An approvedstorage
floor plan that documents the permissible use of the storage
area, based on the occupancy classification and the design basis
of the automatic sprinkler system, shall be provided and mounted in an approved location.
Commodity classification and the corresponding
protection requirements shall be determined based on the
makeup of individual storage units. [13:20.3.1]
The type and amount of materials used as part of the
product and its primary packaging as well as the storage pallet
shall be considered in the classification of the commodity.
[13:20.3.1.1]
When specific test data of commodity classification by
a nationally recognized testing agency are available, the data
shall be permitted to be used in determining classification of
commodities. [13:20.3.1.2]
When loads are palletized, the use of wood
or metal pallets, or listed pallets equivalent to wood, shall be
assumed in the classification of commodities. [13:20.3.2.1]
A pallet having any portion of its
construction consisting of a plastic material that has not been
listed as equivalent to wood shall increase the class of commodity determined for a storage load in accordance with NFPA 13.
[13:20.3.2.2]
A Class II commodity shall be defined as a
noncombustible product that is in slatted wooden crates, solid
wood boxes, multiple-layered corrugated cartons, or equivalent
combustiblepackagingmaterial, with or without pallets.
[13:20.4.2]
A Class III commodity shall be defined as a product
fashioned from wood, paper, natural fibers, or Group C plastics
with or without cartons, boxes, or crates and with or without
pallets. [13:20.4.3.1]
A Class III commodity shall be permitted to contain a
limited amount (5 percent or less by weight of nonexpanded
plastic or 5 percent or less by volume of expanded plastic) of
Group A or Group B plastics. [13:20.4.3.2]
Class III commodities containing a mix of both
Group A expanded and nonexpanded plastics shall comply
with Figure 34.3.3.3(a) where they are within cartons, boxes, or
crates or with Figure 34.3.3.3(b) where they are exposed.
[13:20.4.3.3]
FIGURE 34.3.3.3(a)Commodities, Cartoned or Within a Wooden Container, Containing a
Mixture of Expanded and Nonexpanded Group A Plastics. [13:Figure 20.4.3.3(a)]
FIGURE 34.3.3.3(b) Exposed Commodities Containing a Mixture of Expanded and
Nonexpanded Group A Plastics. [13:Figure 20.4.3.3(b)]
The remaining materials shall be permitted to be
noncombustible, wood, paper, natural or synthetic fibers, or
Group A, Group B, or Group C plastics. [13:20.4.5.5]
Plastic commodities shall be protected in accordance
with Figure 34.3.8. (See Section C.21 of NFPA 13.) [13:20.4.8]
FIGURE 34.3.8 Decision Tree. [13:Figure 20.4.8]
Pneumatic tires for passenger automobiles, aircraft, light and heavy trucks, trailers, farm equipment,
construction equipment (off-the-road), and buses shall be
protected as rubber tirestorage in accordance with Chapters
20 through 25 ofNFPA 13. [13:20.4.9]
For the
purposes of this Code, the classifications of paper described in
34.3.10.1 through 34.3.10.4 shall apply and shall be used to
determine the sprinkler system design criteria in accordance
with Chapters 20 through 25 ofNFPA 13. [13:20.4.10]
Heavyweight class shall be
defined so as to include paperboard and paper stock having a
basis weight [weight per 1000 ft2 (93 m2)] of 20 lb (9.1 kg).
[13:20.4.10.1]
Mediumweight class shall be
defined so as to include all the broad range of papers having a
basis weight [weight per 1000 ft2 (93 m2)] of 10 lb to 20 lb
(4.5 kg to 9.1 kg). [13:20.4.10.2]
Tissue shall be defined so as to include the broad
range of papers of characteristic gauzy texture, which, in some
cases, are fairly transparent. [13:20.4.10.4.1]
For the purposes of this Code, tissue shall be
defined as the soft, absorbent type, regardless of basis weight —
specifically, crepe wadding and the sanitary class including
facial tissue, paper napkins, bathroom tissue, and toweling.
[13:20.4.10.4.2]
Group A plastic
automotive components and associated packagingmaterial
consisting of exposed, expanded Group A plastic dunnage,
instrument panels, and plastic bumper fascia shall be permitted
to be protected as defined in Chapter 23 of NFPA 13.
[13:20.4.11]
Group A plastics combined with Class I through IV in
a retail/storage environment (big box retail) that combines
customer picking areas with storage above within the retail area
shall be permitted to be protected in accordance with retail
display/storage of up to cartoned group A plastics in Chapters
20 to 23 of NFPA 13. [13:20.4.12]
A natural seed fiber wrapped and
secured in industry-accepted materials, usually consisting of
burlap, woven polypropylene, or sheet polyethylene, and
secured with steel, synthetic or wire bands, or wire; also
includes linters (lint removed from the cottonseed) and motes
(residual materials from the ginning process) shall be protected as baled cotton in accordance with Chapter 21 of NFPA 13.
(See Table A.3.3.13 of NFPA 13.) [13:20.4.12.1]
A Class III commodity
consisting predominantly of paper records in cardboard
cartons shall be permitted to be protected as cartoned record
storage in accordance with Chapter 21 or 23 of NFPA 13.
