The code is intended for use as a safety handbook relating to fire, for personnel involved in the design, operation and maintenance of equipment having a fire risk.
The main purpose of this code of practice is to help designers and managers of chemical works to minimize fire hazards. The code is also intended to be of assistance to local authority fire brigades and planning departments.
The main aim of fire precautions is to prevent fire. In the event of fire starting the aims become the prevention of loss of life and injury and, by the extinction of the fire, the reduction of material damage and production loss.
The code refers to operation of existing works, the design and operation of extensions, and also the design and operation of works at new locations. Guidance offered includes selection and layout of plant sites, and methods of fire defence and protection.
Throughout the code it is assumed that plant and machinery are, in general, of adequate technical design, suitable for their purpose and safe to operate.
This British Standard code of practice has been prepared under the direction of the Fire Standards Policy Committee.
BS 5908:1990 supersedes BS 5908:1980, which is withdrawn.
Contents include:
- Legal background
- Principles of initiation, spread and extinction of fire
- Access for firefighting vehicles and firefighting within the site
- Site selection and layout
- Legal and insurance considerations
- Bulk storage of flammable liquids and gases
- Design of process plant including piping systems and valves
- Maintenance and operation of process plant
- Welding, burning and similar operations
- Fire prevention
- Fire defence
- Emergency plant shut down
- Fixed and portable fire extinguishing systems
- Organization of emergency procedures
- Fireball radiation dose criteria
- Physical properties of halons.
