Ben,

Since we don’t' have a drawing or layout of what is where, there's going to be 
a lot of speculation and possibly misdirection when it comes to suggestions.  
So you'll have to sort through it all and find the applicable stuff.



NFPA 80A provides direction on exposure protection requirements for the 
facility but refers you back to NFPA 13 for actual exposure protection design.

2019 NFPA 13, Chapter 8.7 deals with exposure fires.  It provides all the data 
you are seeking on design, sprinkler options, flow rates, pressures, etc.

Typically the system I've designed for these types of applications have been 
deluge systems using listed discharge nozzles, not regular sprinklers.  We have 
used dry pilot actuation as well as other types of detection such as UV/IR, 
optical flame detection and even Detect-O-Wire (heat tape) for actuation based 
on the specific installation to trigger the systems.

Foam for exposure protection is a wrong application.  Depending on what it 
looks like, foam is often used If you were protecting the unloading station.

FM Data Sheet 7-38 provides information on Ethanol related installations.




If I was tasked with this, here's what I'd be asking and have to know:

I'd first be looking at what is required by code.  What type of unloading 
station are we talking about?  Rail car, tanker trailer???  Covered or open?  
What kind of volume of fuel?   The reason for knowing this is that even if it 
were not part of my scope of work, if the unloading station is not adequately 
protected, it raises the severity level I'm going to use for my exposure 
protection scheme.

Is the unloading station provided with secondary containment to hold any 
spills?  Is there a fire suppression system in the unloading area to handle a 
pool fire or truck/rail equipment fire?

What is the distance between this unloading station and the exposed building 
you're trying to protect?

What is the exposed building, office, warehouse, process bldg. ??????  Fully 
sprinklered or not?

Are they properly separated in compliance with the applicable codes?

If they are not, has the local AHJ said anything about the situation? Have any 
site or architectural or other plans been reviewed yet?

Is there a difference in the height of the exposed bldg. and the unloading 
station?  Which one is higher?


Craig Prahl | Jacobs | Group Lead/SME – Fire Protection | 864.676.5252 | 
[email protected] | www.jacobs.com
1041 East Butler Road   Greenville, South Carolina  29606
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sprinklerforum <[email protected]>
> On Behalf Of Ben Young via Sprinklerforum
> Sent: Wednesday, September 2, 2020 1:59 PM
> To: 321 via Sprinklerforum <[email protected]>
> Cc: Ben Young <[email protected]>
> Subject: Ethanol unloading exposure protection
>
> Does anyone know where I can find some criteria (preferably in FM
> Global data sheets) on how to provide exposure protection on the
> exterior of a building wall  using dry sidewall heads?
>
> I have an insurance company telling me to do this but they didn't give
> me a basis of design.
>
>
> Trying to stay away from foam since to my knowledge there are no dry
> sidewalls listed for discharge devices and I don't want to deal with
> containment.
>

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