Spill Control Containment per 2015 IFC 5004.2.1

[RogerJayS]

Working on a H-3 building. We have both 55 gal or 500 gal IBC totes in each of these rooms, with a 1B flammable liquid.

For this project, I have 3 rooms that require spill control and containment. A Mixing rm, a Distiller room, and a Storage rm. Per IFC, I need to provide containment for 20 min. of sprinkler going off + largest container size. Each one of these rooms require a 25,000 gal containment.
The original method I was designing is a room containment. Each room would need to be designed to hold 25k gal of water.

After a discussion with the builder, we are looking at other options. Per 5004.2.1, another method available for containment is to provide drains to a remote collection tank. If I do a tank, do I need a tank for each one of these rooms, so (3) 25,000 gal tanks, or do I just need (1) 25,000 gal tank because only 1 or the other room sprinkler heads would be going off, not both at the same time. Plus these rooms are separated by a 2 or 3 hr fire resistive cmu wall.

I have discussed this with our design-build sprinkler company we are using for this project, and they agree that only 1 tank is required, from their interpretation of the code. I just would like to make sure if others have done a project similar and give their opinion.

 

[stookeyfpe]

Only one tank for containment is required. The IFC doesn't assume simultaneous events, i.e., 3 fires at the same time in the same building. I'm basing this answer on the assumption that each Group H-3 occupancy is separated by fire-resistant rated construction per the IBC. I'm also assuming your client's IBCs are compliant with NFPA 30 Chapter 9, meaning they are NOT plastic.

 

[LCREP]

My view from an property insurance point of view visiting these types of operation and finding many problems........

The weakness is the door opening into the rooms, lack of an adequate sill can spread the burning liquid into adjacent areas. So make sure the sills are adequate in height and or drains are adequate in size. I prefer the sill/ramp over the open grading type drain because I do not have to worry about a drain pipe getting clogged because of lack of maintenance. The sprinkler will discharge water and spread the fire before the foam is mixed and gets to the head unless preprimed.

Also FD hose streams can cause some problems if they are not educated on what is going on and how the system works(do not assume they are well versed in fire protection, I say this as a firefighter and insurance engineer). Encourage the FD first alarm equipment to visit the site to figure out how they plan to fight a fire.

Do not forget to add a “P” trap on all piping to snuff out the fire before going into the tank.

If rolling steel fire doors are used install protection on the door rails so forklifts do not damage them. Depending on how big the rooms are I would recommend one fire door on each side of the opening with hope at least one fire door would drop.

Liquid transfer is another problem....stop the fuel transfer ASAP via fusible link valves tied to the sprinkler water flow.

Do not forget sprinklers under any elevated tanks or process.

Things go bad fast so plan accordingly......always loved these occupancies made for a fun visit.

If you have not done already get the property insurance engineering department involved at the planning stage they can offer help and input.