NFPA 1124 MANUFACTURE, TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE, AND RETAIL SALES OF FIREWORKS...

[SprinklerDesigner2]

What I am dealing with is a retail space that sells fireworks and I am directed to NFPA 1124 MANUFACTURE, TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE, AND RETAIL SALES OF FIREWORKS AND PYROTECHNIC ARTICLES.

Looking for fire sprinkler design criteria I can't find any but I got a lot of this:

A.6.5.1.1 Appropriate sprinkler system design criteria should be determined based on an engineering analysis prepared by a fire protection engineer.

A.7.3.6 Appropriate sprinkler system design criteria should be determined based on an engineering analysis prepared by a fire protection engineer.

A.7.5.1.1 For existing buildings, appropriate sprinkler system criteria should be determined based on an engineering analysis prepared by a fire protection engineer

I fully understand and appreciate the reasons behind having an FPE on the project but I would have to think there's something that covers you standard retail fireworks store somewhere.

 

[stookeyfpe]

NFPA 13 2016 has clarified in Annex Table A.5.6 that fireworks cannot be categorized using the conventional Class I-IV or Group A Plastic criterion.

For fireworks one must be careful because it's going to be dependent on the UMDMGC/USDOT (United Nations Dangerous Materials Goods Code) / US Department of Transportation) hazardous materials classification criteria. Most consumer fireworks fall into the category of either Division 1.4S or 1.4G explosives, which may or may not be a Flammable Solid. Division 1.3G explosives (those commonly used at public displays) are a Mass Fire Explosive. For flammable solids, sprinkler design criteria may be available in NFPA 400. For Division 1.3G materials, sprinklers will not work because the speed of the chemical reaction is in thousands of feet/second. Division 1.3G materials will detonate if confined.

The NFPRF has performed research and summarized several fire tests for automatic sprinkler systems protecting retail displays of fireworks.

https://www.nfpa.org/Assets/files/A...onsumerFireworksStorageinRetailFacilities.pdf

At this particular point I would hang my hat on Section A.7.3.6 of NFPA 1124.

 

[SprinklerDesigner2]

Exactly what I did, hung my hat on an FPE. Let it be his problem and not mine.

Next to the building burning down the worst thing that could happen is having to tell the owner what I thought would work, and what the owner paid a lot of money for, won't work after all.

What I have learned is when I get that signed letter life is simple; the local fire official will not argue and whatever happens the lowly sprinkler design technician is skating in sun shine without a problem in the world.

But I am curious, how does an FPE go about developing design criteria?

 

[stookeyfpe]

There are a couple of other studies out in the arena that dissect the chemistry of the commodity. We also have some of the fire test data that I posted. Me, even with my background in hazmat, I wouldn't touch it. The sprinkler performance data is based on a mish-mash of consumer fireworks that weren't well classified. The owners of these places go bat$hit crazy when it's time to sell and they are purchasing these by the boat load (literally).

My personal strategy would be a reliably designed fire detection system and follow the quantity-distance requirements in NFPA 495 for Class 1.4S. 1.4G and 1.3G explosives. But, this also brings up building code implications.

 

[LCREP]

Well let's see can it be the same fire loading as a level III aerosol fire? I am thinking perhaps worse, cans being ejected in a fire burning and staring a fire is bad enough. BUT fire works with rockets, and other aerial pyrotechnics would be something I do not think a sprinkler system could handle. Certainly not a 2000 sq. ft design area, perhaps 5000 sq ft.

I wonder what FPE would sign off on something without full scale testing. Not to mention the cost of a fire pump, large mains, etc for a retail store, not going to happen.

My guess .20/1500....is what we would see on the placard......

Sprinkler2 let us know how this ends up and what sprinkler design they come up with.

 

[cdafd]

Deluge system with explosion detection?

 

[SprinklerDesigner2]

I asked the owner exactly what he had and he wrote back saying

Every box I have ever seen at the distribution center has 1.4G on it

Many decades ago (1980's) I did a small fireworks retail store, more a small stand alone block building off by itself, and what the fire department accepted was EH-2 but being less than 400 sq ft the store had four sprinklers all open for calculations.

The more I research the only way I would touch the job would be with a letter from an FPE but I don't see that happening. Stookey is fearless and if Stookey won't touch it nobody else will either.

Well, there's the reason we always see them by the side of the road selling fireworks out of tents.

 

[LCREP]

This company has retail fireworks stores throughout the USA .

Phantom Fireworks is America’s premier consumer fireworks.
Founded over 30 years ago, Phantom Fireworks is growing faster than ever with over 1,200 locations throughout the country and continued expansion at its corporate office in Youngstown, Ohio. The company also supplies 4th of July products to several national retail chains.

http://www.fireworks.com/locations/

I wonder if any of the folks have them in their juridictions and can provide any details on the store fire protection??