Sprinkler Density for 100-gal 65% Alcohol Tank?

12/30/2021

I have a distillery with H-3 occupancy. They will have one (1) stainless steel 100 gallon tank (never full) of 65% alcohol for distilling whiskey.

They plan to have maximum 6-ft storage of approximately 25-gallons maximum of finished product in bottles on shelves.

Also planned is approximately thirty (30) 30-gallon wood barrels stacked (2) high in adjacent areas

I am seeing a lot of exceptions in IBC and IFC for the wooden barrels with the H-3 Occupancy.

Can you provide any insight to this allowance for wood barrels and how I might determine the proper sprinkler density and maximum volume (if any with the H-3)?

Thanks in advance.

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5 Comments

Jesse

12/30/2021 08:47:05 am

My 2-cents.

I have designers get wrapped up in IBC/IFC. I tell them them that IBC/IFC tells us when risks need to be protected. NFPA 13, or in your case 30, tell us how.

The quantity of your flammable liquid will drive your protection. While the 100-gallon tank may "never be full", you need to treat it, and protect it as if it will always be full.

The finished product in bottles as well as product in barrels need to be accounted for as well.

NFPA 30 deals with flammable / combustible liquid storage, use, protection, etc. There are decision trees for you to use in calculating your required density. This is a polar solvent water miscible liquid so its a little different protection scheme than a hydrocarbon liquid.

Joshua Freedman

12/30/2021 11:57:09 am

I’ll throw in my 2 cents that as an inspector, I often see installations that used some exception found in IBC or local code but if this contradicts what is required per NFPA, it is often unacceptable. If any exceptions are being sought out or corners cut for cost savings, I would inform the customer of the possible savings, but also advise that their insurance provider, or even the City down the road might not accept it (which I have seen occur). As such, I always strongly recommend designs be to NFPA or FM standards which need to consider not just sprinkler design but possibly other things like damming or other secondary containment, grounding, deflagration controls, Class I, Division 2 electrical, etc – the whole of the code must be applied. I have rejected set ups that were designed properly in so far as the fire sprinkler system was concerned but there were no deflagration controls in place.

NFPA 13 doesn’t cover this in your case: (NFPA 13 – 2019) Table A.20.4(a) Examples of Commodities Not Addressed by Classifications in Section 20.4: Flammable and Combustible Liquids… Liquids that contain greater than 20 percent alcohol.

The flashpoint of whiskey and most other spirits at 80 proof (40% ABV) is 79 degrees Fahrenheit (26 Celsius). The flashpoint will depend on the strength (alcohol content) of the whiskey. The flashpoint of ethanol (pure alcohol) is 61.9 degrees Fahrenheit (16.6 Celsius). However, as is common to the distillery process, they will often separate out components of the final whiskey and might have pure ethanol in appreciable amounts on hand. I would say you should find out exactly what they will have, in what quantity and arrangement, to best classify and determine protection requirements.

Class IA ‐ Flash Point less than 73°F; Boiling Point less than 100°F
Class IB ‐ Flash Point less than 73°F; Boiling Point equal to or greater than 100°F
Class IC ‐ Flash Point equal to or greater than 73°F, but less than 100°F

I think I would look at that big steel tank as an aboveground storage tank and, depending on the classification, look at it similar to facility that has an indoor gasoline dispensing tank.

Another thing you’ll need to confirm is if the containers are pressure relieving or not, again touching on those deflagration controls.

In so far as the sprinkler protection goes – I would really recommend you look at FM data sheet: FM 7-29, it is available free to download off of FM’s website. It covers your wooden barrel arrangement under 2.4.7 Plastic, Glass, or Other Combustible/Brittle Containers Up to and Including 60 gal (230 L) (FM 7-29 2018). Protection for the steel tank is in FM 7-29 but I don’t know enough about the tank to say particularly which arrangement would apply.

sean

12/31/2021 06:15:36 pm

you also need to keep in mind what version of the IFC/NFPA you are using as there was a big reclassification in the recent years

Ron

1/5/2022 12:59:30 pm

Not sure where you are located.... I had a project in Kentucky a while back. Apparently distilleries are a Thing in Kentucky because I noticed a lot of direction regarding fire protection for alcohol and whiskey barrel storage in the Kentucky state codes while reviewing the local requirements. Check your local codes too.

Eric

1/5/2022 01:27:36 pm

it seems there are many gray areas with this type of design. I do not see clear density requirements anywhere I have looked. wood barrels will be stacked on the floor and only 2 high for a total of 30 barrels at the max storage. up to 25 gallons of final product will be stored on shelves in bottles.

I am seeing a lot of commentary for the exemptions of wood barrel storage (per IFC) except in regards to the max limit - which if exceeded just puts the classification as an H-3.

it seems as if I can get away with a .4/3000 density using 11.2K sprinklers per NFPA 30 but, as I mentioned, is not very clear.

all help is appreciated.

Sprinkler Density for 100-gal 65% Alcohol Tank?

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