Correctly Classifying and Determining Fire Protection Requirements for High- Hazard Group H Occupancies in New York State (2010 codes) Presented by: Chad R. Barnes, CFPS, SFPE, CPP
Agenda Objectives Statistics The code review process Group H flow chart BCNYS, Chapter 3, Section 307, High- Hazard Group H BCNYS, Chapter 4, Section 414, Hazardous Materials
Agenda (cont.) BCNYS, Chapter 4, Section 415, Groups H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4, and H-5 BCNYS limitations for Group H occupancies BCNYS, Chapter 9, Fire Protection Systems FCNYS, Chapter 27, Hazardous Materials General Provisions FCNYS, Chapters 28-44 Example Group H occupancy In review Open discussion and questions
Objectives Terminal Utilizing the BCNYS/FCNYS, correctly classify and apply fire protection requirements for hazardous materials stored or utilized within a building
Objectives (cont.) Enabling Develop an understanding of the code review process and use of the Group H flow chart Develop a basic understanding of the BCNYS/FCNYS classification system for hazardous materials Develop a basic understanding of the application of control areas
Objectives (cont.) Enabling (cont.) Develop a basic understanding of the requirements in Chapters 3 and 4 of the BCNYS for the construction of control areas and Group H occupancies Develop a basic understanding of Chapter 27 of the FCNYS and the material specific chapters 28-44 of the FCNYS Through a case study, apply the requirements of the BCNYS/FCNYS for the proper storage and handling of hazardous materials
Statistics Manufacturing of chemicals used for industrial, commercial, and consumer use accounts for ~10.3 percent of the manufacturing GDP and ~5.1 percent of the total US GDP Chemical manufacturing represents ~7,735 companies employing ~1.1 million people Compliance and the understanding of compliance varies greatly in industry
Code review process Engaging qualified hazardous materials and fire protection/code specialists whenever hazardous materials are involved (in any quantity) is essential to ensure code compliance and the successful handling of the materials and protection of the building occupants, the public, and the involved/adjacent properties
Code review process (cont.) Needs to be completed prior to major project programming and/or design activities Needs to be holistic and include all referenced standards, OSHA documents, etc. Needs to involve Owner to ascertain all proposed functions, hazardous materials storage/processes
Code review process (cont.) Hazardous materials classification process BCNYS Tables 307.1(1) and 307.1(2) FCNYS Tables 2703.1.1(1), 2703.1.1(2), 2703.1.1(3), and 2703.1.1(4) BCNYS Chapter 2 Definitions, Chapter 3 (307 definitions), Chapter 4 (415 definitions) FCNYS Chapter 27 (definitions) MSDS sheets NIOSH Guide to Chemical Hazards HMEx Assistant Hazardous Materials Expert Assistant software
Code review process (cont.)
Group H flow chart Classify the hazardous material Determine the MAQ for each hazardous material class Classify the situation of the hazardous materials Apply the control area requirements for the hazardous materials Does the occupancy contain material specific hazardous materials? Is the storage and use MAQ < the FCNYS material specific amount requirements Yes Issue Permit No 1) Construct additional control areas; 2) Utilize increases for cabinets and sprinklers 3) Locate materials outdoors Does the MAQ still exceed BCNYS/FCNYS limits? Yes Apply BCNYS/FCNYS H- occupancy requirements
Group H flow chart (cont.) Definitions Maximum allowable quantity (MAQ) per control area: The maximum amount of hazardous materials allowed to be stored or used within a control area inside a building or an outdoor control area, the maximum allowable quantity per control area is based on the material state and the material storage or use conditions Control area: Spaces within a building where quantities of hazardous materials not exceeding the maximum allowable quantities per control area are stored, dispensed, used or handled Closed system Open system
Group H flow chart (cont.) Important items to remember There are 15 exceptions listing conditions that are exempt from high-hazard occupancy classification because of: The quantity of materials The building s construction or use The packaging of materials The precautions taken to prevent fire The exceptions recognize the decreased combustibility, lowered fuel load of the high-hazard material, or the decreased risk to the public as a function of the above factors Even if a high-hazard material meets one of the exceptions, its storage and use must comply with BCNYS Section 414 and FCNYS Sections 2701-2703 Definitions are CRITICAL
