Code of Massachusetts Regulations
780 CMR - STATE BOARD OF BUILDING REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS
Chapter 4 - Special Detailed Requirements Based on Use and Occupancy
Section 415 - GROUPS H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4 AND H-5
Subsection 415.3 - Fire separation distance
Universal Citation: 780 CMR MA Code of Regs 415.3
Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
Group H occupancies shall be located on property in accordance with the other provisions of this chapter. In Groups H-2 and H-3, not less than 25 percent of the perimeter wall of the occupancy shall be an exterior wall. [F]
Exceptions:
1. Liquid use, dispensing and mixing rooms having a floor area of not more than 500 square feet (46.5 m2) need not be located on the outer perimeter of the building where they are in accordance with the International Fire Code and NFPA 30.
2. Liquid storage rooms having a floor area of not more than 1,000 square feet (93 m2) need not be located on the outer perimeter where they are in accordance with the International Fire Code and NFPA 30.
3. Spray paint booths that comply with the International Fire Code need not be located on the outer perimeter.
415.3.1
Group H
occupancy minimum fire separation distance. Regardless of any other
provisions, buildings containing Group H occupancies shall be set back to the
minimum fire separation distance as set forth in Items 1
through 4 below. Distances shall be measured from the walls enclosing the
occupancy to lot lines, including those on a public
way. Distances to assumed lot lines established for
the purpose of determining exterior wall and opening
protection are not to be used to establish the minimum fire separation
distance for buildings on sites where explosives are manufactured or
used when separation is provided in accordance with the quantity distance
tables specified for explosive materials in the International Fire
Code. [F]
1. Group H-1. Not less than
75 feet (22 860 mm) and not less than required by the International
Fire Code.
Exceptions:
1. Fireworks manufacturing buildings
separated in accordance with NFPA 1124.
2. Buildings containing the following
materials when separated in accordance with Table 415.3.1:
2.1. Organic peroxides, unclassified
detonable.
2.2. Unstable reactive
materials, Class 4.
2.3. Unstable
reactive materials, Class 3 detonable.
2.4. Detonable pyrophoric materials.
2. Group H-2.
Not less than 30 feet (9144 mm) where the area of the occupancy exceeds 1,000
square feet (93 m2) and it is not required to be
located in a detached building.
3.
Groups H-2 and H-3. Not less than 50 feet (15 240 mm) where a detached building
is required (see Table 415.3.2).
4.
Groups H-2 and H-3. Occupancies containing materials with explosive
characteristics shall be separated as required by the International
Fire Code. Where separations are not specified, the distances required
shall not be less than the distances required by Table 415.3.1.
TABLE 415.3.1 MINIMUM SEPARATION DISTANCES FOR BUILDINGS CONTAINING EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS [F]
| QUANTITY OF EXPLOSIVE MATERIALa | MINIMUM DISTANCE (feet) | |||
| Lot linesb and inhabited buildingsc | Separation of magazinesd, e, f | |||
| Pounds over | Pounds not over | Barricadedd | Unbarricaded | |
| 2 | 5 | 70 | 140 | 12 |
| 5 | 10 | 90 | 180 | 16 |
| 10 | 20 | 110 | 220 | 20 |
| 20 | 30 | 125 | 250 | 22 |
| 30 | 40 | 140 | 280 | 24 |
| 40 | 50 | 150 | 300 | 28 |
| 50 | 75 | 170 | 340 | 30 |
| 75 | 100 | 190 | 380 | 32 |
| 100 | 125 | 200 | 400 | 36 |
| 125 | 150 | 215 | 430 | 38 |
| 150 | 200 | 235 | 470 | 42 |
| 200 | 250 | 255 | 510 | 46 |
| 250 | 300 | 270 | 540 | 48 |
| 300 | 400 | 295 | 590 | 54 |
| 400 | 500 | 320 | 640 | 58 |
| 500 | 600 | 340 | 680 | 62 |
| 600 | 700 | 355 | 710 | 64 |
| 700 | 800 | 375 | 750 | 66 |
