Dnkldorf
Thanks for the kind words. Let me take a stab at a “short” answer to your question about oxygen as an accelerant.
I somehow remember a fireman telling me one time that Oxygen was an accelerant. If this is true, wouldn't that in considerable amounts be enough to reclassify some divisions or areas to another?
Oxygen is not technically an "accelerant." An accelerant is:
A substance, such as a petroleum distillate, that is used as a catalyst, as in spreading an intentionally set fire.
Typically, the use of the word catalyst in the above definition refers to a source of fuel. Oxygen is not a fuel. However, oxygen is required for a fire to happen. In fire engineering there is a concept called the "fire tetrahedron." This concept is used to explain that for any fire to occur there must be four elements present: Fuel, Heat, Oxygen, and an uncontrolled chain reaction. If you can remove (or control the presence) of one of these four elements, a fire will not occur or will be extinguished. The firefighter was probably simplifying this for purposes of explanation.
An Oxidizer for the record is:
a chemical that initiates or promotes combustion in other materials, thereby causing fire either of itself or through the release of oxygen or other gases.
So… oxygen must have a source of fuel to initiate or promote a fire. If there is a
sufficient fuel source present or expected to be present then yes, it would be prudent to possibly classify the area. You have to have an adequate level of fuel present not just “some” fuel.
Ahh but my post is getting long again!
Which brings me to Roger’s comments.
Roger
Just exactly what (how much)did you edit?
Not much, but, when you are trying to type everything in the teeny tiny box, it gets confusing. After posting and rereading, I decided the add everything starting with the BTW near the end of the post.
Sorry, I honestly didn’t expect the post to go on… and on… and on. It just kinda’ snowballed, hey it is winter here in the great state of OHIO.
Do you really think any one will buy all of these NFPA documents?
I guess I was trying to make a point by including all of the document titles. I would expect an Electrical Engineer or other “design professional” to research the appropriate document. Since many (but not all) of people that visit this site are Electrical Contractors, I would expect that if you are doing design work… then yes… I would expect you to get the document… review it… apply it. If you are only working off of someone else’s specs or prints… heck, let them pay for the documents and the time doing the research.
Even if you're a member and can access them free...
Sorry, but, just being a member doesn’t get you “free” access to the standards.
However, members do get “free” access to the on-line version of the NEC.
Edited to correct two code errors.
[This message has been edited by safetygem (edited 01-29-2005).]