Group H flow chart (cont.) Important things to remember (cont.) BCNYS/FCNYS allows a 100% increase in materials stored in approved/listed enclosures (for most materials) BCNYS/FCNYS allows a 100% increase in materials in a building that is fully sprinklered per NFPA 13 (for most materials) Increase in materials is allowed to be taken accumulatively The aggregate quantity in use and storage shall not exceed the quantity listed for storage
BCNYS, Chapter 3, Section 307 Summary of Group H occupancies
BCNYS, Chapter 3, Section 307 (cont.) Maximum allowable quantities apply to one single control area, a given building may have multiple control areas, refer to Chapter 4 Control areas: Provide an alternative method to a Group H occupancy classification Regulate quantities of hazardous per control area rather than per building Provide credit for further compartmentation via 1-hour fire barrier assemblies Reduces risk of simultaneous involvement of control areas through require fire barrier assemblies Establish maximum allowable quantities per building by regulating the number of control areas (Chapter 4, Section 414, Table 414.2.2)
BCNYS, Chapter 3, Section 307 (cont.) Maximum allowable quantity tables Table 307.1(1) MAQ per control area of hazardous materials posing a physical hazard Table 307.1(2) MAQ per control area of hazardous materials posing a health hazard
BCNYS, Chapter 4, Section 414 Section 414 Hazardous Materials 414.1 General. The provisions of this section shall apply to buildings and structures occupied for the manufacturing, processing, dispensing, use or storage of hazardous materials 414.1.1 Other provisions. Buildings and structures with an occupancy in Group H shall also comply with the applicable provisions of Section 415 and the Fire Code of New York State
BCNYS, Chapter 4, Section 414 (cont.) Section 414 Hazardous Materials (cont.) 414.1 General 414.2 Control areas 414.3 Ventilation 414.4 Hazardous material systems
BCNYS, Chapter 4, Section 414 (cont.) Section 414 Hazardous Materials (cont.) 414.5 Inside storage, dispensing and use 414.6 Outdoor storage, dispensing and use 414.7 Emergency alarms Table 414.2.2 Design and number of control areas
BCNYS, Chapter 4, Section 415 Section 415 Groups H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4, and H-5 415.1 Scope. The provisions of this section shall apply to the storage and use of hazardous materials in excess of the maximum allowable quantities per control area listed in Section 307.9. Buildings and structures with an occupancy in Group H shall also comply with the applicable provisions of Section 414 and the Fire Code of New York State
BCNYS, Chapter 4, Section 415 (cont.) Section 415 Groups H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4, and H-5 (cont.) 415.3 Fire separation distance 415.4 Special provisions for Group H-1 occupancies 415.5 Special provisions for Group H-2 and H-3 occupancies 415.6 Group H-2 415.7 Groups H-3 and H-4 415.8 Group H-5
BCNYS Limitations for Group H Occupancies Fire separation between separated use occupancies Height and area allowances Area modifications Egress travel distances
BCNYS Limitations for Group H Occupancies (cont.) Chapter 5, Table 508.3.3 Required Separation of Occupancies (Hours)
BCNYS Limitations for Group H Occupancies (cont.) Chapter 5, Table 503 Allowable Height and Building Areas
BCNYS Limitations for Group H Occupancies (cont.) Area Modifications 504.2 Height Group H-1, H-2, H-3, and H-5 not allowed height increase 506.2 Frontage increase The tabular area values of Table 503 may be increased for all Group H occupancies due to a frontage increase based on the available open building perimeter 506.3 Automatic sprinkler system increase All Group H occupancies require sprinklers, however only H-4 and H-5 occupancies are permitted an area increase when fully sprinklered 507.7 (Unlimited Area Buildings) Group H occupancies
BCNYS Limitations for Group H Occupancies (cont.) Egress travel distance Table 1016.1 Reflects the maximum distance a person is allowed to travel from any point in a building to the nearest exit along a natural and unobstructed path Travel distance limitations for Group H occupancies are based on an analysis of materials in each classification and their potential threat to occupants and first responders
BCNYS Chapter 9, Fire Protection Systems Section 903 Automatic Sprinkler Systems 903.2.4 Group H. Automatic sprinkler systems shall be provided in high-hazard occupancies as required in Sections 903.2.4.1 through 903.2.4.3 903.2.4.1 General. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in Group H occupancies. 903.2.4.2 Group H-5 occupancies
BCNYS Chapter 9, Fire Protection Systems (cont.) Section 903 Automatic Sprinkler Systems 903.2.13 Other required suppression systems Table 903.2.13 Additional Required Fire- Extinguishing Systems Section 906 Portable Fire Extinguisher
BCNYS Chapter 9, Fire Protection Systems (cont.) Section 907 Fire Alarm and Detection Systems 907.2.5 Group H. A manual fire alarm system shall be installed in Group H-5 occupancies and in occupancies used for the manufacture of organic coatings. An automatic fire detection system shall be installed for highly toxic gases, organic peroxides, and oxidizers in accordance with Chapters 37, 39, and 40 respectively
