F International Fire Code. Add new text as f ollows:

Transcription

1 F IFC: (New), (New), (New), (New), (New), (New), T ABLE (1) (New), T able (1) (New) Proponent: Leslie Townzen, Townzen & Associates, Inc, representing Medline Industries, Inc (les@townzenconsulting.com) 2018 International Fire Code Add new text as f ollows: Storage of Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers.. Storage of alcohol-based hand sanitizers classified as Class I or II Flammable Liquids in Group S Occupancy warehouse uses shall be in accordance with Sections through Maximum Allowable Quantity. For occupancies other than Group S wholesale uses that are less than 80,000 sq. ft. in size, indoor storage of alcohol based hand sanitizers shall not exceed the maximum allowable quantities per control area indicated in Table (1). For Group S Occupancy Warehouses greater than 80,000 sq. ft., indoor storage of alcohol based hand sanitizers shall not exceed the maximum allowable quantities per control area indicated in Table (1) Container type. Containers for alcohol based hand sanitizers shall be of any material Container capacity. Containers for sanitizers shall not exceed a capacity of 1 gallons (3.79 L). Except ion: Metal containers not exceeding 55 gallons (208 L) are allowed to store up to the maximum allowable quantity per control area of Class IB and IC liquids in a control area in accordance with tables (1) or Table (1). The building shall be equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Tables (4) through (8) The containers shall be provided with plastic caps without cap seals and shall be stored upright. Containers shall not be stacked or stored in racks and shall not be stored in areas open to the public Fire protection and storage arrangements. Fire protection and container storage arrangements shall be in accordance with Table (1) or the following: 1. Storage on shelves shall not exceed 6 feet (1829 mm) in height, and shelving shall be metal. 2. Storage on pallets or in piles greater than 4 feet 6 inches (1372 mm) in height, or where the ceiling exceeds 18 feet (5486 mm) in height, shall be protected in accordance with Table (4), and the storage heights and arrangements shall be limited to those specified in Table (2). 3. Storage on racks greater than 4 feet 6 inches (1372 mm) in height, or where the ceiling exceeds 18 feet (5486 mm) in height shall be protected in accordance with Table (5), and the storage heights and arrangements shall be limited to those specified in Table (1)). Combustible commodities shall not be stored above flammable and combustible liquids Storage plan. Where required by fire the code official, aisle and storage plans shall be submitted in accordance with Chapter 50. F705

2 T ABLE (1) MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE QUANT IT Y PER CONT ROL AREA OF ALCOHOL BASED HAND SANIT IZERS IN GROUP S WAREHOUSE OCCUPANCIES MORE T HAN 80,000 SQ. FT. a, b F706

3 For SI: 1 foot = mm, 1 square foot = m2, 1 gallon = L, 1 gallon per minute per square foot = L/min/m2. a. This table shall only apply to Group S warehouse occupancies greater than 80,000 sq. ft. that are classified as Type I or II construction in accordance with the International Building Code. b. Control areas shall be separated from each other by not less than a 1-hour fire barrier. c. Where warehouse storage areas exceed 80,000 square feet in area and such storage area is not accessible to the public, the maximum allowable quantities are allowed to be increase by 2 percent for each 1,000 square feet of area in excess of 80,000 square feet, up to a maximum of 100 percent of the table amounts. A control area separation is not required. The cumulative amounts, including amounts attained by having an additional control area, shall not exceed 20,000 gallons. e. ESFR automatic sprinkler systems installed in accordance with Section F707

4 T able (1) ST ORAGE HEIGHT S AND ARRANGEMENT S Type of Sanitizer Non-Sprinklered Area (feet) Sprinklered Area (feet) a Sprinklered with in-rack protectiona (feet) Class IB Class IC Class II F708

