Eric,Unless this is a gravure process (which I highly doubt because I have never seen/heard of a gravure newspaper press, but I may be wrong though!) how do you know that it is class 1, division 1?
Do you work for the printing company, or are you just installing equipment on/around the press? Is the entire press classified as class 1, division 1, or just certain areas of the press? If the entire press is class 1, division 1, you should consult with the company to find out where the boundary starts/ends, or if it is just a certain area of the press and where that boundary starts/ends. Maybe, to play it safe, they classified the entire pressroom as class 1, division 1?
Just off the top of my head, I can't think of an area around a press that would be class 1, division 1, unless it is a dedicated "room" where all of the solvents (blanket wash) are stored. The inks used on newspaper presses are typically soy based. The blanket wash that is typically used is somewhat flammable. The etch/fountain solution is non-flammable. There are lots of different chemicals that are used in the printing process.
sgunsel,There is no simple answer. Check out NFPA 34, which applies to printing operations as well as other finishing processes. Mostly depends on the presence of flammable liquids, including inks, other finishes, thinning agents, and cleaning materials. You may also have combustible residues from coating materials and combustible dusts from paper or other substrate.
sgunsel, thanks once again for pointing me in that direction.... The next version will make this explicit.
Proposal 34-21 Electrical area classification should NEVER be used for anything other than the selection of electrical equipment and installations.NOTE: Underline indicates new text; Red indicates deleted text.
34-21 Log #CP24 Final Action: Accept (6.2.2)
_______________________________________________________________
Submitter: Technical Committee on Finishing Processes,
Recommendation: Revise to read:
Open flames, spark-producing equipment or processes, and equipment whose exposed surfaces exceed the autoignition temperature of the flammable or combustible dipping or coating liquid being used shall not be located in the dipping or coating process area or in surrounding areas that are classified as Division 2 or Zone 2.
Substantiation: Only flammable and combustible liquids are intended to be covered by this requirement and the requirement applies to all processes within the scope of the standard.
Committee Meeting Action: Accept
Number Eligible to Vote: 27 Ballot Results: Affirmative: 22 Abstain: 1
Ballot Not Returned: 4 Jurasic, J., Korecky, M., McKnight, J., Murin, G.
Explanation of Abstention: HAYNACK, B.: See my Explanation of Abstention on Proposal 34-2 (Log #CP2).
_______________________________________________________________
34-23 Log #CP26 Final Action: Accept (6.4.2)
_______________________________________________________________
Submitter: Technical Committee on Finishing Processes,
Recommendation: Revise to read: Electrical wiring and electrical utilization equipment located within 1525 mm (5 ft) of a vapor source shall be suitable for Class I, Division 1 or Class I, Zone 1 locations. The space area inside a the dip tank, ink fountain, ink reservoir, or ink tank shall be classified as Class I, Division 1 or Class I, Zone 0, whichever is applicable.
Substantiation: Added text correlates with expansion of the standard to cover printing processes.
Committee Meeting Action: Accept
Number Eligible to Vote: 27
Ballot Results: Affirmative: 22 Abstain: 1
Ballot Not Returned: 4 Jurasic, J., Korecky, M., McKnight, J., Murin, G.
Explanation of Abstention: HAYNACK, B.: See my Explanation of Abstention on Proposal 34-2 (Log #CP2).
_____________________________
Possibly - but that just ain't the purpose of electrical area classification. See the basic Scope statement for the fundamental NFPA document on electrical area classification:An area where a sufficient fire hazard exists to warrant special consideration for electrical equipment and wiring would also require control of open flames and other ignition sources.
In my experience, whenever electrical area classification is used for any purpose other than selecting electrical equipment - it screws things up from unintended consequences.NFPA 497 Recommended Practice for the Classification of Flammable Liquids, Gases, or Vapors and of Hazardous (Classified) Locations for Electrical Installations in Chemical Process Areas:
...
1.1.2
This recommended practice provides information on specific flammable gases and vapors, flammable liquids, and combustible liquids, whose relevant combustion properties have been sufficiently identified to allow their classification into the groups established by NFPA 70, National Electrical Code? (NEC?), for proper selection of electrical equipment in hazardous (classified) locations. The tables of selected combustible materials contained in this document are not intended to be all-inclusive.
...
[RBA Note: underlines mine]
Oh, Come on!! Someone hasn't jumped in and noted that "...open flames and other ignition sources" render a location unclassified in the first place?An area where a sufficient fire hazard exists to warrant special consideration for electrical equipment and wiring would also require control of open flames and other ignition sources.
Your first statement is simply incorrect. The extent of a classified location is based on the "fuel" side of the fire triangle; i.e., flammable materials and the environment’s effects, including geometry, air flows, ambient temperature, etc. on the flammability of the material – but not the ignition. Ignition sources are a separate side of the fire triangle. The third side is generally oxygen.The extent of classified areas depends on the fire hazards that may be present. If flammable vapors, only one possibility of several, are present then there are several guidelines in various NFPA standards to help make that determination. Once a significant fire hazard is established, precautions are necessary to prevent ignition. Electrical sparks and arcs from the electrical power distribution and usage system are not the only potential (!) sources of ignition. Ignition sources need not be permanent. Many fires are started by the use of portable welding and cutting torches or grinding equipment during repairs or modifications in a classified area without making the area safe. Electrical wiring is not the only possible source of high temperatures. Please remember that "NFPA" is the National Fire Protection Association, the NEC is only one of hundreds of NFPA standards.
Oh, Come on!! Someone hasn't jumped in and noted that "...open flames and other ignition sources" render a location unclassified in the first place?
Not to mention static electricity and resulting discharges that are always present in high speed printing.
We?re almost together on this; but let me explain why I cited NFPA 497, 5.4.3:Rbalex, sounds to me like we agree for the most part. My "first" statement is not any different from yours. If a fuel (vapor, gas, or solid) is present in a combustible concentration, we have a fire hazard. Oxygen will be present except in a controlled atmosphere.
Controlling all ignition sources is essential to preventing fire. Static electricity and all other ignition sources must also be addressed in classified areas. The hazard remains long after the electrician leaves. Static electricity discharges can clearly cause ignition.
I agree that if the hazard is removed, the classification changes.
Within the common context of the fire triangle when all three sides are immediately or commonly present and the ?ignition? side is not an electrical source, the general principals of electrical classification would not classify the immediate location. The revised NFPA 34 uses electrical classification improperly. This is not to say the danger isn?t there or that precautions are improper, simply that the way they are being defined is.5.4 Unclassified Locations
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5.4.3 Open flames and hot surfaces associated with the operation of certain equipment, such as boilers and fired heaters, provide inherent thermal ignition sources. Electrical classification is not appropriate in the immediate vicinity of these facilities. However, it is prudent to avoid installing electrical equipment that could be a primary ignition source for potential leak sources in pumps, valves, and so forth, or in waste product and fuel feed lines.
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The attached, graphic appears to be what will be included in the next NFPA 34 Edition. I don't know how (or if) it applies to your installation. It does follow fairly common principals:Thanks. For couple of days I?m reading your comments, and, nothing!
Where is the answer?