NFPA H-4 Occupancy Sprinkler requirements in a Water Treatment Facility

[JBMoore]

I was reaching out concerning sprinkler requirements of a water treatment building that has a 170sf chemical room with 500-gallon bulk storage containers for 12.5% Sodium Hypochlorite and a future 27% Sodium Hydroxide. It appears it meets the requirements of a H-4 occupancy based on Table 307.1(2). What I'm trying to determine is whether we are allowed to just sprinkler the chemical room or if the whole building needs sprinklers. One of the fire marshals I've contacted and the local building code department have been unclear what exactly is required. Also, I'm not clear if we can ask for variances since the containers have tank-in-tank secondary containment, tanks are in cubed area, and chemical room is mechanically ventilated.
Any insights you may have would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

 

[cdafd]

1. DO you know which fire code, and edition, the city has adopted??

2. Which state is this in?

I am kind of not near the books anymore, but will try to look.

If it is an H, normally the entire building has to have sprinklers::

From 2015 IFC

903.2.5.1 General

An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in Group H occupancies.

 

[cdafd]

Should have asked,,,

What type of container are these two chemicals in??

And what state are the chemicals in??

Liquid,,, gas??

 

[cdafd]

Not near the books anymore

Suggest talk to a FPE that deals with haz ma

1.The concentrations may be low, to kick them off the table

2. If the place is sprinkled anyway, it appears the quantity can be doubled, which looks like would kick it out of an H

Are both containers in the same room???

 

[JBMoore]

cdafd,
Thanks for getting back to me. I'll try and answer all your questions as best as possible starting with your initial email.
1. County had directed us to 2012 IBC Table 307.12(2) and 903.2.5.1.
2. Project is located in Sussex County, Delaware. My fire marshal contact directed me to work with Sussex County Building code department.
3. This is for a water treatment facility utilizing sand filtration. The chemical to be used is 12.5% sodium hypochlorite. It will be stored in a secondary contained tank-in-tank made of cross-link polyethylene. A second chemical (27% Sodium Hydroxide liquid) may be needed in the future. They already have this chemical in the other treatment building nearby but we were only holding a space in case they need it. Their pH levels are already near 7.0 so it's very possible we won't need the extra volume especially if we can only hold less than 500 gallons in the chemical room and not have to sprinkler the whole building.
4. We are looking at getting a tank size below 500 gallons and avoid the whole sprinkler issue.

 

[cdafd]

sounds good,,, sounds like you figured a work around

I ask people, do you really need that much, and how often can your supplier come around.

If you have to have another tank, and can some how put a one hour wall between them, you can have both containers, in the same building.