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Chapter 64 — PYROPHORIC MATERIALS

Section 6404 — STORAGE

2025 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-29 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

6404.1 Indoor storage.

Indoor storage of pyrophoric 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.

The storage of silane gas, and gas mixtures with a silane concentration of 1.37 percent or more by volume, shall be in accordance with ANSI/CGA G-13.

6404.1.1 Liquid-tight floor. In addition to the requirements of Section 5004.12, floors of storage areas containing pyrophoric liquids shall be of liquid-tight construction.

6404.1.2 Pyrophoric solids and liquids. Storage of pyrophoric solids and liquids shall be limited to a maximum area of 100 square feet (9.3 m [2] ) per pile. Storage shall not exceed 5 feet (1524 mm) in height. Individual containers shall not be stacked.

Aisles between storage piles shall be not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) in width.

Individual tanks or containers shall not exceed 500 gallons (1893 L) in capacity.

6404.1.3 Pyrophoric gases. Storage of pyrophoric gases shall be in detached buildings where required by Section 5003.8.2.

6404.1.4 Separation from incompatible materials. In addition to the requirements of Section 5003.9.8, indoor storage of pyrophoric materials shall be isolated from incompatible hazardous materials by 1-hour fire barriers with openings protected in accordance with the California Building Code.

Exception: Storage in approved hazardous materials storage cabinets constructed in accordance with Section 5003.8.7.

6404.2 Outdoor storage.

Outdoor storage of pyrophoric materials in amounts exceeding the maximum allowable quantity per control area indicated in Table 5003.1.1(3) shall be in accordance with Sections 5001, 5003 and 5004, and this chapter.

The storage of silane gas, and gas mixtures with a silane concentration of 1.37 percent or more by volume, shall be in accordance with ANSI/CGA G-13.

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

PYROPHORIC MATERIALS

6404.2.1 Distance from storage to exposures. The separation of pyrophoric solids, liquids and gases from buildings, lot lines, public streets, public alleys, public ways or means of egress shall be in accordance with the following:

  1. Solids and liquids. Two times the separation required by Chapter 57 for Class IB flammable liquids.
  2. Gases. The location and maximum amount of pyrophoric gas per storage area shall be in accordance with Table 6404.2.1.

tion of pyrophoric solids, liquids and gases from buildings, lot lines, public streets, public alleys, public ways or means of egress shall be in accordance with the following:

  1. Solids and liquids. Two times the separation required by Chapter 57 for Class IB flammable liquids.
  2. Gases. The location and maximum amount of pyrophoric gas per storage area shall be in accordance with Table 6404.2.1.

TABLE 6404.2.1—PYROPHORIC GASES—DISTANCE FROM STORAGE TO EXPOSURESa

MAXIMUM
AMOUNT PER
STORAGE AREA
(cubic feet)		 MINIMUM
DISTANCE
BETWEEN
STORAGE AREAS
(feet)		 MINIMUM
DISTANCE TO
LOT LINES OF
PROPERTY THAT
CAN BE BUILT ON
(feet)		 MINIMUM
DISTANCE TO
PUBLIC
STREETS,
PUBLIC ALLEYS
OR PUBLIC
WAYS
(feet)		 MINIMUM DISTANCE TO
BUILDINGS ON THE SAME PROPERTY		 MINIMUM DISTANCE TO
BUILDINGS ON THE SAME PROPERTY		 MINIMUM DISTANCE TO
BUILDINGS ON THE SAME PROPERTY
MAXIMUM
AMOUNT PER
STORAGE AREA
(cubic feet)		 MINIMUM
DISTANCE
BETWEEN
STORAGE AREAS
(feet)		 MINIMUM
DISTANCE TO
LOT LINES OF
PROPERTY THAT
CAN BE BUILT ON
(feet)		 MINIMUM
DISTANCE TO
PUBLIC
STREETS,
PUBLIC ALLEYS
OR PUBLIC
WAYS
(feet)		 Nonrated
construction or
openings within
25 feet		 Two-hour
construction
and no openings
within 25 feet		 Four-hour
construction
and no openings
within 25 feet
250 5 25 5 5 0 0
2,500 10 50 10 10 5 0
7,500 20 100 20 20 10 0
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 cubic foot = 0.02832 m3.
a. The minimum required distances shall be reduced to 5 feet where protective structures having a minimum fire resistance of 2 hours interrupt the line of sight between the
container and the exposure. The protective structure shall be not less than 5 feet from the exposure. The configuration of the protective structure shall allow natural ventila-
tion to prevent the accumulation of hazardous gas concentrations.

6404.2.2 Weather protection. Where overhead construction is provided for sheltering outdoor storage areas of pyrophoric materials, the storage areas shall be provided with approved automatic fire-extinguishing system protection.

