Teleconference Meeting Minutes
NFPA Technical Committee on Fire Code (FCC-AAA)
NFPA 1124 Approval Committee Meeting
July 9, 2010
1. Call to order. The teleconference meeting was called to order by Chair Ron Farr at
11:00 AM (EDT) on Friday, July 9, 2010. 2. Roll call of committee members and guests. The following committee members and
guests participated in the teleconference (Minutes Attachment A):
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS NAME REPRESENTING Ron Farr, Chair International Fire Marshals Association Scott Adams Western Fire Chiefs Association Tony Apfelbeck NFPA Architects, Engineers, & Building Officials
Section Michael Ashley Alliance for Fire & Smoke Containment & Control, (Alt. to R. Thornberry) Inc. Carl Baldassarra The RJA Group (Alt. to R. Tucker) John Bender Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (Alt. to R. James) Jim Budzinski International Association of Fire Chiefs Kenneth Bush Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office Shane Clary Automatic Fire Alarm Association, Inc. (Alt. to W. Moore) Jeffrey Collins NFPA Fire Service Section Keith Farmer The DuPont Company Robert Fash Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Robert James Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. Richard Kraus American Petroleum Institute James Lathrop Koffel Associates, Inc. Valeriano Martin Western Fire Chiefs Association Steven Orlowski National Association of Home Builders Eddie Phillips (Nonvoting) Southeastern Regional Fire Code Development
Committee Rick Thornberry Alliance for Fire & Smoke Containment and
Control, Inc.
Jim Tidwell Tidwell Code Consulting Wayne Waggoner National Fire Sprinkler Association Gregory Harrington, Staff Liaison NFPA GUESTS NAME REPRESENTING Jim Dolan NFPA Diane Matthews NFPA Robert Solomon NFPA Tad Trout TNT Fireworks/American Pyrotechnic Association TECHNICAL COMMITTEE PRINCIPAL MEMBERS NOT PRESENT (NOT LISTED WHERE ALTERNATE ATTENDED) NAME REPRESENTING Timothy Bancroft (Voting Alt.) Integrated Engineering Services Douglas Erickson American Society for Healthcare Engineering F. Tom Fangmann NFPA Industrial Fire Protection Section Reinhard Hanselka aidi, Inc. Thomas Jaeger Jaeger and Associates, LLC Joseph Navarra Edison Electric Institute James Peterkin NFPA Health Care Section Chester Schirmer (Voting Alt.) Aon/Schirmer Engineering Corporation John Sharry Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Catherine Stashak Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal Peter Willse XL Global Asset Protection Services
3. Chair’s report – R. Farr. The chair welcomed and thanked the committee for participating in the teleconference, and indicated the purpose of the meeting was to act on two proposals on NFPA 1124 pertaining to consumer fireworks retail sales (CFRS), submitted by the TC on Pyrotechnics (PYR-AAA). The TC on Fire Code (FCC-AAA) has been identified as an “approval committee” by the Standards Council for certain CFRS issues as identified in Standards Council Decision D#08-19 (see Agenda Attachment C).
4. Review NFPA 1124 Approval Committee Guidelines – G. Harrington. Staff
reviewed the NFPA 1124 Approval Committee Guidelines which were included as Agenda Attachment B. The guidelines provided the permitted actions to be taken by FCC-AAA on proposals to NFPA 1124 pertaining to CFRS by PYR-AAA. No discussion or questions followed the review by staff.
5. Review and act on Draft Proposals #CP1 and #CP2 on NFPA 1124 from the TC on
Pyrotechnics in accordance with Standards Council Decision D#08-19. Following a review of the draft proposals by staff, the committee discussed them. Following substantial discussion, tentative actions on both proposals were moved and approved by the members in attendance via roll call vote. (See Minutes Attachment B for the letter ballots that were distributed following the teleconference meeting.)
6. Other business. There was no other business.
7. Next meeting. The committee will meet December 14-15, 2010, to prepare the Report on Comments (ROC) for the 2012 edition of NFPA 1. The meeting location is expected to be Orlando, Florida. Details will be distributed when a contract is secured with a property.
8. Adjournment. The teleconference meeting was adjourned at 12:20 PM (EDT).
Minutes prepared by: Gregory Harrington, P.E., Staff Liaison Attachments
Address List No PhoneFire Code FCC-AAA
Gregory E. Harrington9/21/2010
FCC-AAA
Ronald R. Farr
ChairMichigan Bureau of Fire ServicesState Fire Marshal1226 107th AvenueOtsego, MI 49078International Fire Marshals AssociationAlternate: Tony Sanfilippo
E 1/16/1998FCC-AAA
Scott W. Adams
PrincipalPark City Fire Service DistrictPO Box 980010Park City, UT 84098-0010Western Fire Chiefs AssociationRuralAlternate: James M. Weigand
E 7/24/1997
FCC-AAA
Tony Apfelbeck
PrincipalAltamonte Springs Building/Fire Safety Division225 Newburyport AvenueAltamonte Springs, FL 32701NFPA Architects, Engineers, & Building Officials Section
E 4/16/1999FCC-AAA
Jim Budzinski
Principal5936 Triphammer RoadLake Worth, FL 33463International Association of Fire ChiefsAlternate: Robert J. Davidson
E 7/29/2005
FCC-AAA
Kenneth E. Bush
PrincipalMaryland State Fire Marshals Office301 Bay Street, Lower LevelEaston, MD 21601Alternate: Alfred J. Hogan
E 7/12/2001FCC-AAA
Jeffrey P. Collins
PrincipalPalm Beach County Fire/Rescue405 Pike RoadWest Palm Beach, FL 33411NFPA Fire Service SectionAlternate: John Lake
E 4/4/1997
FCC-AAA
Douglas S. Erickson
PrincipalAmerican Society for Healthcare EngineeringPO Box 1074Christiansted, VI 00821American Society for Healthcare Engineering
U 10/6/2000FCC-AAA
F. Tom Fangmann
PrincipalSara Lee Corporation3500 Lacey RoadDowners Grove, IL 60515NFPA Industrial Fire Protection Section
U 3/21/2006
FCC-AAA
Keith L. Farmer
PrincipalThe DuPont Company, Inc.1007 North Market Street, D12017Wilmington, DE 19898
