2808 Storage and Processing of Wood Chips, Hogged Materials, Fines, Compost, Solid Biomass Feedstock and Raw Product Associated with Yard Waste, Agro-Industrial and Recycling Facilities — 2025 California Fire Code

The storage and processing of wood chips, hogged materials, fines, compost, solid biomass feedstock and raw product produced from yard waste, debris and agro-industrial and recycling facilities shall comply with Sections 2808.2 through 2808.10.

Storage sites shall be level and on solid ground, elevated soil lifts or other all-weather surface. Sites shall be thoroughly cleaned before transferring wood products to the site.

Piles shall not exceed 25 feet (7620 mm) in height, 150 feet (45 720 mm) in width and 250 feet (76 200 mm) in length. Stackable products shall not be stacked in excess of 25 feet (7620 mm) in height, 80 feet (24 384 mm) in width and 250 feet (76 200 mm) in length.

2808.3.1 Increase in pile or stack size. Piles or stackable products are permitted to be increased beyond the dimensions in Section 2808.3 provided that a written fire protection plan is approved by the fire code official. The fire protection plan shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. Contact information for after-hours response by facility personnel.

2. Storage yard areas and material-handling equipment selection, pile design and arrangement shall be based on sound safety and fire protection principles.

3. Fire apparatus access roads around the piles or stacks and access roads to the top of piles, if applicable, shall be established, identified and maintained.

4. The potential for spontaneous heating shall be evaluated and provisions made to control the temperature of the piles. Methods for monitoring the internal temperature of the pile shall be provided.

5. Routine yard inspections shall be conducted by trained personnel.

6. A means for early fire detection and reporting to the public fire department shall be provided.

7. Facilities and equipment needed by the fire department for fire extinguishment shall be provided, including a water supply in compliance with Section 507 and heavy equipment necessary to move material.

8. A de-inventory plan shall be utilized to remove alternating piles or stacked products in a manner to increase the separation distances between the remaining piles or stacks.

9. The increased pile size shall be based on the capabilities of the installed fire protection systems and features.

10. A controlled burn area shall be provided on-site for smoldering or damaged product.

Piles or stacked product shall be separated from buildings, property lines and adjacent piles or stacks by a distance of not less than one and one-half times the height of the pile or stack. The distance between rows shall be a minimum of 30 feet (9144 mm). Approved fire apparatus access roads shall be provided within the separation space in accordance with Section 503.

The storage, accumulation and handling of combustible materials and control of vegetation shall comply with Chapter 3.

Static piles shall be monitored by an approved means to measure temperatures within the static piles. Internal pile temperatures shall be monitored and recorded weekly. Such records shall be maintained. An operational plan indicating procedures and schedules for the inspection, monitoring and restricting of excessive internal temperatures in static piles shall be submitted to the fire code official for review and approval.

Automatic sprinkler protection shall be provided in conveyor tunnels and combustible enclosures that pass under a pile. Combustible conveyor systems and enclosed conveyor systems shall be equipped with an approved automatic sprinkler system.

Portable fire extinguishers complying with Section 906 and with a minimum rating of 4-A:60-B:C shall be provided on all vehicles and equipment operating on piles and at all processing equipment.

Approved material-handling equipment shall be available for moving wood chips, hogged material, wood fines and raw product during firefighting operations.

The owner or operator shall develop a plan for monitoring, controlling and extinguishing spot fires and submit the plan to the fire code official for review and approval.