Higher education laboratories complying with the requirements of this chapter shall be permitted to exceed the maximum allowable quantities of hazardous materials in control areas set forth in Chapter 50 without requiring classification as a Group H occupancy. Except as specified in this chapter, such laboratories shall comply with all applicable provisions of this code and the International Building Code.
The provisions of this chapter shall be applied as exceptions or additions to applicable requirements of this code. Unless specifically modified by this chapter, the storage, use and handling of hazardous materials shall comply with the provisions in Chapters 50 through 67 and the International Building Code for quantities not exceeding the maximum allowable quantity.
The following terms are defined in Chapter 2:
Laboratories and laboratory suites applying the requirements of this chapter shall be in accordance with the general safety provisions in Sections 3803.1.1 through 3803.2.2.
Operating and emergency procedures planning and documentation shall be provided in accordance with Sections 5001.3.3.11 through 5001.3.3.17. Such documentation shall be prepared by laboratory safety personnel or special experts, and shall be made available in the workplace for reference and review by employees. Copies of such documentation shall be made available to the fire code official for review upon request.
Receiving, transporting on site, unpacking and dispensing of hazardous materials shall be carried out by persons trained in proper handling of such materials and shall be performed in accordance with Chapters 50 through 67, as applicable.
Warning signs shall be provided in accordance with Section 5003.5.
Maintenance of equipment, machinery and processes used with hazardous materials shall comply with Section 5003.2.6.
Containers of materials that have the potential to become hazardous during prolonged storage shall be dated when first opened, and shall be managed in accordance with NFPA 45, Section 8.2.4.4.1.
Storage, dispensing, use and handling of hazardous waste shall comply with this chapter and Chapters 50 through 67, as applicable.
New laboratories in new or existing buildings that increase maximum allowable quantities of hazardous materials based on the requirements in this chapter shall be equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
Hazardous materials storage, handling and use in laboratories and laboratory suites complying with Chapter 38 shall be in accordance with this chapter and Chapters 50 through 67.
The maximum container size for all hazardous materials shall be 5.3 gallons (20 L) for liquids, 50 pounds (22.7 kg) for solids, 100 cubic feet (2.83 m3) for health-hazard gases per Table 5003.1.1(2) and 500 cubic feet (14.15 m3) for all other gases in accordance with Table 5003.1.1(1).
Exception: Hazardous waste collection containers, for other than Class I flammable liquids and Class II combustible liquids, are permitted to exceed 5.3 gallons (20 L) where approved.
Quantities of Class I flammable liquids in storage and use shall not exceed 8 gallons (30 L) per 100 square feet (9.29 m2) of floor area. Densities shall be reduced by 25 percent on the 4th through 6th floors of the building, and by 50 percent above the 6th floor. Regardless of the density, the maximum allowable quantity per control area or laboratory suite in accordance with this chapter, shall not be exceeded.
Exception: Designated hazardous waste collection areas or rooms within a laboratory suite or control area are not limited, but such materials shall not exceed the maximum allowable quantity per laboratory suite or control area.
Where laboratory suites are provided, they shall be constructed in accordance with this chapter and Section 428 of the International Building Code.
The number of laboratory suites and percentage of maximum allowable quantities of hazardous materials in laboratory suites shall be in accordance with Table 3804.1.1.
DESIGN AND NUMBER OF LABORATORY SUITES PER FLOOR
| FLOOR LEVEL | PERCENTAGE OF THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE QUANTITY PER LAB SUITEa | NUMBER OF LAB SUITES PER FLOOR | FIRE-RESISTANCE RATING FOR FIRE BARRIERS IN HOURSb | |
| Above grade plane | 21+ 16—20 11—15 7—10 4—6 3 1—2 | Not Allowed 25 50 50 75 100 100 | Not Allowed 1 1 2 4 4 6 | Not Allowed 2c 2c 2c 1 1 1 |
| Below grade plane | 1 2 Lower than 2 | 75 50 Not Allowed | 4 2 Not Allowed | 1 1 Not Allowed |
- Percentages shall be of the maximum allowable quantity per control area shown in Tables 5003.1.1(1) and 5003.1.1(2), with all increases allowed in the footnotes to those tables.
- Fire barriers shall include walls, floors and ceilings necessary to provide separation from other portions of the building.
- Vertical fire barriers separating laboratory suites from other spaces on the same floor are permitted to be 1-hour rated.
Laboratory suites shall be separated from other portions of the building in accordance with the most restrictive of the following:
- Fire barriers and horizontal assemblies as required in Table 3804.1.1. Fire barriers shall be constructed in accordance with Section 707 of the International Building Code and horizontal assemblies shall be constructed in accordance with Section 711 of the International Building Code.Exception: Where an individual laboratory suite occupies more than one story, the fire-resistance rating of intermediate floors contained within the laboratory suite shall comply with the requirements of the International Building Code.
- Separations as required in Section 508 of the International Building Code.
Laboratory suites shall be separated from other laboratory suites in accordance with Table 3804.1.1.
The floor assembly supporting laboratory suites and the construction supporting the floor of laboratory suites shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 hours.
Exception: The floor assembly of laboratory suites and the construction supporting the floor of laboratory suites are permitted to be 1-hour fire-resistance- rated in buildings of Types IIA, IIIA and VA construction, provided that the building is three or fewer stories.
The maximum number of laboratory suites shall be in accordance with Table 3804.1.1. Where a building contains both laboratory suites and control areas, the total number of laboratory suites and control areas within a building shall not exceed the maximum number of laboratory suites in accordance with Table 3804.1.1.
Means of egress shall be in accordance with Chapter 10.
Higher education laboratory suites shall be provided with emergency or standby power in accordance with Section 1203.2.13.
