Hazardous Classification clarification

Status
Not open for further replies.
R

Red Wiggler

Senior Member
I am wondering if a garage (minor repairs) at a school is considered a "Commercial Garage with repair and Storage". It is not considered a commercial business. Would it still fall under Article 511? It does have a ventilating system, and since there is not any dispensing of fuels I don't think it needs to be classified.

Any opinions?
 
Red Wiggler said:
I am wondering if a garage (minor repairs) at a school is considered a "Commercial Garage with repair and Storage". It is not considered a commercial business. Would it still fall under Article 511? It does have a ventilating system, and since there is not any dispensing of fuels I don't think it needs to be classified.

Any opinions?
Click to expand...

Parts cleaning in flammable liquids in open vats?
 
Do all the vehicles they service run on diesel fuel?

Diesel is combustable, but not flammable. It will burn, but it doesn't explode.

In my opinion, a garage that strictly services diesel vehicles doesn't fall under 511.

Steve
 
Article 511

Article 511

This facility is a training center (Community College). So that means most of the work is actually training. There is no fuel dispensing. With positive air flow, I don't think the area is considered Classified.
 
When you said it was a garage for a school, I was thinking about a service garage for the school busses.

What you have sounds a lot more like a commercial garage. A lot of the requirements in 511 can be met by keeping the wiring and receptacles up above the 18" high classified area.
 
It is always important to read both the Scope of an Article and any Article definitions when you first set out to use it. It may make no difference but it’s a good habit anyway.

Depending on the NEC edition you are using, your approach may be altered; possibly significantly. Between the 2002 and 2005 NEC editions, the primary external NFPA reference Standard for Article 511 shifted from NFPA 88B to NFPA 30A. With respect to repair garages NFPA 88B disappeared. There was also a major shakeup of the NFPA 30A Technical Committee between 2005 and 2008, with more than a third of the membership replaced or removed. NFPA 30A is now the reference Standard for both Articles 511 and 514.

Section 511.2 [2008] defines “major” and “minor” repair garages. If the school’s garage meets either definition, it is subject to the Article. While the definitions were not in the 2005 NEC, the Scopes are the same in both editions. If it falls within the Scope it also is subject to the Article – it’s just a bit harder to weed through the electrical classification requirements.

Edit Add: I meant to note the "new" NFPA 30A TC is much better aligned with CMP 14 than ever before.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top