Solid fires protection systems

Open grating floors allow spilled liquids or solids to fall through onto lower levels, possibly resulting in housekeeping problems and personnel exposure to spilled materials. In addition, if cascading liquid is ignited, a three-dimensional fire can result. These three-dimensional fires can be difficult to control by manual firefighting or even with fixed fire protection system. 

Solid floors in multilevel process structures can provide a passive means of containing any spilled liquids or solids and preventing materials from falling onto lower levels. To maximize the effectiveness of solid floors, the floor design should include appropriately located drainage for spills and fire water runoff. Fire protection systems can be designed to effectively manage liquid pool fires. 

NFPA 91 Standard for Exhaust Systems for Air Conveying of Vapors, Gases, Mists, and Noncombustible Particulate Solids. National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. 

Steam snuffing in solids dryers can also provide effective fire protection. In some cases, the major concern for a fired product dryer may be explosion involving product dust. Where there is a possibility of an internal dust explosion in a product dryer, a fast response explosion suppression system should be considered in addition to fire protection. 

OSHA deals with fire protection from an employee safety standpoint, and many of the points covered in the OSHA standard are solid management practices for property safety as well. Subpart E, Means of Egress, is taken from NFPA 101-1970, the Life Safety Code. The emphasis of this subpart is on protecting the employee once a fire has started. It informs the employer what to do to protect workers during the fire by addressing egress methods, automatic sprinkler systems, fire alarms, emergency action plans, and fire prevention plans. 

Unit loads mounted on pallets are very common, usually 3 to 4 feet on each dimension. Most pallets are wood, but meted, solid or expanded plastic, and paperboard are also available. Pallets are usually moved by pallet jack or forklift truck. Permissible stacking height depends on the crushing resistance of the palletized material, the building cordigvuation, and fire protection considerations. Air spaces formed by the pallets can themselves help to spread fires. Sprinkler system requirements are foimd in NFPA Standards 13 and 231. 

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