Chapter 63 — OXIDIZERS, OXIDIZING GASES AND OXIDIZING CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
Section 6304
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.
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 liquid-tight construction.
| STORAGE CONFIGURATION | LIMITS (feet) |
|---|---|
| Piles Maximum width Maximum height Maximum distance to aisle Minimum distance to next pilea Minimum distance to wallsb |
24 20 12 4 2 |
| Maximum quantity per pile | 200 tons |
| Maximum quantity per building | No Limit |
| STORAGE CONFIGURATION | LIMITS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| STORAGE CONFIGURATION | Control area storage |
Group H occupancy storage |
Detached storage |
| Piles Maximum width Maximum height Maximum distance to aisle Minimum distance to next pile Minimum distance to walls |
16 feet Note a 8 feet Note b 2 feet |
25 feet Note a 12 feet Note b 2 feetc |
25 feet Note a 12 feet Note b 2 feetc |
| Maximum quantity per pile | MAQ | 100 tons | 100 tons |
| Maximum quantity per building | MAQ | 2000 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 buidlings 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.
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.
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 6303.2 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 6303.2 STORAGE OF CLASS 1 OXIDIZER LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 pound = 0.454 kg, 1 ton = 0.907185 metric ton.
a. The minimum aisle width shall be equal to the pile height, but not less
than 4 feet and not greater than 8 feet.
b. There shall not be a minimum distance from the pile to a wall for amounts
less than 9,000 pounds.
TABLE 6304.1.5(1) STORAGE OF CLASS 2 OXIDIZER LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS
682 2019 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE
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
OXIDIZERS, OXIDIZING GASES AND OXIDIZING CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
TABLE 6304.1.5(2) STORAGE OF CLASS 3 OXIDIZER LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS
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 UPON (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 m 3 .
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 oxi- dizers. Storage configuration for liquid and solid oxidizers shall be in accordance with Table 6303.2 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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