Chapter 63 — OXIDIZERS, OXIDIZING GASES AND OXIDIZING CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
6304 Storage — 2025 California Fire Code
California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-09-25 · California
CBSC: official editions, supplements and errata
Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.
Cite as: 2025 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9) § 6304 · Effective January 1, 2026 · Official source: Building Standards Commission
6304.1 Indoor storage.¶
Indoor storage of oxidizing materials in amounts exceeding the maximum allowable quantity per control area indicated in Table 5003.1.1(1) shall be in accordance with Sections 5001, 5003 and 5004 and this chapter.
6304.1.1 Explosion control. Indoor storage rooms, areas and buildings containing Class 4 liquid or solid oxidizers shall be provided with explosion control in accordance with Section 911.
6304.1.2 Automatic sprinkler system. The automatic sprinkler system for oxidizer storage shall be designed in accordance with NFPA 400.
6304.1.3 Liquid-tight floor. In addition to Section 5004.12, floors of storage areas for liquid and solid oxidizers shall be of liquidtight construction.
6304.1.4 Smoke detection. An approved supervised smoke detection system in accordance with Section 907 shall be installed in liquid and solid oxidizer storage areas. Activation of the smoke detection system shall sound a local alarm.
Exception: Detached storage buildings protected by an approved automatic fire-extinguishing system.
63-4 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE
OXIDIZERS, OXIDIZING GASES AND OXIDIZING CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
6304.1.5 Storage conditions. The maximum quantity of oxidizers per building in storage buildings shall not exceed those quantities set forth in Tables 6304.1.5(1) through 6304.1.5(3).
The storage configuration for liquid and solid oxidizers shall be as set forth in Table 6303.1.4 and Tables 6304.1.5(1) through 6304.1.5(3).
Class 2 oxidizers shall not be stored in basements except where such storage is in stationary tanks.
Class 3 and 4 oxidizers in amounts exceeding the maximum allowable quantity per control area set forth in Section 5003.1 shall be stored on the ground floor only.
TABLE 6304.1.5(1)—STORAGE OF CLASS 2 OXIDIZER LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS
| STORAGE CONFIGURATION | LIMITS | LIMITS |
|---|---|---|
| STORAGE CONFIGURATION | Group H occupancy storage | Detached storage |
| Piles | Piles | Piles |
| Maximum width | 25 feet | 25 feet |
| Maximum height | Note a | Note a |
| Maximum distance to aisle | 12 feet | 12 feet |
| Minimum distance to next pile | Note b | Note b |
| Minimum distance to walls | 2 feetc | 2 feetc |
| Maximum quantity per pile | 100 tons | 100 tons |
| Maximum quantity per building | 2,000 tons | No Limit |
| For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 pound = 0.454 kg, 1 ton = 0.907185 metric ton. a. Maximum storage height in nonsprinklered buildings is limited to 6 feet. In sprinklered buildings see NFPA 400 for storage heights based on ceiling sprinkler protection. b. The minimum aisle width shall be equal to the pile height, but not less than 4 feet and not greater than 8 feet. c. For protection level and detached storage under 4,500 pounds, there shall not be a minimum separation distance between the pile and any wall. |
TABLE 6304.1.5(2)—STORAGE OF CLASS 3 OXIDIZER LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS
| STORAGE CONFIGURATION | LIMITS | LIMITS |
|---|---|---|
| STORAGE CONFIGURATION | Group H occupancy storage | Detached storage |
| Piles | Piles | Piles |
| Maximum width | 16 feet | 20 feet |
| Maximum height | Note a | Note a |
| Maximum distance to aisle | 10 feet | 10 feet |
| Minimum distance to next pile | Note b | Note b |
| Minimum distance to walls | 4 feetc | 4 feetc |
| Maximum quantity per pile | 30 tons | 100 tons |
| Maximum quantity per building | 1,200 tons | No Limit |
| For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 pound = 0.454 kg, 1 ton = 0.907185 metric ton. a. Maximum storage height in nonsprinklered buildings is limited to 6 feet. In sprinklered buildings see NFPA 400 for storage heights based on ceiling sprinkler protection. b. The minimum aisle width shall be equal to the pile height, but not less than 4 feet and not greater than 8 feet. c. For protection level and detached storage under 2,300 pounds, there shall not be a minimum separation distance between the pile and any wall. |
TABLE 6304.1.5(3)—STORAGE OF CLASS 4 OXIDIZER LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS
| STORAGE CONFIGURATION | LIMITS (feet) |
|---|---|
| Piles | Piles |
| Maximum length | 10 |
| Maximum width | 4 |
| Maximum height | 8 |
| Minimum distance to next pile | 8 |
| Maximum quantity per building | No Limit |
| For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm. | For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm. |
OXIDIZERS, OXIDIZING GASES AND OXIDIZING CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
6304.1.6 Separation of Class 4 oxidizers from other materials. In addition to the requirements in Section 5003.9.8, Class 4 oxidizer liquids and solids shall be separated from other hazardous materials by not less than a 1-hour fire barrier or stored in hazardous materials storage cabinets.
6304.1.7 Contamination. Liquid and solid oxidizers shall not be stored on or against combustible surfaces. Liquid and solid oxidizers shall be stored in a manner to prevent contamination.
6304.1.8 Detached storage. Storage of liquid and solid oxidizers shall be in detached buildings where required by Section 5003.8.2.
6304.1.8.1 Separation distance. Detached storage buildings for Class 4 oxidizer liquids and solids shall be located not less than 50 feet (15 240 mm) from other hazardous materials storage.
6304.2 Outdoor storage.¶
Outdoor storage of oxidizing materials in amounts exceeding the maximum allowable quantities per control area set forth in Table 5003.1.1(3) shall be in accordance with Sections 5001, 5003, 5004 and this chapter. Oxidizing gases shall also comply with Chapter 53.
6304.2.1 Distance from storage to exposures for oxidizing gases. Outdoor storage areas for oxidizing gases shall be located in accordance with Table 6304.2.1.
TABLE 6304.2.1—OXIDIZER GASES—DISTANCE FROM STORAGE TO EXPOSURESa
| QUANTITY OF GAS STORED (cubic feet at NTP) |
DISTANCE TO A BUILDING NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE MANUFACTURE OR DISTRIBUTION OF OXIDIZING GASES OR PUBLIC WAY OR LOT LINE THAT CAN BE BUILT ON (feet) |
DISTANCE BETWEEN STORAGE AREAS (feet) |
|---|---|---|
| 0–50,000 | 5 | 5 |
| 50,001–100,000 | 10 | 10 |
| 100,001 or greater | 15 | 10 |
| For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 cubic foot = 0.02832 m3. a. The minimum required distances shall not apply where fire barriers without openings or penetrations having a minimum fire-resistance rating of 2 hours interrupt the line of sight between the storage and the exposure. The configuration of the fire barrier shall be designed to allow natural ventilation to prevent the accumulation of hazardous gas concentrations. |
6304.2.1.1 Oxidizing cryogenic fluids. Outdoor storage areas for oxidizing cryogenic fluids shall be located in accordance with Chapter 55.
6304.2.2 Storage configuration for liquid and solid oxidizers. Storage configuration for liquid and solid oxidizers shall be in accordance with Table 6303.1.4 and Tables 6304.1.5(1) through 6304.1.5(3).
6304.2.3 Storage configuration for oxidizing gases. Storage configuration for oxidizing gases shall be in accordance with Table 6304.2.1.
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