How is the fire hazard category defined for gas-fired heat transfer oil furnace rooms?
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Boilers that burn natural gas use heat transfer oil for heating; how should this type of room be classified? Logically, when heat transfer oil is in use, the heating temperature exceeds its flash point; according to the definitions set by the petrochemical industry, a heat transfer oil furnace room should be classified as Category B ； But boilers that burn natural gas are classified as open-flame equipment due to their glowing embers; therefore, should this heat transfer oil furnace room be categorized as a Class B open-flame building? Looking back, Class A and Class B rooms are supposed to be located away from open flames or areas where sparks are generated. So wouldn’t it be unreasonable to classify a room as both Class B and a room with open flames? Furthermore, is the chimney of a gas boiler considered a location where sparks can be emitted? I seek advice from the experts regarding the issues above. . .
For details, refer to the Code for Fire Protection Design of Buildings GB50016-2014, page 8, item 2 under Category D: various types of production that use gases, liquids, or solids as fuels, or that involve burning gases or liquids for other purposes. The explanatory notes can be found on page 182, example 2 under Category D; the first example mentioned is a boiler room. Therefore, gas boilers and heat transfer oil boilers fall under Category D, and not under Categories A or B.
Gas boilers and heat transfer oil boilers both belong to Class D. Code for Fire Protection Design of Buildings GB50016-2014
This is an old topic; here is my personal understanding: 1. The distance between different types of workshops mainly depends on the fire resistance rating of the building materials. Workshops with a higher fire resistance rating can be placed closer to each other. 2. The boiler room is classified as Category D because the open flame is contained within the boiler, and this flame is controllable; whereas the flames in Category A, B, and C workshops are uncontrollable. 3. The supporting facilities in the boiler room, such as the oil tank room, oil pump room, and oil heating room, are classified as Class C production facilities; their buildings must have a fire resistance rating of at least level 2. When these rooms are located within the boiler auxiliary areas, fire walls should be installed to separate them from other areas. 4. Gas pressure regulation facilities fall under the category of Class A production buildings; their construction should meet a fire resistance rating of at least level 2. A firewall should be installed to separate the pressure regulation room, which is adjacent to the boiler room, from the boiler room itself. The doors and windows of this room should open outward and should not lead directly into the boiler room.
However, if the operating temperature of the heat transfer oil exceeds its flash point, and according to petrochemical regulations it is necessary to upgrade it from Category C to Category B, how should this be handled?
I think the classification of heat transfer oil furnaces is somewhat ambiguous; they are considered a type of boiler, specifically organic heat carrier boilers. However, their operating temperature is higher than their flash point, and according to petrochemical regulations, their classification should be upgraded from Category C to Category B
I’m also struggling with the question of whether a heat transfer oil furnace room counts as a boiler room as well. TSG G0001 clearly states that it is a type of boiler, but the design codes for boiler rooms specify that such rooms are applicable to steam boilers and hot water boilers that use water as the working medium. Is a heat transfer oil boiler room a special type of boiler room?
I’m also struggling with the question of whether a heat transfer oil furnace room counts as a boiler room as well. TSG G0001 clearly states that it is a type of boiler, but the design codes for boiler rooms specify that such rooms are applicable to steam boilers and hot water boilers that use water as the working medium. Is a heat transfer oil boiler room a special type of boiler room?
Boiler room design codes have abandoned heat transfer oil boilers