| 800 | 900 | 390 | 780 | 70 |
| 900 | 1,000 | 400 | 800 | 72 |
| 1,000 | 1,200 | 425 | 850 | 78 |
| 1,200 | 1,400 | 450 | 900 | 82 |
| 1,400 | 1,600 | 470 | 940 | 86 |
| 1,600 | 1,800 | 490 | 980 | 88 |
| 1,800 | 2,000 | 505 | 1,010 | 90 |
| 2,000 | 2,500 | 545 | 1,090 | 98 |
| 2,500 | 3,000 | 580 | 1,160 | 104 |
| 3,000 | 4,000 | 635 | 1,270 | 116 |
| 4,000 | 5,000 | 685 | 1,370 | 122 |
| 5,000 | 6,000 | 730 | 1,460 | 130 |
| 6,000 | 7,000 | 770 | 1,540 | 136 |
| 7,000 | 8,000 | 800 | 1,600 | 144 |
| 8,000 | 9,000 | 835 | 1,670 | 150 |
| 9,000 | 10,000 | 865 | 1,730 | 156 |
| 10,000 | 12,000 | 875 | 1,750 | 164 |
| 12,000 | 14,000 | 885 | 1,770 | 174 |
| 14,000 | 16,000 | 900 | 1,800 | 180 |
| 16,000 | 18,000 | 940 | 1,880 | 188 |
| 18,000 | 20,000 | 975 | 1,950 | 196 |
| 20,000 | 25,000 | 1,055 | 2,000 | 210 |
| 25,000 | 30,000 | 1,130 | 2,000 | 224 |
| 30,000 | 35,000 | 1,205 | 2,000 | 238 |
| 35,000 | 40,000 | 1,275 | 2,000 | 248 |
(continued)
TABLE 415.3.1-continued MINIMUM SEPARATION DISTANCES FOR BUILDINGS CONTAINING EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS
| QUANTITY OF EXPLOSIVE MATERIALa | MINIMUM DISTANCE (feet) | |||
| Lot linesb and inhabited buildingsc | Separation of magazinesd, e, f | |||
| Pounds over | Pounds not over | Barricadedd | Unbarricaded | |
| 40,000 | 45,000 | 1,340 | 2,000 | 258 |
| 45,000 | 50,000 | 1,400 | 2,000 | 270 |
| 50,000 | 55,000 | 1,460 | 2,000 | 280 |
| 55,000 | 60,000 | 1,515 | 2,000 | 290 |
| 60,000 | 65,000 | 1,565 | 2,000 | 300 |
| 65,000 | 70,000 | 1,610 | 2,000 | 310 |
| 70,000 | 75,000 | 1,655 | 2,000 | 320 |
| 75,000 | 80,000 | 1,695 | 2,000 | 330 |
| 80,000 | 85,000 | 1,730 | 2,000 | 340 |
| 85,000 | 90,000 | 1,760 | 2,000 | 350 |
| 90,000 | 95,000 | 1,790 | 2,000 | 360 |
| 95,000 | 100,000 | 1,815 | 2,000 | 370 |
| 100,000 | 110,000 | 1,835 | 2,000 | 390 |
| 110,000 | 120,000 | 1,855 | 2,000 | 410 |
| 120,000 | 130,000 | 1,875 | 2,000 | 430 |
| 130,000 | 140,000 | 1,890 | 2,000 | 450 |
| 140,000 | 150,000 | 1,900 | 2,000 | 470 |
| 150,000 | 160,000 | 1,935 | 2,000 | 490 |
| 160,000 | 170,000 | 1,965 | 2,000 | 510 |
| 170,000 | 180,000 | 1,990 | 2,000 | 530 |
| 180,000 | 190,000 | 2,010 | 2,010 | 550 |
| 190,000 | 200,000 | 2,030 | 2,030 | 570 |
| 200,000 | 210,000 | 2,055 | 2,055 | 590 |
| 210,000 | 230,000 | 2,100 | 2,100 | 630 |
| 230,000 | 250,000 | 2,155 | 2,155 | 670 |
| 250,000 | 275,000 | 2,215 | 2,215 | 720 |
| 275,000 | 300,000 | 2,275 | 2,275 | 770 |
| For SI: 1 pound = 0.454 kg, 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1
square foot = 0.0929 m2. a. The number of pounds of explosives listed is the number of pounds of trinitrotoluene (TNT) or the equivalent pounds of other explosive. b. The distance listed is the distance to lot line, including lot lines at public ways. c. For the purpose of this table, an inhabited building is any building on the same lot that is regularly occupied by people. Where two or more buildings containing explosives or magazines are located on the same lot, each building or magazine shall comply with the minimum distances specified from inhabited buildings and, in addition, they shall be separated from each other by not less than the distance shown for "Separation of magazines," except that the quantity of explosive materials contained in detonator buildings or magazines shall govern in regard to the spacing of said detonator buildings or magazines from buildings or magazines containing other explosive materials. If any two or more buildings or magazines are separated from each other by less than the specified "Separation of Magazines" distances, then such two or more buildings or magazines, as a group, shall be considered as one building or magazine, and the total quantity of explosive materials stored in such group shall be treated as if the explosive were in a single building or magazine located on the