NEW KILN CONSTRUCTION FIRE SUPPRESSION REQUIREMENTS

[drykilned]

I HAVE RETIRED FROM THE KILN MANAGEMENT FUNCTION BUT STILL KEEP IN TOUCH THROUGH VARIOUS VENDORS AND MY SON WHO REPLACED ME.

A RECENT KILN CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM HAS BEEN STYMIED BY THE LOCAL FIRE MARSHAL.

1. HE STATES WE NOW HAVE TO HAVE A SWITCH ATTACHED TO THE MAIN FIRE LINE VALVE TO ALARM AT
THE FIRE STATION IF IT IS TURNED OFF

2. THE KILN FIRE SUPPRESSION VALVE STATION MUST BE HOUSED IN A INSULATED, HEATED AND AIR-CONDITIONED BUILDING

3. ANY ABOVE GROUND VALVES MUST BE ALSO SO HOUSED

4. HE HAD US REMOVE A SECOND PARALLEL SPRINKLER LINE THAT WOULD HAVE PROTECTED THE TOP AND SECOND LAYER STACKS AND HAD IT INSTALLED ABOVE THE FAN DECK

ANYONE OUT THERE EVER HEARD OF THIS?  KEEP IN MIND WE ARE IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA WHERE THE
TEMP RARELY FREEZES AND FREEZE WATCHES ARE RARE.  WE NORMALLY HAVE THE FIRE STATION HOUSED AND USE A HEAT LAMP ON FREEZING CONDITIONS, NOT CENTRAL HEAT AND AIR!!!

ED A.

[Gilman Blackshear,Ga]

Hey Ed,
You mean you don't have all those cold nights and days over there the way we do on the south eastern side?? LOL  just kidding! Sounds very ridiculous. Why would valve house need heating and air conditioning??  I could understand having a small heater mounted just in case for those VERY RARE times we get into low to mid 20's . We don't even have heater in ours. It tucks up next to burner room right beside the kiln, there has never been an issue. The building is a metal structure with rigid styrofoam on walls and roof.
Good to see you are still staying o top of things but I bet you are riding your bike and fishing alot more than keeping up with dry kilns.
Enjoy your retirement! Stop by and see me if you are in the area.
Carri

[TimothyD]

Hi Ed,
I have to admit that I can't offer much in the way of specifics in this area, however, I would like to suggest something you might want to consider.  I imaging the fire marshall is describing how he interprets some "codes" dealing with this issue.  I would request the specific local/state/ and federal codes/regulations that he using to justify these requirements.  I'm sure they are based on his interpretation (which I am not advocating may be wrong in any way), and by reviewing them yourself may shed some light.  For instance, in another ASTM standard we deal with in another field, one statement is that the building should remain at "service conditions" however, the method of maintaining those "service conditions" are not defined.  So perhaps "central heat and air" is not specifically required, but more just certain ambient conditions?  If you have the codes in hand, it would be helpful in trying to work with the fire marshall on compromises in adjustments to maintain compliance with the "codes"

Tim