I have a question: if a Class A device (one that uses methanol) is to be installed in the workshop, how should the fire hazard level of this building be classified?

It will be classified as Class A under both the petrochemical regulations and building codes

If the methanol equipment and pipelines account for less than 5%, they can be classified according to the existing workshop category

According to the regulations, it is necessary to consider the fire compartments and the area they cover, but in practice it is generally classified as Category A. It is not believed that raw material storage tanks, as well as the metering tanks used in the workshop, need to meet the process requirements; there is no need for a certain distance between them

It depends on the type of factory building: for Class D and E buildings, a rate of less than 5% allows them to be classified as Class D or E, while Class C buildings must be classified as Class A regardless of their size

Sir, for the measuring tanks used in workshops, it is sufficient that they meet the process requirements; there’s no need to consider distance. Is there any standard or regulation to support this? Thank you

I have a question. I’ve encountered a similar issue as well, and I have two questions: ① Why can the proportion for Class D and E be less than 5% and still classify them as Class D or E, while Class C is always classified as Class A regardless of its proportion? Which regulation does this follow? I saw that in clause 3.1.2 of the building codes, it states that 5% applies without any distinction as to category, while when referring to Class D and E, it specifies that painting areas of Class D and E should be no less than 10%. ②If it is less than 5%, is it still necessary to separate it from other areas using a firewall? Thank you for the advice!

Dear teachers, I’ve encountered a similar issue as well: if the equipment occupies less than 5% of the area, is it still necessary to separate it from other areas using a firewall? The workshop I encountered was only 2,000 square meters in size; 5% of that is 100 square meters. If a separation is made, the operating space and evacuation routes for this Class A equipment will become very limited. How do people deal with such situations?

Dear masters, please share your insights

3.1.2 When production activities with different fire hazards are carried out in the same factory building or within any fire compartment of such a building, the fire hazard classification for the production activities in that factory building or fire compartment shall be determined based on the part with the higher fire hazard； When the amount of flammable or combustible materials used or generated during the production process is small enough as not to pose a risk of explosion or fire, it can be determined based on the actual circumstances ； When one of the following conditions is met, it can be determined based on the part with lower fire risk: In Figure 1, the proportion of the production areas with higher fire risk in the total floor area or fire compartment area is less than 5%, or in factories of categories D and E, the proportion of painting areas is less than 10%; furthermore, in the event of a fire, such areas are not likely to spread to other parts, or effective fire prevention measures have been taken for those production areas with higher fire risk ； 2 In painting areas within Class D and E factories, when a closed painting process is used, a negative pressure should be maintained in the enclosed painting space; a combustible gas detection and alarm system or an automatic explosion suppression system should be installed in such areas. Moreover, the area occupied by the painting areas within the fire compartment should not exceed 20% of the total building area. I’m sorry, I was wrong.