Division B
Acceptable Solutions
Part 4 — Flammable and Combustible Liquids
Section 4.2. Container Storage and Handling
4.2.1. Scope
4.2.1.1. Application
2) 
Except as otherwise stated in this Code, this Section shall not apply to
b) liquids in the fuel tank of motors or engines,
d) food and pharmaceutical products when in
closed containers having a capacity of not more than 5 L, or
3) 
Portable tanks having a capacity greater than 2 500 L shall be installed in conformance with
Section 4.3. 4) 
For the purpose of this Section,
unstable liquids shall meet the requirements for Class IA liquids.
5) 
Except as otherwise stated, requirements for containers in this Part shall also apply to portable tanks described in
Sentence (1).
4.2.2. General
4.2.2.1. Prohibited Locations
4.2.2.2. Storage Arrangement
1) 
In addition to the provisions of this Section, the method of storage of
flammable liquids and
combustible liquids shall be determined to ensure the physical and chemical stability of the stored products.
4.2.2.3. Separation from Other Dangerous Goods
4.2.3. Containers and Portable Tanks
4.2.3.1. Design and Construction
4.2.3.2. Markings or Labels
1) 
Except as provided in
Sentence (2) and
Article 4.2.3.1., containers for
flammable liquids or
combustible liquids shall be distinctly marked or labelled in easily legible type that is in contrast to any other printed matter on the label with a warning
to indicate that
a) the material in the container is flammable,
b) it should be kept away from heat, sparks and open flames, and
c) it should be kept closed when not in use.
2) 
Markings referred to in
Sentence (1) are not required when the container is labelled in conformance with
4.2.3.3. Other Types of Containers
1) 
The storage, handling and use of
flammable liquids or
combustible liquids in a container other than one of those listed in
Article 4.2.3.1. shall be permitted only if
a) the required purity of the liquid would be affected by containers of the types listed in
Article 4.2.3.1. or if the liquid would cause the excessive corrosion of those types of containers,
b) the container not conforming to
Article 4.2.3.1. has a capacity of not more than 1 L if used for Class
I liquids and not more than 5 L if used for Class II or IIIA liquids, or
c) the container not conforming to
Article 4.2.3.1. is a sample container used for quality control purposes or for testing
by regulatory officials.
4.2.4. Assembly and Residential Occupancies
4.2.4.1. Application
4.2.4.2. Maximum Quantities
3) 
When 2 or more classes of
flammable liquid or
combustible liquid are stored in the same
building, the total quantity permitted for each class of liquid shall be calculated as follows:
where
qI= the actual quantity of Class I liquids present,
qII= the actual quantity of Class II liquids present,
qIIIA= the actual quantity of Class IIIA liquids present.
4.2.4.3. Storage Cabinets and Storage Rooms
2) 
The location of storage rooms referred to in
Sentence 4.2.4.2.(4) shall conform to Article 3.3.2.15. and Sentence 3.3.4.3.(4) of Division B of the British Columbia Building Code.


