IMG-I
COMMITTEE
PERSONNEL
AMENDMENTS
TO NFPA
50A
50A-1
The Report .of the Committee on Industrial and Medical Gases
is in two parts.
Report of Committee on
Industrial and Medical Gases
L. C. M a t t h e w s , Chatrman
Union Carbide Corporation, Linde Division, Safety Affairs Department
Ohl Saw Mill River Rd., Tarrytown, NY 10591
(rep. Compressed Gas Association, In(:.)
W. L. Walls,J- Secretary
National Five Protection Association
-t70 Atlantic Ave., Boston, MA 02210
W o o d r o w S. Boedecker, National LP-Gas
Association
J. A. Cedervall, Underwriters Laboratories
Inc.
A. E. CiehellL American Iron & Steel
Corporation
J o h n J. C r o w s , Compressed Gas Association, Inc.
W. H. Doyle, Simsbury, Connecticut'06070
L e o F o x w e l l , American Insurance Association
n o r o t h ~ G o l d e n ' R,N.,* American Hospital
Assocmtion
C h a r l e s B. H e n r l e t , Fire Marshals Association of North America
R. E. L e n h a r d , Compressed Ga~ A~u~iatiun,
Inc.
J a m e s A. Meyer, M.D.* (Col. MC) Committee on Healtb Care Facilities
W i l l i a m W. Russell, Manufacturing Chemists Association
F. Carl Saacke, American Welding Sociekv
Part I of the Report proposes amendulents to NFPA 50A - - 1973,
&andard for Gaseous Hydrogen Systems at Consumer Sites.
Part I of the Report has been submitted to letter ballot of the Commitlee which consists, for purposes of lhis standard, of ~ m b e r s :
T~velve ~ a t i v e l y .
Mr. Henrici voted negatively. The
Messrs. Cichelli and Saunders are recorded as not voling.
Part II of the Report proposes amendlnents to NFPA 50B - - 1973,
Standard for Liquefied Hydrogen Systems at Consumer Sites.
Part I I of the Report has been submitted to &tier ballot of the Committee which consists,/or purposes of this standard, of j.,L.ualing members.
Twelve members voted a2]irmattvely. Mr. Henrici voted negatively_. The
~ .
Cichelli and Saunders are recorded as not voting."-
C. E. S a u n d e r s , American Mutual Insurance
Alliance
H e n r y C. S c u o t e g u a z z a , Factory Mutual
Research Corporation
E. C. S o m m e r , American Petroleum institute
T h o m a s S. S t a r e s , J r . , Industrial Risk
Insurers
A. A. W e i t l t r a u b , Energy Research & Dex2elopment Administration (ERDA)
Part I
Proposed Amendments to the Standard for
Gaseous Hydrogen Systems at Consumer Sites
Alternates
Bobby R. Hall, American Pet,ro~eum ltlstitute (Alternate to E. C. Sommer)
W. It. Johnson, National LP-Gas Association (Alternate to W. S. Doedecker)
F r e d K, K l t s o n , Compressed Gas Association, Inc. (Alternate to John Crmve)
P. H. K r o m a y e r , American Iron and Steel
Institute (Alternate to A. E. Cichelli)
R o b e r t M . M a h o n e y , American Mutual Insurance Alliance (Alternate to C. E.
Saundgrs)
A. C, Miller, Factory 3iutual Research
(Alternate to H. C. Scuoteguazza)
H e n r y A. Miller, Airco Welding Products
Division (Alternate to R. E. Lenhard)
E. A. D i s c s , Compressed Gas Association,
Inc.'(Alternate to L. G. Matthews)
F r a n k Y. Spel~ht, American '~Velding So- "
emery (Alternate to F. C. Saacke)
J o s e p h G. Sprague,,American Hospital Association (Alternate to Dorothy Golden)
M i c h a e l E. Welskopf, Industrial Risk Insurers (Alternate to T. Stares, Jr.)
tNonvoting Member
*Vote limited to medical gases
This list represents the membership at the time the Committee was balloted on the text o/this edition.