BCNYS Chapter 9, Fire Protection Systems (cont.) Section 908 Emergency Alarm Systems 908.1 Group H occupancies 908.2 Group H-5 occupancy 908.3 Highly toxic and toxic materials with Chapters 37, 39, and 40 respectively
FCNYS Chapter 9, Fire Protection Systems (cont.) Section 911 Explosion Control 911.1 General. Table 911.1 Explosion Control Requirements
FCNYS Chapter 27, Hazardous Materials General Provisions Establishes the scope of Chapter 27 with respect to Chapters 28-44. Chapter 27 superimposes itself over the other chapters of the FCNYS Provides general procedural and handling provisions for all hazardous materials regardless of quantity Provides alternative design methods for hazardous materials utilizing a performance based design alternative
FCNYS Chapter 27, Hazardous Materials General Provisions (cont.) Contains some specific storage requirements for hazardous materials in excess of the maximum allowable quantities when referenced by applicable code sections in Chapters 28-44 Provides specific requirements for the dispensing and use of hazardous materials in excess of the maximum allowable quantities
FCNYS Chapter 27, Hazardous Materials General Provisions (cont.) Section 2701 General 2701.1 Exceptions 2701.3 Performance-based design alternative Section 2703 General Requirements Applies to all hazardous material storage and use no matter quantity or occupancy Tables 2703.1.1(3) and 2703.1.1(4) Section 2704 Storage (Exceeding MAQ) Section 2705 Use, Dispensing, and Handling (Exceeding MAQ)
FCNYS Chapter 27, Chapters 28-44 Chapter 28 Aerosols Chapter 29 Combustible Fibers Chapter 30 Compressed Gases Chapter 31 Corrosive Materials Chapter 32 Cryogenic Fluids Chapter 33 Explosives and Fireworks Chapter 34 Flammable and Combustible Liquids Chapter 35 Flammable Gases Chapter 36 Flammable Solids Chapter 37 Highly Toxic and Toxic Materials
FCNYS Chapter 27, Chapters 28-44 (cont.) Chapter 38 Liquefied Petroleum Gases Chapter 39 Organic Peroxides Chapter 40 Oxidizers Chapter 41 Pyrophoric Materials Chapter 42 Pyroxylin Plastics Chapter 43 Unstable (Reactive) Materials Chapter 44 Water-Reactive Solids and Liquids
Example Group H Occupancy Building XYZ is a proposed building that an industrial client wants to construct The client wants to store and utilize the following Anhydrous Ammonia (20,000 cu.ft., 2-500 lb. cylinders) Butyllithium, 2.5M dissolved in Hexane (400 liter tank, 106 gallon) Hexane (2-55 gallon containers) Methanol (2-55 gallon containers) Isopropyl Alcohol (2-55 gallon containers)
Example Group H Occupancy (cont.) Classification of materials Anhydrous Ammonia Liquefied flammable gas, water reactive class 1, corrosive 40,000 cu.ft., 1,000 lbs. Butyllithium Pyrophoric, water reactive class 3, corrosive, highly toxic 106 gallons Hexane Class IB flammable liquid 110 gallons Methanol Class IB flammable liquid 110 gallons Isopropyl Alcohol Class IB Flammable Liquid 110 gallons
Ammonia Room 1. Liquefied flammable gas MAQ limiting factor of 30 gallons in storage and use in closed systems 2. Exceeds MAQ even with increases and control areas 3. H-2 Occupancy BUTLITH Room 1. Pyrophoric material MAQ limiting factor of 4 gallons in storage and 1 gallon use in closed systems 2. Exceeds MAQ even with increases and control areas 3. Can only be in fully suppressed building 4. H-2 Occupancy Solvent Room 1. Class 1B flammable liquid MAQ limiting factor of 120 gallons in storage and use in closed systems 2. Exceeds MAQ however increase for specialized storage container and suppression allows 330 gallons in storage and use in closed system at any one time 3. F-1 Occupancy
In review What four main methods/strategies are used to control hazardous materials in the built environment Store at or below the maximum allowable quantities per control area Use of control areas Installation of automatic fire suppression sprinklers Installation/use of specialized storage containers
In review (cont.) Hazardous materials classification within buildings is dependent on what three situations? Storage Use in a closed system Use in a open system
In review (cont.) An H-4 occupancy deals with? Materials that pose a health hazard such as corrosives, toxics, and highly toxics
In review (cont.) What is the difference between an H-2 and an H-3 occupancy with regard to flammable/combustible liquids? H-2, used or stored in normally open containers or systems, or in closed containers or systems pressurized at more than 15 psi H-3, used or stored in normally closed containers or systems pressurized at 15 psi or less
Open discussion and questions Thank you! Chad R. Barnes, CFPS, SFPE, CPP Manager Life Safety Services Department C&S Engineers, Inc. cbarnes@cscos.com