PC means Physical Containment, the 3 is the designation on a scale of 1-4. A Level 3 lab is typically for biological research/testing. Think of stuff like Ebola or other "bad bugs", stuff you don't want to escape into the atmosphere. These labs are under negative pressure and have air locks for entering and leaving. Stringent decontamination requirements are also in place.
Sprinklers will pose a problem in that anything leaving the lab has to be decontaminated. There would have to be floor drains in the lab to capture the sprinkler discharge and route it to a containment area where is can be decontaminated. It can get complicated since the effluent must be fully contained to prevent it's escape into the atmosphere prior to decontamination. Standard floor drains can't be used due to the negative pressure issue so they create an added expense beyond normal floor drains. So the Client who says no sprinklers may be on the right track. Another means of protection may be more suitable and water may not be compatible with the materials being tested in the lab. You need a chemicals inventory list and the lab's procedures for handling and storage. Depending on where this lab is being built portable fire extinguishers maybe all that's needed. This maybe a case where fire prevention procedures have to take the lead due to safety and environmental issues instead of going the standard route of sprinklering the lab. You need to do some serious homework before just throwing sprinklers in the place. Craig L. Prahl, CET Fire Protection CH2MHILL Lockwood Greene 1500 International Drive Spartanburg, SC 29304-0491 Direct - 864.599.4102 Fax - 864.599.8439 CH2MHILL Extension 74102 [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Chris Mak Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 7:09 PM To: [email protected] Subject: PC- 3 Laboratories I have a client who is being challenged by his client as not to put sprinklers into a PC-3 (Physical Containment Level 3) laboratory. I am uncertain about the designation - the laboratory is being built and certified in Europe before being shipped here to be installed within a building here on the other side of the globe. Hence, PC-3 may be a European designation and not an American designation. Apparently, the laboratory will be occupied by three people - i.e. it's not a small cupboard or fume hood sized. Any experiences in protecting, or not protecting such laboratories? Thanks Chris Mak | Aon New Zealand Sprinkler Certification Manager Level 1, 4 Fred Thomas Drive,;PO Box33-1240 Takapuna t: +6494869761 | f: +6494860112 | m: +64274344058 e: [email protected] Please consider the environment before printing this email. This communication (and any attachments) is directed in confidence to the addressee(s) listed above, and may not otherwise be distributed, copied or used. The contents of this communication may also be subject to privilege, and all rights to that privilege are expressly claimed and not waived. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us by reply e-mail or by telephone and delete this communication (and any attachments) without making a copy. Before opening or using attachments, you should check them for viruses and defects. We do not accept liability in connection with computer virus, data corruption, delay, interruption, unauthorised access or unauthorised amendment. _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.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 [email protected] http://fireball.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)
