December 15, 2008 - EarthFax Completes Phase IV Design of a Refinery Fire Water System Upgrade

EarthFax Engineering, Inc. has completed the design of the 4th phase of a multi-phase project to upgrade the firewater system at a major oil refinery in northern Utah.  This upgrade was needed to improve the existing system, parts of which were 60 years old, and to meet new firewater flow and pressure demands that were imposed by changes to the refinery.  To assist in this project, EarthFax modeled the existing firewater distribution system within the refinery, conducted stand-up hydrant tests, and identified critical issues confronting the existing system based on the proposed addition of new operating units.  The results of these investigations indicated that insufficient flow and pressure existed in selected areas of the refinery to provide adequate future fire protection.  EarthFax then designed the required upgrades, which include installation of approximately 27,000 linear feet of high-density polyethylene pipe at a design pressure of 200 psi.  Pipe diameter requirements range from 6 to 16 inches, with multiple valves and fire hydrants.

One of the critical issues identified at the site was the need for a backup water supply to be used in the event of an interruption of the municipal and industrial systems that serve as the primary water supply.  EarthFax designed an intake and emergency pumping system to divert water from a canal that runs through the site and that carries storm water and wastewater from a large community to the Great Salt Lake.  The emergency water supply is designed to supplement or replace the primary water supply and will operate without the benefit of electrical power.  Hence, the emergency supply was designed to be available in the event of either a normal or catastrophic interruption in the primary supply.

The project is being completed on a design-build basis, with EarthFax serving as the design engineer, Owner’s Representative, and construction manager.  Once completed, the overall firewater capacity will nearly double.

EarthFax Engineering, Inc. is a consulting engineering firm that was founded in 1982, with offices in Midvale, Utah.  Its personnel have broad professional experience in the areas of environmental engineering, civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, hydrology and hydrogeology, geology, land reclamation, and environmental planning.  Additional information regarding EarthFax can be found at www.earthfax.com.