Design Criteria for Storage of Hand Sanitizer?

5/12/2020

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.

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8 Comments

Jesse

5/12/2020 10:06:39 am

Yep you're on the right track. You won't find it in 13. Your design criteria / scheme will be in NFPA 30. Keep an eye out for your maximum allowable quantities though.

Richard Mercer

5/12/2020 11:29:14 am

To build off of Jesse's comment, make sure to review the applicable Building and Fire Code for the jurisdiction as it relates to maximum allowable quantities, it doesn't take much storage of a Flammable Liquid IA,IB,IC to trigger a change in Occupancy in the IBC/IFC from a Moderate Hazard Storage Groupe S-1 to a High Hazard Group H.

Glenn Berger

5/12/2020 02:40:49 pm

How is the product being stored? In drums and/or on pallets, In shelves, etc.

Concur that NFPA 30 is a good starting point.

Anonymous

5/12/2020 03:53:56 pm

Assume the product is in plastic bottles within cardboard cartons stored on wire shelving (Home Depot style)

William Cosey

5/12/2020 04:10:17 pm

Before leasing the space, I am sure you want to look at the suppression requirements, (and what else in in there), but don't forget about the rest:

I also might suggest that most of these are Class 1A, and limited by MAQ.

To be effective for the CDC "products with greater than 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol as active ingredients" and prefer "A final concentration of 80% ethanol or 75% isopropyl alcohol recommended in the USP hand sanitizer toolkit are aligned with World Health Organization (WHO) formulations".

NFPA has good videos regarding the hand sanitizers and dangers.

Requirements, including storage, dispensing, and use: NFPA 1, NFPA 30 (Ch. 9, 11, 12, 18), NFPA 45, and NFPA 101 (8.7.3.3)

Are they dispensing from the storage?, what about spills, any carpet areas where dispensing, and common sense controls of cleanup materials must be considered.

So in addition to the requirements of Chapter 16 of NFPA 30 you are considering, there's more.

Oh, and size does matter - you didn't mention if this was Totes (IBCs), drums (containers), 5-gallon plastics (containers), 1-gallon plastics (containers), or the boxed plastic individuals (containers). What else is in the warehouse? Is this a new control area or will it be part of a whole?

Just some considerations and further details to give the best answer - but the 1st one - your on track using NFPA 30 would suffice with the limited details to determine the sprinkler needs (but Ch. 16 doesn't apply to Class 1A liquids - but the using the chapter/process can help protect the "unprotected" [NFPA 30, 16.1.2]).

Have a blessed one!

Anonymous

5/13/2020 07:10:05 am

Thanks William,

The product is in small plastic containers (probably 16oz each) stored in cardboard boxes before being shipped to the retail stores.

There will be no dispensing in the warehouse. We could specify a minimum distance between this product and anything else being stored in the warehouse.

Anonymous

5/13/2020 02:21:04 pm

Can you share a link to the NFPA videos?

Franck

5/13/2020 11:06:00 am

Is there any possibility to store the goods in a detached structure (so as not to expose the warehouse with a potential flammable liquid spill fire . If stored inside, provision of retention bunds could also be a good practice.
I often had a similar problem when my company was insuring retail stores and they were keen on having flammable liquids inside the storage area (in racks) with no particular precaution. Same issue with aerosols cans. Best practice is a dedicated storage room with retention bunds and adequate fire protection system.

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