First it is important to define the type of Flame Arresters based on the arrangement of the installation, if it is an End-of-line or In-line Flame Arrester for example that is required. The source of ignition and the location where the Flame Arrester will be installed are key points to be determined in order to define the type of In-line Flame Arrester needed, because depending on the distance Detonation Flame Arrester may be needed instead a Deflagration Flame Arrester. If Detonation type is required it needs to be defined if DET1 (Detonation for unstable detonations with restriction), DET2 (Detonation for unstable detonations without restriction), DET3 (Detonation for stable detonations with restriction) or DET4 (Detonation for stable detonations without restriction) are required. Also based on the process it is necessary to define what type of burning protection is required for that flame arresters.
There are three basic types:
No burn - Where the flame is contained and instantly eliminated on the unprotected side.
Short Time Burning - Where the flame is contained but due to process conditions it continues to burn (stabilized burning) on the unprotected side and in this case the flame arrester must be equipped with a sensor that will detect the burn and customer must take measures to eliminate the fire within half the time for which the device is short time burn proof (0.5 x tBT).
Endurance Burning - Where the flame is contained but due to process conditions it continues to burn and as per Flame Arrester's Design Code: "If the flow of the explosive mixture can't be stopped or, for operational reasons, is not intended to be stopped within 30 min, Flame Arresters which, when tested prevent flame transmission for this type of stabilized burning are suitable for that hazard, and they are classified as safe against endurance burning".