This chapter shall govern the design, operation and maintenance of tire rebuilding plants, tire storage and tire byproduct facilities.
Tire rebuilding plants, tire storage and tire byproduct facilities shall be designed, operated and maintained in accordance with this chapter, NFPA 13, as modified by FC Appendix B, and if applicable, FC Chapter 32.
Terms used in this chapter and defined in FC202 shall have the meanings set forth therein.
Tire rebuilding plants shall comply with the requirements of the construction codes, including the Building Code.
Buffing operations shall be conducted in a room separated from the remainder of the building housing the tire rebuilding or tire recapping operations by a 1-hour fire barrier.
Exception: Buffing operations are not required to be separated where the following requirements are complied with:
- Buffing operations are protected throughout by a continuous water-spray fire protection system directed at the point of cutting action.
- Buffing machines are connected to particle-collecting systems providing a minimum air movement of 1,500 cubic feet per minute (cfm) (0.71m3/s) in volume and 4,500 feet per minute (fpm) (23 m/s) in-line velocity.
- The collecting system shall discharge the rubber particles to an approved outdoor noncombustible or noncombustible container, which is emptied at frequent intervals to prevent overflow.
The buffing area shall be cleaned and combustible waste regularly removed and disposed of to prevent the accumulation of rubber particles.
Spray rooms or spray booths wherein flammable or combustible solvents are applied shall comply with the requirements of FC Chapter 24.
It shall be unlawful in a tire storage yard to ignite or maintain an open fire or open flame.
It shall be unlawful in a tire storage yard to conduct hot work operations.
It shall be unlawful in a tire storage yard to smoke.
A telephone not requiring a coin to operate, or another approved, clearly identified means to notify the department, shall be provided at the facility in an approved location. A sign shall be conspicuously posted at or near the telephone indicating that all fires shall be immediately reported to the department, and setting forth the facility's address with cross-street reference and the fire department telephone number.
Tire storage shall be restricted to individual piles not exceeding 5,000 square feet (464.5 m2) of continuous area. Piles shall not exceed 50,000 cubic feet (1416 m3) in volume or 10 feet (3048 mm) in height.
Individual tire storage piles shall be separated from other piles by a clear space of at least 40 feet (12 192 mm).
Tire storage piles shall be separated by a clear space of at least 40 feet (12 192 mm) from piles of other stored product.
Tire storage piles shall be located at least 50 feet (15 240 mm) from lot lines and buildings unless the commissioner approves a lesser separation distance of tire storage piles in accordance with the criteria set forth in NFPA 13.
Storage yards shall be maintained free from combustible grass and weeds for a distance of 40 feet (12 192 mm) from the stored tires; and for a distance of 100 feet (30 480 mm) from the stored tires to brush and forested areas.
Where the bulk volume of stored material is more than 150,000 cubic feet (4248 m3), fire breaks shall be provided around the perimeter of each group of storage piles in accordance with the following:
- Individual storage piles shall be arranged so that there are not more than 16 individual storage piles per group.
- Fire breaks shall at least be 75 feet (22 860 mm) wide.
Outdoor tire storage shall not be located under bridges, elevated trestles, elevated roadways or elevated railroads.
New and existing tire storage yards shall be provided with fire apparatus access roads in accordance with FC503 and this section.
Fire apparatus access roads shall be located within all pile clearances identified in FC3405.4 and within all fire breaks required in FC 3405.5 and 3405.6. Access roadways shall be within 150 feet (45 720 mm) of any point in the storage yard where storage piles are located, at least 20 feet (6096 mm) from any storage pile.
Where the bulk volume of stored material is more than 20,000 cubic feet (566 m3), a firmly anchored fence or other approved method of security that controls unauthorized access to the storage yard shall surround the storage yard.
All gates to the storage yard shall be locked when the storage yard is not staffed
Where tires are stored on-tread, the dimension of the pile in the direction of the wheel hole shall not be more than 50 feet (15 240 mm). Tires stored adjacent to or along one wall shall not extend more than 25 feet (7620 mm) from that wall. Other piles shall not be more than 50 feet (15 240 mm) in width.