[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 5]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1910.162]

[Page 505-506]
 
                             TITLE 29--LABOR

 
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 

                                OF LABOR

 
PART 1910_OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS--Table of Contents

 
                        Subpart L_Fire Protection

 
Sec. 1910.162  Fixed extinguishing systems, gaseous agent.


    (a) Scope and application--(1) Scope. This section applies to all 

fixed extinguishing systems, using a gas as the extinguishing agent, 

installed to meet a particular OSHA standard. These systems shall also 

comply with Sec. 1910.160. In some cases, the gas may be in a liquid 

state during storage.

    (2) Application. The requirements of paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(4) 

through (b)(6) shall apply only to total flooding systems.

    (b) Specific requirements. (1) Agents used for initial supply and 

replenishment shall be of the type approved for the system's 

application. Carbon dioxide obtained by dry ice conversion to liquid is 

not acceptable unless it is processed to remove excess water and oil.

    (2) Except during overhaul, the employer shall assure that the 

designed concentration of gaseous agents is maintained until the fire 

has been extinguished or is under control.

    (3) The employer shall assure that employees are not exposed to 

toxic levels of gaseous agent or its decomposition products.

    (4) The employer shall assure that the designed extinguishing 

concentration is reached within 30 seconds of initial discharge except 

for Halon systems which must achieve design concentration within 10 

seconds.

    (5) The employer shall provide a distinctive pre-discharge employee 

alarm capable of being perceived above ambient light or noise levels 

when agent design concentrations exceed the maximum safe level for 

employee exposure. A pre-discharge employee alarm for alerting employees 

before system discharge shall be provided on Halon 1211 and carbon 

dioxide systems with a design concentration of 4 percent or greater and 

for Halon 1301 systems with a design concentration of 10 percent or 

greater. The pre-discharge employee alarm shall provide employees time 

to safely exit the discharge area prior to system discharge.



[[Page 506]]



    (6)(i) Where egress from an area cannot be accomplished within one 

minute, the employer shall not use Halon 1301 in concentrations greater 

than 7 percent.

    (ii) Where egress takes greater than 30 seconds but less than one 

minute, the employer shall not use Halon 1301 in a concentration greater 

than 10 percent.

    (iii) Halon 1301 concentrations greater than 10 percent are only 

permitted in areas not normally occupied by employees provided that any 

employee in the area can escape within 30 seconds. The employer shall 

assure that no unprotected employees enter the area during agent 

discharge.



[45 FR 60712, Sept. 12, 1980; 46 FR 24557, May 1, 1981]