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Hazard Classification

Fire Hazard Classification

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91 views

Hazard Classification

Fire Hazard Classification

Uploaded by

shant_m
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SCHULTE & ASSOCIATES

Building Code Consultants


880D Forest Avenue
Evanston, IL 60202
[email protected]
847/866-7479

SPRINKLER PROTECTION BASICS:


HAZARD CLASSIFICATION

LIGHT HAZARD:

C Quantity of combustibles is low (less than 10 pounds of wood equivalent per


square foot) and/or

C Combustibility of contents is low and

C Low rates of heat release expected.

C Examples:

- Church seating areas


- Corridors
- Office areas
- Dwelling units
- Combustible concealed spaces (not used for storage)

ORDINARY HAZARD, GROUP 1:

C Quantity of combustibles is moderate and

C Combustibility of contents is low and

C Storage heights are 8 feet or less and

C Moderate rates of heat release expected.

C Examples:

- Parking garages
- Kitchens
- Mechanical rooms
- Storage rooms with storage height of 8 feet or less (and meeting the above cri-
teria for the quantity and combustibility of contents).

Building Code Resource Library 1 December 26, 2009


SPRINKLER PROTECTION BASICS:
HAZARD CLASSIFICATION

ORDINARY HAZARD, GROUP 2:

C Quantity of combustibles is moderate to high and

C Combustibility of contents is moderate to high and

C Storage heights do not exceed 12 feet and

C Moderate to high rates of heat release expected.

C Examples:

- Retail stores
- Storage rooms with storage heights of 12 feet or less (and meeting the above
criteria for the quantity and combustibility of contents)
- Warehouses (and meeting the above criteria for the quantity and combustibility
of contents)

EXTRA HAZARD, GROUP 1:

C Quantity of combustibles is very high and

C Combustibility of contents is very high and

C High rates of heat release expected and

C Small quantities of flammable/combustible liquids present.

C Examples:

- Saw mills
- Plywood/particle board manufacturing
- Furniture upholstering using foam plastics

Building Code Resource Library 2 December 26, 2009


SPRINKLER PROTECTION BASICS:
HAZARD CLASSIFICATION

EXTRA HAZARD, GROUP 2:

C Quantity of combustibles is very high and

C Combustibility of contents is very high and

C High rates of heat release expected.

C Flammable/combustible liquids in moderate to large quantities present or

C Contents are shielded.

C Examples:

- Flammable liquid spraying


- Mobile home manufacturing

Building Code Resource Library 3 December 26, 2009


SPRINKLER PROTECTION BASICS:
HAZARD CLASSIFICATION

HAZARD CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY:

HAZARD QUANTITY OF RATE OF


CLASSIFICATION COM BUSTIBLES COM BUSTIBILITY HEAT RELEASE

LIGHT Low Low Low

ORD., GROUP 1 Moderate Low Moderate

ORD., GROUP 2 Moderate/High Moderate/High Moderate/High

EXTRA, GROUP 1 Very High Very High High

EXTRA, GROUP 2 Very High Very High High

Building Code Resource Library 4 December 26, 2009


SPRINKLER PROTECTION BASICS:
HAZARD CLASSIFICATION

HAZARD CLASSIFICATION EXAMPLES:

OFFICE BUILDING:

C Light Hazard:

- Office areas
- Corridors
- Toilet rooms
- Break rooms

C Ordinary Hazard, Group 1:

- Mechanical rooms
- Electrical rooms
- Elevator machine rooms
- Storage rooms (ceiling height 8 feet or less)1

C Ordinary Hazard, Group 2:

- Storage rooms (ceiling height 12 feet or less)


1
Meeting the criteria for quantity/combustibility of contents for an ordinary, group 1 haz-
ard.

Building Code Resource Library 5 December 26, 2009


SPRINKLER PROTECTION BASICS:
HAZARD CLASSIFICATION

HAZARD CLASSIFICATION EXAMPLES:

HOSPITAL:

C Light Hazard:

- Patient rooms
- Corridors
- Offices
- Chapels
- Dining areas

C Ordinary Hazard, Group 1

- Mechanical rooms
- Electrical rooms
- Kitchens
- Storage rooms (ceiling height 8 feet or less)1
- Soiled utility rooms
- Clean utility rooms
- Laboratories (hazard classification will depend upon the amounts of
flammable and combustible liquids used and stored in the laboratories

C Ordinary Hazard, Group 2

- Storage rooms (ceiling height 12 feet or less)1


- Soiled linen rooms
1
Meeting the criteria for quantity/combustibility of contents for an ordinary, group 1
hazard.

Building Code Resource Library 6 December 26, 2009


SPRINKLER PROTECTION BASICS:
HAZARD CLASSIFICATION

HAZARD CLASSIFICATION EXAMPLES:

HOTEL:

C Light Hazard:

- Hotel guest rooms


- Corridors
- Toilet rooms
- Lobby
- Dining room seating areas
- Meeting rooms
- Ballrooms (not used for exhibitions)

C Ordinary Hazard, Group 1

- Mechanical rooms
- Electrical rooms
- Elevator machine rooms
- Kitchens
- Storage rooms (ceiling height 8 feet or less)1
- Parking garages

C Ordinary Hazard, Group 2

- Storage rooms (ceiling height 12 feet or less)


- Ballrooms used for exhibition purposes
1
Meeting the criteria for quantity/combustibility of contents for an ordinary, group 1 haz-
ard.

Building Code Resource Library 7 December 26, 2009


SPRINKLER PROTECTION BASICS:
HAZARD CLASSIFICATION

HAZARD CLASSIFICATION EXAMPLES:

RESTAURANT:

C Light Hazard:

- Dining Room (seating area)

C Ordinary Hazard, Group 1

- Kitchen
- Storage areas (ceiling heights of 8 feet or less)1

C Ordinary Hazard, Group 2

- Storage areas (ceiling heights of 12 feet or less)


1
Meeting the criteria for quantity and combustibility of contents for an ordinary, group 1
hazard.

* * * * *
Copyright © 2009 Richard C. Schulte
All Rights Reserved

Building Code Resource Library 8 December 26, 2009

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