Specifications

• Building Attributes

  Building Attributes

  Code of record for when building was constructed:

  In California, the Building Code is updated every three years with changes and new requirements. Currently, the California Building Code (CBC) and California Fire Code (CFC) are based on the International Code Council (ICC)’s family of codes, while the California Mechanical Code (CMC) is based on the Uniform Mechanical Code (IAPMO). These codes work as companions to each other. For example, the CBC designates how a building shall be constructed, while the CFC provides requirements for fire and life safety features, including the storage, handling, dispensing and use of hazardous materials. For more on the history of the Building code in the U.S.A., see article here (History of Codes in USA).

  Construction and design provisions of the CBC and CFC typically only apply to new construction, so that older buildings that were compliant at the time of construction do not have to be upgraded constantly. However, administrative, operational, and maintenance provisions of the CFC apply to both new construction and existing conditions and operations. Hazardous materials storage, dispensing, and use is generally considered operational and therefore must adhere to the current version of the CFC. There is an exception for buildings constructed prior to 2008, where the older control area concept is permitted (see California OSFM bulletin). 

  Occupancy type: 

  See section describing different occupancies in California. The California Building Code (CBC) outlines how a building or portion of a building must be constructed depending on the occupancy classification. Building attributes, such as sprinkler coverage and density, fire-resistance rated elements, ventilation, exiting, separation from other occupancies is less restrictive in certain occupancy types, such as Group B, compared to Group L or Group H. If certain types of hazardous materials are being stored or used in excess of MAQs, this triggers Group H, High Hazard occupancy requirements. The Building Code would dictate how this was built. For example, High hazard, Group H-2 occupancies contain flammable atmospheres (due to high quantities (>MAQ) of flammable gases or flammable liquids in open use). These occupancies must meet additional structural, separation, electrical, fire safety and other provisions to safely store these types of materials. 

  Fire-resistant rated construction: 

  Chapter 7 of the California Building Code outlines the fire-resistance rating requirements for different building elements. These either meet specific fire exposure test criteria (specified in ASTM E119 or UL263), prescriptive requirements, results of an engineering analysis, or another method approved by the Fire Marshal. 

  Control areas must be separated from other control areas by fire barriers or fire walls. Some occupancies are also required to have separation by fire barriers. The level of fire-resistance rated separation (1-hr, 2-hr, etc…) depends on the floor level relative to grade plane, adjacent occupancies, and occupancy type. 

  For example, control areas must be separated by 1-hr fire barriers if they are located on the first floor, but they need to be separated by 2-hr fire barriers on the fourth floor (CFC Table 414.2.2) 

   

  Fire-resistance rating required to separate occupancies is outlined in CBC Table 508.4. 

  

  Floor level relative to grade plane:

  Grade plane and other related definitions are provided below from the California Building Code (CBC). Grade plane can be considered the “ground level”, though it can be complex if a building is on a slope (see example CBC Commentary Figure 202(7). Determining the “first floor” (or first story above grade plane) is important, as the MAQs permitted on each floor differ dramatically relative to grade plane. 

  See CBC Table 414.2.2 for percent reductions in total MAQs for floor levels relative to grade plane. There is a significant drop in MAQ percentage above the third floor, which reflects the maximum height of many fire apparatus vehicles. Evacuation is also more difficult from upper floors of a building during emergencies, therefore it is not considered safe for occupants and first responders to have high chemical quantities on upper floors. 

  

  Basement. A story that is not a story above grade plane. 

  Grade plane. A reference plane representing the average of finished ground level adjoining the building at exterior walls. Where the finished ground level slopes away from the exterior walls, the reference plane shall be established by the lowest points within the area between the building and the lot line or, where the lot line is more than 6 feet (1829 mm) from the building, between the building and a point 6 feet (1829 mm) from the building. 

  Mezzanine. An intermediate level or levels between the floor and ceiling of any story and in accordance with Section 505. 

  Story. That portion of a building included between the upper surface of a floor and the upper surface of the floor or roof next above (See Basement, Building height, Grade plane and Mezzanine). A story is measured as the vertical distance from top to top of two successive tiers of beams or finished floor surfaces and, for the topmost story, from the top of the floor finish to the top of the ceiling joists or, where there is not a ceiling, to the top of the roof rafters. 

