The other point is that a lot of the big pharma operations are HPR accounts and the insurance companies require sprinklers. I'm of course speaking about this side of the pond.
At 09:19 AM 5/14/2009, you wrote: >In 25 years I've never worked on a pharm plant that wasn't fully >protected. Whether by size or other criteria, the building code >generally will require full sprinkler protection. > >With the typical mixed bag of storage, chemicals, and other >hazardous processes, I'd be real curious under what circumstances a >facility would be exempt from being protected. I'd like to see that >Hazards and Codes Analysis. Of course if its occupancy is >classified wrong by the A/E, accepted by an unknowing AHJ and never >questioned by an owner who enjoys saving a few bucks, anything is >possible. Often the error occurs when an A/E finds there are no >flammable or combustible chemicals in the building. They quickly >attach an F-2 occupancy (low hazard) and now we have no >sprinklers. What they fail to understand or question is if there is >any chemicals which are toxic, explosion hazards, oxidizers, >etc. I've caught several that started out this way. Then when I >point out the wrong path of occupancy determination and state that >sprinklers will be required, of course it's fire protection that's >trying to tank the project. The fact that a major screw-up has just >been averted o > ften goes unnoticed. And then we repeat the dance on the next > project. <sigh> > >Even if the chemicals used are not flammable or combustible, many >are health hazards in raw form or have other hazardous >characteristics and drive the facilities into an "F-1" or "H" >occupancy category which mandates sprinkler protection throughout. > >Now we are talking about the IBC codes, codes in the Netherlands may >be different of course. > > > > >Craig L. Prahl, CET > > >-----Original Message----- >From: [email protected] >[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Frans Stoop >Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 8:27 PM >To: [email protected] >Subject: Reasons to not sprinkler a pharmaceutical plant > >Dear colleagues, > >Here is a peculiar question: >A pharmaceutical company is planning to build a new plant with >laboratories for production and quality control, offices and an >underground parking level. >The top floor is for HVAC. >The main process is waterbased, although, like any other laboratory, >there small quantities of flammable liquids present. >The flammable liquids will be stored in fire cabinets. >We already convinced the company's management that sprinkler is the >way to go for the obvious reasons: life safety, preservation of >property, continuity of operations, etc. >Maybe we advised them too good: >Now the management wonders why not all pharmaceutical plants are >sprinklered throughout. > >I'm composing a list of unsprinklered pharmaceutical facilities with >the reason why the decision makers in concern have chosen not to sprinkler. >Can you help me with examples of such sites, (parts of) plants or >rooms and the reasoning? > >By the way, this question from our client is not as peculiar as it >looks like at first sight. >It is just a known method of decision making. >It might lead to the decision to protect some rooms or parts of the >building otherwise (with gas, pre-action sprinkler e.g.). > >Frans Stoop >TOS architecture & fire protection >Netherlands <[email protected]> >Tel. +31-24-324 0112 > >_______________________________________________ >Sprinklerforum mailing list >http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum >For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] > >To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] >(Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) >_______________________________________________ >Sprinklerforum mailing list >http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum >For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] > >To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] >(Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) Todd G. Williams, PE Fire Protection Design/Consulting Stonington, Connecticut www.fpdc.com 860.535.2080 _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
