INDUSTRY SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS

The evolution of fire in confined space in a Power Plant, warehouse, production floor or commercial office space is primarily characterized by the complex interaction between the combustion process, the enclosure and occupants, which has to be managed when coping with fire emergency, and more in general, for fire safety. Here we attempt to propose a quick decision-making tool based on adversity scenarios and more specifically through the definition of four main elements:

1. the potential fire spread categories, which describe the potential paths and extents of fire propagation
2. the thermal load expressed as hot gas layer temperature

• the Available Safe Egress Time (ASET) for people to leave the enclosure (which is essential for organizing people evacuation)

1. other specific hazards

Basically, two indicators describe the potential fire-induced adverse situations, the first is a qualitative description of the potential fire, and the second is a quantitative evaluation of the thermal load on sensible targets, based on Hot Gas Layer Temperature (HGLT). The assessment process starts with an inspection of the workplace which is divided into cells, i.e. single rooms or enclosures or in more in general subsections of the same workplace separated from those adjacent by physical elements as walls or floors and – in the open – barriers or separation distances. Then, important information regarding the characteristics of the stored materials, the storage conditions and the features of the enclosure such as floor area, ceiling height, openings should be collected.

As a whole we can summarize the following key analysis regimes in the specific pharmaceutical industry:

1. Complete hazard inventory of Chemical Warehouse/storage
2. Analysis of MSDS of chemicals for risk assessment considering possibility & probability
3. Hazard Mapping of a given enclosure/fire zone
4. Qualitative evaluation of Conventional potential fire scenario [fuel package concept-NFPA921(2011)] in the given enclosure/fire zone
5. Quantitative assessment of the fire impact on sensible targets in the enclosure/fire zone [Key variables: HGLT (Hot Gas Layer Temperature) and HRR (Heat Release Rate)]
6. Analysis of Neighboring hazard/interaction of a given enclosure/fire zone as a result of Qualitative & Quantitative assessment of neighboring occupancies
7. Detection selection criteria of the given enclosure/fire zone [Key constraint: Stratification effect]
8. Extinguisher selection criteria for the given enclosure/fire zone
9. Air change and its effect on fire hazard for the given enclosure/fire zone
10. Fire Propagation Risk Analysis on Technical Floors and ducting