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I am a Fire Protection Engineer in Victoria working in a sugar refinery where we are proposing to protect existing raw sugar and white packaging storage. The raw sugar storage has piles of unrefined sugar in the warehouse which often clogs the sprinklers (like all other equipment in the area).
My advice to the client was more strict inspections and maintenance in this area, as well as to place metal guards to try and minimize buildup around the sprinklers. The white packaging storage, although not as dirty as the raw sugar storage, has fine dust particles throughout. I'm not as concerned about this area. We are not trying to re-invent the wheel here, and I'm sure there has been many acceptable solutions to minimize building on sprinklers. What would you recommend to the client here to minimize the buildup? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
5 Comments
Matthew Mueller
4/6/2021 08:12:58 am
I think paper bags throughout this area would be an ideal, and standard approved solution.
Jonathan Griffin
4/6/2021 08:17:47 am
NFPA 13 (2016) 6.2.6.4.2 allows for cellophane or paper bags to protect sprinklers in paint or resin applications; I don't see why this cannot be used within dust-areas.
franck
4/6/2021 08:27:35 am
Yes, paper/cellophane bags, regularly replaced, is the proper solution.
Dustin Sullivan
4/6/2021 08:34:05 am
Is the dust bad enough that they could use the advice of an industrial hygienist to review dust control? Please do a web search of the Imperial Sugar Refinery disaster to see what I am talking about.
Jesse
4/6/2021 11:41:48 am
I had this same issue come up at a sugar plant in LA. We used plastic baggies over the sprinklers to protect them from buildup. Leave a Reply. |
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