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2) 
The location of storage rooms referred to in Sentence 4.2.4.2.(4) shall conform to Article 3.3.2.15. and Sentence 3.3.4.3.(4) of Division B of the
British Columbia Building CodeNBC.
4.2.4.4. Exterior Balconies
4.2.4.5. Dwelling Units
4.2.4.6. Attached Garages and Sheds
4.2.5. Mercantile Occupancies
4.2.5.1.
Application
4.2.5.2. Maximum Quantities
2) 
In unsprinklered
mercantile occupancies, the maximum quantity of
flammable liquids and
combustible liquids permitted to be stored in a single
suite shall be the lesser of
a) 8 L/m
2 of the total area of the
suite, provided that not more than 2 L/m
2 are Class I liquids, of which not more than 0.3 L/m
2 shall be Class IA, Class IB, or any combination of these 2 classes, or
b) 8 000 L, provided that not more than 2 000
L are Class I liquids, of which not more than 300 L shall be Class IA, Class IB, or any combination of these 2 classes.
3) 
In
sprinklered mercantile occupancies, the maximum quantity of
flammable liquids and
combustible liquids permitted to be stored in a single
suite shall be the lesser of
a) 24 L/m
2 of the total area of the
suite, provided that not more than 6 L/m
2 are Class I liquids, of which not more than
1 L/m
2 shall be Class IA, Class IB, or any
combination of these 2 classes, or
b) 24 000 L, provided that not more than 6 000 L are
Class I liquids, of which not more than 1 000 L shall be Class IA,
Class IB, or any combination of these 2 classes.
4.2.5.3. Containers
2)
Closed containers of Class I and II liquids shall not be stacked more than 1.5 m high
on floors, or 1 m high on individual fixed shelves.
4.2.5.4. Transfer
4.2.6. Business and Personal Services, Educational, Care, Treatment and Detention Occupancies
4.2.6.1. Application
4.2.6.2. Storage Cabinets and Storage Rooms
4.2.6.3. Maximum Quantities
2) 
In the automotive shops or industrial arts area of an educational facility, storage of up to 75 L of
flammable liquids and
combustible liquids, including not more than 25 L of Class
I liquids, shall be permitted outside of a cabinet or storage room
as required in
Article 4.2.6.2. 4.2.6.4. Containers
4.2.6.5. Separation of Dangerous Goods
4.2.7. Industrial Occupancies
4.2.7.1. Application
4.2.7.2. Storage Facilities
4.2.7.3. Fire Compartments
4.2.7.4. Dispensing and Transfer
2) 
It is permitted to dispense or transfer Class I or II liquids in a storage area conforming to
Article 4.2.7.5. provided
a) the storage area does not exceed 100 m2, and
b) the dispensing or transfer operations conform to the applicable
requirements of
Subsection 4.2.9.
4.2.7.5. Maximum Quantities
2) Where a
building or part of
building is designed for the storage of
flammable liquids or
combustible liquids, there is no limit on the total quantity of storage per
fire compartment provided the
building or part of
building is separated from adjacent
buildings or parts of
buildings by
b) spatial separation in conformance with the British Columbia Building Code.
(See Appendix A.)
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2) 
Where a
building or part of
building is designed for the storage of
flammable liquids or
combustible liquids, there is no
limit on the total quantity of storage per
fire
compartment provided the
building or part of
building is separated from adjacent
buildings or parts of
buildings
by
a) a firewall having a fire-resistance rating of at least 4 h, or
b) spatial separation in conformance with the British Columbia Building CodeNBC.
(See Appendix A.)
4) 
When
flammable liquids or
combustible liquids
are stored

in solid pile or
rack storage configurations or a combination of both

in a single
fire compartment, the maximum quantity permitted for each class of liquid
shall be calculated as follows:
where
qIA, IB or IC= the actual quantity of Class IA, IB or IC liquids present
in a rack or solid pile
, qII= the actual quantity of Class II liquids present
in a rack or solid pile
, qIIIA= the actual quantity of Class IIIA liquids present
in a rack or solid pile
,
4.2.7.6. Fire Suppression Systems
4.2.7.7. Clearances
1) 
The clearance between the top of storage and the lowest structural members shall not be less than 450 mm.
2) 
The clearance between the top of storage and the ceiling sprinkler deflectors or other overhead fire protection systems shall be in accordance
with the standard used for the design of the respective system.
3) 
A clearance of not less than 400 mm shall be maintained between stored
flammable liquids and
combustible liquids and walls, except that where the width of storage adjacent to the wall is not more than 1.5 m, such wall clearance is not required. (See
Appendix A.)
4.2.7.8. Aisles
4.2.7.9. Separation from Other Dangerous Goods
4.2.7.10. Separation from Combustible Products
4.2.7.11. Absorbents
4.2.8. Incidental Use
4.2.8.1. Application
4.2.8.2. Maximum Quantities
4.2.8.3. Handling
1) Areas in which
flammable liquids or
combustible liquids are transferred from one container or
storage tank to another, or where they are used in such a way as to release potentially explosive concentrations of flammable vapours,
shall be separated from possible sources of ignition by a spatial separation of not
less than 6 m, or by a
fire separation. (See
Appendix A.)
(See also Appendix Note A-4.1.5.2.(1).)
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1) 
Areas in which
flammable liquids or
combustible liquids are transferred from one container or
storage tank to another, or where they are used in
such a way as to release potentially explosive concentrations of flammable vapours,
shall be separated from possible sources of ignition by a spatial separation of not
less than 6 m, or by a
fire separation. (See Appendix A.)
(See also Appendix Note A-4.1.5.2.(1).)(See also A-4.1.5.2.(1) in Appendix A.)
4.2.8.4. General Storage Areas
2) 
The storage area referred to in
Sentence (1) shall be
sprinklered in conformance with
Article 3.2.3.3., providing a level of protection not less than that required for Class IV commodities stored
up to a height of 6 m.
4) 
When a single class of liquid is stored, the total quantity in a single
fire compartment shall be not more than
a) 2 500 L of Class IB and IC liquids,
b) 5 000 L of Class II liquids, or
c) 10 000 L of Class IIIA liquids.
5) 
When 2 or more classes of liquid are stored in the same
fire compartment, the total quantity permitted for each class of liquid shall be calculated as follows:
where
qI= the actual quantity of Class IB and IC liquids present,
qII= the actual quantity of Class II liquids present,
qIIIA= the actual quantity of Class IIIA liquids present.
4.2.9. Rooms for Container Storage and Dispensing
4.2.9.1. Maximum Quantities
4.2.9.2. Spill Control
1) 
Storage rooms referred to in
Article 4.2.9.1. shall be liquid-tight where the walls join the floor.
4.2.9.3. Aisles
4.2.9.4. Dispensing
1) 
Dispensing of
flammable liquids or
combustible liquids from containers having a capacity of more than 30 L shall be by pumps
or through self-closing valves, designed in conformance with good
engineering practice. (See
A-4.1.8.3.(1) in Appendix A.)
4.2.9.5. Explosion Venting
1) 
Except for the storage of
distilled beverage alcohol,

