not able to do so early enough.
It is of utmost importance that hazards are identified in real time and reliably, as false alarms lead to production downtime. This is why the sensor is the most important component inside a gas detection system. It converts the measured variable (i.e. a gas concentration) into an electrical signal. Depending on the sensor type, this is achieved by either chemical or physical processes. To a large extent, the reliability with which harmful airborne substances can be detected depends on the sensors that are used to detect them. For this reason, it is essential for the gas detector and sensor to be adapted perfectly to each other.
Most explosion hazards arise from flammable gases and vapours. Instead of avoiding their ignition by explosion protection measures, it is preferable to detect them before they become ignitable. The transmitter is a gas detector that continuously monitors flammable gases and vapours in the air. The gas concentration that is detected in a range lower than the Lower Explosive Limit (100% LEL) is converted to an industry standard 4 to 20 mA signal. Central controllers and control panels are used to evaluate the signal and activate automatic counter measures and alarm devices according to the pre-programmed cause and effect matrices.
Although there are no 100% accurate flame detectors Dallas International pride themselves in being able to apply the correct detection technology needed. There are four detector options available with Dallas International:
Visual flame detection was developed out of a need to create a detector that could distinguish between both large and small sources. The application behind this requirement was FPSOs. The areas that are adjacent to the process relief flare need protection. Flaring has caused numerous shutdowns by conventional radiation flame detectors because they are unable to differentiate between the two events.
Dallas International can supply Linear Heat Detection and flame detection systems as an intrinsically safe version to monitor for fire on fixed or floating roof petrochemical product storage tanks. With fixed tanks, these systems can be used to monitor vents, gauging points and manholes for fire. On floating roof tanks, the rim seal can be monitored and the systems can be easily arranged to accommodate the movement of a floating roof. For each ‘zone’, the detection system is connected to a Fire Zone Monitor. This is housed in a Safe Area on an area control panel where the status of a number of zones may be displayed using either an annunciator matrix or a graphic display.
Hazardous substances like toxic gases, oxygen deficiency, combustible gases and vapours cannot always be detected by human senses. Professional detection of unknown or known gases rely on personal monitoring, area monitoring, confined space entry into shafts, channels and tanks. In monitoring hazardous scenarios like these, the right instrumentation is key to safety and analysis. Dallas International’s partner, ESSER, provides reliable portable and stationary gas detection technology that gets the job done. The company’s range of single-gas detection instruments enables plant staff to carry out their own safety strategy as part of the daily safety and maintenance checks. Over 30 different ESSER, sensors detect a variety of gases and vapours in different concentrations. Whatever the industry, ESSER has tailor-made solutions for different industry requirements. All their solutions carry the axiom that safety is the measure of all things.
Refineries, drilling platforms and industrial plants all require the handling of hazardous substances. The challenges that staff face, for example, are pre-entry measurements, transferring liquids or responding to emergencies. Dallas International offers a wide range of chemical protective suits, tailor-made for many different applications.
Our partner Ateis provides a digitally controlled Voice Alarm System and Public Address which is designed for life critical installations. It is also suitable for many industrial communications requirements. The equipment is specifically and fundamentally designed as a failsafe with extensive system and fault status monitoring for maximum availability at all times.
In addition to General Paging and Emergency Broadcasts, alarms can be automatically initiated from, for example, Fire & Gas Alarm and Emergency Shut down Systems.
Alarm tones or pre-recorded digital voice alarm messages can be broadcasted too. These systems provide the essential control and monitoring system for the high integrity of a PA/VA system. Public Address & Alarm Systems are commonly used on Commercial buildings, Oil & Gas platforms, FPSOs, power stations and oil refineries, chemical plants and industrial complexes worldwide or wherever the safety of personnel is of vital importance. For the evolving fire alarm industry, there is a viable option to consider: to offer the added advantages of sound clarity if it means that people in a crowd can move closer to safety.
Compromising on fire protection systems may result in avoidable loss of life or property.
In suppressing a fire, traditional low-pressure sprinkler and deluge systems often cause significant water damage that can be greater than the damage caused by the fire itself. Such systems can also be difficult to install, especially in older projects. Traditional gas-based systems are unsuitable for many high-risk areas because of the difficulty involved in guaranteeing enclosure integrity, high recharge costs and personnel and environmental safety issues. Traditional foam-based systems cause collateral damage and present the problem of toxic run-off to sewage systems.
Water Mist systems offer equivalent or better fire suppression than traditional systems with minimal water discharge, reducing damage to property and reducing the time and cost of clean-up. The water mist tubes are small in diameter, making installation fast and easy, especially in retrofits. Finally, the system uses pure and potable water that is totally safe for people, property and the environment.
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