Standards and procedures for pressure decay testing laboratories to ensure fire code compliance

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Standards and procedures for pressure decay
testing laboratories to ensure fire code
compliance
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Definition of a laboratory unit

• A laboratory unit (lab unit) is an enclosed space
  used for experiments and tests
• A lab unit can include ancillary offices, toilet,
  etc. and contain one or more separate lab work
  areas
• A lab work area is defined as a space within the
  lab unit for testing, analysis, research or
  similar activities that involve the use of
  chemicals

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Lab unit 1
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Lab unit 2
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Lab unit 3
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Defining lab units
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All 3 lab unit layouts are the same - as defined
by the code.
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Basic fire safety requirements for laboratories

• NFPA 45, 2004

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Basic fire safety requirements for laboratories

• NFPA 45, 2004
• The prevention and control of hazards such as
  fires explosions and exposure to toxic,
  corrosive, and other harmful chemicals.
• The objectives of this code are
• Limit injury to the occupants at the point of
  fire origin.
• Limit injury to emergency response personnel.
• Limit property loss to a maximum of a single
  Laboratory Unit.
• States that all new labs must be protected with
  automatic extinguishing systems
• It is not the objective of this standard to
  address financial losses or business
  interruptions or property loss.

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Basic fire safety requirements for laboratories

• NFPA 45, 2004 (cont)
• Fire compartmentation
• Fire fighting lobby
• Automatic fire detection and extinguishing system
• Caution label
• Anteroom

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Biosafety level laboratories

• BSL-3, BSL-3 AG and BSL-4

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Definition of BSL

• Biosafety Level
• the level of safety from exposure to
  infectious agents depends on work practices and
  safety equipment and facilities

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Levels of BSL

• There are 5 levels of BSL
• BSL-1- exposure only to infectious agents that do
  not ordinarily cause human disease
• BSL-2 - exposure to infectious agents that can
  cause disease in humans but whose potential for
  transmission is limited
• BSL-3 - exposure to infectious agents that can be
  transmitted by the respiratory route and which
  can cause serious infection
• BSL-3AG research involving certain biological
  agents in large animal species
• BSL 4 - exposure to exotic infectious agents that
  pose a high risk of life-threatening disease and
  can be transmitted as an aerosol and for which
  there is no vaccine or therapy

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Definition of BSL

• BSL-3 and BSL-4
• is defined as any enclosed room or space which
  is designed to comply with the WHO, (World Health
  Organization) and MOHs requirements for storing
  or handling of biological agents or toxins
• BSL-3 AG
• involves certain biological agents in large
  animal species

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Guidelines for safety of BSL-3 BSL-4

• To stipulate the safety requirements for
  biomedical facilities (Bio-Safety Level 3 and
  above) handling biological agents or toxins
• Lab units or lab work areas shall be
  continuously maintained at a negative pressure
• Pressure decay testing
• Door fan testing

Not covered in NFPA 45
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Typical BSL-3/4 containment lab
BOX IN A BOX
ANTE ROOMS
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Fire Codes

• Current resources for laboratories

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Current resources for codes

• Standard on Halon 1301 Fire Extinguishing
  Systems, (NFPA 12A), 2004
• Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler
  Systems, (NFPA 13), 2005
• Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and
  Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection
  Systems, (NFPA 25), 2002
• Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories
  Using Chemicals, (NFPA 45), 2004
• Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening
  Protectives, (NFPA 80) 2007
• Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilating
  Systems, (NFPA 90A),  2002

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Current resources for codes

• Standard for Exhaust Systems for Air Conveying of
  Vapors, Gases, Mists, and Non-combustible
  Particulate Solids, (NFPA 91), 2004
• Standard for Smoke-Control Systems Utilizing
  Barriers and Pressure Differences, (NFPA 92A),
  2006
• Life Safety Code, (NFPA 101), 2006
• Standard on Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing
  Systems, (NFPA 2001), 2004
• Standard System for the Identification of the
  Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response,
  (NFPA 704), 2007

• The primary source for laboratories is NFPA 45
• as it was removed from NFPA 101 in 1996.

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NFPA 45

• Chapter 1 Administration
• Chapter 2 Referenced Publications
• Chapter 3 Definitions
• Chapter 4 Laboratory Unit Hazard Classifications
• Chapter 5 Laboratory Unit Design and
  Construction
• Chapter 6 Fire Protection
• Chapter 7 Explosion Hazard Protection
• Chapter 8 Laboratory Ventilating Systems and
  Hood Requirements
• Chapter 9 Chemical Storage, Handling, and Waste
  Management
• Chapter 10 Flammable and Combustible Liquids
• Chapter 11 Compressed and Liquefied Gases
• Chapter 12 Laboratory Operations Apparatus
• Chapter 13 Hazard Identification

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NFPA 45

• Appendix A Explanatory Material
• Appendix B Supplementary Definitions
• Appendix C Supplementary Information on
  Explosion Hazards and Protection
• Appendix D Supplementary Information on the
  Concept of the Laboratory Unit
• Appendix E Flammable characteristics of Common
  Compressed and Liquefied Gases
• Appendix F Safety Tips for Compressed Gas Users
• Appendix G Informational References

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Enclosure Integrity Procedure

• NFPA 12A, 2004
• Annex B, Door fan testing methods and formulas
  for calculating enclosure leakage
• NFPA 2001, 2004
• Annex C, Door fan testing methods and formulas
  for calculating enclosure leakage

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Automatic extinguishing systems

