As tragic as this incident was, it was a completely preventable incident. I haven't taken the time to research the GA Fire Code but I know the state adopts the ICC International Fire Code which has specific requirements for indoor use of LN2 (liquid nitrogen) based on various Compressed Gas...
The US CSB has dispatched investigators to the incident.
https://www.csb.gov/csb-deploying-to-fatal-incident-in-houston-/
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Massive-explosion-rocks-west-Houston-Friday-15000793.php
http://www.watsongrinding.com/
I'm reviewing automatic sprinkler shop drawings for a warehouse tenant finishout. The building will also house some light manufacturing and offices, which have been separated from the warehouse using noncombustible demising walls that terminate at the roof deck. I observed something during the...
I have a 7 story Group S-2 (parking garage), Group B (business office and amenities center) and Group R-2 (student housing) building under construction. I'm reviewing the shop drawing and calculations submittals. This is podium style construction where the 1st-3rd floors are IBC Type IA...
The National Fire Protection Research Foundation has commenced a phased study to further understand (and maybe refine) the NFPA 13 obstruction rules for ESFR sprinklers. It looks to be a fairly robust analysis...
This question is based on the 2007 edition of NFPA 14 but feel free to use the current edition because the requirement hasn't changed.
I have a 32 story high-rise I'm currently reviewing for compliance. The maximum churn pressure for the fire pump is 287 PSIG. The standpipe is constructed using...
We are currently reviewing a Group R-2 apartment building where the FP contractor is using an antifreeze system to protect the Reception Center/Leasing Office attic of the Type V construction building. The volume of the system is > 40 gallons, and we are enforcing Section 22.4.4.5.1 of NFPA 13...
Ken Isman offers an interesting perspective on the subject of sprinkler protection and storage occupancies in this quarter's SFPE Fire Protection Engineering magazine:
http://fpemag.com/articles/article.asp?i=549
Enjoy.
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/28484194/detail.html
The owner makes a insurance claim for a sprinkler pipe failure and instead disables the system. A couple of years later the building has a fire and is totally destroyed. The owner sues the insurance company for the cost of reconstruction...
I need some assistance from my Canadian counterparts.
I am working on a LNG terminal in the Northern part of BC. The project involves a 3-story administrative office building. Can someone in Canada quote the provisions from the 2006 British Columbia Building Code requirements for automatic...
OK, I confess that I am not as comfortable navigating the 2007 edition of NFPA 13. With that said, I need help locating a requirement for the protection of palletized storage of plastics and rubber.
In the 2002 edition, Section 12.2.3.1.5.2 specified that when the clearance between sprinklers...
SD2,
I am delivering a presentation on March 18th at the SE Chapter of the SFPE in Atlanta. I am seriously considering flying over one day earlier to sit in on a one day seminar on the requirements in NFPA 13 for storage occupancies. Some guy by the name of Foster - I don't know him but given...
All,
I met InspLCrep and his family tonight. Tom, his wife and one of his daughters had dinner with me at one of my local joints in Austin.
He's a smart guy with a great family. It was finally nice to meet a fellow Eng-Tip participant in person. I'm still looking forward to meeting TravisMack...
In advance of posting my question I want to thank all of who comment.
Here is the scenario: A fairly large industrial spray booth that complies with NFPA 33 and the 2006 International Fire Code. An airless spraying system is used which uses relatively high pressure hydraulic pumps to transport...
This is a question to the design professionals:
Excluding storage designs, what percentage of your designs are using special sprinklers as defined in either the 2002 or 2007 editions of NFPA 13?
The second question is what percentage of your designs for storage use special sprinklers?
My...
The UK HSE has released a report on a failure of a API 650 AST used for crude oil storage in Rotterdam, Belgium.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/comah/alerts/ong013.pdf
Looks like a fire pump may have been the source of the VCEs ignition. Lots of questions still regarding containments.
http://www.buncefieldinvestigation.gov.uk/reports/initialreport.pdf
The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board has released its report. Attached is the link. The findings are interesting.
http://www.csb.gov/completed_investigations/docs/CSBPraxairSafetyBulletin.pdf
The UK Health Safety Executive has released the 3rd report that documents the current findings of the Buncefield Terminal explosion and fire.
http://www.buncefieldinvestigation.gov.uk/reports/report3.pdf