[13:20.4.13]
The protection requirements for the lower
commodity class shall be permitted to be utilized where all of
the following are met:
Up to 10 pallet loads of a higher hazard commodity, as
described in 34.3.1 and 34.3.7, shall be permitted to be
present in an area not exceeding 40,000 ft2 (3720 m2).
The higher hazard commodity shall be randomly
dispersed with no adjacent loads in any direction (including diagonally).
Where the ceiling protection is based on Class I or
Class II commodities, the allowable number of pallet
loads for Class IV or Group A plastics shall be reduced to
five. [13:20.4.14.3]
The protection
requirements for the lower commodity class shall be permitted
to be utilized in the area of lower commodity class, where the
higher hazard material is confined to a designated area and the
area is protected to the higher hazard in accordance with the
requirements of this Code. [13:20.4.14.4]
Buildings used for storage of
materials that are stored and protected in accordance with this
chapter shall be permitted to be of any of the types described
in NFPA 220.
Where local codes require smoke and heat vents in
buildings protected by early suppression fast response (ESFR)
sprinklers, the vents shall be manually operated or have an
operating mechanism with a standard response fusible element
rated not less than 360°F (182°C).
Where storing water-absorbent commodities, normal
floor loads shall be reduced to take into account the added
weight of water that can be absorbed during fire-fighting operations.
If the commodity is stored above the lower chord of
roof trusses, not less than 1 ft (0.3 m) of clear space shall be
maintained to allow wetting of the truss, unless the truss is
protected with 1-hour fireproofing.
The clearance between stored materials and unit
heaters, radiant space heaters, duct furnaces, and flues shall
not be less than 3 ft (0.9 m) in all directions or shall be in
accordance with the clearances shown on the approval agency
label.
For the storage of commodities that expand with the
absorption of water, such as roll paper, wall aisles not less than
24 in. (0.6 m) wide shall be provided.
Aisles shall be maintained to retard the transfer of
fire from one pile to another and to allow convenient access for
fire fighting, salvage, and removal of storage.
High-expansion foam systems installed in addition to
automatic sprinklers shall be installed in accordance with
NFPA 11 except where modified by other requirements in this
chapter.
Detectors for high-expansion foam systems shall be
listed and shall be installed at the ceiling at not more than one-half the listed spacing in accordance with NFPA 72.
Detection systems, concentrate pumps, generators,
and other system components essential to the operation of the
system shall have an approved standby power source.
Where 11/2 in. (38 mm) hose lines are available to
reach all portions of areas with Class A fire loads, up to one-half
of the portable fire extinguishers required by Section 13.6 shall
be permitted to be omitted.
At locations without public hydrants, or
where hydrants are not within 250 ft (75 m), private hydrants
shall be installed in accordance with Section 13.5.
Arrangements shall be made to allow rapid entry into
the premises by the municipal fire department, police department, or other authorized personnel in case of fire or other
emergency.
Due to the unique nature of storage fires and the
hazards associated with fighting such fires, facilityemergency
personnel shall be trained to have knowledge of the following:
Pile and building collapse potential during fire-fighting
and mop-up operations due to sprinkler water absorption, use of hose streams, and the undermining of piles
by fire that is likely to cause material or piles to fall (especially roll tissue paper), resulting in injury
Operation of sprinkler systems and water supply equipment
Location of the controlling sprinkler valves so that the
correct sprinkler system can be turned on or off as necessary
Correct operation of emergency smoke and heat vent
systems where they have been provided
Use of material-handling equipment while sprinklers are
operating to effect final extinguishment
Procedure for summoning outside aid immediately in an
emergency
Maintenance of the security features of the premises
Operation of foam systems, evacuation procedures, and
safety precautions during all foam operations
Automatic sprinkler systems and foam systems, where
provided, shall have approved central station, auxiliary, remote
station, or proprietary waterflow alarm service unless otherwise
permitted by 34.6.5.1.1 or 34.6.5.1.2.
Industrial trucks using liquefied petroleum gas (LPGas) or liquid fuel shall be refueled outside of the storage
building at a location designated for the purpose.
Welding, soldering, brazing, and cutting shall be
permitted to be performed on building components or
contents that cannot be removed, provided that no storage is
located below and within 25 ft (7.6 m) of the working area and
flameproof tarpaulins enclose the area.
Extinguishers suitable for Class A fires with a minimum
rating of 2-A shall be located in the working area.
Where inside hose lines are available, charged and attended inside hose lines shall be located in the working area.
A fire watch shall be maintained during the operations
specified in 34.7.3.2 and for not less than 30 minutes
following completion of open-flame operation.
Where metal halide lighting is installed, it
shall be selected, installed, and maintained such that catastrophic failure of the bulb shall not ignite materials below.
Fire protection of steel building columns and vertical
rack members that support the building shall not be required
when ceiling sprinklers and in-rack sprinklers are installed in
accordance with Section 13.3.
