Yes, Debbie, it does. Thank you.
Monique Wilhelm
Laboratory Manager
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
University of Michigan - Flint
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
On Behalf Of Debbie M. Decker
Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2019 4:39 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Fire Code Help
Hi Monique:
It depends on the construction of the space. If the space has full-height walls, fire-resistive walls and doors, then the space could be considered a control
area - a lab room or suite. If the space is not constructed in that way or if the building was built before the control area was developed in the Code, then the Authority Having Jurisdiction has to make a judgement about what constitutes a control area, based
on construction and the like. Default is a building floor. We recently were able to divide one floor into two control areas by the addition of a fire door between two halves of the floor.
The concept of a "laboratory suite" is a relatively new (20 years is new) development in the Fire Code - H Occupancy (thank California for this one). Limited
to 10,000 sq ft, with fire resistive wall construction, fire-rated door assembly, monolithic and sealed flooring, full-height walls, and no penetrations out of the suite, fire sprinklers - the Maximum Allowable Quantities are pretty generous because the lab
suite is the control area. As you might imagine, it's expensive to construct but really flexible as to lab activities and chemical load in the suite. For a B occupancy, the MAQs are lower and control areas are typically a building floor. As you go higher
in the building (or further below grade for multiple basements), the MAQs get really strict, until it's virtually impossible to do chemistry in a high-rise building (ask UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco about those challenges).
This is based on California Fire Code, where the code is based on the ICBO model code - not NFPA. Your mileage with NFPA may differ.
Does this help?
Debbie
Debbie M. Decker, CCHO, ACS Fellow
Past Chair, Division of Chemical Health and Safety
Councilor and Programming Co-Chair
University of California, Davis
(530)754-7964
(530)304-6728
dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu
Birkett's hypothesis: "Any chemical reaction
that proceeds smoothly under normal conditions,
can proceed violently in the presence of an idiot."
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
On Behalf Of Monique Wilhelm
Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2019 12:44 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Fire Code Help
Hello Everyone,
I am reaching out as I need to know the practical definition of a "control area". The NFPA definition is vague and has been interpreted by someone as the whole floor of our building. I find this hard to believe when it is often being
used as "laboratory suite or control area" in the standards. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
--
_________________________________________________________
Monique Wilhelm, M.S., NRCC Certified CHO
ACS CHAS Secretary|2017 CERM E. Ann Nalley Award Recipient
Laboratory Manager|Adjunct Lecturer|Chemistry Club Advisor
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry|University of Michigan-Flint
--- For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional membership chair at
membership**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org Follow us on Twitter **At_Symbol_Here**acsdchas
--- For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional membership chair at
membership**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org Follow us on Twitter **At_Symbol_Here**acsdchas
Previous post | Top of Page | Next post