So, to get into greater detail, Ammonium Nitrate by itself is a class 2 oxidizer. Only when they come in contact with organic materials can they start a fire. Otherwise, it is not a flammable or combustible. It accelerates burning and under specific conditions can create an explosion when combined with other agents.
Diesel fuel is either a class IIIA or II depending on the additives. Verify via SDS. Quantities of materials come into play when if comes to the occupancy classification of the space. More than 250 gallons of ammonium nitrate in a non-sprinklered area and you’re into a H-3 occupancy. H3 will require sprinkler protection as well as secondary containment for liquid spill and sprinkler discharge. Diesel fuel if Class II or IIIA will also have limits and could push the space into a H3 occupancy. However, this one gets a bit tricky as some might argue that in a mine the building code doesn’t apply since there is no building. This becomes a conversation with the owner and the responding fire department as to how the area should be addressed from a code perspective. The local building code official might not even have any jurisdiction over this operation. Craig Prahl | Jacobs | Fire Protection SME – Special Hazards | craig.pr...@jacobs.com<mailto:craig.pr...@jacobs.com> | www.jacobs.com<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.jacobs.com/__;!!KZTdOCjhgt4hgw!-_khxU8gU0_6jc895I7kRbnU8JghRDsWgqOblZ4jr7Qp2IVbR30VYw_hWvNFtphnl0uWpB9KIvbYi1pvZz4$> 1041 East Butler Road Greenville, South Carolina 29606 CONTACT BY: Phone 1-864-676-5252, Email or MS TEAMS From: Ron Greenman <rongreen...@gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, April 6, 2024 7:04 PM To: Discussion list on issues relating to automatic fire sprinklers <sprinklerforum@lists.firesprinkler.org> Subject: [EXTERNAL] [Sprinklerforum] Re: Protecting underground storage of explosives. https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IFC2018/CHAPTER-56-EXPLOSIVES-AND-FIREWORKS?site_type=public<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/codes.iccsafe.org/content/IFC2018/CHAPTER-56-EXPLOSIVES-AND-FIREWORKS?site_type=public__;!!B5cixuoO7ltTeg!HcoNsBHu1Kt7gDx9eIsIlgC7kQ0B1QsdtYW10ciYB40ZfDiIEMRpBgT8My0j_cMinCaHcEjjLt41ThaNNxWE-ws$> On Sat, Apr 6, 2024 at 1:20 PM Prahl, Craig <craig.pr...@jacobs.com<mailto:craig.pr...@jacobs.com>> wrote: Munitions and explosives are typically protected via separation. On military projects, storage areas such as these are either semi-subterranean (partially earthen covered bunker), or just physically separated from other structures by several hundred feet. I do hope the components are adequately separated. Fire is usually not an issue in these spaces since there should be very stringent controls on ignition sources. So, we don’t waste money on sprinklers or other types of suppression systems. They just aren’t going to stop an explosion event. Once it’s done, it’s done. You can take a look at UFC 4-420-01, May 2015 for the way munitions and explosive storage is handled by the military. UFC = Unified Facilities Criteria. You can search for it on-line. There are no restrictions for access. You’d also have to deal with sprinkler run-off and being underground, that might be a big challenge. So, basically, this isn’t a sprinkler contractor project. Craig Prahl | Jacobs | Fire Protection SME – Special Hazards | craig.pr...@jacobs.com<mailto:craig.pr...@jacobs.com> | www.jacobs.com<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.jacobs.com/__;!!KZTdOCjhgt4hgw!-_khxU8gU0_6jc895I7kRbnU8JghRDsWgqOblZ4jr7Qp2IVbR30VYw_hWvNFtphnl0uWpB9KIvbYi1pvZz4$> 1041 East Butler Road Greenville, South Carolina 29606 CONTACT BY: Phone 1-864-676-5252, Email or MS TEAMS From: Chris Dorn <chris.d...@dornfireprotection.com<mailto:chris.d...@dornfireprotection.com>> Sent: Friday, April 5, 2024 4:05 PM To: sprinklerforum@lists.firesprinkler.org<mailto:sprinklerforum@lists.firesprinkler.org> Subject: [EXTERNAL] [Sprinklerforum] Protecting underground storage of explosives. Trying to help a friend of a friend. Has anyone ever provided any type of fire suppression system for underground storage of ANFO (Ammoniun Nitrate and fuel oil mixture)? The area in question is in a limestone mine underground. The space is pretty large and has 30’ ceilings so I’m guessing that chemical suppression is not going to be an option. I tend to believe that sprinklers may not be the route to go. Water will apparently render the ANFO inert but in case of a fire I’m not sure that the sprinklers could operate fast enough to provide any real protection. Additionally, the water supply is inadequate for almost any type of sprinkler system anyway. I’m not really finding much in NFPA except Annex C in NFPA 495 which refers to separation distances. I did find a reference to NFPA 490 2002 Edition but cannot find a current code so I’m guessing it was folded into 495 at some point. Any direction at all would be appreciated to help me in my research. Chris Dorn Dorn Fire Protection LLC ________________________________ NOTICE - This communication may contain confidential and privileged information that is for the sole use of the intended recipient. 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