When a fire breaks out near critical equipment in an oil and gas facility, passive fire protection (PFP) is the last line of defense between a containable incident and catastrophic failure. Unlike active systems (sprinklers, suppression agents, manual intervention) passive protection works automatically, with no power, no signals, and no human action required. It’s built into the equipment itself.
The question for most facility engineers isn’t whether to install PFP, but which system is best suited for the application. Rigid epoxy intumescent coatings have dominated the market for decades, but flexible insulation covers have gained significant ground — and for good reason.
The Problem with Rigid Coatings
Rigid PFP coatings are effective at what they do, but they come with real operational tradeoffs:
- Inspection is difficult or impossible without damaging the coating. Corrosion under insulation (CUI) can go undetected for years.
- Reapplication after maintenance is time-consuming and typically requires specialist contractors.
- Rigid systems are unforgiving on complex geometries — flanges, valves, and irregular surfaces are hard to cover uniformly.
- Thermal cycling and vibration cause cracking over time, compromising integrity.
Flexible PFP Covers: What Changes
UniTherm’s flexible passive fire protection covers are engineered with high-performance, fire-resistant materials and custom-fitted to the specific geometry of each application; whether that’s a wellhead, a valve cluster, a junction box, or a structural column near a flare stack.
Because the covers are removable, inspection is straightforward. Take the cover off, inspect the substrate, reinstall. No coatings to strip, no contractor mobilization, no waiting. This single feature dramatically changes the maintenance calculus for facilities operating under strict inspection protocols.
Flexible PFP covers also conform to complex shapes that rigid coatings struggle to address consistently. A valve with multiple protrusions, a pipe elbow, a bolted flange — all covered with purpose-built flexible jackets that maintain full contact and consistent protection thickness.
Certifications and Standards
Passive fire protection systems in oil and gas applications must meet rigorous standards, including UL 1709 (rapid rise fire testing), ASTM E119, and various offshore standards. UniTherm’s PFP covers are engineered and tested to applicable standards for the specific protection durations required by the installation — typically 30 to 120 minutes.
Spec compliance documentation, test certifications, and installation guides are available for each product line — a critical requirement for facilities operating under third-party safety audits or insurance requirements.
When to Consider Flexible PFP
- New construction or greenfield installations,
- Retrofit applications where existing rigid coatings are aging and inspection access is a concern
- Equipment subject to frequent maintenance, inspection, or replacement
- Complex geometries where uniform rigid coating application is difficult
- Offshore or remote facilities where contractor mobilization for reapplication is costly
→ View UniTherm’s passive fire protection systems.
→ Connect with our Sales Team to receive a quote for your custom insulation project.
→ See Last Week’s Blog to Learn More about The ROI of Removable Insulation
