Why Would Spiral Freezer Require Sprinklers?

11/21/2022

Can someone explain the need for fire suppression inside a stainless steel box that is considered confined space and is typically operating at minus 40 F?

Our local AHJ is suggesting that we need fire sprinklers inside our spiral freezer.

However, I am at a loss of any scenario in which anything is combustible inside this environment. It's either operating at minus 40F or its not, and all electronics (motors etc.) are located outside the box.

Its not meant to be occupied by personnel, hence the confined space.

So why on earth would we need fire suppression?

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8 Comments

Alex

11/21/2022 05:05:48 am

I don’t believe you would require protection within the freezer. To me, it would be considered an unoccupied piece of equipment.

Are they suggesting or requiring? I think a letter from a PE outlining the hazards and the designed protection methods (meaning all hazards outside the freezer and building fully protected) should be sufficient.

Glenn Warga

11/21/2022 08:09:02 am

We have had to sprinkler these if the belt is plastic. FM had some data that indicated if the plastic belt catches fire it can turn into an uncontrollable situation. If the belts are stainless steel then we have not had to sprinkler based on non-accessible, non-occupiable space, non-combustible space. 2022 NFPA has updated verbiage to support this.

chad

11/21/2022 08:28:59 am

Soooooo true, its a nightmare to extiguish combustible conveyor belt fires. The literally spread themselves.

Glenn Berger

11/21/2022 08:18:13 am

The issue with many built-in place large refrigerators and freezers is not when they are in use, but when they are down for maintenance. If your application is not for a walk-in type unit, then you can make the point of not requiring an installed fire sprinkler system.

chad

11/21/2022 08:27:39 am

I would kindly ask for a code reference. I think its a broad brush the AHJ is painting. I will admit that my fellow AHJ's sometimes are a bit foolish when pushing for "total" coverage.

IMO, this section applies as whatever is passing thruogh the spriral would be "minimal combustile loading"

2016 NFPA 13 8.15.1.2* Concealed Spaces Not Requiring Sprinkler Protection.
8.15.1.2.1* Concealed spaces of noncombustible and limited combustible construction with minimal combustible loading
having no access shall not require sprinkler protection.'

Or another sub section of 8.15 would somehow apply

Jesse

11/21/2022 09:56:22 am

I've been down this road numerous times, as the IFD AHJ, Insurance loss control engineer and the designing engineer.

Presuming frozen food and with no idea how its packaged, frozen food is combustible. The ambient temp may delay pyrolysis in the fire origin, but only for a very short time. Once the incipient fire has started, it will burn. Frozen food in plastic packaging is a Class-III Commodity.

Second is means of conveyance. Is this a rubber conveyor? Conveyor belt fires are no picnic.

So my default position would be to protect it.

Anthony

11/22/2022 07:29:16 am

Food for thought on this conversation:

This is clearly a piece of machinery that may have operator access and generally would not be protected similar to an air handling unit.

However, there is reasonable concern for fire loss when it goes in to defrost and maintenance cycles. Occasionally lint dust and garbage can get on to a heating coil through an air intake and start a fire. Also, a motor failure can smoke and spark causing concern.

Bill

11/23/2022 10:56:02 am

Spiral freezers in food industry have a heavy fire loading from the combustible conveyor belts, which are not fire-retardant treated plastics. Many of these freezers are large areas, which are occupiable for maintenance and firefighting. Insurance industry has paid many large claims for fires in spiral freezers, most caused by Hot Work, but the smoke contamination from uncontrolled (non-sprinklered freezer) fire closes the plant for months.

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Why Would Spiral Freezer Require Sprinklers?

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