Water Environment Federation (WEF) Discussion Forums / Disinfection / Archives / Archived Forum Topics / chlorination and fire/mech code / Latest Posts

RE: chlorination and fire/mech code

TerryF — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 16:04:37 GMT

David,

You are right. However i think the sprinklers are mainly there to limit the fire around the chlorine containers and thereby limiting the damage. Likewise if there is a leak the water tends to convert the chlorine to hydrochloric acid as you suggest but at least this is in a liquid form that might be able to be contained unlike the gas which will drift off downwind.

Regards

TerryF

RE: chlorination and fire/mech code

D Shulmister — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 11:15:55 GMT

If I recall correctly, putting water on a chlorine leak will produce hydrochloric acid which in turn will eat away around the leak area and cause it to grow.

RE: chlorination and fire/mech code

Christopher Buckley — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:27:49 GMT

Chlorine can support combustion, so yes, sprinking is often required by fire code, along with a host of other safety and monitoring equipment for chlorine gas like ventilation

Not sure where you are but I would bet good money that no permitting agency (environmental or fire) is going give variances on chlorine gas Risk Management Practices. It's why most agencies have moved to other forms of chlorination.

chlorination and fire/mech code

01763398 — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 11:01:41 GMT

We are currently designing a new chlorination building for a rural water system. Our mechanical/electrical guys are saying (based on current International Fire Code and Mechanical Code) that we need to continuously ventilate the room where the gas cylinders are located AND install fire sprinklers. Our building will be concrete/masonry and steel so there are no combustibles located in the chlorine room. We'd like to do intermittent ventilation and eliminate the fire sprinklers. Does anyone have RECENT experience dealing with these issues? Have building/fire officials allowed variances?