Since that time, changes in the membership may have occurred.
NFPA 50A-1973
I. Amend the second sentence of ]2 as follows."
/"-)
i ¢
At atmospheric pressure the ignition temperature of h y d r o g e n - a i r ]
mixtures has been reported by the U.S. Bureau of Mines to be a s [ ff
l o w as 932F.
l I
2. Amend 2d as follows."
24. An existing system which is not in strict compliance with
the provisions of this Standard may be continued in use when such
use does not constitute a distinct hazard to life or adjoining property.
3. Amend 25 by adding "single" between "to" and "systems" in the
.first sentence and adding a second sentence as follows:
Where individual systems, each having a total hydrogen content
of less than 400 CF, are located less than 5 feet from each other,
this Standard shall apply.
0
50A-2
COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS
ON INDUSTRIAL AND MEDICAL GASES "
4. Amend Section 3, Definitions, editorially by deleting the numbers and
arranging the definitions in alphabetical order. Also amend or add new
definitions as follows:
3. Definitions.
TO NFPA 50A
50A-3
Outdoor (existing 35 unchanged).
Separate Building (existing 36 unchanged).
Special Room (existing 37 unchanged).
CF (existing 33 unchanged).
Add Combustible Liquid as follows:
Combustible L i q u i d shall mean a liquid havifig a closed cup
flash point at or above 100 F (37.8 C) and shall be subdivided
as follows:
Class I I liquids shall include those having a flash point at or
above 100 F (37.8 C) and below 140 F (60 C).
Class I I I A liquids shall include those having a flash point at
or above 140 F (60 C) and below 200 F (93.4 C).
Class I I I B liquids shall include those having flash points at
or above 200 F (93.4 C).
5. Amend 472 as follows:
412. Permanently installed containers shall be provided with
Substantial supports of noncombustible material on firm foundations
of noncombustible material.
• 6. Amend 432 by changing title of " A N S I B31.3" to "Chemical Plant
and Petroleum Refinery 'Piping" and the date to "1976."
7. Amend "d43 by adding " b y the general public" to the end of the
sentence.
Flammable L i q u i d (existing 32 amended as follows) :
8. Amend 513 by adding "or where exposed by their failure" to the
end of the sentence.
F l a m m a b l e Liquid. Flammable liquid (Class I) shall mean any
liquid having a closed cup flash point below 100 F (37.8 C) and
having a vapor pressure not exceeding 40 pounds per square inch
absolute (2068.6 mm) at 100 F (37.8 C).
9. Amend 514 as follows:
Gallon (existing 34 unchanged).
Gaseous H y d r o g e n System (existing 31 unchanged).
Add Noncombustible Materidl as follows:
Noncombustible Material (as defined in NFPA 220, Standard
on Types of Building Construction) means a material which, in
the form in which it is used and under the conditions anticipated,
will not ignite, burn, support combustion, or release flammable
vapors when subjected to fire or heat. Materials reported as noncombustible, when tested in accordance with the Standard Method
of Test for Noncombustibility of Elementary Materials, A S T M
E 136-73,* shall be considered noncombustible materials.
*Available from the American Society for Testing and Materials, 1916
Race St., Philadelphia, PA 19103.
514. Systems shall not be located close to piping containing
Class I, I I or I I I A flammable or combustible liquids or piping
containing other flammable gases.
10. Amend 515 as follows:
515. Systems near aboveground storage of Class I, II, or I I I A
flammable and combustible liquids shall be located on ground
higher than such storage, except when dikes, diversion curbs,
grading or separating solid walls are used to prevent accumulation
of these liquids under the system.
l 7. Relocate existing 523 as a "Note" to Table 2 and renumber existing
524 as 523.
12. Amend 523(b) [existing 524(b)] as follows:
Add Noncombustible/Limited-Combustible Construction as follows:
(b) 20 feet from Class I, I I and I I I A flammable and combustible liquids, oxidizing gases and readily combustible materials
such as excelsior and paper.
