Metal parts in plastic bin boxes

[TSDavis]

Do I treat this as plastics storage?

Looks like the bins will be stored to a max of 12' with 14' ish clearance to the deck.

Feels like the bin boxes themselves are the hazard and not the product.

Surely NFPA has addressed the plastic bin boxes being dictated by the auto makers.

Terry S. Davis
National Fire Protection
h2o-racing@comcast.net

 

[stookeyfpe]

If you're in the US and your project is located in a jurisdiction that has adopted the International Fire Code, the answer to your questions is found in 2009 IFC Section 2303.7.4. If the weight of the individual plastic boxes is > 15% when filled with the metal parts, and the plastic is classified as Group A, the IFC prescribes that you treat it as High Hazard commodity. In your scenario, it may be an expanded, unexposed Group A plastic bin box.

 

[TSDavis]

Yes but "High Hazard Commodity" doesn't mean anything. The IFC might as well have used the phrase "extra super gooder". It's doesn't point towards any particular criteria from NFPA. Well, not that I'm aware of at least.

I think exposed, non-expanded, unstable, group A plastics to 12' with up to 32' ceiling height is the minimum that I'll be able to sleep with at night. So NFPA13 2007, Table 15.2.5(a) Col A.

Translates to a .40 density.

Terry S. Davis
National Fire Protection
h2o-racing@comcast.net

 

[stookeyfpe]

The intent is not to point to NFPA. Instead the IFC sets a lower threshold for when a building is sprinklered because of the higher hazard presented by bin box storage. Which is scooby snack enchilada positive.