(A) Generally. Hazardous materials disclosure shall be as specified in G.S. §§ 95-173 through 95-218.
(B) Hazard identification signs.
(1) The increasing use of a wide variety of chemicals, many of which introduce problems other than flammability, lead to the need for a simple hazard identification system. The purpose of such a system would be to safeguard the lives of those individuals who may be concerned with fire and spills occurring in these facilities or businesses. This system provides simple, readily recognizable and easily understood markings, which will give, at a glance, a general idea of the inherent hazards of any material and the order of severity of these hazards as they relate to fire prevention, exposure, and control. Its objectives are to provide an appropriate alerting signal and on-the-spot information to safeguard the lives of the Fire Department, rescue squad, EMS members, and law enforcement during emergencies at these facilities. It will also make employees aware of the potential hazards and bring the facility into compliance with the Hazardous Chemicals Right to Know Act.
(2) The 704 symbols are usually seen on the exterior surfaces of buildings and aboveground storage tanks. The 704 symbols shall be required to identify any area that is deemed to be a hazard. This determination is to be made by the Fire Marshal.
(a) Signs required. Per the fire code, hazard and identification signs as outlined in NFPA 704 shall be placed accordingly at all entrances to and in locations where hazardous materials are stored, handled, or used in excess of the exempt amounts.
(b) Size and type of signs. The size and type of signs used to identify hazardous materials shall be of the type and size specified in NFPA standard. A reference guide on the sizes of signs and signals will be made available to the public from the Fire Marshal’s office upon request.
1. The NFPA adopted the 704 system of identifying hazardous materials in 1961.
2. The 704 system provides hazards as they relate to fire prevention, fire exposure, and fire control.
3. The colors, which are diamond shaped, indicate the following type hazards:
a. Blue - Health;
b. Red - Flammability of the products;
c. Yellow - Reactivity of products; and
d. White - Specific information entered here.
4. Numbers range from zero through four and are inserted on the diamond-shaped colors (blue, red, and yellow) to indicate the degree of hazards present, with zero being the least hazardous and four being the most hazardous.
5. Notations are also used in the white diamond to indicate special hazards. Materials demonstrating unusual reactivity with water shall be identified with the letter “W” with a horizontal line through the center of the “W.” Materials possessing oxidizing properties shall be identified by the letters “OXY”. Materials possessing radioactivity hazards shall be identified by the standard radioactivity symbol.
6. Symbols are indicated for the most dangerous hazardous material when more than one type of hazardous material is present.
7. Although 704 symbols are subject to change, depending on changes in the area of storage or use of hazardous materials, they should be removed from an area only when hazardous materials are no longer present.
8. Symbols should be located where they can be readily seen by responding fire departments and other emergency agencies, and as near as is practical to the area of the hazard.
9. The sign must be easily seen from the roadway. The sign must be a minimum of 30 by 30 inches in size (type and size specified in NFPA standard).
10. A current Material Safety Data Sheet for all chemicals stored on the property should be put in a waterproof container located near the entrance to the property.
11. The owners of the business will be given 30 days from date of inspection to comply.
12. Hazardous materials that, when mixed, react violently, or evoke toxic vapors or gases, or that, in combination, become hazardous by reason of toxicity, oxidizing power, flammability
or other properties, shall be separated from each other in storage by distance, partitions or other approved manner so as to preclude accidental contact between them.
13. The Fire Marshal may require warning signs wherever hazardous materials are stored, processed, or handled. The warning signs shall be conspicuously lettered in accordance with NFPA standard.
14. This section shall not apply to hazardous materials in transport, which are placarded in accordance with Department of Transportation regulations, or applicable provisions of other NFPA codes and standards listed in the NFPA manuals.
(C) Warning signs required in coin-operated, dry-cleaning establishments. Each coin-operated, dry-cleaning establishment using the solvent known as “perchloroe-thylene” shall display, prominently upon or near each dry-cleaning machine, a sign warning the public of the danger of excessive solvent vapor inhalation, or that prolonged or repeated contact of skin or eyes can be harmful.
(Ord. passed - -; Ord. passed 11-6-2023) Penalty, see § 95.999