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NFPA 850, Recommended Practice for Fire Protection for Electric Generating Plants and High Voltage Direct Current Converter Stations

2020 NFPA 850 Recommended Practice - Current Edition
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  • Description

    Help mitigate risks of fire and explosion in electric generating plants by complying with the latest recommended safety practices.

    There are special concerns for fire and life safety in plants and facilities that produce or convert the current of electricity. NFPA® 850, Recommended Practice for Fire Protection for Electric Generating Plants and High Voltage Direct Current Converter Stations, 2020 edition, is an essential resource for assisting in maximizing the safety of personnel, facilities, and the community at large. Criteria apply to new and existing oil, gas, coal, and alternative fuel electrical generating plants, including high voltage direct current converter stations and combustion turbine units used for electric generation.

    The document provides the framework for creating a Fire Protection Design Basis Document that takes into account potential risks to the particular facility, including flammable liquids, fuels, lubricating oils, dust explosions, and electrical equipment. NFPA 850 also covers the protection and continuity of installations and personnel, systems and components, and plant operations.

    The NFPA 850, 2020 edition, provides access to cutting-edge criteria for fire prevention and protection of plants generating electricity.

    Developed to provide a document specifying fire protection measures for all types of non-nuclear electric generating plants, the revised NFPA 850 reflects the most current industry knowledge and best practices.

    Significant changes to the 2020 edition include:

    • Complete reorganization of the document for accuracy and clarity
    • Grouping of information in a more logical layout to assist users in navigating the document faster and more efficiently
    • Addition of new chapters on flywheel energy systems and compressed air energy storage (CAES) to address technologies being used in the industry

    Get the support you need to help identify and reduce risks to lives and property in electrical generating plants.

    NFPA 850, Recommended Practice for Fire Protection for Electric Generating Plants and High Voltage Direct Current Converter Stations, is a must-have for facility managers, designers, installers, inspectors, and authorities having jurisdiction. Assist in avoiding downtime, damages, and loss and in increasing safety and productivity by ordering your copy of the 2020 edition.

  • Table of Contents (2020 Current Edition)

    NFPA® 850 Recommended Practice for Fire Protection for Electric Generating Plants and High Voltage Direct Current Converter Stations, 2020 Edition

