3203.4 Class III commodities.

Class III commodities are commodities of wood, paper, natural fiber cloth, or Group C plastics or products thereof, with or without pallets. Products are allowed to contain limited amounts of Group A or B plastics, such as metal bicycles with plastic handles, pedals, seats and tires. Group A plastics shall be limited in accordance with FC 3203.7.4. Examples of Class III commodities include the following:

   Aerosol, Level 1 (see FC Chapter 51)

   Combustible fiberboard

   Cork, baled

   Feed, bagged

   Fertilizers, bagged

   Food in plastic containers

   Furniture: wood, natural fiber, upholstered, nonplastic, wood or metal with plastic-padded and covered arm rests

   Glycol in combustible containers not more than 25 percent

   Liquids, noncombustible, in plastic containers having a capacity of more than 5 gallons (19 L)

   Lubricating or hydraulic fluid in metal cans

   Lumber

   Mattresses, excluding foam rubber and foam plastics

   Paints, oil base, in metal cans

   Paper, waste, baled

   Paper and pulp, horizontal storage, or vertical storage that is banded or protected with approved wrap

   Paper in cardboard boxes

   Pillows, excluding foam rubber and foam plastics

   Plastic-coated paper food containers

   Plywood

   Rags, baled

   Rugs, without foam backing

   Sugar, bagged

   Wood, baled

   Wood doors, frames and cabinets

   Yarns of natural fiber and viscose

3203.5 Class IV commodities.

Class IV commodities are Class I, II or III products containing Group A plastics in ordinary corrugated cartons and Class I, II and III products, with Group A plastic packaging, with or without pallets. Group B plastics and free-flowing Group A plastics are also included in this class. The total amount of nonfree-flowing Group A plastics shall be in accordance with FC 3203.7.4. Examples of Class IV commodities include the following:

   Aerosol, Level 2 (see FC Chapter 51)

   Alcoholic beverages, more than 20-percent but less than 80-percent alcohol, in cans or bottles in cartons

   Clothing, synthetic or nonviscose

   Combustible metal products (solid)

   Furniture, plastic upholstered

   Furniture, wood or metal with plastic covering and padding

   Glycol in combustible containers (more than 25 percent and less than 50 percent)

   Linoleum products

   Paints, oil base in combustible containers

   Pharmaceutical, alcoholic elixirs, tonics, etc.

   Rugs, foam back

   Shingles, asphalt

   Thread or yarn, synthetic or nonviscose

3203.6 High-hazard commodities.

High-hazard commodities are high-hazard products presenting special fire hazards beyond those of Class I, II, III or IV. Group A plastics not otherwise classified are included in this class. Examples of high-hazard commodities include the following:

   Aerosol, Level 3 (see FC Chapter 51)

   Alcoholic beverages, more than 80-percent alcohol, in bottles or cartons

   Commodities of any class in plastic containers in carousel storage

   Flammable solids (except solid combustible metals)

   Glycol in combustible containers (50 percent or more)

   Lacquers, which dry by solvent evaporation, in metal cans or cartons

   Lubricating or hydraulic fluid in plastic containers

   Mattresses, foam rubber or foam plastics

   Pallets and flats which are idle combustible

   Paper, asphalt, rolled, horizontal storage

   Paper, asphalt, rolled, vertical storage

   Paper and pulp, rolled, in vertical storage which is unbanded or not protected with an approved wrap

   Pillows, foam rubber and foam plastics

   Pyroxylin

   Rubber tires

   Vegetable oil and butter in plastic containers

3203.7 Classification of plastics.

Plastics shall be designated as Group A, B or C in accordance with this section.

3203.7.1 Group A plastics.

Group A plastics are plastic materials having a heat of combustion that is much higher than that of ordinary combustibles, and a burning rate higher than that of Group B plastics. Examples of Group A plastics include the following:

   ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer)

   Acetal (polyformaldehyde)

   Acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate)

   Butyl rubber

   EPDM (ethylene propylene rubber)

   FRP (fiberglass-reinforced polyester)

   Natural rubber (expanded)

   Nitrile rubber (acrylonitrile butadiene rubber)

   PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)

   Polybutadiene

   Polycarbonate

   Polyester elastomer

   Polyethylene

   Polypropylene

   Polystyrene (expanded and unexpanded)

   Polyurethane (expanded and unexpanded)

   PVC (polyvinyl chloride more than 15 percent plasticized, e.g., coated fabric unsupported film)

   SAN (styrene acrylonitrile)

   SBR (styrene butadiene rubber)

3203.7.2 Group B plastics.

Group B plastics are plastic materials having a heat of combustion and a burning rate higher than that of ordinary combustibles, but not as high as those of Group A plastics. Examples of Group B plastics include the following:

   Cellulosics (cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, ethyl cellulose)

   Chloroprene rubber

   Fluoroplastics (ECTFE, ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer; ETFE, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer; FEP, fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer)

   Natural rubber (nonexpanded)

   Nylon (Nylon 6, Nylon 6/6)

   PVC (polyvinyl chloride more than 5-percent, but not more than 15-percent plasticized)

   Silicone rubber

3203.7.3 Group C plastics.

Group C plastics are plastic materials having a heat of combustion and a burning rate similar to those of ordinary combustibles. Examples of Group C plastics include the following:

   Fluoroplastics (PCTFE, polychlorotrifluoroethylene; PTFE, polytetrafluoroethylene)

   Melamine (melamine formaldehyde)

   Phenol

   PVC (polyvinyl chloride, rigid or plasticized less than 5 percent, e.g., pipe, pipe fittings)

   PVDC (polyvinylidene chloride)

   PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride)

   PVF (polyvinyl fluoride)

   Urea (urea formaldehyde)