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Sprinkler Criteria for Small Class IB Control Area?

3/11/2022

9 Comments

 
We have a 300 sq ft control area (1 hour rated) for storage of Class IB flammable liquid. The 2018 IBC Table 307.1 permits 120 gallons (no sprinklers required), but this amount can be doubled if the building is equipped with an NFPA 13 automatic sprinkler system.

Our client would like to store about 165 gallons in the room (3 drums). The building is fully sprinklered.

What is the required sprinkler design density for this room?

We considered Ordinary Hazard Group 2 (same as lab area it supports) or Extra Hazard Group 2 (only occupancy in NFPA 13 that mentions flammable liquids).

If EH2, then the minimum water demand becomes quite large: 0.4 x 2500 + 500 gpm hose = 1500 gpm (Under the 2016 NFPA 13 - Section 23.4.4.2.5).

Could you help point us in the right direction? Thanks to all in advance for helping us hunt this down. 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
9 Comments

Hazardous Locker on Building or Separate?

3/2/2022

4 Comments

 
I wanted to pose the question on hazardous material storage lockers. We wish to protect the locker in accordance with Chapter 14 of NFPA 30 and have rated it for 4-hours to eliminate the need for fire separation distance to the immediately-adjacent main building as allowed.

The locker will not be structurally attached and will only have flashing connecting the two to keep out the elements, garbage, and animals. The locker will only have people in as necessary to get the liquids out.

The main building has a door on the "exterior wall" that opens and "reveals" the 3-hour rated hazardous material locker door, which you have to open to get inside the locker.

NFPA 30 2015 handbook Section 14.4.3 denotes that lockers over 1500 sqft should be protected permanent building such as attached buildings or warehouses. Our locker is under the 1500 sqft requirements so therefore I would say we are not a building but a "locker".

Therefore, the exterior wall openings allowances of IBC (2015) Table 705.8 would be to the lot line (over 10ft) and not the locker itself (0ft), allowing our client to access the locker from the inside of the main building and not having to go outside to access it from the exterior.

I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience or if we should just call it part of the main building and protect it as such and lose the allowances of Chapter 14.

Thanks in advance!


​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
4 Comments

Guidance Regarding Spill Containment Design?

1/5/2022

2 Comments

 
I have a customer that has a paint storage facility. All the liquids are Class III-B and stored at a maximum height of 6-ft with a minimum 8-ft aisle.

Does anyone have helpful information/guidance information for designing spill containment and coordinating ventilation requirements for a space like this?

I know containment is touched on in NFPA 30 - but I'm looking for some more in-depth guidance to get started. Thanks in advance.
2 Comments

Sprinkler Design Criteria for 100-Proof Alcohol?

12/23/2021

4 Comments

 
We are trying to confirm sprinkler design criteria for a liquor company that has alcohol in boxes and on pallets.

The liquor is 100-proof alcohol. 

Trucks come in and unload in one area, where these are stacked one-high. Then, they are moved to another area and loaded on a different truck. They are not there for a long period of time.

NFPA 13-2013 calls this out as a Class IV for alcohol 100-proof or less. This project being under 12-foot high with high-temperature sprinklers, is the design criteria of 0.30 over 2,000 sqft acceptable?

The AHJ uses the 2019 edition of NFPA 13 and we can't find anything in there or in NFPA 30 that is similar, unless I'm missing something.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
4 Comments

Store Class III Liquids in IBC Up to 40-feet High?

10/6/2021

5 Comments

 
We have a project that has Class III liquids in Non-metallic IBC (Intermediate Bulk Containers).

NFPA 30 Tables 16.5.2.9 and 16.5.2.10 list storage requirements for Class III liquids in Nonmetallic IBCs. Stacked IBCs are limited to two-high (~8 feet), and in racks, only single and double row racks are allowed.

Under Section 12.8, these containers may be protected as "high storage of Class IV commodities" through NFPA 13, provided that the volume is limited to 13,750 gal (Class IIIB).

Does this mean that under NFPA 13, IBCs can be stacked up to 40-feet with 45-feet ceilings as per Table 23.3.1, or in multiple-row racks up to 40-feet high with 45-feet ceilings as per Table 23.5.1?

