scope:

This document provides recommendations for fire prevention and fire protection for electric generating plants and high voltage direct current converter stations, except as follows: Nuclear power plants are addressed in NFPA 805, Performance-Based Standard for Fire Protection for Light Water Reactor Electric Generating Plants; hydroelectric plants are addressed in NFPA851, Recommended Practice for Fire Protection for Hydroelectric Generating Plants; and fuel cells are addressed in NFPA 853, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Fuel Cell Power Systems.

Purpose.

This document is prepared for the guidance of those charged with the design, construction, operation, and protection of electric generating plants and high voltage direct current converter stations that are covered by the scope of this document.

This document provides fire hazard control recommendations for the safety of construction and operating personnel, the physical integrity of plant components, and the continuity of plant operations. Specific concerns are generalized and categorized as shown in 1.2.2.1 through 1.2.2.4.

Protection of Plant Personnel. Risk of injury and loss of life, in the event of fire, should be controlled. Specific criteria should be established for means of egress. When for plant safety and emergency response reasons personnel are not able to evacuate immediately, specific criteria for ensuring their safety until they can evacuate and safe passage to egress routes should be established.

Assets Protection. The large capital costs of the structures, systems, and components for the facilities addressed in this recommended practice create financial risks for the owners, investors, and financiers. Specific criteria should be established for the mitigation of the risks from fires exposing these assets.

Business Interruption. The ability of these facilities to generate and transmit electricity is important not only to the owners of the facilities but also to the consumers of that energy, including the public. Specific criteria for managing the effects of fire on the ability to generate and transmit power should be developed, based on economic and societal considerations.

Environmental Protection. Fires in these facilities have the potential of creating environmental impact, by damaging pollution control systems and components and by creating unwanted releases to the environment from the fire and firefighting activities. Specific criteria should be established to control the impact of fire and fire-fighting activities on the environment.