Fire categories

Clays are classified into six groups by the U.S. Bureau of Mines (1) kaolin, ball clay, fire clay, bentonite, fuller s earth, and common clay and shale. About half the toimage of clays produced in the United States is in the last category. In terms of monetary value, however, ka olin accounts for about two-thirds of the doUar volume. 

Heat for soldering is usually obtained from torches. The high conductivity of copper makes it necessary to use large flames for the larger sizes, and for this reason the location in which the joint will be made must be carefully considered. Soldered joints are most widely used in sizes 2 in and smaller for which heat requirements are less burdensome. Soldered joints should not be used in areas where plant fires are hkely because exposure to fires resiilts in rapid and complete failure of the joints. Properly made, the joints are completely impervious. The code permits the use of soldered joints only for Category D fluid service and then only if the system is not subject to severe cychc condions. 

These markings provide a general idea of the hazards of a material and the severity of these hazards as they relate to handling, fire protection, exposure, and control. This standard is not applicable to transportation or to use by the general public. It is also not applicable to chronic exposure. For a full description of this standard, refer to NFPA 704. The system identifies the hazards of a material in four principal categories health, flammability, reactivity, and unusual hazards such as reactivity with water. 

Function Berman (Chem. Eng. 85(14) 98-104, June 19, 1978) classifies fired heaters into the following six functional categories, providing descriptions that are abstracted here. 

The new gas turbines have fired inlet temperatures as high as 2300° F (1260° C) with efficiencies as high as 42-45 percent. Pressure ratios have increased from 5 1 in the 1950s to as high as 30 1 in some of the new turbines of the 1990s. Gas turbines are classified into two major categories ... 

It is important to identify areas in accordance with the expected degree of fire hazard to facilitate an appropriate and economical selection of electric motors. These areas, according to lEC 60079-10, are classified into three categories as follows. 

Many industries operated throughout the world do not fall into the previous categories. Some of these are universal, such as asphalt batching plants, whereas others are regional, such as bagasse-fired boilers. Each has its own emission and control problems and requires knowledgeable analysis and engineering. Some of the more widely used processes are examined in this section. 

A Category 2 incident is one elearly reeognizable from the outset as beyond the eapability of the forees to hand. The emergeney serviees should be informed immediately of the magnitude of the ineident and the speeifie loeation. The resourees sent in response, e.g. the number of fire applianees, ambulanees, poliee, need to be predetermined by good pre-planning. 

There are several problems with these standards for older coal-fired plants that limit a sensible NO,-reduction policy. First, they are relatively lenient. Because they require only that low-NO, burners be used at coal-fired plants, relatively inexpensive NO,-reduction technologies are not being used, because the plants already meet the minimum standards. Second, standards are established on a technology-by-technology basis, and have resulted in more lenient requirements for dirtier technologies. This has created little or no incentive to switch to cleaner processes in the past decade. Thirdly, these standards are input-based, which means they provide no incentive for efficiency within any technology category. 

Susceptibility to burning is the basis for assigning degrees within this category. The method of attacking the fire is influenced by this susceptibility factor. 

DOT Placarded, NEPA2 for any categories, PCB s without fire, EPA regulated waste. 

Poison A gas explosives-A/B, organic peroxide, flammable solid, materials dangerous when wet, chlorine, flourine, anhydrous ammonia, radioactive materials, NFPA 3 4 for any categories including SF>ecial hazards. PCB s fire, DOT inhalation hazzird, EPA extremely hazardous substances, and cryogenics. 

The cit> developed an Industrial Mutual Aid System that has been copied all over the world. It incorporates resources from city government, police and fire departments and all of the industries at the port. Emergencies covered in the plan range from simple chemical spills and vapor leaks up to Category Five hurricanes and jetliner crashes. 

Processes or operations tliat require heating of flanunable materials, liquids, and ordinary combustibles are subject to fires in tliis category. 

Fires caused by molten metal released from a ruptured furnace or by molten metal spilled during liandling are included in tliis ignition source category. 

The specific technical requirements within each category will depend upon the type of building and the use to which it will be put. For example, the requirements for fire escapes will be different for an office and for a factory. 

It is clear that very few gas-fired installations will fall within these categories. Notes on the Best Practicable Means for meeting the requirements were published by HM Inspectorate of Pollution in 1988. 

A Category 1 incident is one requiring additional resources, but which can be dealt with by the site operator and internal fire brigade. Some thought needs, however, to be given... 

Substances, which after very limited exposure cause death or major irreversible effects, even if prompt medical treatment is undertaken. Also included in this category are substances that easily go through protective rubber clothing and those that, under normal conditions or in a fire, release extremely dangerous vapour, whether they are toxic or corrosive by inhalation or skin contact. 

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