Pooled Fire - Flammability

[Bill3752]

For a pooled fire, is there a flammability rating that can be applied to determine if a fire case should be considered?

Here is a specific case. A new pump using synthetic lube oil with a flash point > 200°F (NFPA Class IIIB) will be installed near some Section VIII equipment. The surroundings will be close to ambient; I would expect the oil to see a maximum of 120°F. It would appear that a fire case would not be considered.

Thoughts?

 

[mk3223]

Supposing that the lube oil is used for the pump itself. What about the process fluid the pump is used for?

 

[don1980]

It's up to the user to determine whether a particular fluid is a source of pool fire exposure. Codes and standards don't provide combustibility guidance. That decision is intentionally left to the user. The only exception is storage vessels in US facilities. OSHA 1910.106 includes prescriptive guidance, mandating a fire-sized relief device if the fluid has a flash point that is less than 200F.

 

[Bill3752]

mk - the process fluid is neither flammable nor combustible.

Don - That is the position I have taken. I was looking for confirmation. Thanks!

 

[georgeverghese]

The entire area around these equipment would also have to be dyked to prevent combustible pools from neighbouring equipment getting beneath these to justify this position. If this is in an open area, then oil contaminated surface runoff or rainwater will have to be drained away to suitable contaminated water handling facilities. Else a shed may be required if this connection to contaminated surface runoff handling facilities is not possible.