Zhongyi has developed fire shelters made of high-performance composite materials that keep the contained equipment below its maximum permissible operating temperature for a defined period of time while providing a corrosion-resistant alternative to metal in the oil,gas and petrochemical industry.

Most oil,gas and petrochemical processing composites place operational safety at the top of their agenda,and are constantly evaluating ways of further improving their emergency management systems and plant infrastructure.

One aspect that is currently receiving particular attention is the fire protection afforded to critical on-site safety equipment.The longer equipment such as valves and actuators in emergency shutdown systems and fire response systems remain operational in the event of a fire,the greater the likelihood of averting disaster.

Zhongyi has extensive experience in fire-resistant shelters,having manufactured units that meet the German DIN4102-2 standard for more than 20 years.Instead of metal,the company bases all its fire shelters on high-performance composite materials comprising one or more layers of fire-resistant mineral wool between sheets of glass-fibre-reinforced polyester(GRP).The shelters are specifically designed to keep the contained equipment below its maximum permissible operating temperature for a defined period of time.Its latest fire shelters are based on a patented double sandwich design which uses special joining,sealing,bonding and coating techniques to create a material that,in the event of a fire,maintains its mechanical integrity and thermal insulation properties for as long as possible, and degrades in a slow and predictable manner.

GRP is inherently inert and unaffected by corrosion,making it a better alternative to metal in many field equipment containment applications,especially those that demand a long lifecycle under hostile environmental conditions.It has a similar strength to stainless steel,but weights 75% less-an important consideration on offshore platforms,where the weight of the shelter and its supporting structure is a cost factor.