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Municipal Code of Chicago
MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO
TITLE 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
TITLE 2 CITY GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
TITLE 3 REVENUE AND FINANCE
TITLE 4 BUSINESSES, OCCUPATIONS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
TITLE 5 HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TITLE 6 HUMAN RIGHTS*
TITLE 7 HEALTH AND SAFETY
TITLE 8 OFFENSES AFFECTING PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND WELFARE
TITLE 9 VEHICLES, TRAFFIC AND RAIL TRANSPORTATION
TITLE 10 STREETS, PUBLIC WAYS, PARKS, AIRPORTS AND HARBORS
TITLE 11 UTILITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
TITLE 12 RESERVED
TITLE 13 BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
TITLE 14 RESERVED*
TITLE 14A ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS OF THE CHICAGO CONSTRUCTION CODES*
TITLE 14B BUILDING CODE*
TITLE 14C CONVEYANCE DEVICE CODE*
TITLE 14E ELECTRICAL CODE*
TITLE 14F FIRE PREVENTION CODE*
TITLE 14G FUEL GAS CODE*
TITLE 14M MECHANICAL CODE*
TITLE 14N 2022 ENERGY TRANSFORMATION CODE*
TITLE 14P PLUMBING CODE*
TITLE 14R BUILDING REHABILITATION CODE*
TITLE 14X MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS*
TITLE 15 FIRE PREVENTION
CHAPTER 15-4 BUREAU OF FIRE PREVENTION
CHAPTER 15-8 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 15-12 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 15-16 FIRE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT
CHAPTER 15-20 EXPLOSIVES AND FIREWORKS
CHAPTER 15-24 FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS
CHAPTER 15-26 FUME AND FLAMMABLE COMPRESSED GASES
CHAPTER 15-28 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND COMBUSTIBLE SOLIDS
CHAPTER 15-30 RESERVED*
TITLE 16 LAND USE
TITLE 17 CHICAGO ZONING ORDINANCE
TITLE 18 BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE
APPENDIX TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO (RESERVED)*
TABLES
Chicago Zoning Ordinance and Land Use Ordinance
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15-28-200 Storage requirements.
   Oxidizing materials shall be stored, kept, or handled in rooms or buildings complying with the requirements for hazardous chemicals, except as permitted in Section 15-28-220. Such buildings and rooms shall be equipped with a standard system of automatic sprinklers. Ventilation of such rooms shall be in accordance with Section 15-28-080.
(Prior code § 92-15; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 71)
15-28-210 Safety clearances.
   No oxidizing material building shall be located nearer than 100 feet to any building in which there is Group A, E, or I occupancy, except as otherwise provided.
(Prior code § 92-16; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 72)
15-28-220 Fire prevention requirements.
   The storage and handling of oxidizing materials other than that used for retail sales in original sealed containers, located in Group M occupancies, shall comply with the following requirements:
   (1)   Quantities in excess of one day's supply shall be stored in buildings or rooms conforming to the requirements for hazardous chemicals. The user shall notify the fire commissioner by notarized letter of the amount used in one day. Upon any change in that amount, the fire commissioner shall be notified within 24 hours.
   (2)   The use of oxidizing materials in buildings shall be limited to use in rooms complying with the requirements for hazardous chemical rooms.
   (3)   Oxidizing materials shall be stored in dry locations and shall be separated from organic materials by walls conforming to the requirements of hazardous chemicals rooms.
   (4)   Bulk oxidizing materials shall not be stored on or against wooden surfaces.
   (5)   Defective containers which permit leakage or spillage shall be disposed of or repaired in an approved manner. No spilled materials shall be allowed to accumulate on floors or shelves.
   (6)   Signs having a white field with red letters four inches high and having a one-half-inch stroke shall be conspicuously posted. Such signs shall read "Oxidizing Materials – Keep Fire Away".
   (7)   Tanks, which contain more than 55 gallons of oxidizing materials, shall be located outside of any building or buried below ground level. When aboveground, said tank or tanks containing liquids, shall be diked. Each dike shall have a capacity of not less than one and one-half times the combined capacity of the tank or tanks it surrounds. Dike construction shall be as specified in Section 15-24-170 of this Code; provided, however, the material of the dike walls shall be inert with respect to the materials contained within the tank or tanks.
