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FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => Fire Safety => Topic started by: jasper on April 30, 2008, 11:32:58 AM
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Hi all, another one for you to ponder; I visited a warehouse last week which had thousands of cans of aerosols present (all containing flammables), the insurance agreed method of protection was sprinklers above and all located within a massive cage (no top) within the warehouse. I know that under general buildings FRA's quantities of flammable aerosols should be located in cages but not at this extent. Has anyone else witnessed this previously? I think that due to the quantity compartmentation should be the order of the day as if that lot went up there would be no stopping it as class A's are located close to the cage within the 120,000m2 warehouse.
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I think there is a trade assoc for this kind of set up - they have some guidance.
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Do you know what propellant the aerosols use? If it is LPG, they may require licensing by the HSE. I've just received a consultation for 700 tonnes (yes that is correct) of LPG storage, all of which is aerosol propellant in the cans.
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The cage is in place to stop the little critters flying around and starting fires elsewhere. I remember a fire some years ago next to the M1 in Luton where an automotive supplies warehouse went up. Cans were flying all over and across the motor way..
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The cage is useless if it hasn't got a top on and does not comply with BSEN 12845. One of the technical bulletins covers aerosol protection - think its TB219 but cant remember for sure.
Is the insurance company happy with the sprinkler spec?
Many large warehouses for aerosols are treated as hazardous areas and DSEAR zoning applied- due to the risk of leakage if a pallet is punctured or dropped. I think the HSE position is that for bulk storage (no idea how much is "bulk") the British Aerosol Manufacturers Association (BAMA) guidance document ( £60 ) is the recommended standard and has the status of an ACOP and they say that if you dont follow that you should apply DSEAR.
Hey Jasper is that warehouse really 120000 sq m? Thats huge?? 1km long and 120m wide?
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Hey Jasper is that warehouse really 120000 sq m? Thats huge?? 1km long and 120m wide?
yes, it took me forever to walk round
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The cage is in place to stop the little critters flying around and starting fires elsewhere. I remember a fire some years ago next to the M1 in Luton where an automotive supplies warehouse went up. Cans were flying all over and across the motor way..
Yes I too remember that - it was quite a sight !
120000 sq metred warehousing is starting to become a common place now especially for storage haulage and distribution applications.
Id hate to firefight in one of them though
Cages must be full enclosed without rooves or tops they are useless