    Chapter 1 Administration
    1.1 Scope.
    1.2 Purpose.
    1.3 Application.
    1.4 Equivalency.
    1.5 Units.
    Chapter 2 Referenced Publications
    2.1 General.
    2.2 NFPA Publications.
    2.3 Other Publications.
    2.4 References for Extracts in Recommendations Sections.
    Chapter 3 Definitions
    3.1 General.
    3.2 NFPA Official Definitions.
    3.3 General Definitions.
    Chapter 4 Fire Protection Design Process
    4.1 General.
    4.2 Stakeholders.
    4.3 Inputs to the Design Process.
    4.4 Fire Protection Design Basis Process.
    4.5 Fire Protection Design Basis Document (Deliverables).
    Chapter 5 Fire Risk Control Program
    5.1 General.
    5.2 Management Policy and Direction.
    5.3 Fire Risk Control Program.
    5.4 Fire Protection Program.
    5.5 Identification of Fire Hazards of Materials.
    Chapter 6 General Plant Design
    6.1 Plant Arrangement.
    6.2 Life Safety.
    6.3 Building Construction Materials.
    6.4 Smoke and Heat Venting, Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning.
    6.5 Containment and Drainage.
    6.6 Emergency Lighting.
    6.7 Lightning Protection.
    Chapter 7 General Fire Protection Systems and Equipment
    7.1 General.
    7.2 Water Supply.
    7.3 Valve Supervision.
    7.4 Supply Mains, Yard Mains, Hydrants, and Building Standpipes.
    7.5 Portable Fire Extinguishers.
    7.6 Fire Suppression Systems and Equipment — General Requirements.
    7.7 Fire-Signaling Systems.
    7.8 Commissioning and Maintenance.
    Chapter 8 Fire Protection for the Construction Site
    8.1 Introduction.
    8.2 Administration.
    8.3 Site Clearing, Excavation, Tunneling, and Construction Equipment.
    8.4 Construction Warehouses, Shops, and Offices.
    8.5 Construction Site Lay-Down Areas.
    8.6 Temporary Construction Materials.
    8.7 Underground Mains, Hydrants, and Water Supplies.
    8.8 Manual Fire-Fighting Equipment.
    Chapter 9 Fuels, Common Equipment, and Protection
    9.1 General.
    9.2 Flammable Gases.
    9.3 Combustible Liquids.
    9.4 Flammable Liquids.
    9.5 Solid Fuels.
    9.6 Hydraulic Control System.
    9.7 Electrical Equipment.
    9.8 Storage Rooms, Offices, and Shops.
    9.9 Oil Storage Areas.
    9.10 Warehouses.
    9.11 Fire Pumps.
    9.12 Cooling Towers.
    9.13 Auxiliary Boilers.
    9.14 Vehicle Repair Facilities.
    9.15 Air Compressors.
    Chapter 10 Turbines, Generators, and Internal Combustion Engines
    10.1 General.
    10.2 Application of Chapters 4 Through 9.
    10.3 Turbine and Internal Combustion Engine Generators.
    10.4 Combined Cycle Units.
    Chapter 11 Alternative Fuels
    11.1 General.
    11.2 Application of Chapters 4 Through 10.
    11.3 Design and Equipment Arrangement.
    11.4 Risk Considerations for MSW.
    11.5 Risk Considerations for RDF.
    11.6 Risk Considerations for Biomass Fuels.
    11.7 Risk Considerations for Tire Derived Fuels.
    11.8 Other Alternative Fuels and Processes.
    Chapter 12 Power Boilers
    12.1 General.
    12.2 Application of Chapters 4 Through 11.
    12.3 Design and Equipment Arrangement.
    Chapter 13 Wind Turbines
    13.1 General.
    13.2 Application of Chapters 4 Through 10.
    13.3 Design and Equipment Arrangement.
    13.4 Risk Consideration.
    13.5 Hazard Protection.
    Chapter 14 Solar Generation
    14.1 General.
    14.2 Application of Chapters 4 Through 10.
    14.3 Design and Equipment Arrangement.
    14.4 Risk Considerations.
    14.5 Hazard Protection.
    Chapter 15 Geothermal Generation
    15.1 General.
    15.2 Application of Chapters 4 Through 10.
    15.3 Design and Equipment Arrangement.
    15.4 Risk Considerations.
    15.5 Hazard Protection.
    Chapter 16 Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle (IGCC)
    16.1 General.
    16.2 Application of Chapters 4 Through 10.
    16.3 Design and Equipment Arrangement.
    16.4 Risk Considerations.
    16.5 Hazard Protection.
    Chapter 17 Hydroelectric Generation
    17.1 General.
    17.2 Application of Chapters 4 Through 10.
    17.3 Design and Equipment Arrangement.
    17.4 Risk Considerations. (Reserved)
    17.5 Hazard Protection.
    Chapter 18 High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Converter Stations
    18.1 General.
    18.2 Application of Chapters 4 Through 9.
    18.3 Design and Equipment Arrangement.
    18.4 Risk Considerations.
    18.5 Hazard Protection.
    Chapter 19 Flywheel Energy Systems
    19.1 General.
    19.2 Application of Chapters 4 Through 10.
    19.3 Design and Equipment Arrangement.
    19.4 Risk Consideration.
    19.5 Hazard Protection.
    Chapter 20 Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES)
    20.1 General.
    20.2 Application of Chapters 4 Through 10.
    20.3 Design and Equipment Arrangement.
    20.4 Risk Consideration.
    20.5 Hazard Protection.
    Annex A Explanatory Material
    Annex B Sample Fire Report
    Annex C Fire Tests
    Annex D Loss Experience
    Annex E Fire Protection Design Basis Document
    Annex F Informational References
  • Prior Editions

    2015 Edition

    Reduce fire and explosion risks with the 2015 edition of NFPA 850 for fire protection in electric generating plants.

    NFPA 850, Recommended Practice for Fire Protection for Electric Generating Plants and High Voltage Direct Current Converter Stations outlines fire safety recommendations for gas, oil, coal, and alternative fuel electric generating plants including high voltage direct current converter stations and combustion turbine units used for electric generation. Provisions apply to both new and existing facilities.

    Gain confidence that your fire protection plan addresses all relevant hazards.

    NFPA 850's recommendations address the safety of construction and operating personnel, physical integrity of plant components, and the continuity of plant operations. NFPA 850 requires the development of a Fire Protection Design Basis Document that identifies relevant hazards -- such as the presence of fuels, lubricating oils, flammable liquids, electrical equipment, and dust explosions -- along with how installations will be protected.

    The expanded 2015 edition of NFPA 850 gives designers, installers, facilities managers, and inspectors a comprehensive go-to source:

    • The complete 2010 edition of NFPA 851, Hydroelectric Generating Plants has been incorporated into NFPA 850 in a stand-alone chapter.
    • Added coverage of active carbon injection systems reflects increasing use in the field. The powdered active carbon used in these types of systems could present an explosion hazard. The 2015 NFPA 850 increases awareness of the risks and offers mitigation strategies.

    Information in the 2015 NFPA 850 not only helps users provide a high-level of safety for facility personnel and the surrounding community, it also helps reduce the risk of serious equipment damage and costly unexpected downtime which could have serious economic consequences. (Print, 82 pp., 2015) 

    Interested in other editions of NFPA 850? Use the drop down menu above to select the edition year you need.

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  • Also in NFPA 850: Recommended Practice for Fire Protection for Electric Generating Plants and High Voltage Direct Current Converter Stations