The particularities of alcohol fires and the use of intervention means

In terms of fire safety, flammable liquids present specific risks that must be taken into account when controlling industrial risks. À In this respect, the wine industry and the brandy industry in France require specialized training in the use of intervention means for teams as well as for the Public Services. In Charente, for example, they have a fire training center, the CEIZE. The particularities of alcohol fires are also well known to Gesip, which works alongside manufacturers to integrate them into actions aimed at preventing and managing flammable liquid fires.

The particularities of alcohol fires

The alcohols are miscible in water and therefore make their fires more specific and difficult to control.

Alcohol fires are also much less visible much less visible because of their blue flame color and the absence of black smoke. They may, in fact, surprise responders in terms of :

visibility of the fire,
of heat flow apprehension (different from that of classic hydrocarbon fires),
sudden explosion of a pressurized capacity impacted by the alcohol fire,
of dangerous phenomena linked to a fire in an initially under-ventilated closed volume.

The use of the means of intervention on alcohol fires

Extinguishing with specific emulsifiersThese are called "resistant alcohol" AR and are used at the same concentration regardless of the fuel.
The use of thermal cameras or "thermal detection" drones can be particularly effective and appropriate due to the less visible nature of alcohol fires.

In the case of alcohol-type liquid fires (class B), the recommended extinguishing agents are the following:

Moss,
BC, ABC or multipurpose powder,
CO₂ (carbon dioxide) in an enclosed space.
Halogenated hydrocarbons.

Depending on the heat generated by the fire, additional measures can be implemented by the firefighters such as hoses to be connected to the fire hydrants or foam generators.

Extinguishing with a "soft" application and not "direct (violent)", inducing a weaker flow-spreading kinetic of the foam and therefore not allowing to extinguish on large dimensions and often requiring fixed spillways. Otherwise, the quantities of foam required will be much higher than those used for conventional hydrocarbon fires (3 to 5 times more)
It is not possible to stop the flow of alcohol on the surface by means of absorbent pads (or dams), since the product does not float, but mixes with the foam solution or cooling water. For this purpose siphoning techniques are used to stop the spread of fire from one volume to another, for industrial or artisanal installations such as alcohol cellars.

Fire safety training for flammable liquids

The role of Gesip

Those involved in the cognac and eau-de-vie sector are particularly concerned by the risk of fire. They all remember the fire in the Martell cellars in Cognac in the 1970s. Without the efficient action of the fire department, this fire could have spread to the neighboring buildings via the alcohol vapors in the underground pipes. Indeed, the particularity of these fires lies in the nature of these flammable liquidswhich are lighter than water.

Gesip learns from events to improve the safety of infrastructures and personnel. In our opinion, risk management is based on the knowledge of events and the sharing of experience. Thus, since 1953, Gesip has been reinforcing the safety of people and installations by transmitting knowledge through training and expertise.

As such, our organization intervenes in theaccompanying industrialists for training purposes on the particularities of alcohol fires and the use of intervention means. Industrial fire extinguishing, fire intervention courses, fire department training, Gesip's fields of expertise are numerous.

Training dedicated to the management of alcohol fires

Any employee working in the wine industry or alcohol production must know how to intervene safely in the event of a fire involving flammable liquids such as alcohol. They must know how to identify risks and dangerous phenomena and how to model them. He must also :

implement specific intervention techniques;
Respond to fires in pits, unit installations and alcohol truck loading stations.

The fire management of this type requires mastering the following concepts:

The fire triangle and fire classes.
The different extinguishing agents and extinguishing methods.
Alcohol-resistant or non-alcohol-resistant foamers and the nature of the foam created.

Gesip has set up a specific specific training for alcohol firesparticularly ethanol. Combining theory and practice, it is intended for anyone working in the wine industryIt is intended for anyone working in the wine industry, in the production, storage or sale of alcohol.