Industrial Fire Safety Guidebook

540 Pages·1999·34.37 MB·English

by  Tatyana Davletshina

INDUSTRIAL FIRE SAFETY GUIDEBOOK

INDUSTRIAL FIRE
SAFETY
GUIDEBOOK
by
Tatyana A. Davletshina, M.S.
Technical Consultant
Environmental Policy and Technology Program
Ukraine and U.S.A.
NOYES PUBLICATIONS
Westwood, NewJersey, U.S.A.
Copyright © 1998 byTatyanaDavletshina
No partofthisbook may be reproduced orutilizedin
any form orby any means, electronicormechanical,
including photocopying, recording orby any informa
tionstorage and retrievalsystem,without permission
inwritingfrom the Publisher.
library ofCongress CatalogCard Number: 97-51236
ISBN:0-8155-1420-4
Printed in the United States
Published in the United States ofAmerica by
Noyes Publications
369 FairviewAvenue
Westwood, New Jersey fY7675
10987654 32 1
library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Davletshina, Tatyana.
Industrial firesafetyguidebook / byTatyanaDavletshina.
p. em.
Includes index.
ISBN0-8155-1420-4
1.Industrial buildings--Fires and fire prevention. 2.Industrial
safety. 1.Title.
TH9445.M4D38 1998
628.9'2--dc21 97-51236
CIP
®
ENVIRONMENTALLYFRIENDLY
4-f
Thisbookhasbeenprinteddigitallybecausethisprocessdoesnotuseanyplates,ink,
ffi
chemicals,orpresssolutionsthatareharmfultotheenvironment.Thepaperusedin
thisbookhasa30%recycledcontent.
PREFACE
This reference has been written for emergency response
personnel, plant safety specialists, and emergency response
coordinators. It has been prepared at a practical level to assist
both in training safety personnel and to provide technical
information that can assist in responding to a hazardous
incident that could lead to a fire hazard situation.
Considerable information and technical data are given on
petroleum based products since these are among the most
widely consumed products, however, the reader will find
ample information on other chemicals. Fire situations pose
one ofthe most serious problems in an industrial setting, with
the potential loss of lives and property, as well as damage to
theenvironment. Properresponse bytrained personnel, aswell
as careful preplanning can minimize the risk and damage
caused by fire. The volume is by no means definitive and the
reader should consult the many references that are provided
by OSHA, NFPA, ACGIH, API, NIOSH, World Health
Organization, and others.
The guidebook is organized into 7 chapters and an appendix.
Chapters 1 and 2 provide an overview of fire protection
principles and general terminology used throughout the
volume. Chapters 3 and 4 cover petroleum products and
hydrocarbon derivatives. The chemistry of hydrocarbon fires
is reviewed in detail and extensive properties data for
petroleum products are given. Chapters 5 through 7 provide
technical fire and explosion data on widely used chemicals of
commerce. Information on explosion and fire propensity and
typical responses to fires and non-fire spills are presented in
these chapters. Much of this information is based on the U.S.
Department of Transportation emerging response
recommendations for fire and non-fire spills, and data
provided by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH), and other well known sources.
Tatyana A. Davletshina
v
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TatyanaA. Davletshina is aSafety Specialist and recognized
authority in industrial safety management practices. She has
been with the Environmental Policy and Technology Program
which is a U.S. Agency for International Development
assistance program to Ukraine since 1995, where she has
helped to establish and co-manage an industry training center
on environmental management and industrial worker safety.
Ms. Davletshina received technical degrees in Sciences from
the Donetsk State Technical University and West Virginia
University, where she has also taught.
NOTICE
To the best of our knowledge the information in this publication is
accurate; however, the Publisher does not assume any responsibility or
liabilityfortheaccuracyorcompletenessof,orconsequencesarisingfrom,
such information. This book is intended for informational purposes only.
Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute
endorsement or recommendation for use by the Publisher. Final
determination of the suitability of any information or product for use
contemplated by any user, and the manner of that use, is the sole
responsibility ofthe user.We recommendthat anyoneintending torely on
any recommendation of materials or procedures mentioned in this
publication should satisfy himself as to such suitability, and that he can
meet all applicable safety and health standards.
vi
CONTENTS
1. FIRE PROTECTION PRINCIPLES 1
Introduction 1
Fire Prevention Principles 1
Inspection Programs 3
Fire Investigations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2. FIRE HAZARD TERMINOLOGY 9
Introduction 9
Glossary ofTerms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3. PROPERTIES AND FLAMMABILITY OF
HYDROCARBONS 22
Introduction 22
Chemistry Fundamentals 23
Alcohols 38
Ethers 40
Ketones 41
Aldehydes 41
Peroxides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Esters 42
Amines 42
Flammability and Pyrolysis 42
Categories of Petroleum Liquids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Fire Extinguishment 49
Flammability of Petroleum Products 51
Closure 78
4. ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL DATA ON
PETROLEUM PRODUcrS 79
Introduction 79
vii
viii Contents
Physical Constants 79
Density of Hydrocarbons 91
Characteristics of Petroleum Fractions . . .. 115
Molecular Weight of Petroleum Fractions 134
Critical Properties .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 135
Thermal Properties 148
5. FIRE AND EXPLOSION GUIDE
FOR COMMON CHEMICALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Introduction 219
Alphabetical Listing of High Hazard Chemicals 219
Emergency Response Fact Sheets 283
6. CHEMICAL COMPATIBILITY INFORMATION 364
7. RESPONDING TO SPILLS AND LEAKS . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
Introduction 395
Preplans and Approaching the Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . 398
Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances 401
Final Comments on Fire and Spill Control . . . . . . . . . . . 413
APPENDIX - HAZARD CHEMICALS LISTING 415
INDEX 525
1
Fire Protection Principles
INTRODUCTION
Fire prevention is a major aspect ofa total fire protection program.
Well-planned fire prevention activities can save millions of dollars by
preventingthe destructivenessoffire, as well as saving lives inindustry and
the public.
Foryears, thecooperationofcorporate management receivedby the
fire protection specialist was based on the loss suffered by the industry.
However, fires donotjusthappenbutare almostalwayscausedbyanunsafe
actorcondition. Thus, mostfires canbepreventedby the eliminationofthe
unsafe act orcondition which contributes to the cause ofthe fire.
Justification for a fire prevention program (including budget,
personnel, equipment, and time)canbeprovenbyquantitative evidence. A
proper record keepingsystem ofall activities includinginspections, hazard
abatement, fire protection systems installations, and educational programs
will prove valuable in this area. Using an analysis of the results in these
areas can indicate the successfulness ofplant fire prevention efforts.
This chapter highlights important concepts to fire prevention
programs. It is an introduction to some of the preventive measures and
managerial responsibilities oforganizations in preventingfires.
FIREPREVENTIONPRINCIPLES
Fire prevention activities can be categorized as engineering,
education, andenforcement functions. A briefdescription ofeach ofthese
areas follows.