BS 5908-1:2012

Foreword
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviations
Section 1: Fire risk assessments
4 Fire risk assessment and fire precautions
Section 2: Site layout and design
5 Selection of site and layout
6 Access for firefighting
7 Water supplies
8 Drainage and pollution control
9 Prevention of escalation
Section 3: Buildings and structures
10 Fire resistance
11 Compartmentation
12 Fire detection and fire alarm systems
13 Open air and unenclosed plant
14 Materials of construction
15 Ventilation
16 Means of escape
17 Lighting
18 Space heating
Section 4: Precautions against ignition followed by
           an explosion
19 General
20 Prevention of bursting of a pressure vessel caused
   by excess internal pressure
21 Prevention of bursting of process equipment caused
   by a chemical reaction
22 Prevention of ignition of a mixture of air and gas or
   vapour inside process equipment or a storage vessel
23 Prevention of ignition of a cloud of dust suspended
   in air inside process equipment or a storage vessel
24 Prevention of ignition of a mixture of air and
   gas/vapour released from a process into a building
25 Prevention of ignition of a cloud of dust raised into
   suspension within a building, following some
   initiating primary explosion
26 Prevention of ignition of a mixture of air and
   gas/vapour into a partially confined (congested)
   area of a process plant
27 Prevention of ignition of a mixture of air and gas
   in the open air
28 Prevention of bursting of a pressure vessel holding
   flammable liquids or liquefied gases, followed
   by sudden ignition of the released material
Section 5: Storage and movement of chemicals
29 General
30 Storage of chemicals
31 Delivery by road and rail
Section 6: Design of process plant
32 Design of process plant to control ignition hazards
33 Process vessels
34 Pumps and heat transfer systems
35 Compressors
36 Fired heaters
37 Ovens and driers
38 Dust-handling process plant
39 Instrumentation
Section 7: Operation of process plant
40 Human factors
41 Emergency procedures
Section 8: Maintenance of process plant
42 Maintenance
43 Hot work
Section 9: Fire prevention
44 General fire prevention
45 Hazardous area classification study
46 Static electricity
Section 10: Works fire brigades and fixed fire protection
47 Works fire brigades
48 Fixed fire protection
Annexes
Annex A (informative) - Classification of chemicals
Annex B (informative) - Ignition sources
Annex C (informative) - Hazards from smoke
Annex D (informative) - Approaches to hazardous
        area classification
Bibliography

Provides recommendations and guidance for the control of fire and explosion risks on sites at which chemicals are stored or processed in significant quantities.

This British Standard gives recommendations and guidance for the control of fire and explosion risks on sites at which chemicals are stored or processed in significant quantities.

NOTE1 These precautions may extend well beyond those required under the fire safety legislation applicable to places of work, because of the wider range of risks. Additional legal requirements arise largely from the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) [1, 2], and the Health and Safety at Work legislation [3, 4].

NOTE2 AnnexA gives guidance on the classification of chemicals, while AnnexB discusses ignition sources and AnnexC covers hazards from smoke. AnnexD gives guidance on the approaches to hazardous area classification.

The precautions recommended by this British Standard also address risks on and off site, within and external to buildings, that arise from the release of toxic materials, ejection of chemical containers from a fire, flowing fires where liquid products are handled, and special firefighting techniques.

The recommendations of his code of practice cover location, plant layout and design, separation distances, particular types of plant and facility with special fire hazards and other issues. Particular precautions might be relevant to preserving life safety or the health of persons on or off site; to property protection; and to protection of the environment.