Correctly Classifying and Determining Fire Protection Requirements for High-Hazard Group H Occupancies in New York State (2010 codes) Presented by: Chad R. Barnes, CFPS, SFPE, CPP

Agenda • Objectives • Statistics • The code review process • Group “H” flow chart • BCNYS, Chapter 3, Section 307, High-

Hazard Group H • BCNYS, Chapter 4, Section 414, Hazardous

Materials

Agenda (cont.) • BCNYS, Chapter 4, Section 415, Groups H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4,

and H-5 • BCNYS limitations for Group H occupancies • BCNYS, Chapter 9, Fire Protection Systems • FCNYS, Chapter 27, Hazardous Materials General

Provisions • FCNYS, Chapters 28-44 • Example Group H occupancy • In review • Open discussion and questions

Objectives • Terminal

– Utilizing the BCNYS/FCNYS, correctly classify and apply fire protection requirements for hazardous materials stored or utilized within a building

Objectives (cont.) • Enabling

– Develop an understanding of the code review process and use of the Group H flow chart

– Develop a basic understanding of the BCNYS/FCNYS classification system for hazardous materials

– Develop a basic understanding of the application of control areas

Objectives (cont.) • Enabling (cont.)

– Develop a basic understanding of the requirements in Chapters 3 and 4 of the BCNYS for the construction of control areas and Group H occupancies

– Develop a basic understanding of Chapter 27 of the FCNYS and the material specific chapters 28-44 of the FCNYS

– Through a case study, apply the requirements of the BCNYS/FCNYS for the proper storage and handling of hazardous materials

Statistics • Manufacturing of chemicals used for industrial,

commercial, and consumer use accounts for ~10.3 percent of the manufacturing GDP and ~5.1 percent of the total US GDP

• Chemical manufacturing represents ~7,735 companies employing ~1.1 million people

• Compliance and the understanding of compliance varies greatly in industry

Code review process • Engaging qualified hazardous materials and fire

protection/code specialists whenever hazardous materials are involved (in any quantity) is essential to ensure code compliance and the successful handling of the materials and protection of the building occupants, the public, and the involved/adjacent properties

Code review process (cont.) • Needs to be completed prior to major

project programming and/or design activities

• Needs to be holistic and include all referenced standards, OSHA documents, etc.

• Needs to involve Owner to ascertain all proposed functions, hazardous materials storage/processes

Code review process (cont.) • Hazardous materials classification process

– BCNYS Tables 307.1(1) and 307.1(2) – FCNYS Tables 2703.1.1(1), 2703.1.1(2),

2703.1.1(3), and 2703.1.1(4) – BCNYS Chapter 2 Definitions, Chapter 3 (307

definitions), Chapter 4 (415 definitions) – FCNYS Chapter 27 (definitions) – MSDS sheets – NIOSH Guide to Chemical Hazards – HMEx Assistant – Hazardous Materials Expert

Assistant software

Code review process (cont.)

Group “H” flow chart Classify the hazardous

material Classify the situation of the hazardous

materials

Determine the MAQ for each hazardous material class

Apply the control area requirements for the hazardous materials

Does the occupancy contain material specific hazardous

materials?

Is the storage and use MAQ < the FCNYS material specific

amount requirements

Yes

Issue Permit

No

1) Construct additional control areas;

2) Utilize increases for cabinets and sprinklers

3) Locate materials outdoors

Does the MAQ still exceed BCNYS/FCNYS limits?

Yes Apply BCNYS/FCNYS H-occupancy

requirements

Group “H” flow chart (cont.) • Definitions

– Maximum allowable quantity (MAQ) per control area: The maximum amount of hazardous materials allowed to be stored or used within a control area inside a building or an outdoor control area, the maximum allowable quantity per control area is based on the material state and the material storage or use conditions

– Control area: Spaces within a building where quantities of hazardous materials not exceeding the maximum allowable quantities per control area are stored, dispensed, used or handled

– Closed system – Open system

Group “H” flow chart (cont.) • Important items to remember

– There are 15 exceptions listing conditions that are exempt from high-hazard occupancy classification because of:

• The quantity of materials • The building’s construction or use • The packaging of materials • The precautions taken to prevent fire

– The exceptions recognize the decreased combustibility, lowered fuel load of the high-hazard material, or the decreased risk to the public as a function of the above factors

– Even if a high-hazard material meets one of the exceptions, its storage and use must comply with BCNYS Section 414 and FCNYS Sections 2701-2703

– Definitions are CRITICAL

Group “H” flow chart (cont.) • Important things to remember (cont.)

