Some questions I would be asking: 1. Is the paint being removed a solvent based or water based paint? 2. What is the blasting media, is it really sand or another material? 3. Is the removed material captured and removed from the space during the process or allowed to accumulate in the room? 4. Are there any other surface prep processes going on in the space that would use solvents or other combustible/flammable cleaners? 5. Are there dust collection systems which are part of this process and if yes, are they internally protected with an automatic suppression system? 6. What static electricity mitigating protections are in place during the blasting process? 7. Is there any grinding, cutting or welding going on near to this process?
The paint flakes are a solid, typically require high energy to ignite if they are combustible at all. A lot of times the dried paint doesn't pose as great a hazard as it does when still in liquid form as the solvents evaporate during the drying/curing process. The greater hazard in these environments is explosion more so than fire. So you won't find a lot of discussion about fire suppression in these particular areas. There needs to be a bit of an evaluation of the operation to evaluate the potential for fire and the severity. Some operations where careful and proper control methods are utilized have a very low fire potential but I've see others that make you wonder how they haven't made the six o'clock news. As with everything we do, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Craig L. Prahl Fire Protection Group Lead CH2MHILL Lockwood Greene 1500 International Drive Spartanburg, SC 29303 Direct - 864.599.4102 Fax - 864.599.8439 CH2MHILL Extension 74102 craig.pr...@ch2m.com -----Original Message----- From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:sprinklerforum-boun...@lists.firesprinkler.org] On Behalf Of Easter, Timothy Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2014 10:21 PM To: sprinklerforum@lists.firesprinkler.org Subject: sand blasting room NFPA 13 hazard classification I am designing a sand blasting room as ordinary hazard group 2. Is this acceptable? Should it be a higher hazard? Is there another NFPA code pertaining to a sand blasting room? Feel free to contact me with any questions. Regards, Timothy Easter E.I.T. Graduate Fire Protection Engineer URS Corporation 11832 Rock Landing Drive Suite 306 Newport News, VA 23606 Direct: (757) 383-6217 timothy.eas...@urs.com This e-mail and any attachments contain URS Corporation confidential information that may be proprietary or privileged. If you receive this message in error or are not the intended recipient, you should not retain, distribute, disclose or use any of this information and you should destroy the e-mail and any attachments or copies. _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list Sprinklerforum@lists.firesprinkler.org http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list Sprinklerforum@lists.firesprinkler.org http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org
