There are two categories when dealing with the spillage of hazardous materials. The first one is Spill Control the other is Secondary Containment. It needs to be established as to which is required.
The establishment of the requirement for secondary containment defined within the IFC. NFPA 30 provides the methodology for accomplishing the requirement. Per the 2015 IFC 5004.2.2.3, you need to contain 20 minutes of sprinkler discharge and the volume of the largest hazard containing vessel. This is for inside storage. Outdoor areas have a different set of rules. Section 5004 in the (2015) IFC is where you begin your reading. Based on quantities of hazardous material you may only require spill control. You first need to know what the volume of the largest container is, and/or then the overall quantity. For sprinkler discharge I typically use Density x Area x 1.15 for my sprinkler flow. This closer represent the actual overage that we experience in our systems if the entire design area is flowing and if not, it provides a bit of extra capacity/time in the containment area. Typically once your building or area has been deemed an "H" occupancy as defined within the IBC and your hazard is a liquid, Secondary Containment becomes a requirement. With regard to the IBC/IFC, the liquid hazard is not limited to just flammable and combustible liquids. It can also include other materials such as corrosives, toxics, reactive materials, etc. Some people only equate "hazardous" to flammables and combustibles which is not entirely correct. If you have any responsibility for this system, I also make it a point to note that sprinkler systems don't automatically shut off in 20 minutes and the owner needs to consider where the sprinkler discharge and hazardous material will flow once that minimum containment area has filled and begins to overflow. This can be a significant issue if the overflow cannot be contained on the owner's property. Just and FYI, there are only four "H" categories and each "H" category represents a different type of hazard, they are not progressive as in H1 is less worse than an H4. For example H1 contains items like detonable hazards (explosives), H2 and H3 share some of the same with a few difference but for ignitable liquids but H2 also is specific for ignitables in a system that is pressurized over 15 psi. H4 is for physical hazards like toxics, highly toxics, corrosives, etc. There's a whole lot more involved in this issue that I just don't have time to address so please feel free to email me directly if there are any other questions. This is my world and I get involved in this subject repeatedly. Craig Prahl | Jacobs | Group Lead/SME – Fire Protection | [email protected] | www.jacobs.com 1041 East Butler Road Greenville, South Carolina 29606 CONTACT BY: email or MS TEAMS -----Original Message----- From: Sprinklerforum <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Bob Caputo via Sprinklerforum Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2021 1:07 AM To: [email protected] Cc: Bob Caputo <[email protected]>; James Crawford <[email protected]> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: NFPA #30 Containment I am out of the country (without my books) but from recollection, the time frame is based on the H occupancy classification form the IFC/IBC, where H9 has a longer duration than H3. Not sure its in NFPA 30. It’s definitely sprinkler discharge rate plus the volume of the largest vessel though. I hope that helps Bob Caputo AFSA On Wed, Dec 15, 2021 at 4:08 AM James Crawford via Sprinklerforum < [email protected]> wrote: > Hope some can help, I seem to remember there was a time frame of the > sprinkler demand plus largest container in order to figure out the > amount of containment requires for a flammable storage room, but > cannot seem to find it. > > Can only find the 20 minutes for plastic containers. > > Can someone point me in the right direction. > > Thank You > > James Crawford > Phaser Fire Protection Ltd. > Phone 604-888-0318 > Cel: 604-790-0938 > Email [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > [email protected] -- Bob Caputo, CFPS *President* *American Fire Sprinkler Association* p: 214-349-5965 ext124 w: firesprinkler.org *Train a safer, more efficient workforce.* ________________________________ NOTICE - This communication may contain confidential and privileged information that is for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any viewing, copying or distribution of, or reliance on this message by unintended recipients is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer. _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org
