Chemical dip tanks

[SpcFoor]

I have a project that has some chemical dip tanks. The owner does not want us to put sprinklers over the area where the tanks are. What standard do I need to look at to find an alternative. The facility is 60,000 sq ft with the tanks covering around 4000 sq ft. Thank you for your help.

 

[cdafd]

Is this facility in a city or other that has an adopted fire code???

Start there

Then go to Nfpa 13 for areas that may be omitted, if the ahj will allow it


From the international fire code


903.3.1.1.1 Exempt locations. Automatic sprinklers shall not be required in the following rooms or areas where such rooms or areas are protected with an approved automatic fire detection system in accordance with Section 907.2 that will respond to visible or invisible particles of combustion. Sprinklers shall not be omitted from any room merely because it is damp, of fire-resistance rated construction or contains electrical equipment.
1. Any room where the application of water, or flame and water, constitutes a serious life or fire hazard.
2. Any room or space where sprinklers are considered undesirable because of the nature of the contents, when approved by the fire code official.
3. Generator and transformer rooms separated from the remainder of the building by walls and floor/ceiling or roof/ceiling assemblies having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 hours.
4. Rooms or areas that are of noncombustible construction with wholly noncombustible contents.
5. Fire service access elevator machine rooms and machinery spaces.

 

[cdafd]

What is in the tanks???

 

[SpcFoor]

The tanks hold chemicals for cleaning of parts for an aircraft part manufacturing facility.

 

[Sdpaddler50]

We have used CO2 local application nozzles for some large tanks in an aircraft part mfg facility i was involved with. These are activated by detectors. The nozzles are pointed across the top surface of the tank.

Lots of variables here that need to be considered, just a few that come to mind:
-Do you have plastic ducts? I would bet you do, and my guess is they are large diameter based on the occupancy. The ducts will probably need sprinkler protection inside these if they are plastic/transporting comb vapors.
-I think you should be looking at sprinklers for this occupancy, in addition to local application systems for the tanks, but i dont know the details.
-Tank containment/driange as needed.
-Are your tanks heated? Hopefully by steam or hot water. IF electric immersion heaters - warning, you have an ignition source for combustible tanks if level drops. Lots of fires involving plastic tanks and electric immersion heaters.
-Interlocks for tank levels, heaters, etc.
I dont know your scope of involvement here, but this can be a big undertaking.

 

[DavidCR]

If flammable, and compatible size, may think of local dry chemical powder (purple-K if compatible).

 

[chicopee]

You could explore tanks with self closing lids that can be actuated with fusible links or about installing an automatic fire extinguishing system over the tanks. To me the lids would be my first choice.