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Section 5606 Small Arms Ammunition and Small Arms Ammunition Components

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5606.1 General
Indoor storage and display of black powder, smokeless propellants, small arms primers, small arms ammunition and commercial reloading shall comply with this section and NFPA 495.
5606.2 Prohibited Storage
Small arms ammunition shall not be stored together with Division 1.1, Division 1.2 or Division 1.3 explosives unless the storage facility is suitable for the storage of explosive materials.
5606.3 Packages
Smokeless propellants shall be stored in approved shipping containers conforming to DOTn 49 CFR Part 173.
5606.3.1 Repackaging
The bulk repackaging of smokeless propellants, black powder and small arms primers shall not be performed in retail establishments.
5606.3.2 Damaged Packages
Damaged containers shall not be repackaged.
Exception: Approved repackaging of damaged containers of smokeless propellant into containers of the same type and size as the original container.
5606.4 Storage in Group R Occupancies
The storage of small arms ammunition components in Group R occupancies shall comply with Sections 5606.4.1 through 5606.4.3.
5606.4.1 Black Powder
Black powder for personal use in quantities not exceeding 20 pounds (9 kg) shall be stored in original containers in occupancies limited to Group R-3. Quantities exceeding 20 pounds (9 kg) shall not be stored in any Group R occupancy.
5606.4.2 Smokeless Propellants
Smokeless propellants for personal use in quantities not exceeding 20 pounds (9 kg) shall be stored in original containers in occupancies limited to Group R-3. Smokeless propellants in quantities exceeding 20 pounds (9 kg) but not exceeding 50 pounds (23 kg) and kept in a wooden box or cabinet having walls of not less than 1 inch (25 mm) nominal thickness shall be allowed to be stored in occupancies limited to Group R-3. Quantities exceeding these amounts shall not be stored in any Group R occupancy.
5606.4.3 Small Arms Primers
Not more than 10,000 small arms primers shall be stored in occupancies limited to Group R-3.
5606.5 Display and Storage in Group M Occupancies
The display and storage of small arms ammunition components in Group M occupancies shall comply with Sections 5606.5.1 through 5606.5.2.3.
5606.5.1 Display
Display of small arms ammunition components in Group M occupancies shall comply with Sections 5606.5.1.1 through 5606.5.1.3.
5606.5.1.1 Smokeless Propellant
Not more than 20 pounds (9 kg) of smokeless propellants, in containers of 1 pound (0.454 kg) or less capacity each, shall be displayed in Group M occupancies.
5606.5.1.2 Black Powder
Not more than 1 pound (0.454 kg) of black powder shall be displayed in Group M occupancies.
5606.5.1.3 Small Arms Primers
Not more than 10,000 small arms primers shall be displayed in Group M occupancies.
5606.5.2 Storage
Storage of small arms ammunition components shall comply with Sections 5606.5.2.1 through 5606.5.2.3.
5606.5.2.1 Smokeless Propellant
Commercial stocks of smokeless propellants shall be stored as follows:
  1. Quantities exceeding 20 pounds (9 kg), but not exceeding 100 pounds (45 kg) shall be stored in portable wooden boxes having walls of not less than 1 inch (25 mm) nominal thickness.
  2. Quantities exceeding 100 pounds (45 kg), but not exceeding 800 pounds (363 kg), shall be stored in nonportable storage cabinets having walls not less than 1 inch (25 mm) nominal thickness. Not more than 400 pounds (182 kg) shall be stored in any one cabinet, and cabinets shall be separated by a distance of not less than 25 feet (7620 mm) or by a fire partition having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour.
  3. Storage of quantities exceeding 800 pounds (363 kg), but not exceeding 5,000 pounds (2270 kg) in a building shall comply with all of the following:
    1. The warehouse or storage room is not open to unauthorized personnel.
    2. Smokeless propellant shall be stored in nonportable storage cabinets having wood walls not less than 1 inch (25 mm) nominal thickness and having shelves with not more than 3 feet (914 mm) of separation between shelves.
    3. Not more than 400 pounds (182 kg) is stored in any one cabinet.
    4. Cabinets shall be located against walls of the storage room or warehouse with not less than 40 feet (12 192 mm) between cabinets.
