(a) Scope and Standard. This section applies to the storage and handling of cellulose nitrate motion picture film hereinafter referred to as “nitrate film.” Film having a cellulose acetate or other approved slow- burning base, marked safety film, is exempt from these provisions.
When deemed necessary for safety to life or property, the Fire Chief may require compliance with any requirement or recommendation of NFPA Standard No. 40 entitled “Cellulose Nitrate Motion Picture Film.”
(b) Permit Required.
(1) No person shall store, keep or have on hand more than twenty-five (25) pounds (for thirty-five (35) millimeter film about five thousand (5,000) feet) of nitrate motion picture film without a permit from the Chief.
(2) No person shall sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any nitrate motion picture film to any person not having a permit to handle, use or display such film.
(c) Storage of Film. Storage of nitrate motion picture film, not in process or being worked on, shall be in accordance with the following:
(1) Except as provided in subsection (c)(3) hereof, amounts in excess of twenty-five (25) pounds (five (5) standard rolls) but not in excess of one thousand (1,000) pounds (two hundred (200) standard rolls) shall be kept in approved cabinets or in vaults.
(2) Amounts in excess of one thousand (1,000) pounds shall be kept in vaults.
(3) Unexposed nitrate film enclosed in the original, unbroken, shipping case, conforming to ICC regulations shall be kept in a room equipped with approved automatic fire sprinkler system.
(4) If the amount exceeds seven hundred fifty (750) pounds (one hundred fifty (150) standard rolls), it shall be stored in a room used for no other purpose.
(d) Film Cabinets.
(1) Cabinets shall be of approved construction and shall have a capacity not in excess of three hundred seventy-five (375) pounds (seventy-five (75) standard rolls).
(2) Every cabinet having a capacity of over fifty (50) pounds of film shall be provided with a vent to the outside of the building. The vent shall have a minimum effective section area of fourteen (14) square inches per one hundred (100) pounds of film capacity. Vent flues shall be of construction equivalent to No. 18 U.S. gauge riveted sheet steel, and where inside the building shall be covered with one (1) inch of approved heat insulating material.
(3) Cabinets holding over seventy-five (75) pounds of film shall be provided with at least one (1) automatic sprinkler; provided that a cabinet constructed so that each roll is in a separate compartment and will burn out without communicating fire to film in any other compartment, need not be provided with an automatic sprinkler.
(4) Film in cabinets shall be in individual roll containers or in ICC shipping containers. Materials other than film shall not be stored in the same cabinet with film. Where cabinets are provided with individual insulated compartments for each roll, the individual rolls stored therein need not be in cans or other containers.
(e) Film Vaults.
(1) Film vaults shall be constructed, vented and sprinklered in accordance with the Building Code.
(2) All film in vaults shall be in containers, either in single or double roll containers, cardboard boxes conforming to ICC Specification 12-B or ICC shipping containers.
(f) Handling of Nitrate Film.
(1) All nitrate film shall be kept in closed containers except during the actual time it is being worked upon or examined.
(2) Nitrate film shall not be placed or kept under benches, tables or other surfaces which would shield it from the discharge of sprinklers.
(3) Scrap nitrate film shall be kept separate from wastepaper, safety film and other rubbish, and shall be kept under water at all times. It shall be collected from workrooms at least once daily, and removed to a room used for no other purpose, where it shall be kept underwater in steel drums or metal containers with tight covers. Scrap film shall be disposed of at frequent intervals. Discarded film in full or part rolls shall be kept in containers in vaults. Scrap film shall not be baled or burned.
(g) Enclosures for Motion Picture Projectors. Motion picture projectors shall not be operated with cellulose nitrate motion picture film except when located in enclosures constructed, equipped and maintained in accordance with the Building Code.
(h) Handling in Motion Picture Theaters and Other Occupancies.
(1) Rewinding of nitrate films shall be performed either in a special rewind room at an approved location, or in the projection room. An approved can or scrap film having a self-closing hinged cover shall be provided.
(2) Nitrate film in any projection room or rewinding room shall kept as follows:
A. Up to forty (40) pounds of film (eight thousand (8,000) feet of thirty-five (35) millimeter film) may be kept in ICC shipping containers, or an approved cabinet in each room;
B. If the amount of film on hand exceeds forty (40) pounds, an approved cabinet shall be provided, in which the amount of film in excess of forty (40) pounds shall be kept.
(i) Motion Picture Film Exchanges. Nitrate motion picture film exchanges shall be located in buildings or portions thereof equipped with an approved automatic fire sprinkler system.
(j) Institutional Occupancy Buildings. Nitrocellulose film shall not be stored in any building or part of a building of institutional occupancy classification except in vaults equipped with explosion vents conforming to the applicable provisions of this section.
(k) Compliance. The handling, use and storage of motion picture films, except cellulose-acetate or other specifically approved films of slow burning character, whether in the form of negatives, raw stock, finished products, discarded scrap or used film, and of other nitrocellulose films used in photography or in radiography, and the regulation of certain matters related thereto, shall be as prescribed in this section.
(l) Using Safe Film. No film exchange or other establishment handling nitrocellulose motion picture films shall directly or indirectly issue any such motion picture film for projection until it has ascertained by unreeling and detailed examination that such film is in such undamaged condition to be safe for immediate projection. However, film which has not been previously projected need not be so examined if it is believed to be in undamaged, safe condition. All films found to be damaged shall be repaired and made safe for use before being issued.
(Ord. No. 991-49. Passed 6-27-49, eff. 6-27-49)