   (8)   The provisions of this section shall apply to all existing as well as newly installed tanks. All tanks, piping and fittings shall be compatible with the material to be stored or handled. Outlets and inlets of all aboveground tanks shall have a shutoff valve as close as possible to the tank, with no branches or outlets between the tank and valve. All inlet pipes shall have an additional check valve as close as possible to the tank valve. In addition to any other valves when the material stored is reactive with air or water, there shall be a valve at each pipeline connection to any tank below the liquid level which valve shall be effective inside the tank shell or head and can be operated manually to prevent the flow of liquid from the tank even though the pipelines are broken from the tank. All remote reach rods to valves shall be of substantial construction and shall be accessibly located and clearly marked "Emergency Shutoff Valve". There shall be an effective flexible connection between that tank valve and piping system or the piping shall be so arranged with swing joints to prevent stress and strain between the piping system and tank. Where the exterior piping and sides of the tank are not inert to the material being stored, the piping supports and tank shall be made inert by coating or some other means to one and one-half times the height of the dike.
   (9)   Tankers or tank cars of oxidizing materials of any capacity shall not be located within one-eighth mile from any building containing a Group A, E, I, or R occupancy.
   (10)   Whenever an oxidizing material can be chemically changed to a less dangerous and more stable material, a qualified chemist of the manufacturer shall state in writing the safest and quickest method of changing the total capacity of the tank or tanks in case of a rupture, spillage or other emergency. The owner and/or operator of said tank or tanks shall keep sufficient quantities of the changing agent as hereinbefore determined so as to be readily available in the event of emergency.
   (11)   The name and address of the manufacturer or the nearest producer of the specific oxidizing material being used and a placard outlining emergency first aid directions shall be posted and remain posted in a conspicuous place at the points of unloading and use and in at least one other approved location.
   Oxygen-generating or self-contained air or oxygen masks having a United States Bureau of Mines or National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health approval for a minimum of one-half hour protection shall be maintained in a readily accessible location, outside the areas of probable contamination and sufficient for all personnel associated with the operation.
   Additional air or oxygen containers which will provide for a minimum of one-hour use of each mask shall be kept at the location of each gas mask. All personnel that may be required to use gas masks must be required at reasonable intervals to practice their application and use. Gas masks must be kept in condition, ready for immediate use at all times with fully charged containers.
   An approved repair kit with all the necessary tools, appurtenances and material required to repair a leak or replace a defective valve or other part, shall be kept in a location accessible to the tank car and outside the probable area of contamination.
   Protective clothing suitable for use with the materials stored shall be provided and be kept in good condition where its use will provide effective protection against the oxidizing material.
   Gas masks, repair kit and duplicate wrenches shall be kept in a conspicuous location and shall be conspicuously labeled for immediate identification.
(Prior code § 92-17; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 154; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 73)
ARTICLE IV. NITROMETHANE (15-28-230 et seq.)
15-28-230 Storage requirements.
   Nitromethane shall be stored only in outside storage areas in original drums. Such areas shall be equipped with a deluge-type automatic sprinkler system accordance with Chapter 14B-9 unless provided with the minimum safety clearances specified in Section 15-28-250. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting the storage of nitromethane in underground tanks, installed in underground tanks complying with the requirements of Section 15-24-280. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the storage of nitromethane in aboveground tanks complying with the requirements of Section 15-24-170 with safety clearances complying with Section 15-28-250 as given below.
(Prior code § 92-18; Amend Coun. J. 10-7-20, p. 21791, Art. VI, § 74)
15-28-240 Storage prohibited in buildings.
   The storage and handling of nitromethane shall comply with the following requirements:
   (1)   Nitromethane shall not be stored in any building. Such nitromethane shall be stored in outside storage areas complying with the requirements below.
   (2)   The amount of nitromethane brought into any building shall be limited to that required for immediate use.
(Prior code §  92-19)
15-28-250 Safety clearances.
   Nitromethane. Outside drum storage areas, if not equipped with a deluge-type automatic sprinkler system, shall be located in the following minimum distances from any building, combustible storage in the open, flammable liquid storage, lot line or public way:
 
Weight (Pounds)
Distance (Feet)
2,000
100
2,001 – 10,000
200
10,001 – 20,000
300
20,001 – 40,000
400
40,001 – 80,000
500
 
   In no case shall a safety clearance of less than 500 feet be provided to any lot line of any plot of ground on which is situated a school, institutional, assembly or open air assembly building.
   It shall be permissible to store nitromethane in underground tanks meeting the requirements of Section 15-24-280 or in aboveground tanks meeting the requirements of Section 15-24-170 and barricaded in accordance with the requirements of Section 15-20-140. However, in no case shall a clearance of less than 500 feet be provided to any lot line of any plot of ground on which is situated a school, institutional, assembly or open air assembly building.
(Prior code §  92-20)
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