Live test of fire protection systems at Bonaire International Airport
On Friday, 10th of December, 2021, Oil Trading Bonaire (OTB), the Caribbean Netherlands Fire Department (BKCN), in cooperation with the local utility company, will organise a 'live test' of the fire protection systems on the new fuel tank at the airport of Bonaire. The live test will take place between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m.
The new fuel tank is intended for the storing of aviation fuel and, through its fire protection system, complies with the latest safety standards. The protection system consists of a water storage tank and a technical installation to transport the water in order to cool the fuel tanks and to be able to extinguish them quickly in case of fire.
In order to create the most realistic situation possible, "exercise foam" will be used in the exercise on the 10th of December. In case of an incident at the fuel tank, fluorine-containing extinguishing foam is used. Fluorine is an essential element in extinguishing a fire, but not conducive to the environment. Therefore, during the live test, special practice foam is used, which does not contain fluorine.
Because incidents in the field of industrial safety require special expertise, the exercise will be organised in cooperation with the Industrial Safety Department of the Rotterdam Rijnmond Safety Region. The entire exercise will be supervised by the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT), part of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.