– BCNYS/FCNYS allows a 100% increase in materials stored in approved/listed enclosures (for most materials)

– BCNYS/FCNYS allows a 100% increase in materials in a building that is fully sprinklered per NFPA 13 (for most materials)

– Increase in materials is allowed to be taken accumulatively

– The aggregate quantity in use and storage shall not exceed the quantity listed for storage

BCNYS, Chapter 3, Section 307 • Summary of Group H occupancies

BCNYS, Chapter 3, Section 307 (cont.) • Maximum allowable quantities apply to one single control area, a

given building may have multiple control areas, refer to Chapter 4 • Control areas:

• Provide an alternative method to a Group H occupancy classification

• Regulate quantities of hazardous per control area rather than per building

• Provide credit for further compartmentation via 1-hour fire barrier assemblies

• Reduces risk of simultaneous involvement of control areas through require fire barrier assemblies

• Establish maximum allowable quantities per building by regulating the number of control areas (Chapter 4, Section 414, Table 414.2.2)

BCNYS, Chapter 3, Section 307 (cont.) • Maximum allowable quantity tables

• Table 307.1(1) – MAQ per control area of hazardous materials posing a physical hazard

• Table 307.1(2) – MAQ per control area of hazardous materials posing a health hazard

BCNYS, Chapter 4, Section 414 • Section 414 – Hazardous Materials

– 414.1 General. The provisions of this section shall apply to buildings and structures occupied for the manufacturing, processing, dispensing, use or storage of hazardous materials

• 414.1.1 Other provisions. Buildings and structures with an occupancy in Group H shall also comply with the applicable provisions of Section 415 and the Fire Code of New York State

BCNYS, Chapter 4, Section 414 (cont.)

• Section 414 – Hazardous Materials (cont.) – 414.1 General – 414.2 Control areas – 414.3 Ventilation – 414.4 Hazardous material systems

BCNYS, Chapter 4, Section 414 (cont.)

• Section 414 – Hazardous Materials (cont.) – 414.5 Inside storage, dispensing and use – 414.6 Outdoor storage, dispensing and use – 414.7 Emergency alarms – Table 414.2.2 – Design and number of control

areas

BCNYS, Chapter 4, Section 415 • Section 415 – Groups H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4, and H-5

– 415.1 Scope. The provisions of this section shall apply to the storage and use of hazardous materials in excess of the maximum allowable quantities per control area listed in Section 307.9. Buildings and structures with an occupancy in Group H shall also comply with the applicable provisions of Section 414 and the Fire Code of New York State

BCNYS, Chapter 4, Section 415 (cont.) • Section 415 – Groups H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4, and H-5

(cont.) – 415.3 Fire separation distance – 415.4 Special provisions for Group H-1 occupancies – 415.5 Special provisions for Group H-2 and H-3

occupancies – 415.6 Group H-2 – 415.7 Groups H-3 and H-4 – 415.8 Group H-5

BCNYS Limitations for Group H Occupancies • Fire separation between separated use

occupancies • Height and area allowances • Area modifications • Egress travel distances

BCNYS Limitations for Group H Occupancies (cont.) • Chapter 5, Table 508.3.3 Required Separation

of Occupancies (Hours)

BCNYS Limitations for Group H Occupancies (cont.) • Chapter 5, Table 503 Allowable Height and

Building Areas

BCNYS Limitations for Group H Occupancies (cont.) • Area Modifications

– 504.2 Height • Group H-1, H-2, H-3, and H-5 not allowed height increase

– 506.2 Frontage increase • The tabular area values of Table 503 may be increased for all

Group H occupancies due to a frontage increase based on the available open building perimeter

– 506.3 Automatic sprinkler system increase • All Group H occupancies require sprinklers, however only H-4 and

H-5 occupancies are permitted an area increase when fully sprinklered

– 507.7 (Unlimited Area Buildings) Group H occupancies

BCNYS Limitations for Group H Occupancies (cont.) • Egress travel distance

– Table 1016.1 • Reflects the maximum distance a person is

allowed to travel from any point in a building to the nearest exit along a natural and unobstructed path

• Travel distance limitations for Group H occupancies are based on an analysis of materials in each classification and their potential threat to occupants and first responders

BCNYS Chapter 9, Fire Protection Systems • Section 903 – Automatic Sprinkler

Systems – 903.2.4 Group H. Automatic sprinkler

systems shall be provided in high-hazard occupancies as required in Sections 903.2.4.1 through 903.2.4.3

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

• 903.2.4.2 Group H-5 occupancies

BCNYS Chapter 9, Fire Protection Systems (cont.) • Section 903 – Automatic Sprinkler

Systems – 903.2.13 Other required suppression

systems – Table 903.2.13 – Additional Required Fire-

Extinguishing Systems • Section 906 – Portable Fire Extinguisher

BCNYS Chapter 9, Fire Protection Systems (cont.) • Section 907 – Fire Alarm and Detection

Systems – 907.2.5 Group H. A manual fire alarm system

shall be installed in Group H-5 occupancies and in occupancies used for the manufacture of organic coatings. An automatic fire detection system shall be installed for highly toxic gases, organic peroxides, and oxidizers in accordance with Chapters 37, 39, and 40 respectively

BCNYS Chapter 9, Fire Protection Systems (cont.) • Section 908 – Emergency Alarm

Systems – 908.1 Group H occupancies – 908.2 Group H-5 occupancy – 908.3 Highly toxic and toxic materials – with Chapters 37, 39, and 40 respectively

FCNYS Chapter 9, Fire Protection Systems (cont.) • Section 911 – Explosion Control

– 911.1 General. – Table 911.1 – Explosion Control

Requirements

FCNYS Chapter 27, Hazardous Materials General Provisions

– Establishes the scope of Chapter 27 with respect to Chapters 28-44. Chapter 27 superimposes itself over the other chapters of the FCNYS

– Provides general procedural and handling provisions for all hazardous materials regardless of quantity

– Provides alternative design methods for hazardous materials utilizing a performance based design alternative

FCNYS Chapter 27, Hazardous Materials General Provisions (cont.)