Or similar configurations as per Chapter 22 (CMSA)?

Provided the volume limit is not exceeded, of course.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
5 Comments

%-Flammable Liquid for Container, or Liquid only?

7/28/2021

3 Comments

 
NFPA 30 Figure 16.2.5 is used to determine if a material is viscous liquid or not.

I am having an issue with a interpretation of the "Weight (percent flammable or combustible liquid)".

Is this weight for the liquid only or the liquid plus the container?

Example: Total package / container weight = 2.48 grams. The liquid inside is a Class III-A mixture that is 0.78 grams (31.5%).
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If I go with the entire package Figure 16.2.5 is applicable (less than 50%), but if I am just looking at percent of combustible liquids, all the liquid is combustible.

Thanks in advance. 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
3 Comments

How to Calculate Vapor Density Against Lower Flammability Limit?

10/29/2020

5 Comments

 
I have a question regarding the need to provide electrical classification for a building using Class 1A flammable liquids.

For this building, 4 gallons could be out in use (located anywhere in the building). The MAQ is 10 gallons. I have discussed this with NFPA 30 committee, the manufacturer, and the AHJ (who is a knowledgeable FPE). They have all determined that even if the MAQ is not exceeded, electrical classification is required if a flammable/explosive mixture could be present.

The NFPA 30 staff directed me to a provision in NFPA 497, Section 5.5, that if the materials will not reach 25% of the lower flammable limit (LFL), this could be utilized to justify not providing classified electrical fixtures.

Does anyone know how to do this calculation, or know of firms that can be hired to do this?

I am an FPE and do not know how to perform it, and I have spoken with other FPE’s who also are not aware. The gentleman I spoke with at NFPA 30 agreed it would be by an industrial hygienist or a chemical engineer and not an FPE.

But does anyone know any that can be hired for a one-off calculation, or have a place where I could learn how to perform it myself (NFPA reference, SFPE article, course, etc.?).

Thank you!

​​Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
5 Comments

Design Criteria for Storage of Hand Sanitizer?

5/12/2020

8 Comments

 
Building owner is looking to lease some warehouse space for the storage of hand sanitizer…looking at the MSDS, I see it listed as a Class IB flammable.

Going to NFPA 30 and seeing section 16.5.2.7 would be the most appropriate…which then flips me to section 16.6.1 Scheme A as the Sprinkler arrangement. 

I have to look to see what design densities are needed for the ceiling spray heads and the in-racks.

Is this the correct approach? Is NFPA 30 applicable here? Just wanted to make sure I’m not missing something.

​Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe​​
8 Comments
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The views, opinions, and information found on this site represent solely the author and do not represent the opinions of any other party, nor does the presented material assume responsibility for its use. Fire protection and life safety systems constitute a critical component for public health and safety and you should consult with a licensed professional for proper design and code adherence.

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  • Blog
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  • THE TOOLKIT
    • SUBMIT AN IDEA
    • BACKFLOW DATABASE*
    • CLEAN AGENT ESTIMATOR*
    • CLOUD CEILING CALCULATOR
    • DOMESTIC DEMAND*
    • FIRE FLOW CALCULATOR*
    • FIRE PUMP ANALYZER*
    • FIRE PUMP DATABASE*
    • FRICTION LOSS CALCULATOR
    • HANGER SPACER*
    • IBC TRANSLATOR*
    • K-FACTOR SELECTOR*
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('19 ONLY)
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('99-'22)*
    • LIQUIDS ANALYZER*
    • OBSTRUCTION CALCULATOR
    • OBSTRUCTIONS AGAINST WALL*
    • PLUMBING FIXTURE COUNTS
    • QUICK RESPONSE AREA REDUCTION
    • REMOTE AREA ANALYZER*
    • SPRINKLER DATABASE*
    • SPRINKLER FLOW*
    • SYSTEM ESTIMATOR*
    • TEST & DRAIN CALCULATOR
    • THRUST BLOCK CALCULATOR
    • TRAPEZE CALCULATOR
    • UNIT CONVERTER
    • VOLUME & COMPRESSOR CALCULATOR
    • WATER STORAGE*
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