Ohio Administrative Code
Title 1301:7 - Division of State Fire Marshal
Chapter 1301:7-7 - Ohio Fire Code
Section 1301:7-7-28 - Lumber yards and agro-industrial, solid biomass and woodworking facilities

(1) 2801.1 Scope. The storage, manufacturing and processing of solid biomass feedstock, timber, lumber, plywood, veneers and agro-industrial byproducts shall be in accordance with this rule.

(2) 2801.2 Permit. Permits shall be required as set forth in rule 1301:7-7-01 of the Administrative Code.

(1) 2802.1 Definitions. The following terms are defined in rule 1301:7-7-02 of the Administrative Code.

"Agro-industrial."

"Biomass."

"Cold deck"

"Fines."

"Hogged materials."

"Plywood and veneer mills."

"Raw product."

"Solid biofuel."

"Solid biomass feedstock."

"Static piles."

"Timber and lumber production facilities."

(1) 2803.1 Open yards. Open yards required by the building code as listed in rule 1301:7-7-80 of the Administrative Code shall be maintained around structures.

(2) 2803.2 Dust control. Equipment or machinery located inside buildings that generates or emits combustible dust shall be provided with an approved dust collection and exhaust system installed in accordance with rule 1301:7-7-22 of the Administrative Code and the mechanical code as listed in rule 1301:7-7-80 of the Administrative Code. Equipment or systems that are used to collect, process or convey combustible dusts shall be provided with an approved explosion control system.

(3) 2803.3 Waste removal. Sawmills, planning mills and other woodworking plants shall be equipped with a waste removal system that will collect and remove sawdust and shavings. Such systems shall be installed in accordance with rule 1301:7-7-22 of the Administrative Code and the mechanical code as listed in rule 1301:7-7-80 of the Administrative Code.

Exception: Manual waste removal where approved.

(4) 2803.4 Electrical equipment. Electrical wiring and equipment shall comply with NFPA 70 as listed in rule 1301:7-7-80 of the Administrative Code.

(5) 2803.5 Control of ignition sources. Protection from ignition sources shall be provided in accordance with paragraphs (C)(5)(a)( 2803.51) to (C)(5)(c)(2803.5.3) of this rule.

(6) 2803.6 Fire apparatus access roads. Fire apparatus access roads shall be provided for buildings and facilities in accordance with paragraph (C)(503) of rule 1301:7-7-05 of the Administrative Code.

(7) 2803.7 Access plan. Where storage pile configurations could change because of changes in product operations and processing, the access plan shall be submitted for approval when required by the fire code official.

(1) 2804.1 General. Fire protection in timber and lumber production mills, plywood and veneer mills and agro-industrial facilities shall comply with paragraphs (D)(2)( 2804.2) to (D)(4)( 2804.4) of this rule.

(2) 2804.2 Fire alarms. An approved means for transmitting alarms to the fire department shall be provided in timber and lumber production mills and plywood and veneer mills.

(3) 2804.3 Portable fire extinguishers or standpipes and hose. Portable fire extinguishers or standpipes and hose supplied from an approved water system shall be provided within a 50-foot (15 240 mm) distance of travel from any machine producing shavings or sawdust. Portable fire extinguishers shall be provided in accordance with paragraph (F)(906) of rule 1301:7-7-09 of the Administrative Code for extra-high hazards.

(4) 2804.4 Automatic sprinkler systems. Automatic sprinkler systems shall be installed in accordance with paragraph (C)(3)(a)(i)(903.3.1.1) of rule 1301:7-7-09 of the Administrative Code.

(1) 2805.1 General. Plant operations of plywood, veneer and composite board mills shall comply with paragraphs (E)(2)( 2805.2) to (E)(3)( 2805.3) of this rule.

(2) 2805.2 Dryer protection. Dryers shall be protected throughout by an approved, automatic deluge water-spray suppression system complying with rule 1301:7-7-09 of the Administrative Code. Deluge heads shall be inspected quarterly for pitch buildup. Deluge heads shall be flushed during regular maintenance for functional operation. Manual activation valves shall be located within 75 feet (22 860 mm) of the drying equipment.

(3) 2805.3 Thermal oil-heating systems. Facilities that use heat transfer fluids to provide process equipment heat through piped, indirect heating systems shall comply with this code and NFPA 664 as listed in rule 1301:7-7-80 of the Administrative Code.

(1) 2806.1 General. Log storage areas shall comply with paragraphs (F)(2)( 2806.2) to (F)(3)( 2806.3) of this rule.

(2) 2806.2 Cold decks. Cold decks shall not exceed 500 feet ( 152.4 m) in length, 300 feet (91 440 mm) in width and 20 feet (6096 mm) in height. Cold decks shall be separated from adjacent cold decks or other exposures by not less than 100 feet (30 480 mm).

Exception: The size of cold decks shall be determined by the fire code official where the decks are protected by special fire protection including, but not limited to, additional fire flow, portable turrets and deluge sets, and hydrant hose houses equipped with approved fire-fighting equipment capable of reaching the entire storage area in accordance with rule 1301:7-7-09 of the Administrative Code.

