Fire Safety Science Digital Archive

This specification is based principally on the results of investigations carried out at the Department of the Environment and Fire Offices' Committee Joint Fire Research Organisation, Borehamwood. It refers to the protection of equipment by means of flame arresters mounted in the casing, when such equipment is used in areas where flammable gases or vapours may occur. In the event of gas or vapour passing into the equipment, and becoming ignited, the usual design is for the pressure developed to be relieved to atmosphere through the flame arresters, which should be so designed that the flame does not pass through them to the exterior. The explosion is thereby vented from the equipment, without causing ignition outside it, and so reducing the pressure. Because this use of flame arresters was not traditional, there were no specific procedures for the testing of equipment protected with flame arresters in this way. The present specification has been drawn up for testing purposes. It also contains recommendations as to the methods of construction of equipment protected with flame arresters.