Pullstation location

[Pete2]

My firm is designing a storage facility for hydrofluosilicic acid used in water treatment. The project manager says the fire alarm pull station should go on the outside wall near the door, but I want to put it inside the building. He says it is a fire code requirement to put it outside the building. I cannot find a fire code requirement that the pull station go outside. Can anyone help with this?

 

[DRWeig]

Hi there, Pete2!

This specific chemical is not treated with its own paragraph in the fire alarm code or the more general fire codes as far as I know. You need to talk to the local AHJ to see if there are specifics that he/she wants to enforce -- after all, it's his/her interpretation that counts.

I can give you info on why I would recommend putting a pull station outside, though -- if a fire broke out and it threatened to cause a release of this acid (especially a boiling release), my only priority would be to get hell out of there! No way would I stop to yank a pull station, even if convenient. It's incredibly caustic and would probably blind a person in an instant with very small quanitites vaporized. There may be a general guideline in one of the hazmat codes from NFPA that grants discretion for buildings storing really dangerous stuff.

If somebody can give chapter and verse, I'd love to make a note of it for future reference! Come out of your hiding, code gurus!

Old Dave

 

[peebee]

I don't think there's any specific code requirement either. Just a thought, why not put both in, pull stations don't cost THAT much. . . .

 

[DavidCR]

NFPA 101 asks for manual stations in the scape/s path/s in "good" locations. Also it asks for aditional stations nearby but I´m really not shure if this last aplies to your case.

I have two points of view:

1. I reckon that a safety inspector would not like people inside a dangerous place without an iniciating device that can be reached by eyesight from inside when something goes wrong.

2. It is important to have an aditional device in a safer place than inside such a dangerous site.

So I´d agree with you about locating it inside, but also recomend to locate another in a near place safe from an accident related to your acid in the scape path of that place.

 

[LGENE]

In the International Fire Code IFC 2000 and some states have adopted the 2003 versions (Check your local area) you can check the 907 section and depending on the occupancy type and quantities of the chemicals to be used your building may or may not be a type H. Certain occupancies will only require one pull station if the building is fully sprinkled. Some Engineers try to omit all of the pulls but IFC states that you shall also meet NFPA 72 and NFPA 72 requires a min. of one pull station on a sprinkled buildling. Normally your AHJ will be able to tell you right away his or her preference about pull stations according to the specific building. Depending on the other types of acid or gases in use you may need to install explosion proof pulls or other devices that will not cause a spark. I tend to lean with a previous comment that you could install one on the inside and one on the outside (with a lexan cover) just to be safe. The cost is minimal.

 

[rbulsara]

As far as I know, NFPA 'requires' a pulls station 'inside' the building in path of egress and exit doors at grade level.

Providng a outdoor pull station is optinal and not against the code, imho.