5 a.when the building is protected by an ESFR automatic sprinkler system designed in accordance with Section for Group A Plastics and high hazard occupancies. Reason: This code change is being submitted for the second time. During the first attempt, we received several comments on some of the short falls for the change. The most common comment was that there was no fire test data to support the changes that we were proposing. As a result, the code changes you see now is vastly different that what we proposed last cycle. We conducted both ½ and full fire pallet testing of the product. This test conducted by Southwest Research Institute on July 11, The test results are attached for your review. We first tested the product in a ½ pallet configuration because we did not know how the product was going to react. After seeing the results of the first test, we felt confident on doing a full pallet test. As you can see by the test results even for the full pallet test, the hear release rate (HRR) was relatively low, even at the peak it was only 1857kW and that was at 13minutes and 20 seconds into the test. As shown in the pictures during the fire test and the summary of the test, this product did not act like what we though it would for being a Class I Flammable Liquid classification. The fire was not violent by any meads because of the alcohol content. This fire did not have the violent burn rate and reaction that we typically see with a flammable liquids fire. I sent the fire test results to the two-main people who had opposition of the code change, and in our discussions, it was agreed that the test provided enough information based on the results that a full-scale test was not needed. We discussed how could we fit the change into the code, and it was decided that sanitizers would have its own section instead of trying to modify the code in the Group M section. So, what you have now is a new section with requirement that would allow for increased MAQ amounts in Group S, warehouse occupancies with fire protection and size limitations. Background: The hand sanitizers are not intended for consumption; therefore, the exemption permitted for alcoholic beverages with alcohol contents greater than 50% does not apply (though hand sanitizers are no more flammable than alcoholic beverages). These materials do comply with the individual container limitation, though they do not technically fall into the category for exemption. Until recently, sanitizer products have not been in similar demand to alcoholic beverages. As such, the issue of storing the materials practically has only recently been realized. The most recent editions of the Codes have started addressing hand sanitizers including an exception from the hazardous materials provisions for wall mounted hand rubs containing alcohol. However, the storage of these materials is not specifically addressed in the latest editions of the codes. The quantity limitations per the S occupancy have simply not caught up with those allowed for wholesale retail spaces compared to other occupancies. These spaces are permitted to store up to 30,000 gallons of flammable liquids in accordance with Table of the Fire Code in lieu of 240 gallons in accordance with the Table (1) of the Fire Code. The logic behind the increased capacity for retail operations is based upon the inherent need for retail occupancies to have larger quantities of stock available for purchase to operate effectively; this is exactly the same reason that large Group S warehouses need this increase to be able to operate in an effective manner. The only significant difference between a traditional wholesale retail store and the typical Group S facility is the restriction of public access. However, by restricting public access the occupant load of the space is lower than the occupant load of a traditional retail space. The occupant load factor used to determine the occupant load for a retail space on grade is 30 square feet per person, which is ten times denser than the occupant load factor associated with storage (300 square feet per person). As such, the calculated occupant load of a retail space is ten times greater than a storage space. By restricting public access to the space, only staff is permitted in the storage area. Warehouse employees are trained to respond appropriately to a fire event and are familiar with the layout of the space, including aisles and exit paths. This combined with a lower occupant load significantly decreases the egress time for the occupants of the facility. As such, the storage space presents a lower life safety hazard than a traditional wholesale retail establishment. Property loss prevention is a larger factor than in a retail facility. As stated above, although the storage space presents a lesser hazard to life than a retail establishment, a wholesale retailer is permitted to have a maximum of 30,000 gallons of Class IB and IC liquids. The maximum permitted quantity is ten times greater than the limit proposed for Group S warehouse facility. F709

6 The Building and Fire Codes recognize that to operate certain types of establishments, it is necessary to maintain a stock of specific products in excess of the maximum permitted control area quantities. Retail establishments that sell alcoholic beverages require larger quantities of beverages than permitted for control areas. To permit the sale of these materials, the codes exempt alcoholic beverages in retail and storage uses when packaged in individual containers not exceeding 1.3 gallons, regardless of the actual alcohol content. This includes alcoholic beverages that contain alcohol content of up to 90%. Medicines, cosmetics, and foodstuff with an alcohol content of less than 50% are exempt as well. However, medicines, cosmetics, and foodstuffs containing more than 50% alcohol are not exempt from the quantity limitation. The hand sanitizers have an alcohol content of more than 50%. The hand sanitizers are not intended for consumption; therefore, the exemption permitted for alcoholic beverages with alcohol contents greater than 50% does not apply (though hand sanitizers are no more flammable than alcoholic beverages). Some supplies materials do comply with the individual container limitation, though they do not technically fall into the category for exemption. Until recently, sanitizer products have not been in similar demand to alcoholic beverages. As such, the issue of storing the materials practically has only recently been realized. The most recent editions of the Codes have started addressing hand sanitizers including an exception from the hazardous materials provisions for w all mounted hand rubs containing alcohol. However, the storage of these materials is not specifically addressed in the latest editions of the codes. Cost Impact The code change proposal will not increase or decrease the cost of construction. Impact will be based on individual needs and their own decision if they want to store more than the 240 gallons in their warehouse. Internal ID: 1760 F710