U 10/23/2003FCC-AAA
Robert Fash
PrincipalLas Vegas Fire & Rescue500 North Casino Center Blvd.Las Vegas, NV 89101-2944
E 1/15/2004
FCC-AAA
Reinhard Hanselka
Principalaidi, Inc.PO Box 9066Panama City Beach, FL 32417
SE 4/15/2004FCC-AAA
Thomas W. Jaeger
PrincipalJaeger and Associates, LLC11902 Holly Spring DriveGreat Falls, VA 22066
SE 1/1/1989
FCC-AAA
Robert J. James
PrincipalUnderwriters Laboratories Inc.8751 Ashworth DriveTampa, FL 33647Alternate: John F. Bender
RT 10/1/1994FCC-AAA
Richard S. Kraus
PrincipalPSC Petroleum Safety Consultants600 Merrill House210 East Fairfax Street, Apt. 600Falls Church, VA 22046-2909American Petroleum Institute
U 1/1/1980
1
Address List No PhoneFire Code FCC-AAA
Gregory E. Harrington9/21/2010
FCC-AAA
James K. Lathrop
PrincipalKoffel Associates, Inc.81 Pennsylvania AvenueNiantic, CT 06357Alternate: William E. Koffel
SE 1/12/2000FCC-AAA
Valeriano F. Martin
PrincipalCounty of MauiDepartment of Fire and Public Safety200 Dairy RoadKahului, HI 96732Western Fire Chiefs AssociationUrbanAlternate: Joseph M. Perry
E 10/4/2007
FCC-AAA
Wayne D. Moore
PrincipalHughes Associates, Inc.117 Metro Center Boulevard, Suite 1002Warwick, RI 02886-2207Automatic Fire Alarm Association, Inc.Alternate: Shane M. Clary
M 1/1/1992FCC-AAA
Joseph L. Navarra
PrincipalPepco Holdings Inc.701 Ninth Street, NWWashington, DC 20068Edison Electric Institute
U 10/10/1998
FCC-AAA
Steven Orlowski
PrincipalNational Association of Home Builders1201 15th Street, NWWashington, DC 20005-2800Alternate: Lawrence Brown
U 7/26/2007FCC-AAA
James S. Peterkin
PrincipalHeery International-HLM Design1717 Arch Street, Suite 3730Philadelphia, PA 19103NFPA Health Care Section
U 7/16/2003
FCC-AAA
John A. Sharry
PrincipalLawrence Livermore National LaboratoryPO Box 808, L-388Livermore, CA 94551
U 10/27/2009FCC-AAA
Catherine L. Stashak
PrincipalOffice of the Illinois State Fire MarshalDivision of Technical ServicesJames R. Thompson Center100 West Randolph Street, #4-600Chicago, IL 60601Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal
E 11/2/2006
FCC-AAA
Rick Thornberry
PrincipalThe Code Consortium, Inc.2724 Elks WayNapa, CA 94558Alliance for Fire & Smoke Containment & Control, Inc.Alternate: Michael W. Ashley
M 7/12/2001FCC-AAA
J. L. (Jim) Tidwell
PrincipalTidwell Code Consulting11712 Wind Creek CourtAledo, TX 76008Fire Equipment Manufacturers' AssociationAlternate: Roy C. Kimball
M 8/5/2009
FCC-AAA
Wayne Waggoner
PrincipalNational Fire Sprinkler Association, Inc.PO Box 9Andersonville, TN 37705Alternate: Jeffrey M. Hugo
M 1/18/2001FCC-AAA
Peter J. Willse
PrincipalXL Global Asset Protection Services100 Constitution Plaza, 12th FloorHartford, CT 06103
I 1/1/1989
2
Address List No PhoneFire Code FCC-AAA
Gregory E. Harrington9/21/2010
FCC-AAA
Carl F. Baldassarra
Voting AlternateThe RJA Group600 West Fulton Street, Suite 500Chicago, IL 60661Voting Alt. to RJA Rep.
SE 1/1/1990FCC-AAA
Timothy A. Bancroft
Voting AlternateIntegrated Engineering Services Inc.780 Charcot AvenueSan Jose, CA 95131Voting Alt. to IES Rep.
SE 4/15/2004
FCC-AAA
Chester W. Schirmer
Voting AlternateAon/Schirmer Engineering Corporation40 Queens CourtPinehurst, NC 28374Voting Alt. to Aon Rep.
I 1/1/1989FCC-AAA
Michael W. Ashley
AlternateAlliance for Fire & Smoke Containment & Control Inc.4 Brookhollow Road, SWRome, GA 30165Principal: Rick Thornberry
M 10/4/2007
FCC-AAA
John F. Bender
AlternateUnderwriters Laboratories Inc.8 Pleasant Wind CourtAberdeen, MD 21001Principal: Robert J. James
RT 1/1/1989FCC-AAA
Lawrence Brown
AlternateNational Association of Home Builders1201 15th Street, NWWashington, DC 20005-2800Principal: Steven Orlowski
U 1/15/1999
FCC-AAA
Shane M. Clary
AlternateBay Alarm Company60 Berry DrivePacheco, CA 94553Automatic Fire Alarm Association, Inc.Principal: Wayne D. Moore
M 4/14/2005FCC-AAA
Robert J. Davidson
AlternateDavidson Code Concepts, LLC311 Camperdown CourtEasley, SC 29642International Association of Fire ChiefsPrincipal: Jim Budzinski
E 8/2/2010
FCC-AAA
Alfred J. Hogan
Alternate3391 Lakeview Drive, SEWinter Haven, FL 33884-3172Principal: Kenneth E. Bush
E 10/1/1993FCC-AAA
Jeffrey M. Hugo
AlternateNational Fire Sprinkler Association, Inc.1088 West Borton RoadEssexville, MI 48732Principal: Wayne Waggoner
M 7/26/2007
FCC-AAA
Roy C. Kimball
AlternateBrooks Equipment Company, Inc.PO Box 481888Charlotte, NC 28269Fire Equipment Manufacturers' AssociationPrincipal: J. L. (Jim) Tidwell
M 1/18/2001FCC-AAA
William E. Koffel
AlternateKoffel Associates, Inc.6522 Meadowridge Road, Suite 101Elkridge, MD 21075Principal: James K. Lathrop
SE 1/12/2000
3
Address List No PhoneFire Code FCC-AAA
Gregory E. Harrington9/21/2010
FCC-AAA
John Lake
AlternateCity of Gainesville306 NE 6th Avenue, Building BPO Box 490, Station 9Gainesville, FL 32602-0490NFPA Fire Service SectionPrincipal: Jeffrey P. Collins
E 4/15/2004FCC-AAA
Joseph M. Perry
AlternateUniversity of California-Davis1 Shields AvenueDavis, CA 95616Western Fire Chiefs AssociationUrbanPrincipal: Valeriano F. Martin
E 1/14/2005
FCC-AAA
Tony Sanfilippo
AlternateMichigan Dept. of Labor & Economic GrowthBureau of Fire Service, State Fire Marshals Office300 North Michigan AvenuePO Box 30700Lansing, MI 48909International Fire Marshals AssociationPrincipal: Ronald R. Farr
E 4/5/2001FCC-AAA
James M. Weigand
AlternateCarlsbad Fire Department1635 Faraday AvenueCarlsbad, CA 92008Western Fire Chiefs AssociationRuralPrincipal: Scott W. Adams
E 1/14/2005
FCC-AAA
Robert Bourke
Nonvoting MemberLynn Fire Department725 Western AvenueLynn, MA 01905Northeast Regional Fire Code Development Committee
E 7/20/2000FCC-AAA
James E. Everitt
Nonvoting MemberTualatin Valley Fire/Rescue7401 SW Washo Court, Suite 101Tualatin, OR 97062-8350Western Regional Fire Code Development Committee
E 7/22/1999
FCC-AAA
Jon Nisja
Nonvoting MemberMinnesota State Fire Marshal Division444 Cedar Street, Suite 145St. Paul, MN 55101-5145North Central Regional Fire Code Development Committee