(3) 2806.3 Pile stability. Log and pole piles shall be stabilized by approved means.

(1) 2807.1 General. The storage of wood chips and hogged materials associated with timber and lumber production facilities shall comply with paragraphs (G)(2)( 2807.2) to (G)(5)( 2807.5) of this rule.

(2) 2807.2 Size of piles. Piles shall not exceed 60 feet (18 288 mm) in height, 300 feet (91 440 mm) in width and 500 feet (152 m) in length. Piles shall be separated from adjacent piles or other exposures by approved fire apparatus access roads.

Exception: The fire code official is authorized to allow the pile size to be increased where additional fire protection is provided in accordance with rule 1301:7-7-09 of the Administrative Code. The increase shall be based on the capabilities of the system installed.

(3) 2807.3 Pile fire protection. Automatic sprinkler protection shall be provided in conveyor tunnels and combustible enclosures that pass under a pile. Combustible or enclosed conveyor systems shall be equipped with an approved automatic sprinkler system.

(4) 2807.4 Material-handling equipment. Approved material-handling equipment shall be readily available for moving wood chips and hogged material.

(5) 2807.5 Emergency plan. The owner or operator shall develop a plan for monitoring, controlling and extinguishing spot fires. The plan shall be submitted to the fire code official for review and approval.

(1) 2808.1 General. The storage and processing of wood chips, hogged materials, fines, compost, solid biomass feedstock and raw product produced from yard waste, debris and agro-industrial and recycling facilities shall comply with paragraphs (H)(2)( 2808.2) to (H)(10)( 2808.10) of this rule.

(2) 2808.2 Storage site. Storage sites shall be level and on solid ground, elevated soil lifts or other all-weather surface. Sites shall be thoroughly cleaned before transferring wood products to the site.

(3) 2808.3 Size of piles. Piles shall not exceed 25 feet (7620 mm) in height, 150 feet (45 720 mm) in width and 250 feet (76 200 mm) in length.

Exception: The fire code official is authorized to allow the pile size to be increased where a fire protection plan is provided for approval that includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(4) 2808.4 Pile separation. Piles shall be separated from adjacent piles by approved fire apparatus access roads.

(5) 2808.5 Combustible waste. The storage, accumulation and handling of combustible materials and control of vegetation shall comply with rule 1301:7-7-03 of the Administrative Code.

(6) 2808.6 Static pile protection. Static piles shall be monitored by an approved means to measure temperatures within the static piles. Internal pile temperatures shall be monitored and recorded weekly. Such records shall be maintained. An operational plan indicating procedures and schedules for the inspection, monitoring and restricting of excessive internal temperatures in static piles shall be submitted to the fire code official for review and approval.

(7) 2808.7 Pile fire protection. Automatic sprinkler protection shall be provided in conveyor tunnels and combustible enclosures that pass under a pile. Combustible conveyor systems and enclosed conveyor systems shall be equipped with an approved automatic sprinkler system.

(8) 2808.8 Fire extinguishers. Portable fire extinguishers complying with paragraph (F)(906) of rule 1301:7-7-09 of the Administrative Code and with a minimum rating of 4-A:60-B:C shall be provided on all vehicles and equipment operating on piles and at all processing equipment.

(9) 2808.9 Material-handling equipment. Approved material-handling equipment shall be available for moving wood chips, hogged material, wood fines and raw product during fire-fighting operations.

(10) 2808.10 Emergency plan. The owner or operator shall develop a plan for monitoring, controlling and extinguishing spot fires and submit the plan to the fire code official for review and approval.

(1) 2809.1 General. Exterior storage of finished lumber and solid biofuel products shall comply with paragraphs (I)(2)( 2809.2) to (I)(5)( 2809.5) of this rule.

(2) 2809.2 Size of piles. Exterior storage shall be arranged to form stable piles with a maximum height of 20 feet (6096 mm). Piles shall not exceed 150,000 cubic feet (4248 m3) in volume.

(3) 2809.3 Fire apparatus access roads. Fire apparatus access roads in accordance with paragraph (C)(503) of rule 1301:7-7-05 of the Administrative Code shall be located so that a maximum grid system unit of 50 feet by 150 feet (15 240 mm by 45 720 mm) is established.

(4) 2809.4 Security. Permanent storage areas shall be surrounded with an approved fence. Fences shall be not less than 6 feet (1829 mm) in height.

Exceptions:

(5) 2809.5 Fire protection. An approved hydrant and hose system or portable fire-extinguishing equipment suitable for the fire hazard involved shall be provided for open storage yards. Hydrant and hose systems shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 24 as listed in rule 1301:7-7-80 of the Administrative Code. Portable fire extinguishers complying with paragraph (F)(906) of rule 1301:7-7-09 of the Administrative Code shall be located so that the distance of travel from the nearest unit does not exceed 75 feet (22 860 mm).

Replaces: 1301:7-7-19.