site of any building or magazine of the group, and shall comply with the minimum distance specified from other magazines or inhabited buildings. d. Barricades shall effectively screen the building containing explosives from other buildings, public ways or magazines. Where mounds or revetted walls of earth are used for barricades, they shall not be less than 3 feet in thickness. A straight line from the top of any side wall of the building containing explosive materials to the eave line of any other building, magazine or a point 12 feet above the centerline of a public way shall pass through the barricades. e. Magazine is a building or structure, other than an operating building, approved for storage of explosive materials. Portable or mobile magazines not exceeding 120 square feet in area need not comply with the requirements of this code, however, all magazines shall comply with the International Fire Code. f. The distance listed is permitted to be reduced by 50 percent where approved natural or artificial barriers are provided in accordance with the requirements in Note d. |
415.3.2
Detached buildings for Group
H-1, H-2 or H-3 occupancy. The storage of hazardous materials in excess
of those amounts listed in Table 415.3.2 shall be in accordance with the
applicable provisions of Sections 415.4 and 415.5. Where a detached building is
required by Table 415.3.2, there are no requirements for wall and opening
protection based on fire separation distance. [F]
TABLE 415.3.2 DETACHED BUILDING REQUIRED [F]
| A DETACHED BUILDING IS REQUIRED WHEN THE QUANTITY OF MATERIAL EXCEEDS THAT LISTED HEREIN | |||
| Material | Class | Solids and Liquids(tons)a, b | Gases(cubic feet)a, b |
| Explosives | Division 1.1 | Maximum Allowable Quantity | |
| Division 1.2 | Maximum Allowable Quantity | ||
| Division 1.3 | Maximum Allowable Quantity | ||
| Division 1.4 | Maximum Allowable Quantity | Not Applicable | |
| Division 1.4c | 1 | ||
| Division 1.5 | Maximum Allowable Quantity | ||
| Division 1.6 | Maximum Allowable Quantity | ||
| Oxidizers | Class 4 | Maximum Allowable Quantity | Maximum Allowable Quantity |
| Unstable (reactives) detonable | Class 3 or 4 | Maximum Allowable Quantity | Maximum Allowable Quantity |
| Oxidizer, liquids and solids | Class 3 | 1,200 | Not Applicable |
| Class 2 | 2,000 | Not Applicable | |
| Organic peroxides | Detonable | Maximum Allowable Quantity | Not Applicable |
| Class I | Maximum Allowable Quantity | Not Applicable | |
| Class II | 25 | Not Applicable | |
| Class III | 50 | Not Applicable | |
| Unstable (reactives) nondetonable | Class 3 | 1 | 2,000 |
| Class 2 | 25 | 10,000 | |
| Water reactives | Class 3 | 1 | Not Applicable |
| Class 2 | 25 | Not Applicable | |
| Pyrophoric gases | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | 2,000 |
| For SI: 1 ton = 906 kg, 1 cubic foot = 0.02832
m3, 1 pound = 0.454 kg. a. For materials that are detonable, the distance to other buildings or lot lines shall be as specified in Table 415.3.1 based on trinitrotoluene (TNT) equivalence of the material. For materials classified as explosives, see Chapter 33 the International Fire Code. For all other materials, the distance shall be as indicated in Section 415.3.1. b. "Maximum Allowable Quantity" means the maximum allowable quantity per control area set forth in Table 307.1(1). c. Limited to Division 1.4 materials and articles, including articles packaged for shipment, that are not regulated as an explosive under Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) regulations or unpackaged articles used in process operations that do not propagate a detonation or deflagration between articles, providing the net explosive weight of individual articles does not exceed 1 pound. |
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Massachusetts may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