N o n c o m b u s t i b l e / L i r a / t e d - C o m b u s t i b l e Construction shall mean
a type of building construction as defined in NFPA 220, Standard
on Types of Building Construction.
13. Delete 523(d) [existing 524(d)] and redesignate (e) through (h) as
(d) through (g).
0
50A-4
COMMITTEE
ON INDUSTRIAL
AND MEDICAL
GASES
AMENDMENTS
14. Amend Table 2 as follows:
TABLE 2
Size of H y d r o g e n S y s t e m
Less
3,000 CF I n Excess
than
to
of
3,000 CF 15,000 CF 15,000 CF
T y p e of O u t d o o r Exposure
0
0
0
1. Building or Structure
a) Fire-Resistive Construction*
b) Wood F r a m e and Protected Wood F r a m e
Construction*
c) Construction T y p e s
other than (a) and
(b) *
10
25
50
0
10
25**
2. Wall Openings
N o t above a n y part of a
system
A b o v e any part of a system
10
10
10
25
25
25
I 3. Class I, I I and I I I A flammable and combustible
liquids above ground
0 - I , 0 0 0 gallons
10
25
25
In excess of 1,000 gallons
25
50
50
I 4. Class I, I I and I I I A flammable and combustible
liquids below g r o u n d - 0-1,000 gallons
Tank
10
10
10
[ 5. C l a s s I , I I and I I I A flammkble and combustible
liquids below g r o u n d - - _
in excess of !,000 ga!lens
Tank
i
0-15,000 C F capacity
6. F l a m m a b l e g a s storage
(other than hydrogen),
either high pressure or
low pressure
Vent or fill opening
tank
of
of
In excess of 15,000 C F
capacity
20,000 C F or less
7. Oxygen Storage
50A
50A-5
,15. Amend the first sentence of 621 by changing "noncombustible" to
noncombustible/limited-combustible.'
i
Vent or fill opening
tank
TO NFPA
M o r e t h a n 20,000 C F
25
25
25
20
. .20
20
25
2.5
25
10
25 .
25
25
50
50
"
50
50
50
9. Slow burning solids such as h e a v y t i m b e r or coal
25
25
25
25
25
25
50
50
50
25
50
50
15
15
15
5
5
5
11. Air compressor intakes or inlets to ventilating or airconditioning e q u i p m e n t
I 12. Places of public asseinbly
13., Public sidewalks
14. Line of adjoining property which m a y be built upon
17. Amend 626 by adding "except that electrical heating may be
used if in compliance with 625." to the end of the sentence.
18. Amend 636 by adding "except that electrical heating may be
used if in compliance with 635." to the end of the sentence.
19. Amend 91 as foUows:
91. The fire protection provided shall be determined by an
analysis of local conditions of hazard within the plant, exposure
to other properties, water supplies, the probable effectiveness of
plant fire brigades, and the time of response and probable effectiveness of fire departments.
20. Delete existing 92 and renumber existing 93 as 92.
21. Amend 92 (existing 93) by ending the sentence after the word "invisible."
Refer to N F P A No. 51, G a s Systems for Welding a n d C u t t i n g
Refer to N F P A No. 50, Bulk Oxygen S y s t e m s a t C o n s u m e r Sites
8. F a s t burning*solids such as ordinary lumber, excelsior
or paper
I 10. Open flames, s m o k i n g a n d welding
16. Amend the second sentence of 623 as follows: " T h e venting area
shall be equal to not less than one square foot per 30 cubic feet of
room volume and may consist of any one or any combination of
the following: walls of light material; lightly fastened hatch covers ;"
(remainder unchanged).
*Refer to N F P A No. 220, S t a n d a r d T y p e s of Building Construction, for definitions of various
types of construction.
