IFC - gases not regulated by IFC 2

[Pipeline1972]

Hello,
I read in the IFC (2003) that asphyxiant, irritant and radioactive gases are not regulated by the IFC. Can someone please help me understand why, and where i'd need to look for storage requirements for these kind of gases?
Thanks!

Process - Piping
ing - EiT

 

[cdafd]

what section was that???

I think your statement is to broad, since some materials can fall under different categories and are regulated by the IFC

Now some may be regulated by the great government of the US through other agencies, like nulcear reg people, for radio active materaials.

If you look at the scope of chapter 27 and the exceptions it covers what is and what is not covered.

 

[Pipeline1972]

Chapter 27, section 2701.2.2: the hazards i mentioned are not listed here.
Chapter 30, section 3007.1: hazards are listed under "compressed gases not otherwise regulated"

Process - Piping
ing - EiT

 

[cdafd]

Just because they are not listed does not mean that they are not regulated

Look at the scope first 2701.1 if it is excluded there than it is not regulated by chap 27

as for your list a chemical may have other properties that drives it to 2701.2.2.1 or 2701.2.2.2

Like co2 is an asphyxiant

did you look at appendix E??

 

[cdafd]

Pipeline1972

If you post the question here, you will get a few more responses, and from someone that has a few more smarts than me:::

http://www.iccsafe.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=1

 

[stookeyfpe]

Your question is a valid one and it causes confusion because we don't generally regulate these gases based on the requirements in Chapter 27.

The short answer is the requirements for these gases are contained in IFC Section 3007.

Let me know if you want the long answer.

 

[Pipeline1972]

I would be very much interested in the long answer.

3007 states that ventilation is required. I doubt this would be sufficient for, say, radioactive gases. I can see why radioactive gases would have their own regulation. But i'm wondering about asphyxiant and irritant. Why are they not listed under 2701.2.2?

Thanks,

Process - Piping
ing - EiT

 

[cdafd]

Pipeline1972

I read you r post a few times and do not know how i missed the word:::

""""gases""""

Anyway I knew someone would step up with a good answer

 

[stookeyfpe]

Here's the long answer:

In the US we did not develop comprehensive hazardous materials regulations until 1985-1987 in the model building and fire codes. Prior to that we had regulations but they were not correlated and more importantly, were not tied to a building’s occupancy classification, a material's hazard classification, and how it was used. As a result a task group was formed that worked on completely revising the legacy building and fire codes by having comprehensive hazardous materials regulations.

Part of these early requirements included requirements for radioactive, asphyxiant and irritant gases. After some limited experience in which building owners started spending big dollars on gases that really presented minimal risks, the codes reduced the requirements for irritant and asphyxiant gases. Later changes essentially exempted radioactive gases as they are regulated in the US at the State and Federal level and its requirements are driven by the isotope and its respective hazard. However, a number of fire code officials were concerned about storage of simple asphyxiant gases in a room and having a release. Since these gases are colorless and odorless, some officials were concerned about the potential of a person walking into a room where a simple asphyxiant gas leak has occurred and the person is incapacitated due to an O2 deficient atmosphere. To minimize this risk, Section 3007 (previously from the Article 74 of the legacy Uniform Fire Code) was developed. Section 3007.2 requires either natural or mechanical ventilation that provides 1 CFM/square foot over the storage area.

As to radioactive gases, I don’t believe they should be regulated by the IFC.

 

[Pipeline1972]

Thank you stookeyfpe. Very helpful. You get a star! ;-)

cdafd, thank you too for the link!

Process - Piping
ing - EiT

 

[cdafd]

Pipeline1972

I was waiting for stookeyfpe to finish his steak, and knew he would reply with the correct answer

 

[stookeyfpe]

To clarify CDA's response;

It was a Chicken Fried Steak, and I ate it in San Antonio at the Tip Top Cafe at 2814 Frederickburg Road. It is my death row meal. That's how good it is.

If your in River City, make the trip. It's old school South Texas comfort food.