5704.3.7.2.2 Separation and aisles.

Piles shall be separated from each other by at least 4-foot (1219 mm) aisles. Aisles shall be provided so that all containers are 20 feet (6096 mm) or less from an aisle. Where the storage of liquids is on racks, a minimum 4-foot-wide (1219 mm) aisle shall be provided between adjacent rows of racks and adjacent storage of liquids. Main aisles shall be a minimum of 8 feet (2438 mm) wide. Additional aisles shall be provided for access to doors, required windows and ventilation openings, standpipe connections, mechanical equipment and switches. Such aisles shall be at least 3 feet (914 mm) in width, unless greater widths are required for separation of piles or racks, in which case the greater width shall be provided.

5704.3.7.2.3 Stabilizing and supports.

Containers and piles shall be separated by pallets or dunnage to provide stability and to prevent excessive stress to container walls. Adequate material-handling equipment shall be readily available and used to handle containers safely at upper tier levels.

5704.3.7.3 Spill control and secondary containment.

Liquid storage rooms shall be provided with spill control and secondary containment in accordance with FC 5004.2.

5704.3.7.4 Ventilation.

Liquid storage rooms shall be ventilated in accordance with FC 5004.3.

5704.3.7.5 Fire protection.

Fire protection for liquid storage rooms shall comply with the requirements of FC 5704.3.7.5.1 and 5704.3.7.5.2.

5704.3.7.5.1 Fire extinguishing systems.

Liquid storage rooms shall be protected throughout by sprinkler systems installed in accordance with FC Chapter 9, FC Tables 5704.3.6.3(4) through 5704.3.6.3(8) and FC Table 5704.3.7.5.1 and the construction codes, including the Building Code. In-rack sprinklers shall additionally comply with the requirements of NFPA 13, as modified by FC Appendix B, and the construction codes, including the Building Code. Foam fire extinguishing systems and aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) fire extinguishing systems shall not be used except when approved by the commissioner and the Commissioner of Buildings. Protection criteria developed from fire modeling or full-scale fire testing conducted at an approved testing laboratory are allowed in lieu of the protection as required in FC Tables 5704.3.6.3(2) through 5704.3.6.3(8) and FC Table 5704.3.7.5.1 and the construction codes, including the Building Code when approved by the commissioner and the Commissioner of Buildings.

FC Table 5704.3.7.5.1
Automatic AFFF-Water Protection Requirements for Solid-Pile and Palletized Storage of Liquids in Metal Containers of 5-Gallon Capacity or Less a, b

 

Package Type	Class Liquid	Ceiling Sprinkler Design and Demand					Storage Height (feet)	Hose Demand (gpm) c	Duration AFFF Supply (minimum)	Duration Water Supply (hours)
		Density (gpm/ft2)	Area (square feet)	Temperature rating	Maximum spacing	Orifice size (inch)
Cartoned	IB, IC, II and III	0.40	2,000	286°F	100 ft2 / head	0.531	11	500	15	2
Uncartoned	IB, IC, II and III	0.30	2,000	286°F	100 ft2 / head	0.5 or 0.531	12	500	15	2

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 square foot = 0.0929 m2, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m, 1 gallon per minute per square foot = 40.75 L/min/m2, °C. = (°F-32)/1.8.

a.   System shall be a closed-head wet system with approved devices for proportioning aqueous film-forming foam.

b.   Ceiling heights shall not exceed 30 feet.

c.   Hose stream demand includes 1 1/2-inch inside hand hose, when required.

5704.3.7.5.2 Portable fire extinguishers.

A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher complying with the requirements of FC 906 and having a rating of not less than 20-B shall be located not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) or more than 50 feet (15 240 mm) from any Class I or II liquid storage area located outside of a liquid storage room. A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher having a rating of not less than 20-B shall be located outside of, but not more than 10 feet (3048 mm) from, the door opening into a liquid storage room.