As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Readily ignitable and free-burning fibers such as cotton,
sisal, henequen, istle, jute, hemp, tow, cocoa fiber, oakum, baled
waste, baled wastepaper, kapok, hay, straw, Spanish moss, excelsior,
synthetic fibers and other like materials, but shall not be applicable
to nonresidential farm buildings.
A.
Loose combustible fibers (not in suitable bales or
packages), whether housed or in the open, shall not be stored within
100 feet of any building except as hereinafter specified.
B.
Loose combustible fibers not exceeding 100 cubic feet
may be kept in any building, provided that storage is in a metal or
metal-lined bin equipped with a self-closing cover.
C.
Quantities exceeding 100 cubic feet of loose combustible
fibers, but not exceeding 500 cubic feet, may be stored in rooms or
compartments having floor, walls and ceilings having a fire-resistance
rating of not less than one hour. Each opening into such rooms or
compartments from other parts of the building shall be equipped with
an approved fire door.
D.
Quantities exceeding 500 cubic feet of loose combustible
fibers may be stored in approved vaults constructed as follows:
(1)
Storage vaults shall be located outside of buildings
or, if located inside, shall be provided with approved safety vents
to the outside.
(2)
Walls, floors and ceilings shall be constructed of
brick or other approved noncombustible material. Roofs of outside
vaults shall be of noncombustible material but may be so constructed
as to readily give way in case of an internal explosion.
(3)
Openings, if any, between vault and main building
shall be protected on each side of the wall by an approved fire door.
Wall openings in outside vaults exposing other property (not sufficiently
detached to be considered cut off) shall be protected by approved
fire doors or equivalent.
(4)
Vaults located within buildings and exceeding 1,000
cubic feet storage capacity shall be protected by approved automatic
sprinklers, carbon dioxide or other approved inert gas systems.
E.
Loose fibers not exceeding 2,500 cubic feet may be
stored in a detached loose house suitably located, with openings properly
protected against the entrance of sparks. The loose house shall be
used for no other purpose.
A.
No single block or pile shall contain more than 25,000
cubic feet of fiber, exclusive of aisles or clearances. Blocks or
piles of baled fiber shall be separated from adjacent storage by aisles
not less than five feet wide or by flash-fire barriers consisting
of continuous sheets of noncombustible material extending from the
floor to a height of at least one foot above the highest point of
piles and projecting at least one foot beyond the sides of the piles.
B.
Sisal and other fibers in bales bound with combustible
tie ropes, also jute and other fibers liable to swell when wet, shall
be stored to allow for expansion in any direction without endangering
building walls, ceilings or columns. Not less than three feet of clearance
shall be left between walls and sides of piles, except that if a storage
compartment is not more than 30 feet in width, one foot of clearance
at the side walls will be sufficient, provided that a center aisle
not less than five feet wide is maintained.
C.
Not less than three feet of clearance shall be maintained
between sprinkler pipes and tops of piles.
