NFPA Codes and their
Relevance to Chemical
Processes
Jonathan Eisenberg, P.E.
Jeremy Lebowitz
Overview
NFPA Codes
[Link]
thecodes/list_of_codes_and
_standards.asp
Requirements,
recommended practices
Methods to improve
fire/explosion safety
NFPA Codes & Standards
National Fire Protection Association
> 300 Codes, Standards,
Recommended Practices, Guides
Revision cycle: 3-5 years
NFPA 1
Uniform Fire Code
Provide Fire & Life Safety,
Property Protection from fire,
explosion, dangerous
conditions
Adopted by many states
Incorporates other codes
discussed today
Contains specific hazardous
materials chapters
NFPA 13
Standard for Installation
of Sprinkler Systems
Sprinkler design,
installation, testing
Incorporated by local
building, fire codes
Highly detailed design
criteria
NFPA 72
National Fire Alarm
Code
Fire alarm initiation,
notification, reliability
Incorporated by local
building codes
Initiating devices
Notification appliances
NFPA 70
National Electrical Code
Protect people and property
from hazards arising from use
of electricity
Adopted by local electrical
codes
Relevance: static discharges;
hazardous environments
Article 500: Hazardous
environments
NFPA 77
Recommended Practice on Static
Electricity
Addresses evaluation & control of static
discharges
Hazards particular to flammable/
combustible (F/C) liquids;
powders/dusts
NFPA 496, 497, 499, 33, 34
496: Purged and Pressurized
Enclosures for Electrical
Equipment
497/499: Electrical
Classifications of Flammable
Vapors / Combustible Dusts
33: Spray Application Using
F/C Materials
34: Dipping and Coating
Processes Using F/C Liquids
NFPA 30
Flammable & Combustible
Liquids Code
Safe storage, handling of
F/C liquids
Flammable: FP < 100F or
38C
Combustible: FP > 100F
or 38C
NFPA 30
Control area concept
Construction
Maximum allowable quantities
(MAQ)
Increases for sprinklers; storage
type
Quantities exceed MAQ high
hazard liquid warehouse
NFPA 30
Different room types
Special
requirements for:
Mercantile
Factory/Industrial
Storage
Detached buildings
Storage in tanks
NFPA 30
Additional requirements
Explosion protection
Spill containment
Electrical installation and ventilation
Restrictions on dispensing operations
NFPA 45
Standard on Fire Protection
for Laboratories Using
Chemicals
For use of chemicals in lab-
scale operations
Class A (high hazard) D
(minimal hazard)
Class A, B: area limitation,
fire separation required
NFPA 45
Fire protection: sprinklers required
Explosion protection
Highly unstable materials
Highly exothermic reactions (e.g. polymerization)
Unknown properties (e.g. nitro-, nitroso-,
peroxides)
High-pressure reactions
Other explosion hazards as determined by a
professional
NFPA 45
Limit
Hazardous
Chemicals
Isolated
Special
Building
Protection
or Outdoors
Explosion
Protection
Explosion-
Deflagration
Resistant
Venting
Walls
Remote
Control
NFPA 45
Lab ventilation to ensure fire hazards
and risks minimized
Continuous ventilation
No recirculation of chemicals
Fume hoods to contain chemicals,
vapors
NFPA 68
Guide for Venting of Deflagrations
Minimize (not prevent) deflagration
damage
Deflagration: combustion wave slower
than speed of sound
Detonation: combustion wave faster
than speed of sound
NFPA 68
Gas/Mist Deflagration Venting:
Vent area based on fuel, surface area,
deflagration pressure
Vents should release at low pressure, but
high enough to resist wind loads
Vent operation should not be hazardous
Vent for each enclosed compartment
NFPA 68
Dust/Hybrid Deflagration Venting:
Parameter of interest: Kst
Vent area based on Kst, room volume,
deflagration pressure
Kst > 800, see NFPA 69 (explosion
prevention)
Vent bins, hoppers, silos at top/upper side
Vent dust collectors below bottom of filter
media
NFPA 69
Standard on Explosion Prevention
Systems
Prevention and mitigation of
deflagrations
NFPA 69
Limit
Oxidant
Concentration
Control by Limit
Pressure Combustible
Containment Concentration
Explosion
Prevention
Hot Particle
Control by
Detection &
Isolation Intervention
Control by
Suppression
NFPA 654
Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust
Explosions from the Manufacturing,
Processing, and Handling of Combustible
Particulate Solids
Provide safety measures to prevent, mitigate
fires, dust explosions in facilities handling
combustible particulate solids
NFPA 654
Facilities/systems design
Process equipment
Housekeeping fugitive dust control
Control ignition sources
Fire protection systems
Training, procedures, inspection,
maintenance
NFPA 654
More specific requirements in:
NFPA 61: Prevention of Fires and Dust Explosions
in Agricultural/Food Processing Facilities
NFPA 120: Fire Prevention and Control in Coal
Mines
NFPA 484: Combustible Metals
NFPA 664: Prevention of Fires and Explosions in
Wood Processing, Woodworking Facilities
Other NFPA HazMat Codes
NFPA 55 Compressed
Gases
NFPA 400 (new!)
Hazardous Materials Code
430 (Liquid & Solid Oxidizers)
432 (Organic Peroxides)
434 (Pesticides)
490 (Ammonium Nitrate)
Other Relevant Codes
International Code
Council Codes
OSHA
FM Datasheets
State-adopted
codes with
amendments
Recommended Practices
Use common sense!
Good housekeeping practices
inspection and maintenance
Employee training
Hazard analysis incompatible
materials, ignition sources
Limit quantities of hazardous materials
Deflagration venting
Rolf Jensen & Associates
(508) 620-8900
JEisenberg@[Link]
JLebowitz@[Link]
