California Code of Regulations › Title 8 - Industrial Relations › Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations › Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety › Subchapter 7 - General Industry Safety Orders › Group 20 - Flammable Liquids, Gases and Vapors › Article 141 - Container and Portable Tank Storage › Section 5534 - Design and Construction of Inside Storage Rooms

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Inside storage rooms shall be constructed
						to meet the required fire-resistive rating for their use. Such construction
						shall comply with the test specification set forth in Standard Methods of Fire
						Tests of Building Construction and Materials, NFPA No. 251-1972. Where an
						automatic sprinkler system is provided, the system shall be designed and
						installed in an approved manner. Openings to other rooms or buildings shall be
						provided with noncombustible liquid-tight raised sills or ramps at least four
						inches in height, or the floor in the storage area shall be at least four
						inches below the surrounding floor. Openings shall be provided with approved
						self-closing fire doors. The room shall be liquid-tight where the walls join
						the floor. A permissible alternate to the sill or ramp is an open-grated trench
						inside of the room which drains to a safe location. Where other portions of the
						building or other properties are exposed, windows shall be protected as set
						forth in the Standard for Fire Doors and Windows, NFPA No. 80-1974, for Class E
						or F openings. Wood at least one-inch nominal thickness may be used for
						shelving, racks, dunnage, scuffboards, floor overlay and similar
						installations.
(b) Storage in
						inside storage rooms shall comply with the following:
TABLE FL-3
Automatic
Total
								  Allowable
Fire Protection
*
Fire
Maximum
Quantities
Provided
Resistance
Floor
								  Area
Gals./sq. ft./floor area
yes
2-hour
500 sq.
								  ft.
10
no
2-hour
500 sq.
								  ft.
4
yes
1-hour
150 sq.
								  ft.
5
no
1-hour
150 sq.
								  ft.
2
* Fire protection system shall be sprinkler, water
						  spray, carbon dioxide, dry chemical, halon or other approved system.
(1) Electrical wiring and equipment located
						in inside storage rooms used for Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category
						3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100 °F (37.8 °C) shall be
						approved for Class I, Division 2 Hazardous Locations; for Category 3 flammable
						liquids with a flashpoint at or above 100 °F (37.8 °C) and Category 4
						flammable liquids, shall be approved for general use.
(2) Every inside storage room shall be
						provided with either a gravity or a continuous mechanical exhaust ventilation
						system. Mechanical ventilation shall be used if Category 1 or 2 flammable
						liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100 °F
						(37.8 °C) are dispensed within the room.
(A) Exhaust air shall be taken from a point
						near a wall on one side of the room and within 12 inches of the floor with one
						or more make-up air inlets located on the opposite side of the room within 12
						inches from the floor. The location of both the exhaust and inlet air openings
						shall be arranged to provide, as far as practicable, air movements across all
						portions of the floor to prevent accumulation of flammable vapors. Exhaust from
						the room shall be directly to the exterior of the building. If ducts are used
						they shall not be used for any other purpose and shall comply with the Standard
						for the Installation of Blower and Exhaust Systems for Dust, Stock and Vapor
						Removal or Conveying, NFPA No. 91-1973 (ANSI Z33.1). If make-up air to a
						mechanical system is taken from within the building, the opening shall be
						equipped with an approved fire door or damper, as required in the Standard for
						the Installation of Blower and Exhaust Systems, for Dust, Stock and Vapor
						Removal or Conveying, NFPA 91-1973 (ANSI Z33.1). For gravity systems, the
						make-up air shall be supplied from outside the building.
(B) Mechanical ventilation systems shall
						provide the greater of the following:
1. At
						least one cubic foot per minute of exhaust per square foot of floor area, but
						not less than 150 CFM or
2. A
						complete change of air within the room at least six times per
						hour.
(C) If a mechanical
						exhaust system is used, it shall be controlled by a switch located outside of
						the door. The ventilating equipment and any lighting fixtures shall be operated
						by the same switch. A pilot light shall be installed adjacent to the switch if
						Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a
						flashpoint below 100 °F (37.8 °C), are dispensed within the
						room.