E 10/6/2000FCC-AAA
Eddie Phillips
Nonvoting MemberCity of East Ridge Public Safety4214 Ringgold RoadEast Ridge, TN 37412Southern Regional Fire Code Development Committee
E 4/17/2002
FCC-AAA
Walter Smittle
Member Emeritus219 Simmons DriveRipley, WV 25271
SE 7/20/2000FCC-AAA
Gregory E. Harrington
Staff LiaisonNational Fire Protection Association1 Batterymarch ParkQuincy, MA 02169-7471
4/22/2008
4
NFPA TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON FIRE CODE
M E M O R A N D U M
TO: Technical Committee on Fire Code (FCC-AAA)
FROM: Gregory Harrington, P.E., Staff Liaison
DATE: July 12, 2010
SUBJECT: Approval Committee Ballots for NFPA 1124 The enclosed ballots are in response to NFPA Standards Council Decision D #08-19, in which several NFPA Technical Committees were identified as “Approval Committees” for proposals on NFPA 1124, Code for the Manufacturing, Transportation, Storage and Retail Sale of Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles, pertaining to consumer fireworks retail sales. Draft Committee Proposal CP#1 addresses threshold values for application of NFPA 1124; Draft Committee Proposal CP#2 addresses threshold limits for sprinkler protection. At its July 9, 2010 teleconference, FCC-AAA voted to take the following actions:
DRAFT #CP1 - Accept the provisions and substantiation put forth by the Technical Committee on Pyrotechnics
DRAFT #CP2 - Indicate that the provisions are not supported by the substantiation and recommend other provisions that are supported by the substantiation and/or other information the Approval Committee has available to it (see ballot for recommended revision)
In accordance with the NFPA Regulations Governing Committee Projects, the above actions must be letter balloted through FCC-AAA. In order to provide substantive feedback to PYR-AAA and the Standards Council, please include any comments you may have, especially with regard to the suggested revision to Draft #CP2. Please complete and return the attached letter ballots no later than Friday, July 30, 2010 to the attention of Diane Matthews by email to [email protected] or by fax to 617-984-7110. Please let me know if you have any questions. I can be reached by phone at 617-984-7471, or by email at [email protected]. GEH/DM
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON FIRE CODE
APPROVAL COMMITTEE BALLOT FOR NFPA 1124, CODE FOR THE MANUFACTURING, TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE AND RETAIL SALE OF
FIREWORKS AND PYROTECHNIC ARTICLES With regard to the action on Draft CP #1 concerning threshold values for application of NFPA 1124 to “Accept the provisions and substantiation put forth by the Technical Committee on Pyrotechnics,”:
AGREE DISAGREE* ABSTAIN*
*If you Disagree or Abstain, reasons must be provided: Sign Name: _________________________________________ Print Name: _________________________________________ Date: _________________________________________ Return By: Friday, July 30, 2010
To: Diane Matthews, Administrator, Technical Projects Email: [email protected] Fax: 617-984-7110 Phone: 617-984-7407
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON FIRE CODE
APPROVAL COMMITTEE BALLOT FOR NFPA 1124, CODE FOR THE MANUFACTURING, TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE AND RETAIL SALE OF
FIREWORKS AND PYROTECHNIC ARTICLES With regard to the action on Draft CP #2 concerning threshold limits for sprinkler protection to “Indicate that the provisions are not supported by the substantiation and recommend other provisions that are supported by the substantiation and/or other information the Approval Committee has available to it,” as follows: 7.3.6 An automatic sprinkler system designed and installed in accordance with NFPA 13, Standard for
the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, shall be provided throughout permanent CFRS facilities and stores
in which CFRS are conducted in the following buildings:
(1) New buildings greater than 6,000 ft2 (557.2 m2) 3000 ft2 (280 m2) in area
(2) Existing buildings greater than 7,500 ft2 (694 m2) in area
AGREE DISAGREE* ABSTAIN*
*If you Disagree or Abstain, reasons must be provided: Sign Name: _________________________________________ Print Name: _________________________________________ Date: _________________________________________ Return By: Friday, July 30, 2010
To: Diane Matthews, Administrator, Technical Projects
Email: [email protected] Fax: 617-984-7110 Phone: 617-984-7407
Log# DRAFT CP#1 Submitter: Technical Committee on Pyrotechnics
Recommendation: It is proposed that paragraph 7.3.1.1 be amended and new paragraphs 7.3.1.2 and
7.3.1.2.1 be added to read as follows:
7.3.1 Exempt Amounts.
7.3.1.1 The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to permanent CFRS facilities or and Class A and
Class B stores where the consumer fireworks are in packages, there are no quantities of aerial devices
meeting the descriptions in C.3.1.2, and where the total quantity of consumer fireworks on hand does
not exceed 125 lb (net) [56.8 kg] of pyrotechnic composition or, in a building protected throughout with
an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with NFPA 13, Standard for the
Installation of Sprinkler Systems, 250 lb (net) [113.6 kg] of pyrotechnic composition.
7.3.1.2 The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to temporary CFRS facilities and Class C stores
where the consumer fireworks are in packages and where the total quantity of consumer fireworks on
hand does not exceed 125 lb (net) [56.8 kg] of pyrotechnic composition or, in a building protected
throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with NFPA 13,
Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, 250 lb (net) [113.6 kg] of pyrotechnic composition,
except as specified in 7.3.1.2.1.
