Owing to the fact that this is not going to be installed here in the states there may be other options to the designer.
One thing to understand when dealing with hazardous operations is that water discharge from sprinklers may exacerbate the risks more than be a help. Plus in many cases of operations such as this, there are STRICT safety guidelines designed to prevent fires, if there is even a risk of fire to begin with that couldn't be handled by an extinguisher. Depending on the size of the installation, water mist or FM-200 or a Vortex system may all be better options than standard water spray sprinklers. Craig L. Prahl, CET Fire Protection CH2MHILL Lockwood Greene 1500 International Drive Spartanburg, SC 29304-0491 Direct - 864.599.4102 Fax - 864.599.8439 CH2MHILL Extension 74102 [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of George Church Sent: Friday, April 15, 2011 9:27 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: PC- 3 Laboratories Just as a crazy idea, for a little self-contained box where you have a problem with contaminated water runoff, could you limit the amount by using a 13D tanka nd puimp so you have x gallons to discharge, hopefully knock it down, and get everyone out, then the water in the tank runs out and that's the end of it. Small pressure tank would give more robustness, compliance with 13/22, or a simpler well tank would be cost effective, not need electric, and be more reliable than a 13d pump. Concept I'm pushing is to limit amount of water. Floor drains might be piped to a poly holding tank? George Church Rowe Sprinkler Systems, Inc. PO Box 407, Middleburg, PA 17842 877-324-ROWE 570-837-6335 fax [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Friday, April 15, 2011 8:42 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: PC- 3 Laboratories PC means Physical Containment, the 3 is the designation on a scale of 1-4. A Level 3 lab is typically for biological research/testing. Think of stuff like Ebola or other "bad bugs", stuff you don't want to escape into the atmosphere. These labs are under negative pressure and have air locks for entering and leaving. Stringent decontamination requirements are also in place. Sprinklers will pose a problem in that anything leaving the lab has to be decontaminated. There would have to be floor drains in the lab to capture the sprinkler discharge and route it to a containment area where is can be decontaminated. It can get complicated since the effluent must be fully contained to prevent it's escape into the atmosphere prior to decontamination. Standard floor drains can't be used due to the negative pressure issue so they create an added expense beyond normal floor drains. So the Client who says no sprinklers may be on the right track. Another means of protection may be more suitable and water may not be compatible with the materials being tested in the lab. You need a chemicals inventory list and the lab's procedures for handling and storage. Depending on where this lab is being built portable fire extinguishers maybe all that's needed. This maybe a case where fire prevention procedures have to take the lead due to safety and environmental issues instead of going the standard route of sprinklering the lab. You need to do some serious homework before just throwing sprinklers in the place. Craig L. Prahl, CET Fire Protection CH2MHILL Lockwood Greene 1500 International Drive Spartanburg, SC 29304-0491 Direct - 864.599.4102 Fax - 864.599.8439 CH2MHILL Extension 74102 [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Chris Mak Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 7:09 PM To: [email protected] Subject: PC- 3 Laboratories I have a client who is being challenged by his client as not to put sprinklers into a PC-3 (Physical Containment Level 3) laboratory. I am uncertain about the designation - the laboratory is being built and certified in Europe before being shipped here to be installed within a building here on the other side of the globe. Hence, PC-3 may be a European designation and not an American designation. Apparently, the laboratory will be occupied by three people - i.e. it's not a small cupboard or fume hood sized. Any experiences in protecting, or not protecting such laboratories? 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