Welding Habitat Panels
Safeprotex Welding Habitat Panels are high-performance textile components designed for use in pressure welding habitat systems within controlled environments. Constructed from silicone-coated E-glass or high-silica fabrics, each flexible welding enclosure offers certified fire-resistant protection against sparks, heat, and flammable gases during welding operations.
Panels withstand temperatures up to 550 °C / 1022 °F for E-glass and 800 °C / 1472 °F for high-silica configurations, and comply with NFPA 701 and ASTM E84 fire safety standards. Fabrics achieve ASTM E84 Class A flame spread ratings and self-extinguish within 2 seconds, ensuring rapid fire containment.
Engineered with panel interlocking, drawstrings to prevent leakage, and reinforced visibility ports, the panels enable modular, rapid installation. Airtightness is tested at ≤ 1.0 m³/m²/min @ 100 Pa (0.2 cfm/ft² @ 0.4 in H₂O), maintaining stable internal pressure in line with API 2218 guidelines. Optional gas ports and exhaust valves ensure proper ventilation and protect internal air quality.
Commonly deployed in offshore rigs, refineries, shipyards, and energy facilities, Welding Habitat Panels help establish safe welding habitats that reduce the risk of ignition, enhance fire containment, and support full regulatory compliance across high-risk hot work zones.
Features
Welding Habitat Panels are designed for high-temperature hot work environments, utilizing silicone-coated E-glass fiberglass and high-silica fabrics rated from 260 °C to 800 °C / 500 °F to 1472 °F. Each habitat panel is fire resistant, certified to NFPA 701, ASTM E84, and EN 13501-1, and suitable for use in pressure welding habitats within controlled environments such as offshore platforms and refineries.
Panel construction includes thicknesses from 0.4 mm to 3.0 mm / 0.016 in to 0.118 in, with tensile strength exceeding 1500 N/5 cm / 170 lbf/2 in. The silicone coating offers excellent resistance to chemicals, fuel, and ultraviolet hardening and damage.
Engineered panel interlocking systems, reinforced grommets, and drawstrings to prevent gas leakage support fast installation and airtight sealing. Optional transparent sections enable total visibility during welding operations, while ventilation designs ensure the enclosure contains an argon entry port and an exhaust valve to vent displaced gas, maintaining internal pressure and air quality.
Designed for multi-use applications with optional repair kits, Welding Habitat Panels provide a durable, cost effective solution for building safe welding habitats, while reducing the risk of ignition from sparks heat in hazardous zones.
TDS
| Category | Specification / Range | Test Standard / Notes |
| Base Fabric Options | – E-glass fiberglass | ASTM D579 – Glass Fiber Yarn Classification |
| – High-silica fabric | ||
| Coating Type | Silicone elastomer (one-side or two-side coating) | ASTM D903 – Adhesion strength of coating |
| Temperature Resistance | – Up to 550 °C / 1022 °F (E-glass) | ISO 17493 – Heat resistance under continuous load |
| – Up to 800 °C / 1472 °F (High-silica) | ||
| Panel Thickness | 0.4 – 3.0 mm / 0.016 – 0.118 in | ASTM D1777 – Standard Test Method for Thickness of Textile Materials |
| Weight (Mass per Area) | 430 – 1600 g/m² / 12.7 – 47.2 oz/yd² | ASTM D3776 – Mass per Unit Area (Fabric Weight) |
| Tensile Strength | ≥ 1500 N/5 cm / ≥ 170 lbf/2 in (warp and weft) | ASTM D5034 – Breaking Strength (Grab Method) |
| Tear Strength | ≥ 250 N / ≥ 56 lbf | ASTM D1424 – Elmendorf Tear Resistance |
| Air Permeability | ≤ 1.0 m³/m²/min @ 100 Pa / ≤ 0.2 cfm/ft² @ 0.4 in H₂O | ASTM D737 – Air Permeability of Textile Fabrics |
| Fire Resistance | Certified: NFPA 701, ASTM E84 (Class A), EN 13501-1 | Flame retardant; self-extinguishes in ≤ 2 seconds |
| Hydrostatic Resistance | ≥ 1000 mm H₂O / ≥ 39.4 in H₂O (optional for selected grades) | ISO 811 – Hydrostatic Head Water Resistance |
| UV Resistance | ≥ 1000 hours (QUV accelerated weathering) | ASTM G154 – UV Degradation Test |
| Surface Finish | Optional anti-static treatment (if available) | Surface resistivity ≤ 10⁹ ohms (if applicable) |
| Edge & Seam Options | Grommets, Velcro, flanged hems, hook-loop edges | ASTM D751 – Seam Adhesion and Durability |
| Panel Interlocking | Integrated modular connectors or flap-overlap design | Ensures leak-tight fit between adjacent panels |
| Drawstring Sealing | Integrated drawstrings to prevent gas escape | Allows dynamic pressurization and fast sealing |
| Visibility Integration | Optional windows: heat-resistant PVC or mica | ASTM D1004 – Tear resistance of plastic film |
| Ventilation Support | Enclosure contains an argon entry port and an exhaust valve to vent displaced gas | API 2218 / ISO 14644-3 – Enclosure pressurization & gas evacuation system |
| Standard Widths | 1000 / 1500 / 2000 mm (39.4 / 59.1 / 78.7 in) – Custom on request | ISO 22198 – Dimensional tolerances |
| Color Options | Grey, red, silver, black – others on request | For hazard zoning or visual control |
| Repair & Reusability | Field-repairable using repair kit; supports multi-shift usage | ASTM D751 – Field Seam Testing and Patching Evaluation |
| Typical Applications | Safe welding habitats, flexible welding enclosures, offshore modules, refineries | Spark containment, vapor exclusion, pressurized welding safety |
Application Areas
Welding Habitat Panels are deployed across high-risk industrial sectors where hot work must be safely isolated in flammable or controlled environments. Common applications include:
Offshore Platforms & FPSOs
Used to enclose pipe welding operations and structural repairs during production, ensuring compliance with API 2218 and OSHA 1910 in pressure welding habitats.Petrochemical Refineries
Applied during shutdowns and TARs to isolate welds in Class 1, Division 2 areas. The enclosure contains an argon entry port and an exhaust valve to vent displaced gas, ensuring fume control and maintaining internal air quality per NFPA 51B.Shipyards & Marine Facilities
Enables safe welding in hulls, tanks, and bulkheads using flexible welding enclosures, while preserving total visibility and ventilation.Power & Energy Sites
Supports hot work inside turbine halls and battery enclosures, offering material resistance to ultraviolet hardening and damage.Mining & Field Fabrication
Delivers mobile containment for sparks heat during structural tasks in high-vapor or dust-laden zones.
Welding Habitat Panels reduce setup time by up to 40%, use panel interlocking for fast assembly, and support reuse with optional repair kits—a durable, cost effective solution for creating and maintaining safe welding habitats while reducing the risk of ignition.
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