7.3.1.2.1 Where the quantity of consumer fireworks on hand includes any quantity of aerial devices
meeting the descriptions in C.3.1.2 in any quantity not exceeding the quantities specified in 7.3.1.2,
temporary CFRS facilities and Class C stores shall only be required to comply with the following sections
as applicable:
(1) 7.2.3 (Mercantile occupancies per NFPA 101)
(2) 7.3.8 Portable Fire Extinguishers
(3) 7.3.11 No Smoking Signs
(4) 7.3.14.1.1 (Minimum number of exits)
(5) 7.3.14.2 Egress Travel Distance
(6) 7.3.14.3.2.4 (Dead end aisles)
(7) 7.3.14.4 Doors and Doorways
(8) 7.3.15.5 Covered Fuses
(9) 7.3.15.6 Aerial Devices (CFRS facilities)
(10) 7.3.16 Electrical Equipment
(11) 7.3.17 Heating Equipment
(12) 7.3.19 Operations
(13) 7.3.21 Housekeeping
(14) 7.3.22Training
(15) 7.3.23 Under the Influence
(16) 7.4.6.3 Fireworks Discharge
(17) 7.4.9.3 Cooking Equipment
(18) 7.5.1.2 (Consumer fireworks in stores)
(19) 7.6 Stands
Existing 7.3.1.2 to be renumbered as 7.3.1.3.
Substantiation: This section is based on the maximum allowable quantity (MAQ) of hazardous materials
per control area specified for consumer fireworks, 1.4G in Table 60.1.26.1 of NFPA 1‐2009 (Table
60.1.3.1 of the 2000 edition), as well as Table 34.1.3.1 of NFPA 5000‐2009. These quantities are also
identical to the maximum allowable quantity per control area of hazardous materials posing a physical
hazard in Table 2703.1.1(1) of the 2006 International Fire Code (IFC) and Table 307.1(1) of the 2006
International Building Code (IBC). Utilizing the default value for determining the weight of the
pyrotechnic composition of the consumer fireworks in accordance with Footnote k to Table 60.1.26.1 of
NFPA 1, this would allow for a gross weight of consumer fireworks, 1.4G (including packaging) of 500 lb.
or 1,000 lb. where sprinklers are provided. It should be noted that 500 lb. gross weight of consumer
fireworks is approximately equivalent to 12 to 15 cases. Similarly, 1,000 lb. gross weight of consumer
fireworks is approximately equivalent to 25 to 30 cases.
Because of the concerns of several members of Task Group A and as a result of the full‐scale fire tests
conducted at Southwest Research Institute (SWRI) for the American Fireworks Standards Laboratory
(AFSL), it was decided to recommend a revision to Section 7.3.1.1 to address aerial devices that meet
the requirements for consumer fireworks, 1.4G and are sold to the public in consumer fireworks retail
sales facilities (CFRS) and stores.
Task Group A believes that there is no need to provide for further substantiation or documentation of
the exempt amounts contained in Chapter 7 of NFPA 1124 for consumer fireworks since they are based
upon the maximum allowable quantities specified in NFPA 1 and NFPA 5000 as noted above, as well as
the IFC and IBC. However, Task Group A believes that additional safety measures should be provided for
aerial devices even if they are included in the exempt amounts for not having to comply completely with
Chapter 7 of NFPA 1124. It is believed that this approach is technically justified based upon the SWRI
full‐scale fire tests where the aerial devices were appropriately contained to meet the intent of the
requirements for restricting the travel of aerial devices after they are ignited.
The proposed revision to 7.3.1.1 would only exempt permanent CRFS facilities and Class A and Class B
stores from the requirements of Chapter 7 where the exempt amounts of consumer fireworks are in
packages and there are no quantities of aerial devices which meet the descriptions in C.3.1.2. In other
words, if even one aerial device is being sold in one of these facilities or stores, then they would have to
comply with the entire Chapter 7 as applicable. Thus, there is no exempt amount allowed for aerial
devices in these facilities and stores. This is more conservative than currently allowed for buildings
designed and constructed in accordance with NFPA 1 and NFPA 5000 as noted previously. This revision is
being proposed because the Pyrotechnics Technical Committee (TC) believes that this more conservative
approach to requiring compliance with Chapter 7 of NFPA 1124 is appropriate where aerial devices are
sold to the public.
Proposed new 7.3.1.2 applies the current exempt amounts to Class C stores, which by definition do not
exceed 3,000 sq ft in area and one story in height, and to temporary CFRS facilities which include stands
not greater than 800 sq ft in area and tents of any size. However, new 7.3.1.2.1 would require these
stores or facilities to comply with a list of specific sections in Chapter 7 where these stores or facilities
contain quantities of aerial devices up to the exempt amounts specified in 7.3.1.2. The Pyrotechnics TC
believes that this is a conservative approach to the application of exempt amounts in these stores and
facilities where aerial devices are sold since they may pose more of a fire and life safety hazard than the
other types of consumer fireworks that are not capable of movement on their own. This concept is
similar to that in NFPA 1 Chapter 60 Hazard Materials and comparable Chapter 34 in NFPA 5000 where
the maximum allowable quantities (MAQ) are not exceeded. The maximum allowable quantities in those
codes are the same as the exempt amounts specified in 7.3.1 of NFPA 1124 for all types of consumer
fireworks.
Where the MAQs are not exceeded, Section 60.1.3.1 of NFPA 1 still specifies compliance with Sections
60.1 General Requirements and 60.2 Requirements for All Occupancies Containing High‐Hazard
Contents which is comparable to Section 34.2 of NFPA 5000. However, compliance with the rest of
Chapter 60, or the rest of Chapter 34 in NFPA 5000, is not mandated.
The following discusses the nineteen (19) sections listed in proposed new 7.3.1.2.1 as being required
where aerial devices are sold in Class C stores or temporary CFRS facilities in quantities not exceeding
the exempt amounts specified in 7.3.1.2.
Section 7.2.3 This section requires compliance with NFPA 101 for mercantile occupancies.
This is a basic requirement of NFPA 1/5000 for all occupancies regardless of hazard.
Section 7.3.8 Portable Fire Extinguishers. This section specifies minimum requirements for portable fire
extinguishers.
This is a basic requirement of NFPA 1 (13.6.2) / 5000 (27.3.5.3).
Section 7.3.11 No Smoking Signs. This section prohibits smoking in specific locations and requires
posting with “No Smoking” signs.
Similar requirements are contained in NFPA 1 (60.1.11.1 and 60.1.13.3).
Section 7.3.14.1.1 This section specifies that the minimum number of required exits must be at least
three.
This exceeds the minimum requirements in NFPA 1 / 101 / 5000.
This provides another exit option to further minimize the possibility of having all exits blocked
during a fire emergency involving aerial devices.