**But not less t h a n one-half the height of a d j a c e n t side wall of the structure.
N O T E : T h e distances in I t e m s l, 14 a n d 3 to 10 inclusive do not apply where protective
structures, such as adequate fire walls, are located between the s y s t e m a n d the exposure.
",,4
50B-1
A M E N D M E N T S TO N F P A 5 0 B
C O M M I T T E E ON I N D U S T R I A L AND MEDICAL GASES
0
lm
Add Noncombustible Material as follows:
Part II
Proposed Amendments to the Standard for
Liquefied Hydrogen Systems at Consumer Sites
NFPA 50B-I 973
/. Amend the second sentence of 72 as follows:
At atmospheric pressure the ignition temperature of hydrogenair mixtures has been reported by the U.S. Bureau of Mines to be
as low as 932 F.
Noncombustible Material (as defined in NFPA 220, Standard
on Types of Building Construction) means a material which, in
the form in which it is used and under the conditions anticipated,
will not ignite, burn, support combustion, or release flammable
vapors when subjected to fire or heat.
Materials reported as
noncombustible, when tested in accordance with the Standard
Method of Test for Noncorabustibility of Elementary Materials,
A S T M E 136-73", shall be considered noncombustible materials.
*Available from American Society for Testing and Materials, 1916 Race
St., Philadelphia, PA 19103.
Add Noncombustible~Limited-Combustible
2. Amend 23 as follows:
23. An ezgisting system which is not in strict compliance with the
provisions of this standard may be continued in use when such use
does not constitute a distincthazard to life or adjoining property.
3. Amend Section 3, Definitions, editorially by deleting the numbers and
arranging the definitions in alphabetical order. Also amend or add new
definitions as follows:
3. Definitions
Construction as follows:
Noncombustlble/Limlted-CombustibleConstruction shall mean
a type of building construction as defined in NFPA 220, Standard
on T)~es of Building Construction.
Outdoor Location (existing 35 unchanged).
Portable Containers (existing 38 unchanged).
Separate Building (existing 36 unchanged).
Special Room (existing 37 unchanged).
d. Amend 41 l(a) by updating the date of the A S M E Code to "1977"
and ending the sentence after this date. Delete superscript 3 and its footnote.
CF (existing 33 unchanged).
Add Combustible Liquid as follows:
Combustible Liquid. Combustible liquid shall mean a liquid
having a closed cup flash point at or above 100 F (37.8 C) and
shall be subdivided as follows:
Class II liquids shall include those having a flash point at or
above 100 F (37.8 C) and below 140 F (60 C).
Class I I I A liquids shall include those having a flash point at
or above 140 F (60 C) and below 200 F (93.4 C).
Class I I I B liquids shall include those having flash points at
or above 200 F (93.4 C).
5. Amend 4 / 7 (b) by changing superscript d to 3 and redesiznate the footnote accordingly.
6. Amend the first sentence of 427 as follows:
421. Permanently installed containers shall be provided with
substantial supports of noncombustible material securely anchored
on firm foundations of noncombustible material.
7. Amend the firsl sentence in 452 by changing the title of A N S I B37.3 to
"Chemical Plant and Petroleum Refinery Piping" and the date to
"1976".and add "except as provided in 453" to the end of the sentence.
Delete the existing second sentence.
Flammable Liquid (existing 32 amended as follows):
Flammable L i q u i d (Class I) shall mean any liquid having a closed
cup flash point below 100 F (37.8 C) and having a vapor pressure
not exceeding 40 lbs per sq in. absolute (2068.6 ram) at 100 F
(37.8 C). (Liquefied hydrogen is classed as a Flammable Compressed Gas by the U.S. Department of Transportation.)
Gallon (existing 34 unchanged).
o
Liquefied Hydrogen System (existing 31 unchanged).
50B-2
8. Amend 454 by deleting the existing second and third sentences and
amend the existing fourth sentence (new second sentence) as follows: " I n sulation shall be of noncombustible material and shall be designed
to have a vapor-tight seal." (Remainder unchaneed.)