Ventilation shall be in accordance with Chapter 7 of NFPA 45, and the International Mechanical Code.
Portions of laboratory suites where hazardous materials are present shall be provided with a liquid-tight floor.
Buildings containing laboratory suites shall be equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
The percentage of maximum allowable quantities of hazardous materials in each laboratory suite shall be in accordance with Table 3804.1.1.
Storage and use of hazardous materials in existing laboratories located within existing buildings not equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 is permitted where such use complies with Section 3803, Chapters 50 through 67, as applicable, and Sections 3805.2 through 3805.4.
The maximum allowable quantities of hazardous materials in storage and use in control areas in laboratories located in buildings not equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 shall be in accordance with Tables 5003.1.1(1), 5003.1.1(2) and 5003.8.3.2, except as modified by Sections 3805.2.1 and 3805.2.2.
Where approved by the fire code official, storage of the following hazardous materials prohibited by Table 5003.1.1(1) in buildings not equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 shall be allowed within a laboratory control area at 25 percent of Table 5003.1.1(1) limits for a building equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system.
- Pyrophorics.
- Class 4 Oxidizers.
Additional quantity increases shall be prohibited, and such materials shall be stored in accordance with all of the following:
- Containers shall be completely sealed and stored in accordance with the manufacturers' recommendations.
- Storage shall be within approved hazardous material storage cabinets in accordance with Section 5003.8.7, or shall be located in an inert atmosphere glove box in accordance with NFPA 45, Section 7.11.
- The storage cabinet or glove box shall not contain any storage of incompatible materials.
Where approved by the fire code official, use of the following hazardous materials prohibited by Table 5003.1.1(1) in buildings not equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, shall be allowed within a laboratory control area at 25 percent of Table 5003.1.1(1) limits for buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system.
- Pyrophorics.
- Class 4 Oxidizers.
Additional quantity increases shall be prohibited, and such materials shall be stored in accordance with all of the following:
- Use shall be within an approved chemical fume hood listed in accordance with UL 1805, or in an inert atmosphere glove box in accordance with NFPA 45, Section 7.11, or other approved equipment designed for the specific hazard of the material.
- Combustible materials shall be kept not less than 2 feet (610 mm) away from the work area, except for those items directly related to the research.
- A portable fire extinguisher appropriate for the specific material shall be provided within 20 feet (6096 mm) of the use in accordance with Section 906.
An automatic fire detection system shall be installed in all existing laboratories in nonsprinklered buildings in accordance with this section. Detectors shall be connected to the building's fire alarm control unit where a fire alarm system is provided. Detector initiation shall activate the occupant notification system in accordance with Section 907.5 where connected to the building's fire alarm control unit. Activation of the detection system shall sound a local alarm in buildings not equipped with a fire alarm notification system.
The percentage of maximum allowable quantities per control area of hazardous materials shall be permitted to be increased in accordance with Table 3805.4.
DESIGN AND NUMBER OF CONTROL AREAS IN EXISTING NONSPRINKLERED LABORATORIES
| FLOOR LEVEL | PERCENTAGE OF THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE QUANTITY PER CONTROL AREAa | NUMBER OF CONTROL AREAS PER FLOOR | FIRE-RESISTANCE RATING FOR FIRE BARRIERS IN HOURSb, c, d | |
| Above grade plane | Higher than 9 7-9 4-6 3 1-2 | 5 10 25 75 100 | 1 2 2 2 4 | 2c 2c 2c 1 1 |
| Below grade plane | 1 2 Lower than 2 | 100 75 Not Allowed | 3 2 Not Allowed | 1 1 Not Allowed |
- Percentages shall be of the maximum allowable quantity per control area shown in Tables 5003.1.1(1) and 5003.1.1(2), excluding all increases allowed in the footnotes to those tables.
- Fire barriers shall include walls, floors and ceilings necessary to provide separation from other portions of the building.
- Vertical fire barriers separating control areas from other spaces on the same floor are permitted to be 1-hour fire-resistance rated.
- See Section 414.2.4 of the International Building Code for additional requirements.
Storage and use of hazardous materials in existing laboratories within buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 shall be in accordance with Section 3803 and with Chapters 50 through 67, as applicable, except as modified by this section.
Storage and use of hazardous materials within control areas in new and existing laboratories equipped with an automatic sprinkler system shall be in accordance with this section and Chapters 50 through 67, as applicable.
Exception: Existing laboratories in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler meeting requirements for laboratory suites are permitted to comply with Section 3804.
The percentage of maximum allowable quantities per control area of hazardous materials shall be in accordance with Table 3806.2.1.
DESIGN AND NUMBER OF CONTROL AREAS IN EXISTING SPRINKLERED LABORATORIES
| FLOOR LEVEL | PERCENTAGE OF THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE QUANTITY PER CONTROL AREAa | NUMBER OF CONTROL AREAS PER FLOOR | FIRE-RESISTANCE RATING FOR FIRE BARRIERS IN HOURSb, d | |
| Above grade plane | 21+ 11—20 7—10 4—6 3 1—2 | 5 10 25 50 75 100 | 1 1 2 2 3 4 | 2c 2c 2c 2c 1 1 |
| Below grade plane | 1 2 Lower than 2 | 100 75 Not Allowed | 3 2 Not Allowed | 1 1 Not Allowed |
- Percentages shall be of the maximum allowable quantity per control area shown in Tables 5003.1.1(1) and 5003.1.1(2), with all increases allowed in the footnotes to those tables.
- Fire barriers shall include walls, floors and ceilings necessary to provide separation from other portions of the building.
- Vertical fire barriers separating control areas from other spaces on the same floor are permitted to be 1-hour fire-resistance rated.
- See Section 414.2.4 of the International Building Code for additional requirements.