Correct Classification for Water Treatment

[Oremus]

Hello,

I'm looking at a set of pre-engineered fire sprinkler drawings for a 1,350 sq. ft. warehouse which is part of a wastewater treatment facility. The warehouse contains a belt-filter press in the main area and then there's two smaller rooms (about 250 sq. ft. ea.) for chemical storage (ammonium hydroxide, bisulfite, & chlorine pellets) stored in totes not to exceed 5 ft.

The entire fire sprinkler system was designed to a NFPA #13 2007 ed. ORDINARY GROUP II occupancy which has me wondering if this is sufficient density for such an outfit.

The UBC classifications for these rooms are: Beltfilter press room = F-2 occupancy. Chemical storage rooms = H-2 occupancy.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[stookeyfpe]

I need more help before I can figure out your occupancy classification. Please answer the following questions:

A) What are "chlorine pellets?" You indicate it is stored in totes, which I equate to 330-770 gallon portable tanks. Are you dealing with sodium hypochlorite and if so, what is its concentration?

B) What is the concentration of ammonium hydroxide?

C) What is bisulfate?

I am pretty darn sure do not have a Group H-2 occupancy.

 

[TravisMack]

Stretching back in the memory banks for bisulfate:

HSO4 with a -1 charge. It is basically a sulfate ion that has only picked up one hydrogen, or is what is left of sulfuric acid H2SO4 after it has dumped off it's hydrogen ion.

Not sure if that helps you with anything, or if I am remembering it correctly. Yeah, I used to be a chemistry nerd long ago.

Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC

 

[stookeyfpe]

I knew their was a reason I like you Travis. Not only are you a fire protection dweeb like me, but you are showing your true colors as being a hazmat nerd!

 

[Oremus]

I'll answer your questions the best I can:

1-Chlorine "Pellets" - actually this is termed 'Tablets' not 'pellets' nothing more than chlorine in tablet form. Concerning the totes you are correct - 300 gallon portable containers. No sodium hypochlorite present.

2- This is currently an unknown - to me at least.

3- Sodium Bisulfite - sorry I typed over the word 'sodium'.

 

[stookeyfpe]

Oremus:

Your tablets are a solid. I need the primary chemical. It could be calcium hypochlorite (with a given percentage of chlorine), trichloro-s-triazinetrione, or another product. Also, what is the total amount in pounds being stored?

 

[Oremus]

I'm told there will be up to appx 2,500 lbs. of calcium Hypochlorite.

thanks for your input,

 

[stookeyfpe]

I will assume your calcium hypochlorite has more than 51% available chlorine. Based on this assumption, the chemical is classified as a Class 3 oxidizer, Class 2 unstable reactive, Class 1 water reactive and a Corrosive solid.

In applying the requirements in IBC Table 307.1(1) your room or building would be classified as a Group H-3 occupancy. This is because the amount in storage exceeds the maximum allowable quantity for Class 3 oxidizers and Class 2 unstable reactive materials.

 

[Oremus]

In light of this do you think as far as the sprinkler system itself goes that ordinary group II water density is sufficient? (ie. .20 gpm / 1500 sq. ft.)

 

[stookeyfpe]

No. You need to review NFPA 430.

 

[Oremus]

Thanks a lot!