Chapter 38 shall apply to the growing and processing of marijuana within new and existing buildings.
The use, storage, transfilling, and handling of hazardous materials shall comply with this chapter, and other applicable provisions of this Code.
Chapter 38 shall not apply to the retail sale of marijuana where growing and processing does not occur.
Where a material, its use, or associated process poses multiple hazards, all hazards shall be addressed in accordance with applicable requirements of this Code.
The occupancy of buildings or portions of buildings where the growing or processing of marijuana occurs shall be in accordance with Chapter 6 and the applicable building code.
Permits, where required, shall comply with Section 1.12.
Fire protection systems shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 13.
Means of egress shall be in accordance with Chapter 14.
Light fixture ductwork shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer and NFPA 90A.
The use of ozone generators used for odor control shall comply with Chapter 54.
Interior finish, including the use of any plastic, mylar, or other thin film sheeting to enclose rooms or cover any walls or ceilings shall be in accordance with Sections 12.5 and 12.6.
Hanging of plastic from ceiling or from suspended overhead structures to create wall dividers shall not be permitted.
Sources of ignition shall be shut off during the fumigation activity and remain shut off until the required ventilation is completed.
The AHJ and fire department shall be notified in writing not less than 48 hours before the building, structure, or space is to be closed in connection with the utilization of any toxic or flammable fumigant.
Notification, as required by 38.5.4.3.1, shall include the following:
- The location of the enclosed space to be fumigated or fogged
- The occupancy
- The fumigants or insecticides to be utilized
- The person or persons responsible for the operation
- The date and time at which the operation will begin
Written notice of any fumigation or insecticidal fogging operation shall be given to all affected occupants of the building, structure, or space in which such operations are to be conducted with sufficient advance notice to allow the occupants to evacuate the building, structure, or space.
Written notice, as required by 38.5.4.3.3, shall inform the occupants as to the purposes, anticipated duration, and hazards associated with the fumigation or insecticidal fogging operation.
Approved warning signs indicating the danger, type of chemical involved, and necessary precautions shall be posted on all doors and entrances to the premises, including interior rooms and areas.
Signage shall be located at the exterior main entry and at the entries to those areas being fumigated indicating the duration of the fumigation.
During the period fumigation is in progress a watchperson shall remain on duty at the entrance or entrances to the enclosed fumigated space until after the fumigation is completed and the building, structure, or space is properly ventilated and safe for occupancy.
Sufficient watchpersons shall be provided to prevent any person from entering the enclosed space under fumigation unobserved.
Occupants of the building, structure, or space to be fumigated, except the personnel conducting the fumigation, shall be evacuated from such building, structure, or space prior to commencing fumigation operations.
Paper, and other similar materials, used to wrap or cover a building, structure, or space in excess of that required for the sealing of cracks, casements, and similar openings shall meet the flame propagation performance criteria of Test Method 1 or Test Method 2 of NFPA 701.
All openings to the building, structure, or space to be fumigated or fogged shall be kept securely closed during such operation.
At the end of the exposure period the following procedures shall be followed:
- Fumigators shall safely and properly ventilate the premises and contents.
- Fumigant containers, residues, debris, and other materials used for such fumigation shall be properly disposed.
- Obstructions shall be cleared from gas-fired appliance vents.
A warning sign shall be provided to indicate that pesticides have been applied.
Extraction rooms in a marijuana extraction facility shall be constructed in accordance with the building code and this Code.
For other than CO2 and nonhazardous extraction process, the marijuana extraction equipment and process shall be located in a room of noncombustible construction dedicated to the extraction process and the room shall not be used for any other purpose.
Marijuana extraction shall not be located in any building containing assembly, educational, day care, health care, ambulatory health care, residential board and care, residential, or detention and correctional facilities.
For extraction rooms using hazardous materials, each room shall be provided with at least one exit access door complying with the following:
- The door shall swing in the direction of egress travel.
- The door shall be provided with a self-closing or automatic closing device.
- The door shall be equipped with panic or fire exit hardware.
For other than approved, unattended processes, the extraction process shall be continuously staffed.
Staff monitoring the extraction process shall be trained in the following:
- The extraction process
- * The transfer of solvents, where applicable
- All emergency procedures
All staff training records shall be maintained on-site and made available to the AHJ upon request.
In addition to the provisions of 38.6.1.2, the operator of the marijuana extraction equipment shall also receive training in safe operation of the equipment.
