THE COMMODITY LETTER
- List all commodities stored within the warehouse and storage area(s) of the building (space). Utilize actual product descriptions rather than trade names.
- Identify the toted quantity of each material. Concerning units of measure, specify the commodity in terms of pallet load, boxes, and so on.
- Specify the total square footage of each warehouse/storage area in the building (space).
- Identify the location of each commodity being stored Where multiple commodities are being ston’d, provide a diagram identifying each commodity storage area.
- Specify the storage height of each commodity. Where multiple commodities are stored in a given pile, specify the total storage height of the entire pile. Note: The total storage height is measured from the floor to the top of the uppermost commodity container being stored.
- Identify all hazardous materials that are stored or utilized in the building (space). For each material specify the individual container size, container type, and total quantity of each material. A material safety data sheet must be provided with each material as well as numbered to correspond to the list of hazardous materials that is prepared. Group the hazardous materials under the following types: explosives or blasting agents, compressed gases, flammable liquids, combustible liquids, flammable solids, organic peroxides, oxidizers, pyrophoric materials, unstable (reactive) materials, water reactive materials, cryogenic fluids, highly toxic or toxic materials, radioactive materials, corrosives, and materials with other health hazards….
- Specify the method of storage for each commodity (solid pile, rack storage, shelf storage, palletized storage). If racks or shelves are utilized, specify the dimensions. Note if mezzanines are to be utilized. Note any solid shelves in racks.
- Specify the width of each aisle between each commodity pile.
- If manufacturing or processing operations exist, are being expanded. or are being started, provide a desc/’iption of each operation. Note any hazardous aspects of these operations.
The product description list can range from sentences to pages (as in the case of a general storage warehouse). Descriptions rather than trade names are asked for to help clearly identify the commodity. We classify each commodity as Class I, II, III, IV, or V, according to the Uniform Fire Code.
Are we dealing with a single box or 100 pallet loads of flammable aerosol cans? Quantities give us an overview of the warehouse space in question.
This helps determine the overall requirements for specific warehouse space. If the material is high-piled stock, the fire code lists requirements based on the materials and the total square footage. The larger the square footage, the stricter the requirements. (NFPA 231 and 231C do not recognize square-footage thresholds. however.)
When a wide variety of materials is being stored, it helps to know where and in what proximity to production areas in manufacturing facilities. Large discount retail stores usually have a diversified selection of stored commodities. This information helps us segregate the Class V materials in areas kept at low-stack height (usually six feet) or in specially protected areas.
This determines whether the fire code will apply. If the material is not high-piled stock, there essentially are no requirements.
These categories correspond to those types regulated under the Uniform Fire Code. Since the code allows for “exempt” amounts in most of the categories, this initial assessment helps us to determine whether additional information from the tenant is necessary.
This information helps us in determining critical pile heights and reviewing sprinkler plans submitted for approval.
Aisle spacing is important when setting fire code requirements as well as when picking the correct curve to determine the appropriate design density for a sprinkler system.
This question uncovers any hazardous operations and processes that are covered in other sections of the fire code and which often are not evident on a set of plans.*