Jet Fire Facility
Parent Body: Health and Safety Executive, Health and Safety Laboratory, Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9JN

Principal Functions
To investigate the effects of jet flames on items of plant such as filled pressure vessels and valve gear.

Subsidiary Functions
To establish the effectiveness of fire protection afforded by water sprays and protective coatings on plant.

General Details
The Jet-fire facility is situated at an isolated location on HSE’s Buxton site and comprises a fuel storage unit, a vapour-jet test rig and a liquid/two-phase jet test rig. A water reservoir and pumped water supply is available for either test rig. Control is local for non-hazardous experiments or from a remote, strengthened control building for trails involving targets which may fail catastrophically. The test locations are suitable for potentially hazardous experiments being in an unpopulated area and surrounded by earth mounding to protect adjacent buildings and plant.

Specification
The fuel storage capacity is 10,200kg, allowing a liquid jet flame of 1.5kg/s for 100 minutes. Jets of up to about 4kg/s can be achieved for shorter time durations. All controls and instrumentation are either pneumatic or intrinsically safe. Parts of the storage (3,400kg capacity), control and jet equipment have been constructed to enable transportation to and operation at an alternative remote site.

Special Features
Support staff for the operation of the facility could be provided. Multi-channel analogue data acquisition systems might also be made available.

Future Plans
The facility could be available for use by other bodies for some periods over the next five years.

Availability
The facility is available to other bodies in both the private and public sector. There are no restrictions on the type of body that can apply to use the facility. Three months advance notice is required when asking for time on the facility. Time is allocated on the following basis; HSE has first call, then vacant slots for repayment work.

Charging Basis
Charging rates are subject to individual negotiation. There is a possibility of negotiating an exchange agreement.

Site Access
The site has ready access for vehicles and local accommodation is available for the hirer’s staff.

Contact Information
Business Development Unit
Health and Safety Laboratory
Broad Lane
Sheffield
S3 7HQ
Telephone: 0114 2892920
Fax 0114 2892830
E-mail: hslinfo@hsl.gov.uk