General Commodity Classification

Class I Commodities

Class I commodities are essentially non-combustible products on wooden or nonexpendable polyethylene solid deck pallets, in ordinary corrugated cartons with or without single-thickness dividers, or in ordinary paper wrappings with or without pallets. Class I commodities are allowed to contain a limited amount of Group A plastics in accordance with Figure 3203.7.4 of the Fire Code (reproduced at the end of this document). Examples of Class I commodities include, but are not limited to, the following

· Alcoholic beverages not exceeding 20% alcohol

· Appliances, non-combustible, electrical

· Cement in bags

· Ceramics

· Dairy products in nonwax-coated containers (excluding bottles)

· Dry insecticides

· Food in noncombustible containers

· Fresh fruits and vegetables in non-plastic trays or containers

· Frozen foods

· Glass

· Glycol in metal cans

· Gypsum board

· Inert materials, bagged

· Insulation, noncombustible

· Non-combustible liquids in plastic containers of less than 5 gallon capacity

· Non-combustible metal products.

Class II Commodities

Class II commodities are Class I products in slatted wooden crates, solid wooden boxes, multiple thickness paperboard cartons or equivalent combustible packaging materials with or without pallets. Class II commodities are allowed to contain a limited amount of Group A plastics in accordance with Figure 3203.7.4 of the Fire Code (reproduced at the end of this document). Examples of Class II commodities include, but are not limited to, the following

· Alcoholic beverages not exceeding 20% alcohol, in combustible containers

· Foods in combustible containers

· Incandescent for fluorescent light bulbs in cartons

· Thinly coated fine wire on reels or in cartons

Class III Commodities

Class III commodities are commodities of wood, natural fiber cloth, or Group C plastics or products thereof, with or without pallets. Products are allowed to contain limited amounts of Group A or B plastics, such as metal bicycles with plastic handles, pedals, seats, and tires. Groups A plastics shall be limited in accordance with in accordance with Figure 3203.7.4 of the Fire Code (reproduced at the end of this document). Examples of Class III commodities include, but are not limited to, the following

· Aerosol Level 1 (see Fire Code Chapter 51 and NFPA 30B)

· Combustible fiberboard

· Cork, baled

· Feed, bagged

· Food in plastic containers

· Furniture: wood, natural fiber, upholstered, non-plastic, wood or metal with plastic padded and covered arm rests

· Glycol in combustible containers not exceeding 25%

· Lubricating or hydraulic fluid in metal cans

· Lumber

· Mattresses, excluding foam rubber and foam plastics

· Noncombustible liquids in plastic containers having a capacity of more than 5 gallons

· Paints, oil base, in metal cans

· Paper, waste, baled

· Paper and pulp, horizontal storage, or vertical storage that is banded or protected with approved wrap

· Paper in cardboard boxes

· Pillows, excluding foam rubber and foam plastics

· Plastic-coated paper food containers

· Plywood

· Rags, baled

· Rugs, without foam backing

· Sugar, bagged

· Wood, baled

· Wood doors, frames and cabinets

· Yarns of natural fiber and viscose

Class IV Commodities

Class IV commodities are Class I, II, or II products containing Group A plastics in ordinary corrugated cartons and Class I, II and III products with Group A plastic packaging, with or without pallets. Group B plastics and free-flowing Group A plastics are also included in this class. The total amount of non-free flowing Group A plastic in accordance with Figure 3203.7.4 of the Fire Code (reproduced at the end of this document). Examples of Class IV commodities include, but are not limited to, the following

· Aerosol, Level 2 (see Fire Code Chapter 51 and NPFA 30B)

· Alcoholic beverages, exceeding 20 % but less than 80% alcohol, in cans or bottles in cartons

· Clothing, synthetic or nonviscose

· Combustible metal products (solid)

· Furniture, plastic upholstered

· Furniture, wood or metal with plastic covering and padding

· Glycol in combustible containers (Greater than 25% and less than 50%)

· Linoleum products

· Paints, oil base, in combustible containers

· Pharmaceutical, alcoholic elixirs, tonics, etc.