Section 7.3.14.2 Egress Travel Distance. This section limits the travel distance to reach an exit in all CFRS
facilities and Class C stores to a maximum of 75 ft.
This is comparable to the requirements in NFPA 1 / 101 /5000 for mercantile occupancies
containing high‐hazard contents.
Section 7.3.14.3.2.4 This section prohibits dead end aisles.
This is comparable to the requirements in NFPA 1 / 101 / 5000 for mercantile occupancies
containing high‐hazard contents.
Section 7.3.14.4 Doors and Doorways. This section requires the minimum egress door width to be not
less than 36 inches with a minimum clear width not greater than 32 inches. It also requires the egress
doors to swing in the direction of egress travel and be provided with panic hardware where latches are
installed on the doors.
The minimum width and direction of door swing requirements are comparable to the
requirements in NFPA 1 / 101 /5000.
The requirement for panic hardware exceeds the minimum requirements in NFPA 1 / 101 / 5000
for egress door hardware in mercantile occupancies.
Section 7.3.15.5 Covered Fuses. This section requires all consumer fireworks being sold to the public to
be provided with covered fuses that protect the individual fireworks device from being discharged
accidentally or by malicious mischief, or in the early stages of a fire.
The intent of this requirement is to reduce the potential for rapid fire growth that could involve
the ignition of multiple fireworks devices in the early stages of fire development which are the
most critical to egress. Covered fuses are intended to facilitate egress by minimizing the adverse
effects of discharging fireworks devices.
Section 7.3.15.6 Aerial Devices. This section requires that aerial devices be packaged and displayed for
sale in a manner that will limit the travel distance of ejected pyrotechnic components should ignition of
the fireworks occur.
The intent of this requirement is to minimize the impact of discharging aerial devices on the
egress of the occupants in the early stages of fire development by restraining their travel. This
will also minimize the potential for the aerial devices igniting multiple fires and blocking multiple
paths of travel to reach the exits. This is intended to confine the major effects of discharging
aerial devices to the area immediately adjacent to the origin of the fire.
Section 7.3.16 Electrical Equipment. This section requires all electrical wiring to comply with NFPA 70,
National Electrical Code.
This is comparable to the requirements in NFPA 1 (60.1.1.16) and is a basic requirement in NFPA
101 (9.1.2) / 5000 (52.1).
Section 7.3.17 Heating Equipment. This section requires heating units to be listed and used in
accordance with their listing. It also requires temporary heating sources to have tip‐over and
temperature‐overheat protection and prohibits open flame and exposed element heating devices.
This is comparable to the requirements in NFPA 1 (60.1.11.2).
Section 7.3.19 Operations. This section contains general operations requirements such as maintaining
clear access to the means of egress, limiting the proximity of fireworks displays to exits and entrances to
the building in order to minimize immediate blockage should a fire occur, and prohibiting the ignition
and/or discharge of fireworks within 300 feet of the building or facility.
These requirements provide an enhanced level of fire and life safety where aerial devices are
sold at virtually no cost since they are operational in nature and can be readily implemented.
Section 7.3.21 Housekeeping. These are general housekeeping provisions to help maintain a reasonably
debris‐ and rubbish‐free facility without loose pyrotechnic composition lying around for any significant
period of time. It also provides for a safe means for cleaning up the loose pyrotechnic composition in
order to avoid ignition of those materials.
These are basic fire safety requirements that can be readily implemented without any significant
cost to help improve the overall level of safety in the building or facility since they are basically
operational in nature.
Section 7.3.22 Training. This section requires that all personnel handling consumer fireworks be
provided with safety training related to the performance of their duties.
This requirement is comparable to the requirement in NFPA 1 (60.1.9).
Section 7.4.6.3 Fireworks Discharge. This section requires signage to indicate that fireworks are not
allowed to be discharged within 300 feet.
This requirement ties in with the requirement in Section 7.3.19.4 above which prohibits the
discharge of fireworks within 300 feet.
Section 7.4.9.3 Cooking Equipment. This section prohibits cooking equipment within tents, canopies,
and membrane structure containing consumer fireworks. It also prohibits open flame cooking
equipment within 50 feet of such tents, canopies, or membrane structures.
These requirements are comparable to the requirements in NFPA 1 (60.1.11.2).
Section 7.5.1.2 Fireworks Displayed for Sale in Stores. This section specifies operational requirements for
the display of consumer fireworks in stores in such a manner as to minimize their involvement in a fire
condition in order to limit their impact on the means of egress for the occupants of the store. This
section also restricts access to the aerial devices in order to minimize malicious mischief involving the
ignition and/or discharge of such devices when the building is occupied.
Basically these are operational requirements that can be implemented at virtually no cost to the
store but provide a significant degree of fire and life safety to the occupants and the public
shopping in the store. The main purpose of these requirements is to minimize the opportunity
for malicious mischief involving the aerial fireworks being sold, as well as their impact should
they become involved in a fire. These requirements also facilitate egress from the areas where
aerial type fireworks are sold.
Section 7.6 Stands. This section contains all of the requirements specifically applicable to stands where
consumer fireworks are sold to the public.
The Pyrotechnics TC believes that it is vitally important that stands used to sell fireworks that
include aerial devices, regardless of the quantity, meet all of the applicable requirements specific
to stands due to the very close proximity the occupants of the stands have to the fireworks
devices. The occupants are very likely to be in the immediate area of the fire ignition so they
should be provided with all of the appropriate fire and life safety features currently contained in
Section 7.6 of NFPA 1124.
In summary, it is the opinion of the Pyrotechnics TC that the exempt amounts specified in Section 7.3.1
are valid based upon the reference codes indicated above. Furthermore, to err on the side of safety
where aerial devices are sold at retail, which are much more energetic and have much more opportunity
to spread fire and involve more devices during a fire incident than the other types of consumer
fireworks that are not self‐propelled, certain specific requirements of Chapter 7 should be applicable
regardless of the quantity of aerial devices being sold.
Committee Meeting Action: Accept
Log# Draft CP#2 Submitter: Technical Committee on Pyrotechnics
Recommendation: Task Group A proposes to retain the current requirement in paragraph 7.3.6 as
shown below:
7.3.6 An automatic sprinkler system designed and installed in accordance with NFPA 13, Standard for
the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, shall be provided throughout permanent CFRS facilities and stores
in which CFRS are conducted in the following buildings:
(1) New buildings greater than 6,000 ft2 (557.2 m2) in area
(2) Existing buildings greater than 7,500 ft2 (694 m2) in area
Substantiation: Task Group A does not believe there is a need to make any further revisions to these
sprinkler threshold limits in NFPA 1124 as they have been adequately substantiated and vetted through
the NFPA standards development process and by the NFPA general membership, as well as the NFPA
Standards Council (SC).
