NFPA 55 COMPRESSED GASES AND CRYOGENIC FLUIDS CODE states:

6.4.5 Limitation on Contents. The function of compressed

gas rooms shall be limited to storage and use of compressed

gases and associated equipment and supplies.

It does not require the room to be electrically classified. It does require a 1 hour fire rated separation from all other parts of the building (6.4.4) SO I’d argue the AV Equipment has nothing to do with the compressed gas cylinders.

The 2018 International Fire Code says with regard to compressed gases:

5303.7.7 Sources of ignition. Open flames and high-temperature

devices shall not be used in a manner that creates

a hazardous condition.

I think arguing the AV rack creates a hazard would be problematical.

While I think it is an awful place to put this stuff I really suspect it is not terribly dangerous if the area is ventilated per the code requirements.

Hello all,

Curious to get this group’s input… I recently discovered a large A/V rack in the gas cylinder room of my university’s science building.  The A/V rack is hardwired into the wall, and is NOT spark-proof/hospital grade.  It could make sparks at any time.  In the same room, we have full cylinders of compressed oxygen, nitrous oxide, and air. The room itself likely has flammable construction.  We probably have about 50 employees in the building, plus hundreds of students during the academic terms.

All the science faculty are (rightly) having a conniption fit and demanding that the A/V rack be moved to another room.  However, the city fire chief inspected and said that “cylinders were properly stored and there was no open flame in the room”, so no move was necessary, as no code was violated.  So now the administration is dragging its feet, saying that the rack doesn’t need to be moved (and IT suggested that we should just plug it back in).

Are there resources out there to convince the higher level of Administration that this situation is inherently hazardous and worth the resources to correct?  Besides pedantically explaining the fire triangle/tetrahedron to them and bringing up the Apollo 1 fire?  Or are the entire biology, chemistry, physics and nursing faculty (and I) all over-reacting?

Thanks for your help,

Nora Dunkel

Chemical Safety Officer

Webster University

314-246-2244 (office)

noradunkel51**At_Symbol_Here**webster.edu

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