Los Altos Municipal Code Ch. 50 Hazardous Materials-General Provisions

Chapter 50 of the 2025 California Fire Code and 2024 International Fire Code are amended as follows:

Section 5001 GENERAL

Section 5001.2.2.2 is amended as follows:

5001.2.2.2 Health Hazards. The material categories listed in this section are classified as health hazards. A material with a primary classification as a health hazard can also pose a physical hazard.

Highly toxic and toxic materials.

Corrosive materials.

Moderately toxic gas.

Health hazards - Other.

Section 5002 DEFINITIONS

Amend Section 5002.1 to read:

BOILING POINT.

CEILING LIMIT.

CHEMICAL.

CHEMICAL NAME.

CLOSED CONTAINER.

CONTAINER.

CONTROL AREA.

CORROSIVE LIQUIDS

CYLINDER.

DAY BOX.

DEFLAGRATION.

DESIGN PRESSURE.

DETACHED BUILDING.

DISPENSING.

EXCESS FLOW CONTROL.

EXHAUSTED ENCLOSURE.

EXPLOSION.

FLAMMABLE VAPORS OR FUMES.

GAS CABINET.

GAS ROOM.

HANDLING.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.

HEALTH HAZARD.

HEALTH HAZARD - OTHER.

IMMEDIATELY DANGEROUS TO LIFE AND HEALTH (IDLH).

INCOMPATIBLE MATERIALS.

LIQUID.

LOWER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT (LEL).

LOWER FLAMMABLE LIMIT (LFL).

MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE QUANTITY PER CONTROL AREA.

MODERATELY TOXIC GAS.

NORMAL TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE (NTP).

OUTDOOR CONTROL AREA.

PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LIMIT (PEL).

PESTICIDE.

PHYSICAL HAZARD.

PRESSURE VESSEL.

SAFETY CAN.

SAFETY DATA SHEET (SDS).

SECONDARY CONTAINMENT.

SEGREGATED.

SOLID.

SPILL CONTROL.

STORAGE, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.

SYSTEM.

TANK, ATMOSPHERIC.

TANK, PORTABLE.

TANK, STATIONARY.

TANK VEHICLE.

UNAUTHORIZED DISCHARGE.

USE (MATERIAL).

VAPOR PRESSURE.

Section 5003 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Section 5003.1.3.1 is added as follows:

5003.1.3.1 Toxic, Highly Toxic, Moderately Toxic Gases and Similarly Used or Handled Materials. The storage, use and handling of toxic, highly toxic, and moderately toxic gases in amounts exceeding Table 6004.2.1.4 shall be in accordance with this chapter and Chapter 60. Any toxic, highly toxic, or moderately toxic material that is used or handled as a gas or vapor shall be in accordance with the requirements for toxic, highly toxic, or moderately toxic gases.

Section 5003.1.5 is added as follows:

5003.1.5 Health Hazards - Other. The storage, use and handling of materials classified as other health hazards including carcinogens, irritants and sensitizers in amounts exceeding 810 cubic feet for gases, 55 gallons for liquids and 5,000 pounds for solids shall be in accordance with Section 5003.

Section 5003.1.6 is added as follows:

5003.1.6 Additional Spill Control and Secondary Containment Requirements. In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 5004.2. An approved containment system is required for any quantity of hazardous materials that are liquids or solids at normal temperature, and pressure (NTP) where a spill is determined to be a plausible event and where such an event would endanger people, property, or the environment. The approved containment system may be required to include a combination of spill control and secondary containment meeting the design and construction requirements set forth in Section 5004.2.

Section 5003.2.2.1 is amended as follows:

5003.2.2.1 Design and Construction. Piping, tubing, valves, fittings, and related components used for hazardous materials shall be in accordance with the following:

Piping, tubing, valves, fittings, and related components shall be designed and fabricated from materials that are compatible with the material to be contained and shall be of adequate strength and durability to withstand the pressure, structural and seismic stress, and exposure to which they are subject.

Piping and tubing shall be identified in accordance with ASME A13.1 and the Santa Clara County Fire Chiefs Marking Requirements and Guidelines for Hazardous Materials and Hazardous Waste to indicate the

material conveyed.

Manual valves or automatic remotely activated fail-safe emergency shutoff valves shall be installed on supply piping and tubing and provided with ready access at the following locations:

The point of use.

The tank, cylinder, or bulk source.

Manual emergency shutoff valves and controls for remotely activated emergency shutoff valves shall be clearly visible, provided with ready access and identified in an approved manner.

Backflow prevention or check valves shall be provided where the backflow of hazardous materials could create a hazardous condition or cause the unauthorized discharge of hazardous materials.