Documentation of training required by 38.6.1.3.1 shall be maintained on-site and made available to the AHJ upon request.
The NFPA 704 hazard rating diamond sign and no smoking signs shall be posted on the exterior of the extraction room door.
Systems, equipment, and processes shall include, but are not limited to, vessels, chambers, containers, cylinders, tanks, piping, tubing, valves, fittings, and pumps.
In addition to the requirements in 38.6.1.5, systems, equipment, and processes shall also comply with 60.5.1.6, other applicable provisions of this Code, the building code, and NFPA 90A.
Where an explosion condition exists, heating equipment such as vacuum ovens, heating mantels, heat guns, or other equipment shall not be used to heat flammable or combustible liquids or oils containing liquefied petroleum gasses.
Refrigerators, freezers, and other cooling equipment used to store or cool flammable liquids shall be listed for the storage of flammable/combustible liquids or be listed for Class I, Division 1 locations, as described in Article 501 of NFPA 70.
The designer of record shall be a registered design professional.
For systems and equipment not listed for the specific use, a technical report in accordance with Section 1.15 documenting the design or peer review of the equipment shall be prepared and submitted to the AHJ for review and approval.
Where the medium of extraction or solvent is changed from the material indicated in the technical report or as required by the manufacturer, the technical report shall be revised at the cost of the facility owner and submitted for review and approval by the AHJ prior to the use of the equipment with the new medium or solvent.
If the original designer of record is not available, then the new designer of record shall comply with 38.6.1.5.3.1.
Prior to operation of the extraction equipment, the designer of record for the equipment shall inspect the site of the extraction process once equipment has been installed for compliance with the technical report and the building analysis.
The designer of record performing the field verification shall provide a report of findings and observations of the site inspection to the AHJ for review and approval prior to the approval of the extraction process.
The field inspection report authored by designer of record shall include the serial number of the equipment used in the process and shall confirm the equipment installed is the same model and type of equipment identified in the technical report.
Marijuana extraction facilities using liquefied petroleum gas solvents shall comply with 38.6.1 and 38.6.2.
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The exhaust systems shall be installed and maintained accordance with NFPA 91 or the mechanical code.
All LPG extraction operations, including processes for off-gassing spent plant material and oil retrieval, shall be conducted within a chemical fume hood or enclosure in compliance with NFPA 91 or the mechanical code.
All conductive equipment and conductive objects within the exhaust room shall be bonded and grounded with a resistance of less than 1.0 × 106 ohms in accordance with NFPA 70.
All electrical components within the extraction room shall be interlocked with the hazardous exhaust system such that room lighting and other extraction room electrical equipment will only operate when the exhaust system is in operation.
An automatic emergency power system shall be provided for the following items, when installed:
- Extraction room lighting
- Extraction room ventilation system
- Solvent gas detection system
An approved continuous gas detection system shall be provided.
Gas detection systems shall be provided with constant noninterlocked power.
An automatic suppression system shall be provided within hoods or enclosures, including ductwork, in accordance with the following:
- An automatic water sprinkler system that meets all applicable requirements of NFPA 13
- A carbon dioxide extinguishing system that meets all applicable requirements of NFPA 12
- A dry chemical extinguishing system that meets all applicable requirements of NFPA 17
- A gaseous agent extinguishing system that meets all applicable requirements of NFPA 2001
LPG containers not in use shall not be stored within extraction rooms.
Marijuana extraction facilities using flammable and combustible liquid solvents shall comply with 38.6.1 and 38.6.3.
Extraction and post oil processing operations, including dispensing of flammable liquids between containers, shall be performed in one of the following locations:
- A chemical fume hood in accordance with Chapter 7 of NFPA 45
- An approved exhaust system installed in accordance with NFPA 91 or the mechanical code
Unheated processes at atmospheric pressure using less than 16 oz (473 ml) of flammable liquids shall not be required to comply with 38.6.3.2.1.
All electrical components within the chemical fume hood or exhausted enclosure shall be interlocked such that the exhaust system shall be in operation for lighting and components to be used.
The storage, use, and handling of flammable liquids shall be in compliance with this chapter and Chapter 66.
Heating of flammable or combustible liquids over an open flame shall be prohibited.
All CO2 compressed gas cylinders shall be secured to a fixed object to prevent falling.
The extraction equipment pressure relief devices and blow-off valves shall be piped to the exterior of the building.
Filling LPG extraction equipment supply containers shall be in compliance with 69.3.5, 69.4.2, and NFPA 58.