As a result of the initial development of Chapter 7 of NFPA 1124, the November 2002 Report on
Comments (ROC) proposed automatic sprinkler system thresholds of 12,000 ft2 for new buildings and
15,000 ft2 for existing buildings. These limits were based on those contained in NFPA 101 for mercantile
occupancies. A Public Comment 1124‐93/Log #163 was submitted to Section 7.5.1.1 by the Southern
Fire Code Development Committee to reduce the sprinkler threshold limit to 6,000 ft2 for new
construction. That Public Comment was rejected by the Pyrotechnics Technical Committee (TC). So the
proponent brought it to the floor of the NFPA Technical Committee Reports (TCR) Session held in
Atlanta, GA in November, 2002. It was approved by the NFPA voting members in attendance and
subsequently upheld by the Pyrotechnics TC and the NFPA SC. At that session it was also noted that
because there was no comparable Public Comment submitted to reduce the threshold limit for existing
buildings, an appeal would be filed with the NFPA SC to request that the 15,000 ft2 threshold be reduced
to 7,500 ft2 for existing buildings. This would be comparable to the one‐half reduction in the sprinkler
threshold for new buildings.
Subsequent to the ROC meeting, the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) followed through on their
commitment made during the TCR Session in Atlanta and submitted an appeal to the NFPA SC to, in fact,
reduce the sprinkler threshold for existing buildings to 7,500 ft2. That appeal was granted by the NFPA
SC. Thus, the automatic sprinkler system threshold for both new and existing buildings was based on
one‐half that required by NFPA 101 for mercantile occupancies for those buildings and facilities where
consumer fireworks, 1.4G were sold at retail to the public.
For further information and history regarding the regulation of the retail sales of consumer fireworks, it
should be noted that in the 2000 edition of NFPA 1 a new Section 16‐10 Sales, Handling, and Storage of
Consumer Fireworks was incorporated to address, among others, the retail sales of consumer fireworks.
It should also be noted that there were no automatic sprinkler system threshold requirements
contained in that section. Subsequent to Section 16‐10 being incorporated into NFPA 1, a TIA was issued
on January 18, 2001. It was designated as TIA 00‐1 (NFPA 1). It was a result of a joint Task Group effort
established by the NFPA SC consisting of members of the NFPA 1, NFPA 101, and NFPA 1124 TCs to
develop a more comprehensive package of requirements for the retail sales of consumer fireworks. The
TIA included new Sections 16‐10.3 and 16‐10.4 which contained additional requirements. However,
there were no threshold area limits set for requiring automatic sprinkler system protection. But the
maximum quantity limits specified for consumer fireworks in retail sales facilities were allowed to be
increased 100% where an automatic sprinkler system was installed. Also, for existing buildings the retail
display area for consumer fireworks was allowed to exceed 3,000 ft2 (without any upper limit) where an
automatic sprinkler system was installed in the retail display area.
A further comparison to NFPA 101‐2009 and NFPA 5000‐2009 may also be warranted to justify the
recommendation to not reduce the current sprinkler thresholds in NFPA 1124 for mercantile
occupancies where consumer fireworks, 1.4G are sold at retail. NFPA 101 Section 6.2.2.4 High Hazard
Contents describes such contents as those “likely to burn with extreme rapidity or from which
explosions are likely.” The Annex A note to this section states:
“High hazard contents include occupancies where flammable liquids are handled or used or are
stored under conditions involving possible release of flammable vapors; where grain dust, wood flour or
plastic dust, aluminum or magnesium dust, or other explosive dusts are produced; where hazardous
chemicals or explosives are manufactured, stored, or handled; where materials are processed or
handled under conditions producing flammable flyings; and other situations of similar hazard.”
None of these situations directly, or even indirectly, appear to apply to consumer fireworks, 1.4G.
Furthermore, Section 6.2.2.3 Ordinary Hazard Contents classifies contents under that heading if they are
“likely to burn with moderate rapidity or give off a considerable volume of smoke.” That description
sounds more like consumer fireworks, 1.4G complying with NFPA 1124 based on the full‐scale fire tests
conducted at Southwest Research Institute (SWRI).
Nevertheless, in Chapter 36 New Mercantile Occupancies Section 36.1.5.2 contains specific
requirements for mercantile occupancies classified as high hazard. It specifies three special
requirements that must be met. But none of them mention a requirement that automatic sprinklers be
provided. However, Section 36.3.5.1(2) requires new mercantile occupancies greater than 12,000 sq ft
to be sprinklered. Similarly, Section 37.3.5.1(1) requires existing mercantile occupancies greater than
15,000 sq ft in area on any story to be sprinklered. As noted previously, these area thresholds for
sprinkler protection are twice that specified in NFPA 1124. It is also interesting to note that Section
36.4.6 Retail Sales of Consumer Fireworks, 1.4G requires that mercantile occupancies where consumer
fireworks, 1.4G are sold at retail comply with NFPA 1124. So NFPA 101 seems to be satisfied with the life
safety protection level for automatic sprinklers specified in NFPA 1124, as does the Mercantile and
Business Occupancies TC.
Section 6.3.2 Classification of Hazard of Contents of NFPA 5000 contains descriptions for high hazard
level contents in buildings regulated by NFPA 5000. Section 6.3.2.4.3 High Hazard Level 2 Contents
describes such contents as those that “present a hazard from accelerated burning”. In the list of High
Hazard Level 2 Contents there is no mention made of consumer fireworks, 1.4G. However, Section
6.3.2.4.4 High Hazard Level 3 Contents describes such contents as “materials that present a deflagration
hazard or a hazard from accelerated burning.” Item 3 in the list of materials under this classification
includes consumer fireworks, 1.4G. Therefore, it appears that NFPA 5000 does not consider consumer
fireworks, 1.4G to “burn with extreme rapidity.” It is also interesting to note that Chapter 34 High
Hazard Contents prescribes specific requirements for buildings that contain such contents. Section
34.1.1.2 exempts buildings containing high hazard contents from having to comply with Chapter 34
under certain conditions including Item (14) for consumer fireworks, 1.4G in mercantile occupancies
complying with NFPA 1124. As a result, there is no specific sprinkler requirement for mercantile
occupancies containing consumer fireworks, 1.4G as would be required for all buildings containing High
Hazard Levels 1 through 5 Contents by Section 34.3.2.1 Fire Protection Systems where the sprinkler
threshold is zero (0) sq ft.
