Next to the main building there is a custom made flame furnace where the fire tests take place. The furnace is entrenched because of labor safety. The flame is generated in the furnace useing LPG as fuel. The Flexible Line Fire Test takes place here. Generally, the flexible lines have to withstand a 30 min direct exposure to fire without any visible leakage at rated working pressure in this test. The flexible line is assembled and placed inside the furnace. The temperature is measured at the middle and at the ends of the exposed section including coupling by pairs of thermocouples. The thermocouples are located opposite of each other at a distance of 25 mm from the surface of the flexible line. There are 8 thermocouples. The necessary heat is generated by flamethrowers fueled by LPG. When the flexible line is pressurized with water up to the working pressure and stabilized the test can start with the direct exposure to flame at 704 C° temperaure for more than 30 mins. After the exposure to the fire the line shall reamin pressurized untill cools down to ambient temperature. The line passed the test if the pressure is maintained in the pipe without adding water, and there is no burst during the cool down period, although a leak may occur. Pressure and themperature are continuously recorded on digital chart recorder.
Since the flexible pipes made for the oil industry have to withstand severe conditions it is also required to examine the performance of the material they are made of. In the test station there is a dedicated room for autoclaves where the material tests can be carried out.