Where gases or liquids having a hazard ranking of:

Health hazard Class 3 or 4

Flammability Class 4

Reactivity Class 4

in accordance with NFPA 704 are carried in pressurized piping above 15 pounds per square inch gauge (psig)(103 Kpa), an approved means of leak detection, emergency shutoff or excess flow control shall be provided. Where the piping originates from within a hazardous material storage room or area, the excess flow control shall be located within the storage room or area. Where the piping originates from a bulk source, the excess flow control shall be located as close to the bulk source as practical.

Exceptions:

Piping for inlet connections designed to prevent backflow.

Piping for pressure relief devices.

Secondary containment or equivalent protection from spills or leaks shall be provided for piping for liquid hazardous materials and for highly toxic and toxic corrosive gases above threshold quantities listed in Table 6004.2.1.4. Secondary containment includes but is not limited to double-walled piping.

Exceptions:

Secondary containment is not required for toxic corrosive gases if the piping is constructed of inert materials.

Piping under sub-atmospheric conditions if the piping is equipped with an alarm and fail-safe-to-close valve activated by a loss of vacuum.

Expansion chambers shall be provided between valves whenever the regulated gas may be subjected to thermal expansion. Chambers shall be sized to provide protection for piping and instrumentation and to accommodate the expansion of regulated materials.

Section 5003.2.2.2 is amended as follows:

5003.2.2.2 Additional Regulation for Supply Piping for Health Hazard Materials. Supply piping and tubing for gases and liquids having a health hazard ranking of 3 or 4 shall be in accordance with ASME B31.3 and the following:

Piping and tubing utilized for the transmission of highly toxic, toxic, or highly volatile corrosive liquids and gases shall have welded, or brazed connections throughout except for connections within an exhausted enclosure if the material is a gas, or an approved method of drainage or containment is provided for connections if the material is a liquid.

Piping and tubing shall not be located within corridors, within any portion of a means of egress required to be enclosed in fire-resistance-rated construction or in concealed spaces in areas not classified as Group H Occupancies.

All primary piping for toxic, highly toxic, and moderately toxic gases shall pass a helium leak test of 1x10-9 cubic centimeters/second where practical, or shall pass testing in accordance with an approved, nationally recognized standard. Tests shall be conducted by a qualified "third party" not involved with the construction of the piping and control systems.

Exception: Piping and tubing within the space defined by the walls of corridors and the floor or roof above or in concealed spaces above other occupancies where installed in accordance with Section 415.11.7.4 of the California Building Code for Group H-5 occupancies.

Section 5003.5.2 is added as follows:

5003.5.2 Ventilation Ducting. Ducts venting hazardous materials operations shall be labeled with the hazard class of the material being vented and the direction of flow.

Section 5003.5.3 is added as follows:

5003.5.3 "H" Occupancies. In "H" occupancies, all piping and tubing may be required to be identified when there is any possibility of confusion with hazardous materials transport tubing or piping. Flow direction indicators are required.

Section 5003.10.4 is amended as follows:

5003.10.4 Elevators utilized to transport hazardous materials.

5003.10.4.1 When transporting hazardous materials, elevators shall have no other passengers other than the individual(s) handling the chemical transport cart.

5003.10.4.1.1 When transporting cryogenic or liquefied compressed gases, there shall be no occupants in the elevator.

5003.10.4.2 Hazardous materials liquid containers shall have a maximum capacity of 20 liters (5.28 gal).

5003.10.4.3 Toxic, moderately toxic, and highly toxic gases shall be limited to a container of a maximum water capacity of 1 pound.

5003.10.4.4 When transporting cryogenic or liquefied compressed gases, means shall be provided to prevent the elevator from being summoned to other floors.

Section 5004 STORAGE

Section 5004.2.1 is amended as follows:

5004.2.1 Spill Control for Hazardous Material Liquids. Rooms, buildings, or areas used for storage of hazardous material liquids shall be provided with spill control to prevent the flow of liquids to adjoining areas. Floors in indoor locations and similar surfaces in outdoor locations shall be constructed to contain a spill from the largest single vessel by one of the following methods:

Liquid-tight sloped or recessed floors in indoor locations or similar areas in outdoor locations.

Liquid-tight floors in indoor and outdoor locations or similar areas provided with liquid-tight raised or recessed sills or dikes.

Sumps and collection systems

Other approved engineered systems.

Except for surfacing, the floors, sills, dikes, sumps, and collection systems shall be constructed of noncombustible material, and the liquid-tight seal shall be compatible with the material stored. When liquid-tight sills or dikes are provided, they are not required at perimeter openings having an open-grate trench across the opening that connects to an approved collection system.

Section 5004.2.2.2 is amended as follows:

5004.2.2.2 Incompatible Materials. Incompatible materials shall be separated from each other in independent secondary containment systems.