· Rugs, foam back

· Shingles, asphalt

· Thread or yarn, synthetic or nonviscose

High Hazard Commodities

High-hazard commodities are high-hazard products presenting special fire hazards beyond those of Class I, II, III, and IV. Group A plastics not otherwise classified are included in this class. Examples of high-hazard commodities include, but are not limited to, the following

· Aerosol, Level (see Fire Code Chapter 31 and NFPA 30B)

· Alcoholic beverages, exceeding 80 % alcohol in bottles or cartons

· Commodities of any class in plastic containers in carousel storage

· Flammable solids (except solid combustible metals)

· Glycol in combustible containers (50 % or greater)

· Lacquers, which dry by solvent evaporation, in metal cans or cartons

· Lubricating or hydraulic fluid in plastic containers

· Mattresses, foam rubber or foam plastics

· Pallets and flats which are idle combustible

· Paper and pulp, rolled, in vertical storage which is unbanded or not protected with an approved wrap

· Paper, asphalt, rolled, horizontal storage

· Paper, asphalt, rolled, vertical storage

· Pillow, foam rubber and foam plastics

· Pyroxylin

· Rubber tires

· Vegetable oil and butter in plastic containers

Classification of plastics Group A plastics

Group A plastics are plastic materials having a heat of combustion that is much higher than that of ordinary combustibles, and a burning rate higher than that of Group B plastics. Examples of Group A plastics, include, but are not limited to, the following:

· ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer)

· Acetal (polyformaldehyde)

· Acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate)

· Butyl rubber

· EPDM (ethylene propylene rubber)

· FRP (fiberglass-reinforced polyester)

· Natural rubber (expanded)

· Nitrile rubber (acrylonitrile butadiene rubber)

· PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)

· Polybutadiene

· Polycarbonate

· Polyester elastomer

· Polyethylene

· Polypropylene

· Polystyrene (expanded and unexpanded)

· Polyurethane (expanded and unexpanded)

· PVC (polyvinyl chloride greater than 15 percent plasticized, e.g., coated fabric unsupported film)

· SAN (styrene acrylonitrile)

· SBR (styrene butadiene rubber)

Group B Plastics

Group B plastics are plastic materials having a heat of combustion and a burning rate higher than that of ordinary combustibles, but not as high as those of Group A plastics. Examples of Group B plastics include, but are not limited to, the following:

· Cellulosics (cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, ethyl cellulose)

· Chloroprene rubber

· Fluoroplastics (ECTFE, ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethyl-ene copolymer; ETFE, ethylenetetrafluoroethylene copolymer; FEP, fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer)

· Natural rubber (non-expanded)

· Nylon (Nylon 6, Nylon 6/6)

· PVC (polyvinyl chloride greater than 5-percent, but not exceeding 15-percent plasticized)

· Silicone rubber

Group C Plastics

Group C plastics are plastic materials having a heat of combustion and a burning rate similar to those of ordinary combustibles. Examples of Group C plastics include, but are not limited to, the following:

· Fluoroplastics (PCTFE, polychlorotrifluoroethylene; PTFE, polytetrafluoroethylene)

· Melamine (melamine formaldehyde) henol VC (polyvinyl chloride, rigid or plasticized less than 5 percent, e.g., pipe, pipe fittings)

· PVDC (polyvinylidene chloride)

· PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride)

· PVF (polyvinyl fluoride)

· Urea (urea formaldehyde)Mixed Commodities

Mixed Commodities

Unless otherwise specified in Chapter 32 of the California Fire Code, this section refers to mixed commodities involving Group A plastics only. Group C plastics are considered Class III commodities and Group B plastics are considered Class IV commodities, unless otherwise specified.

The percentage of plastics present determines the commodity classification. Please note that this percentage of plastics is based on individual pallet loads or cartons and is a function of the volume or weight of the packaging method for both expanded and non expanded plastics. The definitions for each are below.