Toxic gas refuges are custom-engineered protective shelters designed to safeguard personnel in industrial areas exposed to hazardous and toxic gas releases.
Overview
Where a process can release toxic gas, personnel need a protected space to reach quickly and remain in safely until the emergency is over. Alex Sistemi refuges are dimensioned to project requirements and built in carbon steel, stainless steel or aluminium to withstand severe environmental and operating conditions. They are suitable for ATEX / IECEx classified areas and combine fire-rated and blast-resistant construction with integrated fire-fighting and gas-detection systems.
Configuration
Overall dimensions, capacity and layout follow the site emergency plan. Each refuge is engineered, manufactured and tested to applicable standards, for onshore and offshore installations, and can be combined with the Group’s own ventilation and pressurisation systems where the project requires them.
Unlike a generic container, a refuge is sized on the number of people to protect, the time they must remain inside and the gases present on site. Alex Sistemi defines these parameters with the client at the engineering stage and documents them in the project risk analysis, so that the refuge delivered matches the site emergency plan rather than a generic layout.
Applications
- Refineries, gas plants and petrochemical sites
- Offshore platforms and marine installations
- Power plants and mining operations handling toxic gases
What is included
Refuges are supplied as complete units: structure and insulation, fire-rated and blast-resistant construction where specified, sealed doors, gas-detection and fire-fighting systems, HVAC, electrical distribution and lighting, all installed and tested before delivery.
Testing and compliance
Every refuge undergoes dimensional control, painting and coating tests, electrical tests (continuity, rigidity, earthing, insulation), functional equipment tests, rain test, load and drop tests, pressure and leak tests, weld inspection (PT, MT, UT) and thermal testing from −35 °C to +70 °C. Fabrication is carried out under ISO 9001:2015, ISO 3834-2:2021, EN 1090, CSA W47.1, A660 Canadian Standard and ISO 45001:2018. See our quality and certifications page.
Toxic gas refuges are developed by Alex Sistemi within the Group’s 100% in-house production cycle. Contact us to discuss your site emergency requirements.
