HAZARDOUS MATERIALS COMMITTEE
U. C. DAVIS
January 26, 2001

In Attendance:

Cary Fergus- Petaluma Fire Department
Pat McLaughlin- McLaughlin & Associates
Ben Lehr- Grinnel Fire Protection
Angela Sullivan- Santa Clara Fire Department
Scott Moon- Petaluma Fire Department
Janet McCarron- San Jose Fire Department
Jason Rizzi- Sonoma County Fire
Kent Miller- Stockton Fire Department
Ron Keefer- Menlo Park Fire District

  1. The committee was asked by Chairperson Gene Gant, of the State Legislative Committee to review and provide comments on SB 32. The Bill, which was introduced by Senator Escutia, appears to discuss regulations on environmental site clean up. It appears that the Bill may be taking existing environmental clean up regulations and trying to put a greater responsibility on the property owner, with less government involvement. Committee members will be reviewing the Bill in more detail, and provide comments at a later date.
  2. Building and Fire Codes. . . Where are we going?? No one can answer for sure. The committee discussed Code Development with Pat McLaughlin, Chairman of the Hazardous Materials section of NFPA 5000. Committee members committed to working more closely with him during upcoming NFPA Code Development.
  3. Concern was raised over the change to the Uniform Fire Code which addressed safeguards for Fleet Refueling Operations. The NFPA 1 / UFC Committee did not include the updated requirements, so it will not be included in the Draft Document. The committee would like to submit a code change to NFPA 30A Section 9-3.4, the current NFPA Technical Document that addresses Fleet refueling. We plan to add the additional safeguards passed at the Code Hearings last October.
  4. Kent Miller expressed a concern over the size of the catch-basin required for over spill protection for underground storage tanks. Codes only require the device, they do not specify a size. Committee members will propose code language (to the NFPA 30 Committee) that will specify that catch-basins maintain a capacity of not less than 5 gallons, and not more than 15 gallons.
  5. Angela Sullivan proposed a question over the Nor Cal Web Site that asked if any jurisdictions were using special requirements for ventilation systems for spray booths. Results indicated that UBC Chapter 12, Section 1202.2 adequately addresses ventilation systems for spraying areas without local amendments. Provisions are in place in Section 1202.2 for both F and H occupancies

     

  6. Committee members discussed the possibility of a code change that would require exhaust ventilation to be maintained operational during both spill, gas leak and fire situations. This ventilation method is similar to that currently required for H-6 occupancies, which turns off make-up air and maintains exhaust ventilation to control gas leaks of HPM’s. A similar requirement throughout the Code seems to have the potential of keeping fires in the room of origin, and if the incident involves a toxic gas, the exhaust will ventilate to a treatment system. We are open to opposing views.
  7. Paul Inouye of Milpitas Fire Department e-mailed the committee regarding Article 80 Section 8003.3.1.6. The Code Section requires gas detection at exhaust ports to verify ½ IDLH. Paul contends that this requirement is impractical and needs to be removed. The committee agreed. Currently, jurisdictions require exhaust calculations to determine compliance with the ½ IDLH requirement, based on the chemicals used, as specified on the Hazardous Materials Inventory Statements.

The next regular meeting will be at the March Nor Cal Meeting, in Woodland. The Committee members will meet with Southern California FPO’s on Thursday February 8, at the Monterey Workshop.

 Respectfully Submitted
Ron Keefer, Co-Chair
Hazardous Materials Committee