[labnetwork] Fire Suppression for Gas Cabinets (HBr/BCl3/Cl2)

[Tom Britton]

Thank you Bob!

I'll weigh in on this one as well. We supply sprinklers in all of our gas systems (Cabinets, Rack Units and VMBs) for HPM gases, and strongly suggest that they be used as part of a proper fire suppression strategy. Reading what others have written, they all center around sprinkling an area which is correct, so I'll add a few comments on sprinklers in general.


1.       Sprinklers in the gas cabinets are good for dousing the flames when gases catch fire, but several gases are not extinguished with water. In these events the goal is to keep the fire under control until it can be suppressed.

2.       Sprinklers in gas cabinets are primarily there to keep the cylinders cool during a fire so they don't detonate. A gas cabinet fire is a violent event, (see attached photo) with temperatures rapidly rising inside of a confined space enclosure with one or two heavy walled aluminum or steel cylinders full of flammable liquid (assumption that the gases are flammable). Should the cylinders get too hot, combustion can occur.

3.       Properly designed gas cabinets, with appropriate switches (temperature, UVIR, hazardous gas monitor, excess flow) that shut the cabinet down upon event, coupled with proper cylinder change and maintenance procedures, including leak testing of the new cylinder installed before gas is introduced, do a very good job of making sure that a fire does not occur.

Best to everyone and hope to all in June at the UGIM Conference in Utah. Ian and his team are working hard to make this a success, and I'm excited to see what they have done with the place.

Thank you!

Tom

Tom Britton
Director of Sales
Critical Systems, Inc.
Direct: 208-890-1417
Office: 877-572-5515
www.CriticalSystemsInc.com<http://www.criticalsystemsinc.com/>

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From: Bob Henderson [mailto:bob.henderson at etchedintimeinc.com]
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2016 11:11 AM
To: 'Noah Clay'; 'Michael Hume'
Cc: labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu; Tom Britton
Subject: RE: [labnetwork] Fire Suppression for Gas Cabinets (HBr/BCl3/Cl2)

Tom Britton is a contributor to this forum and his company has provided us with a lot of valuable equipment and technical advice regarding VNB and Gas Cabinets. His phone number is 877-572-5515. Bob Henderson

From: labnetwork-bounces at mtl.mit.edu<mailto:labnetwork-bounces at mtl.mit.edu> [mailto:labnetwork-bounces at mtl.mit.edu] On Behalf Of Noah Clay
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2016 6:24 AM
To: Michael Hume
Cc: labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu<mailto:labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu>
Subject: Re: [labnetwork] Fire Suppression for Gas Cabinets (HBr/BCl3/Cl2)

Michael,

At Penn, these cabinets and VMBs have UV/IR sensors and are internally sprinkled.  This was mandated by our insurance underwriters.  It may open a can of worms, but I suggest inquiring with them; their requirements tend to supersede all else.

-Noah Clay
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 31, 2016, at 18:45, Michael Hume <michael.hume at ualberta.ca<mailto:michael.hume at ualberta.ca>> wrote:
Hello All,

We are installing 2 new cabinets in our cleanroom for toxic gasses. One will house Hbr & BCl3, the other Cl2 & N2 (purge). We have very limited experience dealing with these gasses and I am wondering if anyone can offer and advice with regards to best methods/practice for fire suppression in each of the cabinets.

Thanks in advance,

--

Michael Hume

IT & System Specialist

University of Alberta - nanoFAB

W1-060 ECERF Building

9107 - 116 Street

Edmonton, Alberta

Canada T6G 2V4
www.nanofab.ualberta.ca<http://www.nanofab.ualberta.ca/> Ph: 587-879-1519
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