HOT TOPIC
Editor’s note: In an effort to keep the fire prevention officer up to date, we present “Hot Topic,” which will address the current events, trends, and state of fire prevention today. More important, it will involve direct interaction with you, the reader. It is a forum to air your thoughts, to tell others about your fire prevention concerns and discoveries.
We will use the reader service card from time to time to elicit your response. These surveys will let you know what others are thinking and provide a data base to improve our fire prevention efforts.
Many people don’t think twice about dry cleaning establishments. They assume these businesses are no more hazardous than others. While today fires involving dry cleaners are relatively few and far between, this was not the case at the turn of the century.
In the 1900s flammable liquids were used in dry cleaning establishments. The cleaning process was, naturally, quite hazardous. During the 1920s, however, “safety solvents” — combustible liquids widi flash points of more titan 100°F—were introduced, reducing the incidence of fires in dry cleaning plants. The installation of fire extinguishing systems, better dry cleaning equipment, and increased code regulations further reduced the number and severity of fire incidents.
Then came a major breakthrough in the 1950s: the introduction of chlorinated synthetic solvents such as perchlorethylene—which were nonflammable/noncombustible. Thus code restrictions became less stringent.
Perchlorethylene has been used in the majority of dry cleaning establishments ever since. Combustible liquids typically are found only in large industrial and commercial cleaning establishments. Very small amounts of flammable/combustible “spotting” liquids (usually only a few gallons) arc found in the typical neighborhood dry cleaning store that uses perchlorethylene.
Perchlorethylene has one major disadvantage —its vapors are toxic. Toxicity is now a health concern for workers exposed to the material.
An interesting phenomenon recently has occurred in San Antonio: A large dry cleaning firm has decided to return to using naptha—a combustible liquid—to avoid the costly requirements of complying with employee health regulations such as installing extensive ventilation systems.
Fire prevention bureaus should take note. The use of combustible liquids in dry cleaning “kicks in” several code requirements, including:
- Automatic fire sprinklers in building.
- Specialized dry cleaning machines designed for use with a specific class of combustible liquid.
- Specialized drying units with explosion vents and self-contained extinguishing systems.
- Extensive fire separation walls between the dry cleaning room and other operations such as ironing, pressing, and sales; extensive fire sep-
- aration walls between the dry cleaning room and fuel-burning equipment (such as boilers).
- Specialized solvent storage tank provisions.
- Specialized heating and electrical equipment requirements.
- Special mechanical ventilation systems.
- Other occupancy-specific requirements.
The three national model codes all require permits for dry cleaning plants. It is important to note that the codes also require notification of the fire prevention bureau if the establishment wants to change the type of solvent it has received approval lor. In addition, the premises must be reinspected to ensure that all code provisions have been met for the new solvent. Very often the equipment used for the old solvent is not compatible with the new solvent.
The San Antonio (TX) Fire Department Fire Prevention Bureau has been conducting site visits of many local dry cleaners to determine the extent of fire code compliance. We have visited approximately 70 businesses so far and have found a 90 percent noncompliance rate. Many businesses have switched to combustible solvents without fire department approval. We soon will be bringing the owners in for a meeting and advising them of permit requirements, code requirements, and change-of-solvent requirements.
Is this problem occurring in your community? It may be time for you to drop by some of your local dry cleaning establishments to find out.
