1. Thomas Izbicki, P.E. Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc. Plano, TX
Basics of NFPA 45 – Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals
Thomas Izbicki, P.E.
Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc.
Plano, TX

2. Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc
Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc. is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to CES Records for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for non-AIA members available on request.
This program is registered with the AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.
Thank you!

3. © Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc. 2009
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© Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc

4. Presentation Overview
What is a Laboratory?
Laboratory Unit Classification
Flammable and Combustible Liquid Limits
Fire Protection
Explosion Hazards
Laboratory Ventilation
Chemical Storage and Handling
Gas Storage and Use
Laboratory Operations
Hazard Identification

5. What is a Laboratory? Laboratory
A workplace where chemicals are used or synthesized on a non-production basis.
A facility where the containers used for reactions, transfers, and handling of chemicals are designed to be manipulated by one person.

6. What is a Laboratory? Laboratory Work Area
A room or space for testing, analysis, research, instruction, or similar activities that involve the use of chemicals.

7. What is a Laboratory? Laboratory Unit
An enclosed space used for experiments or tests.
May include one or more laboratory work areas.
May include offices, lavatories, corridors, and other incidental contiguous rooms.
May be a floor in a building
May be an entire building.

8. What is a Laboratory? Laboratory Building
A structure consisting wholly or principally of one or more laboratory units.

9. Laboratory Units
NFPA edition, Figure D.2.4(a)

10. Laboratory Units NFPA 45-2004 edition, Figure D.2.4(b)
NFPA edition, Figure D.2.4(c)

11. Laboratory Units NFPA 45-2004 edition, Figure D.2.4(d)
NFPA edition, Figure D.2.4(e)

12. Applicability of NFPA 45
NFPA edition, Figure A.1.3

13. Objective of NFPA 45 Limit injury to:
Occupants at the point of fire origin
Emergency response personnel
Limit property loss to a single laboratory unit

14. Laboratory Unit Fire Hazard Classification
Class A Unit = High Fire Hazard
Class B Unit = Moderate Fire Hazard
Class C Unit = Low Fire Hazard
Class D Unit = Minimal Fire Hazard

15. Laboratory Unit Classification
Based on the quantity of:
Flammable liquids
Combustible liquids
Flammable gases
Includes quantities in storage and use

16. Laboratory Unit Classification
Liquefied flammable gases = Class I flammable liquids
How to classify hazardous materials?
CD ROM database:
Hazardous Materials Expert Assistant
Ask users to inventory existing materials
Look at worst-case user – types and quantity

17. Laboratory Unit Classification
Includes quantities in storage cabinets or safety cans
Lab Unit Classification
Maximum Quantity
Class I Liquids
per Lab Unit (gal)
Class I, II, IIIA Liquids per Lab Unit (gal) A
20 gal/100 ft2
1,200 (max)
40 gal/100 ft2
1600 max B
10 gal/100 ft2
600 max
800 max C
4 gal/100 ft2
300 max
8 gal/100 ft2
400 max D
2 gal/100 ft2
150 max

18. Laboratory Unit Classification
Lab Unit Classification
NFPA 101 Occupancy Classification
Area Limit per Lab Unit
(ft2)
Vertical Fire Separation
(hours) A
Industrial
10,000 2
90-min openings B 1
45-min openings C
No Limit
Not
Required D
Business

19. Laboratory Unit Classification
No limit on number of lab units per floor
No reduction of allowable quantities based on vertical location
Supporting construction must carry corresponding fire rating
Difficult to do Class A/B lab units in multi-story Type IIB building!

20. Lab Units vs. IBC Control Areas
IBC/IFC
Maximum Allowable Quantity (MAQ)
Hazardous Materials
Physical/Fire Hazards
Health Hazard
Control Areas
Control Area ~ Lab Unit
Some jurisdictions require application of both control areas and lab units – use most restrictive

21. Laboratory Unit Exit Access
2nd means of exit access required from lab work area if:
Class A lab unit >500 ft2
Class B, C, or D lab unit >1,000 ft2
Threat to exit access from:
Explosion hazard
Hood adjacent to primary exit access
Flammable gas or health hazard 3 or 4 >lecture bottle size
Cryogenic flammable gas or health hazard 3 or 4

22. Laboratory Unit Exit Access
Exit access door swing
Class A and B lab work areas
Direction of exit travel
Any occupant load
Class C and D lab work areas
May swing against the direction of exit travel if occupant load < 50
May be a horizontal sliding door per NFPA 101

