dry chemical suppression for lithium compounds
TRANSCRIPT
Dry Chemical Suppression for Lithium Compounds Presented by: Brian R. Donner, CET
Objectives • What is Lithium and Lithium Compounds? • Protection of Lithium Compounds • Applicable Codes • Types of Dry Chemical Agents • Dry Chemical System Design • Alarms and Controls • Safety and Training
What is Lithium? • Belongs to the alkali metal group of chemical elements
What is Lithium?
• Is a soft, silver-white metal • Lightest metal known
What is Lithium? • Under standard conditions it is the lightest
metal and the least dense solid element • Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly reactive
and flammable • Pyrophoric
What is Pyrophoric? • Pyrophoric
– FCNYS Chapter 41 – Section 4102.1; Definition – A chemical with an auto ignition
temperature in air, at or below a temperature of 130°F.
Common Uses of Lithium and its Compounds • Used in industrial applications such as:
– Electronics; Lithium and Lithium-ion battery
– Alloys used in aircraft – Heat-resistant glass and ceramics
Protection of Lithium Compounds
• Re-ignition is a key problem • NO WATER!! • Extinguishing agents
– Dry Chemical – Foam – CO2?
Codes NFPA 17 Standard for Dry Chemical Extinguishing Systems
Codes
• Building and Fire Code of New York State BCNYS/FCNYS
• BCNYS – Chapter 9, Section 904 • FCNYS – Chapter 9, 34, & 41
Codes • FM Global • Local Authority Having Jurisdiction • Other insurance requirements
Example Building
Example Building
Example Building • n-Butyllithium • Stored as a liquid suspended in hexane • Room is separated from other areas of
the building with rated construction
Types of Dry Chemical Agents
Types of Dry Chemical Agents • Monoammonium Phosphate
– a.k.a. “multipurpose” or “ABC” Fires – More corrosive than other dry chemical
agents
• Sodium Bicarbonate – “BC” Fires
Types of Dry Chemical Agents • Potassium Bicarbonate
– “Purple K” – Used on class B and C fires. About two
times as effective on class B fires as sodium bicarbonate, it is the preferred dry chemical agent of the oil and gas industry
Types of Dry Chemical Agents • MET-L-KYL
– Specialty variation of sodium bicarbonate for fighting pyrophoric fires
– In addition to sodium bicarbonate, it also contains silica gel particles
– The sodium bicarbonate interrupts the chain reaction of the fuel and the silica soaks up any unburned fuel, preventing contact with air
Dry Chemical System Design • Total Flood
– Size of room or area being protected – Cubic volume of room.
• Local Application
Dry Chemical System Alarms/Controls
• Releasing Panels • Tanks/cylinders • Detection • Notification appliances • Manual pull stations
Dry Chemical System Alarms/Controls
Releasing panel Addressable vs. Non-Addressable
Dry Chemical System Alarms/Controls
Releasing
Dry Chemical System Alarms/Controls
Tanks/Cylinders
Dry Chemical System Alarms/Controls
Smoke or Heat Detectors What type of environment is space?
Dry Chemical System Alarms/Controls
Notification Devices
Dry Chemical System Alarms/Controls
Manual Pull Stations • Different pull
stations for multiple systems
Dry Chemical System Alarms/Controls
Gas Monitoring
Dry Chemical System Design Signs/Identification
Maintenance and Training • Fire Department involvement • Employee training • Safety precautions • MSDS Sheets
Safety Items to Consider • Personnel training • Warning signs • Pre-discharge alarms • Discharge alarms • Respiratory protection
Questions?? • What is one of the key problems when
fighting lithium fires? • What is one of the main goals for
extinguishing lithium fires? • Why is training important ?
Thank you! Dry Chemical Suppression for Lithium Compounds Presented by: Brian R. Donner, CET