For sprinklered buildings with rackstorage of over
15 ft (4.6 m) in height and only ceiling sprinklers installed,
steel building columns within the rack structure and vertical
rack members that support the building shall have a fire resistance rating not less than 1 hour, unless the installation meets
the requirements of 16.1.4 of NFPA 13.
Where high-expansion foam systems are installed, they shall be automatic in operation and shall be in
accordance with NFPA 11, except when modified by 34.8.3.4.
The clearance from the top of storage does not exceed 10 ft (3 m).
The height of storage does not exceed 25 ft (7.6 m).
At the ceiling at listed spacing and on racks at alternate levels
Where listed for rackstorage installation and installed in accordance with ceiling detector listing to provide response within 1 minute after ignition using an ignition source equivalent to that used in a rackstorage testing program
The following requirements shall apply to storage
of Class I, Class II, Class III, and Class IV commodities, as classified in Section 34.2, up to and including 25 ft (7.6 m) in
height:
* When high-expansion foam systems are used without
sprinklers, the submergence time shall be not more than
5 minutes for Class I, Class II, or Class III commodities.
When high-expansion foam systems are used without
sprinklers, the submergence time shall be not more than
4 minutes for Class IV commodities.
When high-expansion foam systems are used in combination with ceiling sprinklers, the submergence time shall
be not more than 7 minutes for Class I, Class II, or
Class III commodities.
When high-expansion foam systems are used in combination with ceiling sprinklers, the submergence time shall
be not more than 5 minutes for Class IV commodities.
The following requirements shall apply to storage
of Class I, Class II, Class III, and Class IV commodities stored
over 25 ft (7.6 m) high up to and including 35 ft (10.7 m) in
height:
Ceiling sprinklers shall be used in combination with the
high-expansion foam system.
The submergence time for the high-expansion foam shall
be not more than 5 minutes for Class I, Class II, or
Class III commodities.
The submergence time for the high-expansion foam shall
be not more than 4 minutes for Class IV commodities.
Steel columns shall be protected as
follows unless protected in accordance with 16.1.4 of NFPA 13:
For storage exceeding 15 ft to 20 ft (4.6 m to 6 m) in
height, columns shall have 1-hour fireproofing.
For storage exceeding 20 ft (6 m) in height, columns
shall have 2-hour fireproofing for the entire length of the
column, including connections with other structural
members.
Where protection in accordance with this chapter is
provided, stored tires shall be segregated from other combustiblestorage by aisles not less than 8 ft (2.4 m) wide.
The protection outlined in
Section 34.10 shall apply to buildings with or without fireproofing or other modes of steel protection, unless modified by the
requirements of 34.5.2.2.
Idle pallets shall be permitted to be
stored in a building used for other storage or other purpose if
the building is sprinklered in accordance with Section 13.3.
The storage of wood and wood composite pallets or
listed pallets equivalent to wood at pallet manufacturing and
pallet recycling facility sites shall comply with 34.11.4.
Idle pallet stacks shall not exceed 15 ft (4.6 m) in
height nor shall cover an area of greater than 400 ft2 (37 m2).
Pallet stacks shall be arranged to form stable piles. A distance
of not less than 8 ft (2.4 m) shall separate stacks. Piles shall be
no closer than 8 ft (2.4 m) to any property line.
The outside storage of wood and wood composite
pallets or listed pallets equivalent to wood on the same site as a
pallet manufacturing or pallet recycling facility shall comply
with 34.11.4.
Each site shall maintain a current site plan. The site
plan shall be submitted to the authority having jurisdiction for
review and approval and shall include all of the following:
Lot lines
Utilities
Size, location, and type of construction of the buildings
on the property
The owner or designated representative shall submit
a fire prevention plan for review and approval by the authority
having jurisdiction that includes all of the following:
Frequency of walk-through inspections to verify compliance with the approved fire prevention plan
The owner or designated representative shall
prepare a security management plan based on a security risk
assessment and shall make the plan and assessment available to
the AHJ upon request.
Unless permitted by 34.11.4.11, stacks of pallets shall
not be stored within 0.75 times the stack height or 8 ft (2.4 m),
whichever is greater, of any property line.
The size of pallet arrays shall comply with one of
the following:
Where the access to the pallet array is less than 20 ft
(6 m) in width but at least 8 ft (2.4 m) in width, the nearest edge of any individual pallet stack shall be no more
than 30 ft (9 m) from the access.
Where the access to the pallet array is by a fire department access route complying with Section 18.2, the nearest edge of any individual pallet stack shall be no more
than 50 ft (15 m) from the access.
The individual pallet stack depth from access within
pallet arrays at existingfacilities that exceed 34.11.4.9(1)
or 34.11.4.9(2) shall be as approved by the AHJ.
The AHJ shall be permitted to allow pallet stacks
closer to a property line or structure on site where additional
fire protection is provided, including, but not limited to, the
following:
The storage yard areas and materials-handling equipment
selection, design, and arrangement are based upon an
approved risk assessment.
Automatic fire detection transmits an alarm signal to a
supervising station in accordance with NFPA 72.