Thus, it can be concluded that both NFPA 101 and NFPA 5000 do not establish a sprinkler threshold for
mercantile occupancies where consumer fireworks, 1.4G are sold at retail that is less than that currently
specified in NFPA 1124. In fact, NFPA 1124 is more restrictive than both NFPA 101 and NFPA 5000 for
requiring automatic sprinkler protection in mercantile occupancies where consumer fireworks, 1.4G are
sold at retail.
Furthermore, the SWRI full‐scale fire tests appear to indicate that in the tests where automatic
sprinklers were provided, they were not essential for maintaining a reasonably tenable atmosphere in
the early stages of fire development in order for the public to have adequate time to evacuate the
building. It was interesting to note that in three of the four sprinklered tests with retail sales gondolas
sprinkler activation times ranged from 13 to 16 minutes after ignition. Sprinkler activation always
occurred shortly after the fire jumped the 4 foot aisle between the ignition gondola and the target
gondola. In the one other sprinkler test involving the retail sales gondolas, the sprinklers activated 2
minutes 45 seconds after ignition, again, after the fire had jumped the aisle. So it is the opinion of Task
Group A that the sprinkler system is not essential to occupant life safety. It performs more of a property
protection function and can also help the fire department to contain and eventually extinguish the fire
within the consumer fireworks. The sprinkler system certainly limits the temperatures at the ceiling and
minimizes the possibility of flashover but is not necessary to sustain tenable conditions in order for the
occupants of the building to evacuate in the early stages of the fire. In fact, one of the drawbacks to the
operation of the automatic sprinkler system noted during the fire tests is that it immediately forces a
large amount of smoke to the floor, causing complete obscuration in the immediate area of the fire.
Another way to look at what is the appropriate threshold for triggering the requirement for an
automatic sprinkler system in consumer fireworks retail sales (CFRS) facilities and stores is to determine
the purpose of the installation of an automatic sprinkler system in such buildings. Then goals can be
assigned to the purpose and an analysis conducted to determine if the goals for installing sprinkler
protection can be achieved without the installation of an automatic sprinkler system. In most cases
there are basically three purposes for installing automatic sprinkler protection in mercantile type
occupancies. They are as follows:
1. Life Safety of the Occupants/Customers
2. Firefighter Safety
3. Property Protection
Each of these three purposes is discussed in the following.
1. Life Safety of the Occupants/Customers
The goal for protecting the life safety of the building occupants and customers should be to provide
adequate egress time with an appropriate factor of safety for all occupants and customers to evacuate
safely without exposure to untenable conditions or projectiles and to minimize the possibility of being
“trapped” and thus unable to reach an exit.
To establish a base line for comparison, an analysis of a typical CFRS facility/store should be undertaken
based on the current threshold limit for automatic sprinkler protection which would represent a 6,000
sq ft one story building. It is also assumed that the maximum travel distance allowed is 75 ft as required
by 7.3.14.2 of NFPA 1124 and the minimum number of exits provided is three as required by 7.3.14.1.
For conservative purposes an additional assumption is made that one of the exits will be blocked during
the fire emergency. This would result in a maximum travel distance of approximately 115 ft.
Using a very conservative rate of travel for occupants based on a mobility impaired person using a
walking frame (rollator) of 120 ft/minute as documented in Table 3‐12.24 of the SFPE Fire Protection
Engineering Handbook, it would take approximately 60 seconds (1 minute) to reach an exit from the
most remote point.
The next time factor to consider is the time it will take the occupants to egress through the two available
exit doors each of which have a minimum clear width of 32 inches as required in by 7.3.14.4.1. The
occupant load of such a 6,000 sq ft building is calculated to be 200 occupants based on the occupant
load factor of 30 sq ft/occupant for mercantile occupancies on the first story. Assuming a very
conservative discharge rate of 10 persons/foot‐minute as documented on P.3 – 347 of the SFPE
Handbook for Fruin’s Levels of Service, this would result in approximately 25 persons/minute/exit door
with a cumulative discharge rate of 50 persons/minute. This calculates out to a time of approximately 4
minutes for all occupants to egress through the two exit doors.
The final time component for this egress analysis is the reaction time which involves the occupants’
perceptions of a fire condition, their interpretation of what they see, the actions they consider to take,
and the decision to finally move towards an exit. This has been estimated to be approximately 3 minutes
which is based on the SFPE Handbook Table 3‐13.1 for a W2 Occupancy Type.
This results in a total calculated evacuation time of approximately 8 minutes from the time the fire is
originally observed until the last occupant has passed through one of the two unblocked exit doors. It
should be noted that this is a very conservative calculation.
As previously noted above, there were four tests conducted at SWRI with automatic sprinkler systems in
place to determine their time of activation. In three of the four tests, the sprinklers activated
approximately 13 to 16 minutes after ignition which was very shortly after the fire jumped the 4 ft wide
aisle. In one of the four tests activation occurred at approximately 3 minutes after ignition, again shortly
after the fire jumped the aisle. Thus, it is not likely that the automatic sprinkler system will have any
significant impact on the egress of the occupants.
It should be noted that the SWRI fire test room had a 16 ft high ceiling and an area of 4,225 sq ft (65 ft x
65 ft). It should also be noted that when the automatic sprinklers did activate, dense smoke was
immediately driven to the floor in the area of the sprinkler discharge, totally obscuring vision
throughout the fire test room. Obviously, very early sprinkler activation would be counterproductive to
efficient egress, especially in close proximity to the origin of the fire.
2. Firefighter Safety
The basic goal for firefighter safety should be to minimize any significant adverse impacts to the
responding firefighters caused by the fire exposure itself and aerial fireworks that may become ignited
so that the hazard is no more severe than a “typical” mercantile occupancy fire. In assessing this goal, a
determination must be made as to what an “unusual” exposure may be for a fire in a CFRS facility/store.
The causes of an “unusual” exposure can be isolated to the following:
Aerial fireworks
Extra smoke produced by ignited fireworks
Rapid fire growth/involvement of fireworks
Aerial fireworks should not pose an unusual exposure due to the fact that they are required to be
“restrained” in accordance with 7.3.15.6 (general application) and 7.5.1.2(3) (stores).
Regarding the extra smoke that will be produced by ignited fireworks, it is Task Group A’s opinion that
the automatic sprinkler system will not significantly address this problem. In fact, it may not even
activate until after the fire department has initiated firefighting activities inside the building based on
the discussions previously noted above. Also as noted above, when the automatic sprinklers do activate,
they drive the dense smoke immediately to the floor, reducing visibility in the area of the fire to virtually
“zero.” Obviously, this would impede the fire department’s ability to find the seat of the fire and
eventually extinguish it. And it may cause severe disorientation for the firefighters inside the building.
