Section 2703 General Safety Provisions
The emergency control station shall receive signals from emergency equipment and alarm and detection systems. Such emergency equipment and alarm and detection systems shall include, but not be limited to, the following where such equipment or systems are required to be provided either in this chapter or elsewhere in this code:
- Automatic sprinkler system alarm and monitoring systems.
- Manual fire alarm systems.
- Emergency alarm systems.
- Gas detection systems.
- Smoke detection systems.
- Emergency power systems.
- Automatic detection and alarm systems for pyrophoric liquids and Class 3 water-reactive liquids required by Section 2705.2.3.4.
- Exhaust ventilation flow alarm devices for pyrophoric liquids and Class 3 water-reactive liquids and cabinet exhaust ventilation systems required by Section 2705.2.3.4.
Electrical equipment and devices within 5 feet (1524 mm) of workstations in which flammable or pyrophoric gases or flammable liquids are used shall comply with NFPA 70 for Class I, Division 2 hazardous locations. Workstations shall not be energized without adequate exhaust ventilation in accordance with Section 2703.14.
Exception: Class I, Division 2 hazardous electrical equipment is not required where the air removal from the workstation or dilution will prevent the accumulation of flammable vapors and fumes on a continuous basis.
A sprinkler head shall be installed within each branch exhaust connection or individual plenums of workstations of combustible construction. The sprinkler head in the exhaust connection or plenum shall be located not more than 2 feet (610 mm) from the point of the duct connection or the connection to the plenum. Where necessary to prevent corrosion, the sprinkler head and connecting piping in the duct shall be coated with approved or listed corrosion-resistant materials. Access to the sprinkler head shall be provided for periodic inspection.
Exceptions:
- Approved alternative automatic fire-extinguishing systems are allowed. Activation of such systems shall deactivate the related processing equipment.
- Process equipment that operates at temperatures exceeding 932°F (500°C) and is provided with automatic shutdown capabilities for hazardous materials.
- Exhaust ducts 10 inches (254 mm) or less in diameter from flammable gas storage cabinets that are part of a workstation.
- Ducts listed or approved for use without internal automatic sprinkler protection.
Where the horizontal surface of a combustible tool is obstructed from ceiling sprinkler discharge, automatic sprinkler protection that covers the horizontal surface of the tool shall be provided.
Exceptions:
- An automatic gaseous fire-extinguishing local surface application system shall be allowed as an alternative to sprinklers. Gaseous-extinguishing systems shall be actuated by infrared (IR) or ultraviolet/infrared (UV/IR) optical detectors.
- Tools constructed of materials that are listed as Class 1 or Class 2 in accordance with UL 2360 or approved for use without internal fire-extinguishing system protection.
An approved automatic sprinkler system shall be provided in gas cabinets and exhausted enclosures containing HPM compressed gases.
Exception: Gas cabinets located in an HPM room other than those cabinets containing pyrophoric gases.
An approved automatic sprinkler system shall be provided in metallic and noncombustible nonmetallic exhaust ducts where all of the following conditions apply:
- Where the largest cross-sectional diameter is equal to or greater than 10 inches (254 mm).
- The ducts are within the building.
- The ducts are conveying flammable gases, vapors or fumes.
An approved automatic sprinkler system shall be provided in combustible nonmetallic exhaust ducts where the largest cross-sectional diameter of the duct is equal to or greater than 10 inches (254 mm).
Exceptions:
- Ducts listed or approved for applications without automatic sprinkler system protection.
- Ducts not more than 12 feet (3658 mm) in length installed below ceiling level.
Where HPM gases are transported in piping placed within the space defined by the walls of a corridor and the floor or roof above the corridor, a gas detection system shall be provided where piping is located and in the corridor.
Exception: A gas detection system is not required for occasional transverse crossings of the corridors by supply piping that is enclosed in a ferrous pipe or tube for the width of the corridor.
The gas detection system shall be capable of monitoring the room, area or equipment in which the HPM gas is located at or below all the following gas concentrations:
- Immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) values where the monitoring point is within an exhausted enclosure, ventilated enclosure or gas cabinet.
- Permissible exposure limit (PEL) levels where the monitoring point is in an area outside an exhausted enclosure, ventilated enclosure or gas cabinet.
- For flammable gases, the monitoring detection threshold level shall be vapor concentrations in excess of 25 percent of the lower flammable limit (LFL) where the monitoring is within or outside an exhausted enclosure, ventilated enclosure or gas cabinet.
- Except as noted in this section, monitoring for highly toxic and toxic gases shall also comply with Chapter 60.
The gas detection system shall automatically close the shutoff valve at the source on gas supply piping and tubing related to the system being monitored for which gas is detected when a short-term hazard condition is detected. Automatic closure of shutoff valves shall comply with the following:
- Where the gas-detection sampling point initiating the gas detection system alarm is within a gas cabinet or exhausted enclosure, the shutoff valve in the gas cabinet or exhausted enclosure for the specific gas detected shall automatically close.
- Where the gas-detection sampling point initiating the gas detection system alarm is within a room and compressed gas containers are not in gas cabinets or exhausted enclosure, the shutoff valves on all gas lines for the specific gas detected shall automatically close.
- Where the gas-detection sampling point initiating the gas detection system alarm is within a piping distribution manifold enclosure, the shutoff valve supplying the manifold for the compressed gas container of the specific gas detected shall automatically close.
Exception: Where the gas-detection sampling point initiating the gas detection system alarm is at the use location or within a gas valve enclosure of a branch line downstream of a piping distribution manifold, the shutoff valve for the branch line located in the piping distribution manifold enclosure shall automatically close.