– Contains some specific storage requirements for hazardous materials in excess of the maximum allowable quantities when referenced by applicable code sections in Chapters 28-44

– Provides specific requirements for the dispensing and use of hazardous materials in excess of the maximum allowable quantities

FCNYS Chapter 27, Hazardous Materials General Provisions (cont.) • Section 2701 – General

– 2701.1 Exceptions – 2701.3 Performance-based design alternative

• Section 2703 – General Requirements – Applies to all hazardous material storage and use no

matter quantity or occupancy – Tables 2703.1.1(3) and 2703.1.1(4)

• Section 2704 – Storage (Exceeding MAQ) • Section 2705 – Use, Dispensing, and Handling

(Exceeding MAQ)

FCNYS Chapter 27, Chapters 28-44 • Chapter 28 – Aerosols • Chapter 29 – Combustible Fibers • Chapter 30 – Compressed Gases • Chapter 31 – Corrosive Materials • Chapter 32 – Cryogenic Fluids • Chapter 33 – Explosives and Fireworks • Chapter 34 – Flammable and Combustible Liquids • Chapter 35 – Flammable Gases • Chapter 36 – Flammable Solids • Chapter 37 – Highly Toxic and Toxic Materials

FCNYS Chapter 27, Chapters 28-44 (cont.) • Chapter 38 – Liquefied Petroleum Gases • Chapter 39 – Organic Peroxides • Chapter 40 – Oxidizers • Chapter 41 – Pyrophoric Materials • Chapter 42 – Pyroxylin Plastics • Chapter 43 – Unstable (Reactive) Materials • Chapter 44 – Water-Reactive Solids and Liquids

Example Group H Occupancy • Building XYZ is a proposed building that an

industrial client wants to construct • The client wants to store and utilize the

following – Anhydrous Ammonia (20,000 cu.ft., 2-500 lb.

cylinders) – Butyllithium, 2.5M dissolved in Hexane (400 liter tank,

106 gallon) – Hexane (2-55 gallon containers) – Methanol (2-55 gallon containers) – Isopropyl Alcohol (2-55 gallon containers)

Example Group H Occupancy (cont.) • Classification of materials

– Anhydrous Ammonia • Liquefied flammable gas, water reactive class 1, corrosive • 40,000 cu.ft., 1,000 lbs.

– Butyllithium • Pyrophoric, water reactive class 3, corrosive, highly toxic • 106 gallons

– Hexane • Class IB flammable liquid • 110 gallons

– Methanol • Class IB flammable liquid • 110 gallons

– Isopropyl Alcohol • Class IB Flammable Liquid • 110 gallons

Ammonia Room 1. Liquefied flammable

gas MAQ limiting factor of 30 gallons in storage and use in closed systems

2. Exceeds MAQ even with increases and control areas

3. H-2 Occupancy

Solvent Room 1. Class 1B flammable

liquid MAQ limiting factor of 120 gallons in storage and use in closed systems

2. Exceeds MAQ however increase for specialized storage container and suppression allows 330 gallons in storage and use in closed system at any one time

3. F-1 Occupancy BUTLITH Room 1. Pyrophoric material MAQ limiting

factor of 4 gallons in storage and 1 gallon use in closed systems

2. Exceeds MAQ even with increases and control areas

3. Can only be in fully suppressed building 4. H-2 Occupancy

In review • What four main methods/strategies are used

to control hazardous materials in the built environment – Store at or below the maximum allowable

quantities per control area – Use of control areas – Installation of automatic fire suppression

sprinklers – Installation/use of specialized storage containers

In review (cont.) • Hazardous materials classification

within buildings is dependent on what three situations? – Storage – Use in a closed system – Use in a open system

In review (cont.) • An H-4 occupancy deals with?

– Materials that pose a health hazard such as corrosives, toxics, and highly toxics

In review (cont.) • What is the difference between an H-2

and an H-3 occupancy with regard to flammable/combustible liquids? – H-2, used or stored in normally open

containers or systems, or in closed containers or systems pressurized at more than 15 psi

– H-3, used or stored in normally closed containers or systems pressurized at 15 psi or less

Open discussion and questions • Thank you! • Chad R. Barnes, CFPS, SFPE, CPP Manager Life Safety Services Department C&S Engineers, Inc. cbarnes@cscos.com