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▸ Contents — 2025 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9)
2025 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9)
  1. Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
  4. Chapter 4 — EMERGENCY PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS
  5. Chapter 5 — FIRE SERVICE FEATURES
  6. Chapter 6 — BUILDING SERVICES AND SYSTEMS
  7. Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
  8. Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISH, DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND FURNISHI…
  9. Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
  10. Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
  11. Chapter 11 — CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS
  12. Chapter 12 — ENERGY SYSTEMS
  13. Chapter 20 — AVIATION FACILITIES
  14. Chapter 21 — DRY CLEANING
  15. Chapter 22 — COMBUSTIBLE DUST-PRODUCING OPERATIONS
  16. Chapter 23 — MOTOR FUEL-DISPENSING FACILITIES AND REPAIR GARAGES
  17. Chapter 24 — FLAMMABLE FINISHES
  18. Chapter 25 — FRUIT AND CROP RIPENING
  19. Chapter 26 — FUMIGATION AND INSECTICIDAL FOGGING
  20. Chapter 27 — SEMICONDUCTOR FABRICATION FACILITIES
  21. Chapter 28 — LUMBER YARDS AND AGRO-INDUSTRIAL, SOLID BIOMASS A…
  22. Chapter 29 — MANUFACTURE OF ORGANIC COATINGS
  23. Chapter 30 — INDUSTRIAL OVENS
  24. Chapter 31 — TENTS, TEMPORARY SPECIAL EVENT STRUCTURES AND OTH…
  25. Chapter 32 — HIGH-PILED COMBUSTIBLE STORAGE
  26. Chapter 33 — FIRE SAFETY DURING CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION
  27. Chapter 34 — TIRE REBUILDING AND TIRE STORAGE
  28. Chapter 35 — WELDING AND OTHER HOT WORK
  29. Chapter 36 — MARINAS
  30. Chapter 37 — COMBUSTIBLE FIBERS
  31. Chapter 38 — RESERVED
  32. Chapter 39 — PROCESSING AND EXTRACTION FACILITIES
  33. Chapter 40 — STORAGE OF DISTILLED SPIRITS AND WINES
  34. Chapter 41 — TEMPORARY HEATING AND COOKING OPERATIONS
  35. Chapter 48 — MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION PRODUCTION STUDIO S…
  36. Chapter 49 — REQUIREMENTS FOR WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE FIRE AR…
  37. Chapter 50 — HAZARDOUS MATERIALS—GENERAL PROVISIONS
  38. Chapter 51 — AEROSOLS
  39. Chapter 52 — RESERVED
  40. Chapter 53 — COMPRESSED GASES
  41. Chapter 54 — CORROSIVE MATERIALS
  42. Chapter 55 — CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
  43. Chapter 56 — EXPLOSIVES AND FIREWORKS
  44. Chapter 57 — FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS
  45. Chapter 58 — FLAMMABLE GASES AND FLAMMABLE CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
  46. Chapter 59 — FLAMMABLE SOLIDS
  47. Chapter 60 — HIGHLY TOXIC AND TOXIC MATERIALS
  48. Chapter 61 — LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GASES
  49. Chapter 62 — ORGANIC PEROXIDES
  50. Chapter 63 — OXIDIZERS, OXIDIZING GASES AND OXIDIZING CRYOGENI…
  51. ▸ Chapter 64 — PYROPHORIC MATERIALS
    Overview
    1. Section 6401 — GENERAL
    2. Section 6402 — DEFINITION
    3. Section 6403 — GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
    4. Section 6404 — STORAGE
    5. Section 6405 — USE
  52. Chapter 65 — PYROXYLIN (CELLULOSE NITRATE) PLASTICS
  53. Chapter 66 — UNSTABLE (REACTIVE) MATERIALS
  54. Chapter 67 — WATER-REACTIVE SOLIDS AND LIQUIDS
  55. Chapter 80 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  56. Appendix Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON US…
  57. Appendix A — BOARD OF APPEALS
  58. Appendix B — FIRE-FLOW REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDINGS
  59. Appendix BB — FIRE-FLOW REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDINGS
  60. Appendix C — FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION
  61. Appendix CC — FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION
  62. Appendix D — FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROADS
  63. Appendix E — HAZARD CATEGORIES
  64. Appendix F — HAZARD RANKING
  65. Appendix G — CRYOGENIC FLUIDS—WEIGHT AND VOLUME EQUIVALENTS
  66. Appendix H — HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGEMENT PLANS AND HAZARDOU…
  67. Appendix I — FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS—NONCOMPLIANT CONDITIONS
  68. Appendix J — BUILDING INFORMATION SIGN
  69. Appendix K — CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING AMBULATORY…
  70. Appendix L — REQUIREMENTS FOR FIREFIGHTER AIR REPLENISHMENT SY…
  71. Appendix M — HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS—RETROACTIVE AUTOMATIC SPRINKL…
  72. Appendix N — INDOOR TRADE SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS
  73. Appendix O — VALET TRASH AND RECYCLING COLLECTION IN GROUP R-2…
  74. Appendix P — TEMPORARY HAUNTED HOUSES, GHOST WALKS AND SIMILAR…
  75. Appendix Q — COMMUNITY WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE (WUI) FIRE HAZ…

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