where Class IA or IB liquids are

used, dispensed or stored in open containers

within a storage room

, or where Class IA liquids are stored in containers exceeding 4 L in capacity,

the room shall be designed to prevent critical structural and mechanical damage from an internal explosion in
conformance with

Sentence 3.3.6.4.(2) of Division B of the British Columbia Building Code.

(See
A-3.2.8.2.(1)(d) in Appendix A.)

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1) 
Except for the storage of
distilled beverage alcohol, where Class IA or IB liquids are
used, dispensed or stored in open containers within a
storage room, or where Class IA liquids are stored in containers
exceeding 4 L in capacity, the room shall be designed to
prevent critical structural and mechanical damage from an internal explosion in
conformance with Sentence 3.3.6.4.(2) of
Division B of the
British Columbia Building CodeNBC. (See A-3.2.8.2.(1)(d) in Appendix A.)
4.2.10. Cabinets for Container Storage
4.2.10.1. Containers
4.2.10.2. Maximum Quantity per Cabinet
4.2.10.3. Maximum Quantity per Fire Compartment
4.2.10.4. Labelling
1) 
Cabinets for container storage shall be labelled in conspicuous lettering to indicate that the cabinet contains flammable materials
and that open flames must be kept away.
4.2.10.5. Fire Endurance
4.2.10.6. Ventilation
1) 
When a storage cabinet required in this Part is provided with ventilation openings,
a) the ventilation openings shall be sealed with materials providing
a fire protection at least equivalent to that required for the construction
of the cabinet, or
b) the cabinet shall be vented outdoors using vent piping providing
a fire protection at least equivalent to that required in
Clause (a) for seals.
4.2.11. Outdoor Container Storage
4.2.11.1. Quantities and Clearances
Table 4.2.11.1. Outdoor Container Storage Forming part of Sentence 4.2.11.1.(1) |
Class of Liquid |
Maximum Total Quantity,
per Pile, L |
Minimum Distance between
Piles, m |
Minimum Distance to
a Property Line or to a Building on the Same Property, m
|
Class IA
|
5 000 |
1.5 |
6 |
Class IB or I
C
|
15 000 |
1.5 |
6 |
Class II
|
35 000 |
1.5 |
6 |
Class IIIA
|
85 000 |
1.5 |
6 |
4.2.11.2. Mixed Storage
1) 
Where 2 or more liquids with different
flash points are stored outdoors in containers that form a single pile, the maximum total quantity permitted in the pile shall
be equal to that permitted for the liquid with the lowest
flash point.
4.2.11.3. Fire Department Access
1) An access route not less than 6 m wide constructed in conformance
with Subsection 3.2.5. of Division B of the British Columbia Building Code
shall be provided in outdoor storage areas to permit the approach of fire department
vehicles to within 60 m of any part of a pile.

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1) 
An access route not less than 6 m wide constructed in conformance with Subsection 3.2.5. of Division B of the
British Columbia Building Code
NBC
shall be provided in outdoor storage areas to permit the approach of fire department
vehicles to within 60 m of any part of a pile.
4.2.11.4. Spill Control
4.2.11.5. Fencing