  Story above grade plane. Any story having its finished floor surface entirely above grade plane, or in which the finished surface of the next floor above is:

  1. More than 6 feet (1829 mm) above grade plane; or
  2. More than 12 feet (3658 mm) above the finished ground level at any point. 

  

  Automatic fire suppression system (sprinklers):

  Buildings that have automatic fire suppression systems (automatic fire sprinklers or approved alternatives to water-based fire suppression systems) improve life safety. If there is a fire in one section of a building, the fire suppression system is typically designed to control the fire long enough for building occupants to safely evacuate. In a hypothetical 5-story building (below), a fire on the third floor can rapidly spread to upper floors and adjacent rooms, filling them with smoke and fire, and thereby preventing safe evacuation. Full sprinkler coverage throughout the building can keep the fire contained to the room of origin, allowing building occupants to safely evacuate, even from adjacent rooms and floors. This is particularly true when fire resistant rated construction is present in corridors and other parts of the building. 

  Because of the added level of life safety when sprinklers are installed throughout the building, most hazardous materials can be increased in fully-sprinklered buildings. For Flammable liquids, for example, the amount (MAQ) can be doubled when stored in fully sprinklered buildings for most occupancy types. 

  Ventilation:

  Mechanical ventilation is an important factor in keeping laboratory spaces safe for building occupants. Depending on the types of chemicals being stored, handled, used and dispensed in a space, rooms may have both general and hazardous exhaust. 

  General exhaust: This “room ventilation” is typically higher for laboratory spaces relative to spaces that do not store chemicals (such as offices). Ideally, mechanical ventilation in labs will have rates of 4-6 air changes per hour or 1 cubic feet per minute per square feet of laboratory space. This ensures that hazardous vapors or asphyxiants (from gases) are being removed from the occupied space and replenished by uncontaminated air. 

  Hazardous exhaust: Laboratories that consistently dispense and use toxic, flammable, corrosive, oxidizing and other hazardous materials often use fume hoods or gas cabinets to remove the hazardous vapors. Hazardous exhaust is not typically shared with room exhaust, nor is it recirculated. Hazardous exhaust is exhausted directly to the exterior of the building. Certain chemicals, such as concentrated perchoric acid, require special hoods. Highly toxic gases are required to be stored in gas cabinets or exhausted enclosures. 

   

• Compliance

  Compliance

  RSS Chemicals – Control Area/MAQ/HMIS reports
  Note: this is highly dependent on accurate inventories and correctly assigned building attributes

  Toolbox of solutions from MAQ TF report 

• Hazard Categories

  Hazard Categories

  The California Fire Code (CFC) regulates hazardous materials that pose physical or acute health hazards. Materials are classified according to their CFC definitions for MAQ and regulatory purposes. These definitions are not always in alignment with OSHA definitions, which are based on the United Nation’s Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). 

  Per CFC, chemical mixtures shall be classified with hazards of the mixture as a whole. Mixtures of hazardous materials shall be classified in accordance with nationally recognized reference standards; by an approved qualified organization, individual, or Safety Data Sheet (SDS); or by other approved methods. 

  California Fire Code Physical hazards include (see definitions in Chapter 2 of the CFC):

  • Combustible dust
  • Combustible fibers
  • Combustible and Flammable Liquids
  • Cryogenic fluids
  • Explosives
  • Flammable gases
  • Flammable solids
  • Inert compressed gases
  • Organic peroxides
  • Oxidizers
  • Oxidizing gases
  • Pyrophorics
  • Unstable (reactives)
  • Water reactives

  California Fire Code Health hazards include (see definitions in Chapter 2 of the CFC):

  • Corrosives
  • Highly toxics
  • Toxics
• Occupancy Type

  Occupancy Type

  Occupancy classification refers to the formal designation of the primary purpose of the building, structure or portion thereof. These classifications are based on the nature of the hazards and risks to building occupants generally associated with the intended purpose of the building or structure.  
  Occupancy Classifications in California include:

  • Assembly: Group A (examples: lecture hall, concert hall, library, stadium)
  • Business: Group B (examples: office, laboratory, professional services)
  • Organized Camps: Group C (organized camp)
  • Educational: Group E (examples: school or space used for educational purposes through 12th grade)
  • Factory and Industrial: Group F (examples: metal or wood shop, photographic film development studio)
  • High Hazard: Group H (examples: chemical storage room, flammable liquid dispensing room, semiconductor fabrication room)
  • Institutional: Group I (hospital, jail, nursing home)
  • Laboratory: Group B (unless Group L or Group H) (examples: lab constructed as Group B)
  • Laboratory: Group L (examples: lab constructed as Group L)
  • Mercantile: Group M (examples: market, retail store)
  • Residential: Group R (examples: dorm, apartment, hotel, residential care facility)
  • Storage: Group S (examples: warehouse, parking garage)
  • Utility and Miscellaneous: Group U (examples: greenhouse, barn, agricultural building)

  All of the above occupancy classifications are present across UC Campuses and Health Centers. 

  There are different MAQ requirements depending on the type of occupancy. For example, Group H occupancies are constructed to account for certain types of hazardous materials and can therefore safely store very high quantities of those chemicals.  Group M and S occupancies, when certain storage and packaging requirements are met, can store larger quantities of hazardous materials. Group B laboratories can be more restrictive than Group L laboratories, particularly on higher floor levels. See example below of MAQ percentage per floor for Group B control areas (Table 414.2.2) vs. Group L laboratory suites (Table 453.7.2.1) (per California Building Code):

  

  

  For detailed definitions of occupancies, see Chapters 3 and 4 of the California Building Code. Keep in mind that occupancy classifications have changed over the years and older buildings may have different occupancy types that are not reflected in the current California Building Code. 
   

• Physical State

  Physical State

  The state of matter (solid, liquid, gas) for an individual chemical can affect the hazard risk. For example, gases cannot be easily contained in an accidental release. Therefore, there are additional restrictions on the storage and use of certain gases such as toxic or pyrophoric gases. The Fire Code regulates materials separately based upon physical state. It is critical to correctly assign containers in RSS Chemicals to the correct physical state. MAQ reporting is typically in units of pounds, gallons and cubic feet. RSS Chemicals is designed to convert volumes from metric or other units into required Fire Code units of measurement.  

• Storage vs. In-Use

  Storage vs. In-Use

  Storage of hazardous materials is defined and used in multiple ways in the Fire Code. 

  Definitions:

  • Storage, Hazardous Materials. The keeping, retention or leaving of hazardous materials in closed containers, tanks, cylinders, or similar vessels; or vessels supplying operations through closed connections to the vessel. 
  • Closed container. A container sealed by means of a lid or other device such that liquid, vapor or dusts will not escape from it under ordinary conditions of use or handling. 
  • Use (Material). Placing a material into action, including solids, liquids and gases. 
  • Closed system. The use of a solid or liquid hazardous material involving a closed vessel or system that remains closed during normal operations where vapors emitted by the product are not liberated outside of the vessel or system and the product is not exposed to the atmosphere during normal operations; and all uses of compressed gases. Examples of closed systems for solids and liquids include product conveyed through a piping system into a closed vessel, system or piece of equipment. 
  • Open system. The use of a solid or liquid hazardous material involving a vessel or system that is continuously open to the atmosphere during normal operations and where vapors are liberated, or the product is exposed to the atmosphere during normal operations. Examples of open systems for solids and liquids include dispensing from or into open beakers or containers, dip tank and plating tank operations.

  For hazardous materials, there is a notable difference in MAQs for chemicals in storage vs. in use. 

  Storage

  

  In Use - Closed

  

  In Use - Open

  
• Quantities of Hazardous Materials

  Quantities of Hazardous Materials

  Each chemical (hazardous material) has unique physical and health hazards. Some chemicals have multiple hazards. For example, acetic acid is both flammable and corrosive.

  Maximum allowable quantities (MAQs) are determined as an aggregate quantity of a hazardous materials per hazard class and physical state in a single control area. Each control area has separate MAQ limits, based upon building features such as floor level and automatic fire sprinkler coverage.

  Here is an example of how MAQs are determined within a control area. If the floor of this building is a single control area, then each of the labs’ chemical quantities will be combined in aggregate to determine the MAQ for each hazard category.

  

  In this example, the aggregate quantity of flammable liquids exceeds the MAQ and is not in compliance.