I have searched and searched, and it seems from what I have read in the code that the AHJ has a great deal of latitude for interpreting it. Are there limits to how much authority the AHJ has?
The hypothetical in my question deals with a location that is similar to a military base, with the AHJ being appointed to the position. Because the AHJ is employed by the agency that has overall control of the complex, it would seem that there exists a conflict of interests. The AHJ is persuaded to approve certain things, mainly in this case it pertains to portable plug-in or battery powered equipment used in Class 1 Div 2 areas, because he is told that the items are necessary to the "mission" of his agency, and not based on any kind of testing or research. Can the AHJ make blanket approvals of such equipment in classified areas?
Next question, can areas be classified temporarily on the basis of the presence of flammable liquids and declassified the rest of the time? I understand that the NEC really is only concerned with electrical installations, and those should be compliant if the area is ever to be classified. But what about plug-in equipment and battery powered stuff? The NEC might not be concerned with these items, but OSHA is.
The types of locations I am referring to are buildings that sometimes hold vehicles or portions of vehicles with tanks that have flammable fuels in them. The systems are extremely secure due to the severe toxicity of the fuel and the fact that there are also tanks present on the vehicles holding oxidizer that will react violently with the fuel- they are hypergolic. There are many redundant features in order to contain the fuel and oxidizer at all times. Small leaks have occurred in the past but they are tiny, tiny leaks, on the order of only a few parts per million or billion, and the lower flammable limit of the fuel is 2.5% which equals 25,000 parts per million.
There are certain operations that are conducted, such as the changeout of valves, where there is slightly more potential for fuel vapors or liquid to be present, but still the potential is only to see a very small amount. The largest amount spilled in the past 25 to 30 years has been approximately one quart. These operations are conducted in full rubber suits with supplied air and there are inspections of the area conducted just prior by a fire inspector to ensure that everything is as it should be. These areas have been designated, perhaps incorrectly, as permanent classified (Class 1 Div 2) areas, and in some of the facilities portions of the wiring is not compliant. The way that this is "mitigated" is by opening the breakers to the non-compliant wiring and locking the circuits out prior to hazardous operations.
Is it just me or does it sound like 1) these areas should not be classified at all, and 2) that if they were truly classified areas that this is a completely unacceptable way to operate?
Any thoughts?
The hypothetical in my question deals with a location that is similar to a military base, with the AHJ being appointed to the position. Because the AHJ is employed by the agency that has overall control of the complex, it would seem that there exists a conflict of interests. The AHJ is persuaded to approve certain things, mainly in this case it pertains to portable plug-in or battery powered equipment used in Class 1 Div 2 areas, because he is told that the items are necessary to the "mission" of his agency, and not based on any kind of testing or research. Can the AHJ make blanket approvals of such equipment in classified areas?
Next question, can areas be classified temporarily on the basis of the presence of flammable liquids and declassified the rest of the time? I understand that the NEC really is only concerned with electrical installations, and those should be compliant if the area is ever to be classified. But what about plug-in equipment and battery powered stuff? The NEC might not be concerned with these items, but OSHA is.
The types of locations I am referring to are buildings that sometimes hold vehicles or portions of vehicles with tanks that have flammable fuels in them. The systems are extremely secure due to the severe toxicity of the fuel and the fact that there are also tanks present on the vehicles holding oxidizer that will react violently with the fuel- they are hypergolic. There are many redundant features in order to contain the fuel and oxidizer at all times. Small leaks have occurred in the past but they are tiny, tiny leaks, on the order of only a few parts per million or billion, and the lower flammable limit of the fuel is 2.5% which equals 25,000 parts per million.
There are certain operations that are conducted, such as the changeout of valves, where there is slightly more potential for fuel vapors or liquid to be present, but still the potential is only to see a very small amount. The largest amount spilled in the past 25 to 30 years has been approximately one quart. These operations are conducted in full rubber suits with supplied air and there are inspections of the area conducted just prior by a fire inspector to ensure that everything is as it should be. These areas have been designated, perhaps incorrectly, as permanent classified (Class 1 Div 2) areas, and in some of the facilities portions of the wiring is not compliant. The way that this is "mitigated" is by opening the breakers to the non-compliant wiring and locking the circuits out prior to hazardous operations.
Is it just me or does it sound like 1) these areas should not be classified at all, and 2) that if they were truly classified areas that this is a completely unacceptable way to operate?
Any thoughts?