55 Gallon Drum Hazardous Waste Near Electrical Panels ( Clearance required ? )

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Davebones

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North Of Tampa Fl
We have some 55 gallon hazardous waste drums located thru out the plant . Some of these have Heptane which is highly flammable . Is there a requirement that these drums be a certain distance from anything electrical ? 200 amp panel , motor controller , disconnect , etc ... Not referring to the clearance required in front of the electrical equipment .
 
If the area was identified as a hazardous location then there would be rules about the electrical installation itself. Those area classifications are usually done by a process/industrial engineer, engineering firm, or insurance company. Unfortunately this isn't really an electrical question until you get the area properly identified.
 
See section 500,4
My area of knowledge is not hazardous locations, but I have learned that the area classification is where you start
 
ptonsparky said:
I asked an insurance company to classify an area for me. They declined. Try the others.
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You might be surprised how many process or industrial engineers don't know how either.

As Tom mentioned, the correct procedure is to determine the classified location boundaries first and then what equipment and spacings are appropriate.

Several things may need to be considered. One of the most common is whether the barrels are opened during storage. A second consideration is the level of ventilation available. Location topography usually enters the mix as well. This "list" is nowhere near exhaustive.

It is possible that there may be no electrical area classification at all.

NFPA 30 is an excellent place to start if you want to try it yourself.
 
Davebones said:
We have some 55 gallon hazardous waste drums located thru out the plant . Some of these have Heptane which is highly flammable . Is there a requirement that these drums be a certain distance from anything electrical ? 200 amp panel , motor controller , disconnect , etc ... Not referring to the clearance required in front of the electrical equipment .
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Are these areas marked for the storage of hazardous waste, or is someone just dropping them willy-nilly?
 
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