Furthermore, the requirements for covered fuses found in 7.3.15.5 (general application) and 7.5.1.2(2)
(stores) which also requires the fireworks to be packaged, will assist in limiting the early and rapid
ignition of the fireworks, thus helping to minimize the generation of excessive smoke production by
them.
Flame breaks will also help to retard the rapid/significant growth of the fire within the fireworks in order
to minimize the quantity of fireworks involved and the generation of large quantities of smoke. Flame
breaks are required by 7.3.15.3. It should be noted that the SWRI fire tests clearly showed that
significant fire growth did not occur until after the fire jumped the aisle. As noted above in the
automatic sprinkler system tests, this occurred at approximately 13 to 16 minutes after ignition in three
of the four tests with one of the tests having this occur within 3 minutes.
It should also be noted that ceiling heights are required to be at least 10 ft unless a smoke and heat vent
system activated by a smoke detection system is provided based on Section 7.3.10. Thus, the higher
ceilings provide a smoke reservoir in which the buoyant smoke can accumulate before becoming a
significant problem for the firefighters trying to find the seat of the fire.
Regarding the potential concern about rapid fire growth and involvement of the fireworks in a fire, this
is also addressed by the covered fuses requirement and the flame break requirement noted above. It is
also somewhat mitigated by the minimum aisle width requirement of 48 inches which helps to minimize
the possibility of the fire jumping across the aisle to ignite adjacent display gondolas.
Thus, the various protection and mitigation features provided in Chapter 7 should result in a more
“typical” mercantile occupancy fire in a CFRS facility/store that should not pose an unusual
exposure/hazard to the responding firefighters. And it should be noted that the automatic sprinkler
system threshold for new mercantile occupancies in NFPA 101 and NFPA 5000 as previously discussed is
12,000 sq ft as compared to the 6,000 sq ft threshold in Chapter 7.
3. Property Protection
The goal of property protection should be to reasonably limit the fire/smoke damage to both the
building and its contents, as well as to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings and
structures.
Regarding the protection of the building contents, this is not an issue as far as the consumer fireworks
industry is concerned. If a fire starts in a CFRS facility and can’t be controlled/extinguished by portable
fire extinguishers, then it may be better to let the contents burn rather than attempt to extinguish the
fire. That is because water damaged fireworks are considered hazardous waste that must be disposed of
properly. It is the consumer fireworks industry’s experience with the very limited number of fires
they’ve had in retail sales facilities and storage warehouses containing consumer fireworks that the cost
to properly dispose of the hazardous waste consisting of the water damaged fireworks is significantly
greater than the cost of the lost merchandise. So in their opinion, if the fire gets out of control, it would
be better to let it burn so that the contents are completely consumed by the fire, thus minimizing the
problems with hazardous waste disposal. Of course, this assumes that the fire will be contained to the
building of origin and not spread to adjacent buildings or structures.
Regarding protection of the building, the responding fire department should have adequate capabilities
to handle a fire in a maximum 6,000 sq ft building used as a CFRS facility/store. Based on the Iowa Fire
Flow Formula, a 6,000 sq ft building with a 10 ft ceiling height would require 600 gpm of fire flow to be
applied to successfully control and extinguish a post‐flashover fire. This is calculated based on the total
volume of the building of 60,000 cubic feet divided by 100. If the ceiling height was as great as 16 ft, this
would result in a 96,000 cu ft volume which would equate to approximately 1,000 gpm of fire flow
required to apply to the fire by firefighting crews.
A 600 gpm fire flow would require two 250 gpm hose streams applied through 2½ inch hose lines and
one 100 gpm hose stream applied through a 1½ inch hose line. Ideally, this would require a total of ten
firefighters on the scene with at least one fire department pumper capable of pumping a minimum 500
gpm under normal conditions. This includes three firefighters for each 2½ inch hose line and two
firefighters for the 1½ inch hose line along with one engine driver/pump operator and an officer in
control of the fire scene.
A 1,000 gpm fire flow would require four 250 gpm hose streams using 2½ inch hose lines. This would
result in a need for fourteen firefighters including twelve to man the four 2½ inch hose lines, one engine
driver/pump operator, and one fire ground officer. This would also require a fire department pumper
with a minimum capacity of 1,000 gpm.
It should also be noted that if the fire in a CFRS facility/store has been mitigated by the requirements in
Chapter 7 to be roughly equivalent to a fire in a “typical” mercantile occupancy as previously discussed,
then a 6,000 sq ft unsprinklered building should be able to be handled by the responding fire
department much more easily than a 12,000 sq ft unsprinklered mercantile occupancy that would be
allowed by NFPA 101 and NFPA 5000.
Regarding the protection of exposures, this should not be a significant firefighter safety issue. This is
mainly because the responding fire department need only deploy its forces outside the building,
directing hose streams to protect adjacent exposures. This tactic will be aided by the fact that there is a
requirement for fire department access to be provided to any part of the building exterior to within 150
feet of a public way or an approved fire apparatus access road in accordance with Section 7.3.4.
Furthermore, CFRS facilities are required to be provided with certain fire separation distances based on
the fire‐resistance rating requirements for the exterior walls with protected openings as specified in
Table 7.4.7.1.1. This table would require the exterior walls to have a minimum 2‐hour fire‐resistance
rating where the fire separation distance is less than 10 ft or a minimum 1‐hour fire‐resistance rating
where the fire separation distance is at least 10 ft but less than 60 ft. No fire‐resistance rating would be
required where the fire separation distance is at least 60 ft. Those conditions should not result in any
significant challenge to the fire department’s efforts at preventing the spread of a fire from a CFRS
facility to an adjacent building or structure.
It should also be noted that there are general requirements in Chapter 7 that require all CFRS facilities
and stores be separated by at least 50 ft from motor fuel dispensers and flammable and combustible
liquid storage tanks associated with such motor fuel dispensing. Also a minimum 300 ft separation
distance is required to bulk storage and bulk dispensing of flammable liquids and gasses.
So it does not appear that it would be necessary to provide automatic sprinkler system protection for
CFRS facilities/stores in order to maintain firefighter safety when protecting exposures.
In conclusion, Task Group A believes that the Committee has adequately justified the current automatic
sprinkler system thresholds specified in Chapter 7 for CFRS facilities and stores. Thus, the requirements
in the code should be allowed to stand as is. This Draft Committee Proposal is prepared showing the
existing language as contained in the 2006 edition of NFPA 1124.
Committee Meeting Action: Accept