Chapter 32 — HIGH-PILED COMBUSTIBLE STORAGE
Section 3208
California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9) · 2019 edition · updated 2026-09-10 · California
CBSC: official editions, supplements and errata
Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.
3208.1 General. Rack storage shall be in accordance with¶
Section 3206 and this section. Bin boxes exceeding 5 feet (1524 mm) in any dimension shall be regulated as rack storage.
3208.2 Fire protection. Where automatic sprinklers are¶
required by Table 3206.2, an approved automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout the building or to 1-hour fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 of the California Building Code . Openings in such fire barriers shall be protected by opening protectives having a 1-hour fire protection rating. The design and installation of the automatic sprinkler system and other applicable fire protection shall be in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 and the California Building Code .
3208.2.1 Plastic shelves. Storage on plastic shelves shall be protected by approved specially engineered fire protection systems.
3208.2.2 Racks with solid shelving. Racks with solid shelving having an area greater than 20 square feet (1.9 m 2 ), measured between approved flue spaces at all four edges of the shelf, shall be in accordance with this section.
Exceptions:
- Racks with mesh, grated, slatted or similar shelves having uniform openings not more than 6 inches (152 mm) apart, comprising not less than 50 percent of the overall shelf area, and with approved flue spaces are allowed to be treated as racks without solid shelves.
HIGH-PILED COMBUSTIBLE STORAGE
- Racks used for the storage of combustible paper records, with solid shelving, shall be in accordance with NFPA 13.
3208.2.2.1 Fire protection. Fire protection for racks with solid shelving shall be in accordance with NFPA 13.
3208.3 Flue spaces. Rack storage areas protected with an¶
automatic sprinkler system shall be provided with flue spaces in accordance with Table 3208.3. Required flue spaces shall be maintained.
3208.3.1 Flue space protection. Flue spaces required by Table 3208.3 above the first tier of storage in single-, double- or multiple-row rack storage installations shall, where required by the fire code official, be equipped with approved protection devices. Such devices shall not be removed or modified.
3208.4 Column protection. Steel building columns shall be¶
protected in accordance with NFPA 13.
3208.5 Extra-high-rack storage systems. Approval of the¶
fire code official shall be obtained prior to installing extrahigh-rack combustible storage.
3208.5.1 Fire protection. Buildings with extra-high-rack combustible storage shall be protected with a specially engineered automatic sprinkler system. Extra-high-rack combustible storage shall be provided with additional special fire protection, such as separation from other buildings and additional built-in fire protection features and fire department access, where required by the fire code official.
TABLE 3208.3 REQUIRED FLUE SPACES FOR RACK STORAGE
| RACK CONFIGURATION |
FLUE DESIGN | AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER PROTECTION | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RACK CONFIGURATION |
FLUE DESIGN | FLUE DESIGN | Sprinklers at the ceiling with or without minimum in-rack sprinklers |
Sprinklers at the ceiling with or without minimum in-rack sprinklers |
In-rack sprinklers at every tier |
| RACK CONFIGURATION |
FLUE DESIGN | FLUE DESIGN | Storage height≤ 25 feet | Storage height > 25 feet | Any height |
| Single-row rack | Transverse flue space | Sizeb | 3 inches | 3 inches | Not required |
| Single-row rack | Transverse flue space | Vertically aligned | Not required | Yes | Not required |
| Single-row rack | Longitudinal flue space | Longitudinal flue space | Not required | Not required | Not required |
| Double-row rack (Option 1) |
Transverse flue space | Sizeb | 6 inchesa | 3 inches | Not required |
| Double-row rack (Option 1) |
Transverse flue space | Vertically aligned | Not required | Yes | Not required |
| Double-row rack (Option 1) |
Longitudinal flue space | Longitudinal flue space | Not required | 6 inches | Not required |
| Double-row rack (Option 2) |
Transverse flue space | Sizeb | 3 inches | 6 inches | Not required |
| Double-row rack (Option 2) |
Transverse flue space | Vertically aligned | Not required | Yes | Not required |
| Double-row rack (Option 2) |
Longitudinal flue space | Longitudinal flue space | 6 inches | Not required | Not required |
| Multiple-row rack | Transverse flue space | Sizeb | 6 inches | 6 inches | Not required |
| Multiple-row rack | Transverse flue space | Vertically aligned | Not required | Yes | Not required |
| Multiple-row rack | Longitudinal flue space | Longitudinal flue space | Not required | Not required | Not required |
For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 foot = 304.8 mm. a. Three-inch transverse flue spaces shall be provided not less than every 10 feet where ESFR sprinkler protection is provided. b. Random variations are allowed, provided that the configuration does not obstruct water penetration.
Copyright © 2019 ICC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Accessed by Kevin Day (kevin.day@dgs.ca.gov), (California Building Standards Commission) Order Number #100735044 on Jul 24, 2019 03:54 PM (PDT) pursuant to License Agreement with ICC. No further reproduction or distribution authorized. Single user only, copying and networking prohibited. ANY UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT ACT AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, AND SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES THEREUNDER.
100735044
HIGH-PILED COMBUSTIBLE STORAGE
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