Plastic IBC Totes ,PROBLEM??

[InsuranceLCRep]

Take a look at this web site for video of plastic 275 gallon IBC totes and what happens when a fire involves a combustible liquid stored inside.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr564/index.htm

NFPA 30, 2008 does NOT permit the IBC totes inside of a building. BUT the DOT does permit them for shipment, so you may find them inside of a building.
Full scale testing with sprinkler system operating did not control a fire.

What problems do you see fighting a fire involving these plastic IBC totes?

[InsuranceLCRep]

95 folks have looked at this post and WHAT no comments??

How will you deal with this severe fire hazard? Does this concern you? Do you have any in your run area? Does AFFF work, how about just water? OR is this just a fire prevention problem?? This is NOT just in the UK but in the US.

[hwoods]

Here's one for Everybody. Do a Google Search on "Hobert Gibson" then Imagine running up on a Fire at Mr. Gibson's place........ And, Mr. Gibson's situation is just a tiny scratch on the surface of this Problem. A Van was found with TWO of these Totes in it, (One was about 1/2 full of Gasoline) along with a Pump, Batteries, etc, set up for siphoning Gas from underground Tanks. Actually, DRAFTING from an underground Gasoline Storage Tank is more like it. You never know how your next Vehicle Fire is going to turn out.......... :eek:

[hartin]

IBCs have been around for quite a while (plastic and metal). They have a number of advantages over drums from the end user's perspective. However, as illustrated in the video, they present the same problem as drums (but on a larger scale).

The fire control issues depend on where they are located. The choice of extinguishing agent depends on both the type of liquid fuel and location. The use of foam is complicated a bit by the potential for three dimensional fire, but should be effective in controlling the ground fire if you can safely work from an effective application point.

Cheers,

[RFDACM02]

95 folks have looked at this post and WHAT no comments??

How will you deal with this severe fire hazard? Does this concern you? Do you have any in your run area? Does AFFF work, how about just water? OR is this just a fire prevention problem?? This is NOT just in the UK but in the US.
Don't get too excited this is the way things like this go. Not much to criticize or comment on. I'd say it's a good post with good info. I passed the link on to all our officers. I'd hope we'd catch this during inspections or other visits, but in all likelihood there's probably a few places in our 'burg with a bunch of these IBC's. I know we have one haz-mat shipper that has mastered the art of keeping stock moving enough to be just under reportable quantities, transferring IBC's from one trailer to another inside their building wouldn't surprise me in the least.

[InsuranceLCRep]

NFPA 30 will allow these plastic IBC to be in a building IF they are UL listed and label so. Problem is 99.9% are not labeled or listed. So from an inspection point of view, look for the UL label, NONE, then get them out of the building.

With all the home brew of bio diesel fuel, these things are easy to get, and cheap, so you will see a lot of them.

I do not think if you get a few of these things going you will be able to stop them. As the video shows they fail very early into the fire, this maybe a good thing from your point of view if they have them on site.

Bottom line be safe, let the place burn, that is why they have insurance.:D

[edge1317]

I worked in a plant that used these totes to store different liquids. When not in use they were stored in an area surrounded by a tall curb. When in use most of them were placed on a stand that had the ability to hold the liquid if dumped. Some weren't on stands and are placed in trays, while the tray wouldn't hold all of it if the tote was full, it would minimize a spill. The ones placed in trays held a glue, I don't know how flammable the glue was but I can't imagine it being.

Current plant I am in has a few, but they are just sitting out. The whole plant has a CO2 system that automatically dumps.

I don't see these as much of a problem as if they do catch on fire, most of the time it will be handled internally by the plant. If internal efforts fail and the fire department called the **** will have most likely hit the fan before the fire department arrives.

As for how hazardous they are and what actions you will have to take if encountered with this situation, you will have to go out and see what is in your area and what is stored in these totes and what fire prevention measures the site has taken.

[ffmedcbk1]

I would bet the sprinkler system is no use once the container losses it containment of a flamable that then equals big loss.

[edge1317]

I would bet the sprinkler system is no use once the container losses it containment of a flamable that then equals big loss.

I don't know if this in reference to my post. The plant doesn't have a sprinkler system it has a CO2 system, it floods an entire section of a plant when it drops. The system drops regularly in some sections as the coolant used to cool the processed metal catches fire often.

[InsuranceLCRep]

I would bet the sprinkler system is no use once the container losses it containment of a flamable that then equals big loss.

You are correct ALL full scale testing with plastic IBC by NFPA has resulted in the failure of the sprinkler system controlling or extinguishing the fire even when supplemented by AFFF.:eek: