Questions regarding GB50016 and GB50160

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1. Many professionals working on overall plant design know that, according to GB50016 (Code for Fire Protection Design of Buildings), the height of Class A factories is limited to 24 meters during approval processes, and this sometimes poses a challenge for the design process. In GB50160 (Code for Fire Protection Design of Petrochemical Enterprises), there are only distance requirements for such installations, with no height requirements. I have also worked on several large open-air petrochemical installations, some of which were 40 to 60 meters in height. Question: When should a factory building be chosen, and when should an open-air installation be chosen? State the basis (the referenced specifications or standards). (Personal summary: It seems that in cases where there are solids involved in the manufacturing process, a factory building structure is chosen; but this isn’t likely to be the only reason.) 2. Regarding the maximum area for Class A warehouses ； According to Table 3.3.2 of GB50016 (Code for Fire Protection Design of Buildings), clear regulations are set for the maximum floor area and maximum building area of Class A warehouses. However, GB50160 (Code for Fire Protection Design of Petrochemical Enterprises) does not specify any area requirements; instead, it defines these parameters in terms of the amount of material stored or the number of days of production. Question: Are there any other standards that provide further clarification on this? The largest Class A warehouse I’ve seen in Nanjing covers nearly 6,000 square meters (divided into four sections), which is far exceeding the requirements of GB50016. 3. In petrochemical open-air facilities, the structure above a certain height is made of a fully steel framework, while in some cases the main beams and columns are made of concrete, with the secondary beams being of steel construction ； Question: Is the choice made solely due to load considerations, or are there other codes that also play a role in this decision? If you have any questions regarding GB50016 and GB50160, feel free to share them as well for discussion.