East Palo Alto Municipal Code Art. X Combustible and Flammable Materials

Accumulations of combustible waste material or flammable material, including but not limited to wastepaper, hay, grass, straw, vines, wood, waste petroleum products, and rubbish or litter of any kind, shall not be permitted to remain upon any roof or in any court, yard, vacant lot or open space. All combustible waste materials, waste petroleum products or oily rags when kept within a building, shall be securely stored in metal or metal-lined receptacles equipped with tight fitting covers in rooms or vaults constructed of noncombustible materials.

(Prior code § 4-2.1001)

No person making, using, storing or having in charge, or under his control, any shavings, excelsior, rubbish, sacks, bags, litter, hay, straw or combustible waste materials shall fail or neglect at the close of each day to cause all such material which is not compactly baled and stacked in an orderly manner to be removed from the building or stored in suitable vaults or in metal or metal-lined covered receptacles or bins. The district fire marshal shall require suitable bailing presses to be installed in stores, apartment buildings, factories and similar places where accumulations of paper and waste materials are not removed at least every second day.

(Prior code § 4-2.1002)

A. No person shall store in excess of two thousand five hundred (2500) cubic feet gross volume of combustible empty packing cases, boxes, barrels or similar containers, or rubber or cork, or other similarly combustible material without first notifying in writing the district fire marshal.

B. Storage in buildings shall be orderly, shall be more than two feet from the ceiling, and shall be so located as not to endanger exit from the building. Outdoor storage shall not exceed twenty (20) feet in height, shall be so located as not to constitute a hazard to adjacent buildings or property, and shall be compact and orderly. Such storage is prohibited within three feet of any property line and shall not exceed six feet in height when within ten feet of such property line, except where no hazard or menace of fire to adjoining property is created thereby.

C. Where the storage or accumulation of combustible waste material used in stores, apartment buildings, factories or other similar places is a hazard or menace of fire, such materials shall be removed at least every second day.

(Prior code § 4-2.1003)

Cotton batting, either natural, artificial or manufactured, straw, dry lines, leaves, trees or other highly flammable materials shall not be used for decorative purposes in show windows or other parts of commercial, industrial or institutional occupancies unless flameproofed; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be held to prohibit the display of saleable goods. Electric light bulbs in such occupancies shall not be decorated with paper or other combustible material unless such materials shall first have been rendered flameproof.

(Prior code § 4-2.1004)

A. No person shall take an open flame or light into any building, barn, vessel, boat or any other place where highly flammable, combustible or explosive material is kept, unless such light or flame shall be well secured in a glass globe, wire mesh cage or similar approved device.

B. No heating or lighting apparatus or equipment capable of igniting flammable materials shall be used in the storage area of any warehouse storing rags, excelsior, hair or other flammable or combustible material; nor in the work area of any shop or factory used for the manufacture, repair or renovation of mattresses or bedding; nor in the work areas of any establishment used for the upholstering of furniture.

(Prior code § 4-2.1005)