    5. The minimum required separation between cabinets shall be 20 feet (6096 mm) provided that barricades twice the height of the cabinets are attached to the wall, midway between each cabinet. The barricades must extend not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) outward, be firmly attached to the wall and be constructed of steel not less than 1/4 inch thick (6.4 mm), 2-inch (51 mm) nominal thickness wood, brick or concrete block.
    6. Smokeless propellant shall be separated from materials classified as combustible liquids, flammable liquids, flammable solids or oxidizing materials by a distance of 25 feet (7620 mm) or by a fire partition having a fire-resistance rating of 1 hour.
    7. The building shall be equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
  4. Smokeless propellants not stored in accordance with Item 1, 2, or 3 shall be stored in a Type 2 or 4 magazine in accordance with Section 5604 and NFPA 495.
5606.5.2.2 Black Powder
Commercial stocks of black powder in quantities less than 50 pounds (23 kg) shall be allowed to be stored in Type 2 or 4 indoor or outdoor magazines. Quantities greater than 50 pounds (23 kg) shall be stored in outdoor Type 2 or 4 magazines. Where black powder and smokeless propellants are stored together in the same magazine, the total quantity shall not exceed that permitted for black powder.
5606.5.2.3 Small Arms Primers
Commercial stocks of small arms primers shall be stored as follows:
  1. Quantities not to exceed 750,000 small arms primers stored in a building shall be arranged such that not more than 100,000 small arms primers are stored in any one pile and piles are not less than 15 feet (4572 mm) apart.
  2. Quantities exceeding 750,000 small arms primers stored in a building shall comply with all of the following:
    1. The warehouse or storage building is not open to unauthorized personnel.
    2. Small arms primers shall be stored in cabinets. Not more than 200,000 small arms primers shall be stored in any one cabinet.
    3. Shelves in cabinets shall have vertical separation of not less than 2 feet (610 mm).
    4. Cabinets shall be located against walls of the warehouse or storage room with not less than 40 feet (12 192 mm) between cabinets. The minimum required separation between cabinets shall be allowed to be reduced to 20 feet (6096 mm) provided that barricades twice the height of the cabinets are attached to the wall, midway between each cabinet. The barricades shall be firmly attached to the wall and shall be constructed of steel not less than 1/4 inch thick (6.4 mm), 2-inch (51 mm) nominal thickness wood, brick or concrete block.
    5. Small arms primers shall be separated from materials classified as combustible liquids, flammable liquids, flammable solids or oxidizing materials by a distance of 25 feet (7620 mm) or by a fire partition having a fire-resistance rating of 1 hour.
    6. The building shall be protected throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
  3. Small arms primers not stored in accordance with Item 1 or 2 of this section shall be stored in a magazine meeting the requirements of Section 5604 and NFPA 495.
5606.6 Commercial Reloading
Commercial reloading of small arms ammunition shall comply with Sections 5606.6.1 through 5606.6.8.
5606.6.1 Electrical
Areas within 3 feet (914 mm) of reloading equipment shall be Class I, Division 2, Group A type.
5606.6.2 Exhaust Fans
Squirrel cage blowers shall not be used for exhausting hazardous fumes, vapors or gases. Only nonferrous fan blades shall be used for fans located within the ductwork and through which hazardous materials are exhausted. Motors shall be located outside the duct.
5606.6.3 Work Stations
Work stations shall be separated by distance, barrier or other approved alternatives so that fire in one station will not ignite material in another work station.
5606.6.4 Personnel Limits
The number of occupants in each process building and in each magazine shall not exceed the number necessary for proper conduct of production operations.
5606.6.5 Approved Containers
Smokeless powder shall be kept in its original container.
5606.6.6 Static Controls
The work area shall be provided with approved static controls.
5606.6.7 Waste Disposal
Approved receptacles with covers shall be provided for each location for disposing of waste material and debris. These waste receptacles shall be emptied and cleaned as often as necessary but not less than once each day or at the end of each shift.
5606.6.8 Safety Rules
General safety rules and operating instructions governing the particular operation or process conducted at that location shall be available at each location.
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