• NFPA 12, 2005
• Standard on Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing Systems
• NFPA 12A, 2004
• Standard on Halon 1301 Fire Extinguishing
  Systems,
• NFPA 13, 2005
• Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler
  Systems
• NFPA 2001, 2004
• Standard on Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing
  Systems

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Water-based fire protection systems

• NFPA 25, 2002
• Establishes the minimum requirements for the
  periodic inspection, testing, and maintenance of
  water-based fire protection systems including
  sprinkler, standpipe and hose, fixed water spray
  and foam water.
• Fires must be contained in the room of origin
  within a single laboratory unit. Lab units shall
  be fire compartmented from each other and non-lab
  areas.
• Does not cover other automatic extinguishing
  systems ie, Low, Medium and High-Expansion Foam
  CO2 Halon 1301 Water Spray Fixed Systems Dry
  Chemical Wet Chemical Explosion Prevention
  Mist and Clean Agent. (These are referenced in
  NFPA 45, 6.2.2)

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Fire doors

• NFPA 80, 2007
• Defines all pertinent codes for doors and other
  opening protectives in laboratories

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Air conditioning ventilating systems

• NFPA 90A, 2002
• Defines all pertinent codes for installation of
  air conditioning and ventilating systems based
  upon occupancies and hazardous materials

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Exhaust systems

• NFPA 91, 2004
• Standards for exhaust systems for air conveying
  of vapors, gases, mists, and non-combustible
  particle solids

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Smoke-control systems

• NFPA 92 A, 2006
• Standard for Smoke-Control Systems Utilizing
  Barriers and Pressure Differences

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Emergency response

• NFPA 704, 2007
• Standard system for the identification of the
  hazards of materials for emergency response

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Testing design standards

• Current resources for laboratories

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Current resources for testing design standards

• Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Facilities
  Design Standards, (242.1M-ARS), 2006
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI),
  General Room Exhaust of (ANSI/AIHA Z9.5),
  Laboratory Ventilation, 2002
• Standard Test Method for Water Penetration of
  Windows, Curtain Walls and Doors Using Dynamic
  Pressure, (AAMA 501.1-05), 2005
• Standard Test Method for Determining Rate of Air
  Leakage Through Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls,
  and Doors Under Specified Pressure Differences
  Across the Specimen, (ASTM E 283-04)

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Current resources for testing design standards

• Standard Test Method for Structural Performance
  of Exterior Windows, Doors, Skylights and Curtain
  Walls by Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference,
  (ASTM E 330-02) and (ASTM E 331-00)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• Department of Health and Human Services, Centers
  for Disease Control (CDC)
• Association for Assessment and Accreditation of
  Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC International)

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Testing certification of a containment room

• The purpose of testing is to determine if the
  walls, floors, ceilings, penetrations, and other
  containment barrier features have adequate
  integrity to prevent leakage of air from the
  containment space

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Testing certification of a containment room

• Testing will involve 3 steps
• Pre-testing for gross leaks
• Soap bubble pre-testing
• Pressure decay testing

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Testing for gross leaks

• Raising and lowering containment space air
  pressure to about .5 W.C. (125 Pascal)
• Look and listen for leaks

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Soap bubble pre-testing

• Performed after gross leaks have been identified
  and repaired
• Typically performed under negative pressure when
  soap bubbles are readily visible on the inside
  surface of the containment barrier
• Slowly load building to maintain 2 W.C. (500
  Pascal), then apply a low surface tension liquid
  detergent to find any sources of air leakage

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Door fan testing

• Measures the size of the holes in an enclosure
  and the pressure that exists across the holes
• Pressurization should be gradual (to not damage
  the structure)

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Door fan testing

• Steps involved
• Door fan is temporarily installed from the
  protected space to a large open area or outdoors
• Blow air out of the room (Depressurization)
• Blow air into the room (Pressurization)
• These readings are averaged to reduce errors due
  to HVAC operation, wind and faulty gauge zeroing

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Pressure decay testing

• How retention time is calculated
• The testing agent is heavier than air which
  presses down on the air in the room, so the flow
  develops whenever the holes have pressure across
  them, thus creating a negative pressure across
  the top (the descending interface case). This
  pulls a similar volume into the room as was exited

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Pressure decay testing

• Most specifications call for a ten minute
  retention time

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Pressure decay testing

• Typically the containment zone will be
  depressurized to 2 W.C. below adjacent areas.
  The differential pressure will then be recorded
  each minute for 20 minutes
• A 20 minute wait period is required then the test
  is repeated
• Acceptance criterion would be 2 consecutive tests
  demonstrating 1 W.C. negative differential
  pressure remaining after 20 minutes with an
  initial pressure of 2 W.C. negative pressure

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Pressure decay testing reports

• Each decay test report shall include
• Start time and date
• Start and end room temperature
• Monometer data (brand, model, serial number, date
  of last calibration, full scale reading and
  smallest scale unit)
• Description of fan blower unit and control means
• Tabulation of pressure differential reading for
  each test minute
• A graphical plot of the test data
• A floor plan illustrating the containment
  envelope and the location of the fan/blower unit
• A description of the test including seals and
  block outs
• Signature and date by the person completing the
  test

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Conclusion

• The base code for labs is NFPA 45
• NFPA 45 DOES NOT include door fan testing and
  pressure decay testing (refer to NFPA 12 A, Annex
  B and NFPA 2001, Annex C)

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References

• In addition to the codes listed
• Diagrams Technical guidelines and fire safety
  requirements for laboratories handling chemicals.
  Singapore civil defense force http//www.scdf.gov
  .sg
• Some definitions Wordnet a lexical database
  for the English language. Princeton university
  http//wordnet.princeton.edu