Fire and Life Safety compliance within the cannabis industry are very important considerations when designing and operating your facilities. The wellbeing of your employees and customers should always be a top priority. Indoor cannabis production is often classified as a hazardous industrial workspace because of the use of high voltage electricity, various chemicals, heavy equipment, extraction labs, and the use of CO2 enrichment systems. Fire and life safety regulations and standards are set by leading national organizations such as The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), International Fire Code (IFC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), as well as local and state authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ).
When utilizing CO2 enrichment in your facility to grow larger, heartier, more resilient plants, it is important to have all the required monitoring and safety protocols in place to assure the work environment is safe. When monitoring for simple asphyxiants such as CO2, even the most basic safety systems should include industrial sensors, alarms with horns and light strobes, in addition to automatic shut-off valves at the CO2 source. Failure to have all life and fire safety equipment installed and working properly can result in the AHJ imposing fines or even shutting down the facility until compliant.
Life safety systems should be annually inspected to ensure they are working properly and sensors and alarms are functioning as expected. Regular system maintenance includes sensor calibration, gas flow regulator cleaning, and testing the shut-off valve and alarm operations.
Extraction laboratories using highly explosive solvents also require life safety monitoring. However, the equipment as well as the codes and regulations are different from a cultivation facility. For example, laboratories are often classified as C1D1 or C1D2 (Class 1 Division 1, Class 1 Division 2). Fire and life safety regulations mandate the use of Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) sensors when working with highly explosive solvents. These sensors detect the smallest trace of any solvent, and will alarm if it is sensed in the air.
Before approval by AHJ and activation of your equipment, your system must be commissioned and safety systems tested and verified. AHJ oversees testing and certification, activation of alarms, and sensor functionality. To receive approval, all systems must be operating as expected. To maintain compliance during operation, regular system maintenance requires the replacement of components that wear quickly due to consistent use as well as yearly inspections and sensor calibrations.
The NFPA states, “Once equipment is modified, it becomes custom, and will require a technical review and onsite field inspection…which is why we advocate for yearly inspections, at a minimum.”
As more states continue to legalize cannabis, it is important to take the time to discuss the necessity of fire and life safety in the industry. If you are building or operating a cannabis cultivation or extraction laboratory, assure your employees and facility are safe at all times by monitoring the environment properly.