23. Fire Protection Automatic sprinkler system required in all new labs
Sprinkler Density:
Ordinary Hazard Group 2 – A/B lab units
Ordinary Hazard Group 1 – C/D lab units
Portable Fire Extinguishers
Class A Units = Extra (high) Hazard
Class B, C, D Units = Ordinary (moderate) Hazard
Standpipes
Lab buildings 2 or more stories above or below grade

24. Fire Protection Fire Alarm System Fire Prevention Procedures
Class A and B Units – manual system required
Must alert local emergency responders or public fire department
Fire Prevention Procedures
Chemical handling and storage
Hot work permits
Portable electric cords
Smoking areas

25. Fire Protection Laboratory Emergency Plans Alarm activation
Evacuation and building re-entry
Equipment shut down
Fire fighting operations
Non-fire hazards that threaten emergency operations

26. Explosion Hazards
Storage or formation of materials with an instability hazard rating of 4
Highly exothermic reactions
Polymerization, oxidations, hydrogenation, etc.
High pressure reactions
Explosion hazards as determined by a qualified person

27. Explosion Protection Limit amounts of flammable or reactive chemicals
Fire detection interlocked with deluge sprinklers
Local fume hood suppression
Explosion suppression
Explosion resistant construction
Explosion venting

28. Laboratory Ventilation
Dedicated exhaust required for each lab unit – to exterior, or rated shaft, or to mechanical penthouse
Fire dampers not permitted in lab exhaust duct systems
Potential alternatives:
Enclose exhaust for 10 feet either side of rated penetration
Use sub-ducts per NFPA 45: A
Dedicated exhaust duct risers
22-inch sub-ducts with continuous upward air movement

29. Laboratory Ventilation
Negative pressure vs. corridors and non-lab area
Ducts
Non-combustible materials
Combustible material with Flame Spread ≤ 25
Fans
Conveying corrosive, flammable or combustible vapors
Flame Spread ≤ 25
Non-ferrous or spark-resistant

30. Laboratory Ventilation
Hood interiors
Flame Spread ≤ 25 by NFPA 255
Sprinklered for special cases
Flame spread > 25
Hazard analysis
Airflow measuring device at each hood

31. Chemical Storage and Handling
Container types and maximum sizes listed in Table :
Material
Flammable liquids
Combustible liquids
Container type
Glass
Safety can
Metal and Metal DOT
Polyethylene

32. Chemical Storage and Handling
Educational and Instructional Labs Containers
Maximum 2.1 gallon size for Class I or Class II liquids
1.0 gallon maximum for safety cans
Transfer of Class I liquids from < 5 gallon containers:
In lab hood
Ventilated area with LEL < 25%
NFPA 30 compliant room
Transfer of Class I liquids from ≥ 5 gallon containers:
In separate area outside building; or
In NFPA 30 compliant room

33. Gas Storage and Use Ventilated hood required for lecture bottles:
Health hazard 3 or 4
Health hazard 2 with no physiological warning properties
Pyrophoric gases
Gas cabinet and NFPA 55 compliance required for cylinders:
Health hazard 2 with no warning properties
Sprinklered gas cabinet required for pyrophoric gas cylinders

34. Gas Storage and Use Gas quantity limits for areas < 500ft2:
Flammable – 6.0 ft3
Oxidizing – 6.0 ft3
Liquefied flammable – 1.2 ft3
Health hazard 3 or 4 – 0.3 ft3

35. Gas Storage and Use Gas quantity limits for areas >500ft2:
Flammable – ft3 per ft2
Oxidizing – ft3 per ft2
Liquefied flammable – ft3 per ft2
Health hazard 3 or 4 – ft3 per ft2

36. Gas Storage and Use
Cylinders not “in use” shall not be stored in a laboratory unit.
Number of lecture bottles – 25 maximum
Outdoor storage
No toxic or flammable gas cylinders:
Within 6 feet of windows, doors, other openings
Within 30 feet of ventilation intakes

37. Laboratory Operations
Unattended electrical heating operations
Manual reset over-temperature shutoff
Electrical equipment (eg. hot plates) classified for flammable or combustible liquids and installed per NFPA 70, National Electric Code
Ovens and Furnaces – per NFPA 86

38. Hazard Identification
Aid Emergency Operations
Identification of entrances to labs
Fire fighting plans
Marking of hazardous exhaust systems
Container labeling

39. Thank You For Your Time!
Questions?
RJA