9. Amend 512 as follows:
512. The containers shall not be located beneath electric power
lines or where exposed by their failure.
50B-3
COMMITTEE
ON INDUSTRIAL
AND
.MEDICAL GASES
AMENDMENTS
10. Add a new 513 as follows:
513. The containers shall not be located close to piping containing Class I, I I or I I I A flammable or combustible liquids,
piping containing other flammable gases, or piping containing
oxidizing materials.
17. Relocate existing 573 as a footnote 1 to 514 and amend by changing
" f l a m m a b l e " to "Class I, II or I I I A flammable and combustible"
in two places.
12. Amend 574 by changing "flammable" to "Class I, I I and I l i A
flammable and combustible" in two places and adding, a superscript 1 at
the end of the sentence.
13. Amend Table 2 as follows:
TO NFPA
50B
50B-4
14. Amend 531(a) by changing "flammable" to "Class I, II and I I I A
flamlfiable and combustible."
15. Delete 531(c) and redesignate (d) through (i) as (c) through (h).
16. Amend the first sentence of 621 as follows."
621. Separate buildings shall be of light noncombustible limitedcombustible construction on a substantial frame.77. Amend 625 by adding "except that electrical heating may be
used if in compliance with 624." to the end of the sentence.
78. Amend the second sentence of 633 by deleting the word "noncombustible."
19. Amend 636 by adding "except that electrical heating may be
used if in compliance with 635." to the end of the sentence.
TABLE 2
Minimum
D i s t a n c e (feet) f r o m L i q u e f i e d Hydrogen S y s t e m s to Exposures
Liquefied H y d r o g e n Storage
(Capacity in Gallons)
T y p e of Exposure
[
[
• [
[
[
1. Fire-resistive Building*
2. N o n c o m b u s t i b l e / L i m i t e d - C o m b u s t i b l e
Building*
3. Building Construction T y p e s other than 1 and 2"
4. Wall Openings, Air Compressor Intakes, Inlets
for Air-conditioning orVentilating E q u i p m e n t
5. Class I, I i and I I I A F l a m m a b l e a n d Combustible Liquids (Aboveground and Vent or
Fill Openings if Below Ground) (See 514)
6. Between S t a t i o n a r y Liquefied H y d r o g e n Containers
7. F l a m m a b l e G a s Storage. (other than hydrogen)
8. Liquid O x y g e n Storage a n d other Oxidizers
(See 514)
9. Combustible Solids
10. Open Flames, S m o k i n g and Welding
11. Places of Public Assembly
12. Public W a y s , Railroads, and P r o p e r t y Lines
13. P r o t e c t i v e Structures (Notes 1 and 2)
39.63
(150 liters)
to 3,500
3,501
to
15.000
15,001
to
30,000
5
5
5
25
50
50
75
75
100
75
75
75
50
75
100
5
50
5
75
5
75
75
50
50
75
25
5
75
75
50
75
50
5
75
100
50
75
75
5
20. Amend 91 as follows:
91. The fire protection provided shall be determined by an analysis
of local conditions of hazard within the plant, exposure to other
properties, water supplies, the probable effectiveness of plant fire
brigades, and the time of response and probable effectiveness of
fire departments.
27. Delete existing 92 and renumber existing 93.as 92.
22. Amend 92 (existing 93) by ending the sentence after the word "invisible."
*Refer to N F P A No. 2-20, Standard T y p e s of Building Construction, for definitions of construction types.
N O T E 1: T h e distances in Nos. 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 12, in T a b l e 2, m a y be reduced where protective structures, such as fire walls equal to height of top of the container, to safeg u a r d the liquefied hydrogen storage system, are located between the liquefied
hydrogen storage installation and the exposure. (See definition of Outdoor Location.)
N O T E 2: Where protective structures are provided, ventilation and confinement of product
shall be considered. T h e 5-foot distance in Nos. 1 and 13 facilitates maintenance
and enhances ventilation.
0