The issue of setting up Class A synthesis areas in Class C factories
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For one of our chemical synthesis projects, as the required area is small (200㎡), it is planned to be located on the third floor of a Class C factory building; this floor constitutes an independent fire compartment with an area of 5000㎡. Place the Class A synthesis area on the third floor, against the wall. The synthesis equipment consists of over a dozen reactors with capacities ranging from 200L to 1000L, with a total amount of Class A solvents available online at any given time of about 1–2 tons. In accordance with building codes (3.1.2), when there are operations with different fire hazards within the same factory building or any fire compartment of such a building, the fire hazard classification for the operations within the building or fire compartment shall be determined based on the category with the higher fire hazard ； When the amount of flammable or combustible materials used or generated during the production process is small enough not to pose a risk of explosion or fire, it can be determined based on the actual circumstances ； It can be determined based on the part with lower fire hazard when one of the following conditions is met: 1) The proportion of the production area with higher fire hazard in that floor or fire compartment is less than 5%, or in factories of categories D and E, the proportion of painting areas is less than 10%; and in the event of a fire, it is not possible for the fire to spread to other areas, or effective fire prevention measures have been taken for the production areas with higher fire hazard ； ) meets the requirements, but according to the stripe interpretation of this clause, the amount of solvent online is excessive. Based on this, some experts say that there is no need to consider the amount of solvent, while others say it is necessary to take it into account. What are everyone's opinions?
Based on the information you provided, the key issue here is whether the setup of the Class A synthetic area complies with building codes. Although the Class A synthesis area covers a small area, the use of Class A solvents in quantities of 1–2 tons increases the risk of fire. As stated in the regulations, \"effective fire prevention measures have been taken for the production areas with a high fire risk.\" If effective fire isolation and control measures can be implemented, such as setting up firewalls and using automatic fire suppression systems, it may be possible to classify these areas as having a lower fire risk. However, if fire prevention measures are insufficient to prevent the spread of fire or explosion risks, the category of the factory building should be determined based on the part with a higher fire risk. It is recommended to conduct a thorough assessment of the effectiveness of current fire safety measures and discuss the best solutions with professionals. It is also necessary to take into account the relevant opinions and requirements of the local fire department. .
In the Building Code 50016-2014, the interpretation of clause 3.1.2 includes a table specifying the amount of solvents that may be used. The amount specified is very small; the maximum allowable amount of Category A1 substances is 100 L