N.Y.C. Admin. Code § FC 317: Section FC 317: Automotive Salvage and Wrecking Facilities

317.1 General.

Automotive salvage and wrecking facilities shall be designed, installed, operated and maintained in accordance with this section. The design and installation provisions of this section shall apply to both new and existing facilities.

317.2 Prohibitions.

It shall be unlawful to:

1. Dispose of any fuel or flammable or combustible liquid waste by discharging or otherwise disposing of such fuel or liquid waste in any drain or sewer, upon any premises, or in any river, stream or other body of water.

2. Light or maintain an open fire for the burning, dismantling, salvaging, scrapping wrecking of motor vehicles or parts thereof.

317.3 Supervision.

Automotive salvage and wrecking facilities shall be supervised as follows:

1. The facility shall be under the personal supervision of a person holding a certificate of fitness for automotive salvage and wrecking facilities, who shall ensure that the facility is designed, installed, operated and maintained in accordance with this code and other applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

2. The defueling of motor vehicle fuel tanks and the transfer of fuel from the defueling equipment shall be conducted by or under the personal supervision of a certificate of fitness holder.

3. Hot work shall be personally conducted by a person holding a certificate of fitness for such work in accordance with FC Chapter 35.

317.4 Facility requirements.

Automotive salvage and wrecking facilities shall be in accordance with FC 317.4.1 through 317.4.3.

317.4.1 Licensing.

Department permits and other approvals shall be issued to an automotive salvage and wrecking facility only if such facility is licensed and maintained in accordance with requirements of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.

317.4.2 Lawful occupancy.

Department permits and other approvals shall be issued to automotive salvage and wrecking facilities only if use of the premises for such facility is authorized by the certificate of occupancy or otherwise constitutes a lawful use of the premises.

317.4.3 Design requirements.

Automotive salvage and wrecking facilities shall be designed in accordance with FC 317.4.3.1 through 317.4.3.3.

317.4.3.1 Facility enclosure.

The facility shall be enclosed on all sides by a solid, opaque fence or wall at least 8 feet (2438 mm) in height in accordance with the Building Code and the Zoning Resolution.

317.4.3.2 Fire apparatus roads.

The facility shall be accessible from fire apparatus roads with a minimum unobstructed width of 20 feet (6096 mm). An outdoor area of the facility shall be accessible by fire apparatus roads on all four sides with a distance between such roads of not greater than 50 feet (15 240 mm) by 100 feet (30 480 mm).

317.4.3.3 Defueling area.

The defueling of motor vehicle fuel tanks shall be conducted at an approved location that is protected throughout by a fire extinguishing system.

317.5 Operation and maintenance.

Automotive salvage and wrecking facilities shall be operated and maintained in accordance with FC 317.5.1 through 317.5.4.

317.5.1 Fire apparatus access roads.

Fire apparatus access roads shall be maintained unobstructed to provide access for department apparatus.

317.5.2 Torch operations.

Torch operations shall be conducted in accordance with FC Chapter 35 and in compliance with the following requirements:

1. Torch operations shall be conducted at least 35 feet (10 668 mm) from combustible waste, other motor vehicles, stacks of motor vehicles or other combustible material, unless protection in the form of noncombustible shields or covers are provided to restrict the scattering of sparks and molten metal.

2. Torch operations shall not be conducted in any location where hazardous gases or vapors may be present. Fuel tanks of motor vehicles shall be emptied of fuel and purged of all flammable vapors before any torch operations are commenced.

3. Compressed gas containers, when in use, shall be properly supported and placed a safe distance from torch operations.

4. Compressed gas containers, when not in use, and reserve containers, shall be properly supported and stored in a location remote from torch operations. The valves of such containers shall be closed and protected from mechanical damage by the placement of protective caps. Empty containers shall be treated as full.

5. Torch operation areas shall be protected by a charged hose line, at least 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter, connected to an approved source of water. In lieu of such hose line, at least four portable fire extinguishers with a minimum 2-A rating each may be provided.

6. The torch operator or a person designated as a fire watch shall search the torch operation area immediately after operations to determine that no sparks or molten metal remain in the area. Additionally, a second such search shall be conducted 1/2 hour thereafter. A record of such searches shall be maintained in a log book at the premises and made available for inspection by any representative of the department.

317.5.3 Draining of motor vehicle fluids.

The draining of fluids from motor vehicles shall be in accordance with FC 317.5.3.1 and 317.5.3.2.

317.5.3.1 Draining of motor vehicle fuel tanks.

As soon as practicable after arrival, the fuel tank of motor vehicles received at salvage and wrecking facilities shall be defueled through the vehicle's fuel connection, or other approved procedure. Defueling equipment shall be listed for such purpose as a complete assembly and shall have a container capacity not exceeding 65 gallons (246 L). The fuel recovered by the defueler shall be transferred to a storage tank complying with the requirements of FC Chapter 23 or 57, as applicable. Defueling equipment shall not be used to fuel motor vehicles.

317.5.3.2 Draining of other motor vehicle fluids.

Crankcase oil and other flammable or combustible liquid waste shall be removed from motor vehicles and stored outdoors, in tanks complying with the requirements of FC Chapter 57, or, when approved, portable containers.

317.5.4 Emergency operations.

In automotive salvage and wrecking facilities provided with cranes for the purpose of moving or stacking motor vehicles, procedures shall be developed by the owner such that a crane operator would be made available in a reasonable period of time in the event that crane operation is required during a fire or other emergency.

317.6 Excessive fires.

The occurrence of more than two fires in an automotive salvage and wrecking facility during any 12-month period shall give rise to a rebuttable presumption that the owner has failed to properly maintain the facility in compliance with the requirements of this section, and shall be grounds for revocation of department permits and other approvals, or other appropriate enforcement action.

317.7 Air bags.

Undeployed waste air bags shall be stored and handled at automotive salvage and wrecking facilities in accordance with the FC 317.7.1 through 317.7.3.

317.7.1 Limitation on storage.

Not more than 250 undeployed waste air bags shall be stored at an automotive salvage and wrecking facility unless the facility is an approved air bag waste collection facility in accordance with EPA regulations and registered with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

317.7.2 Storage of undeployed waste air bags.

No later than the end of each workday, undeployed waste air bags shall be packaged for shipment and disposal in compliance with DOTn regulations and stored in a cool, dry and secure area, free of oil, grease, detergent, or water, at least 50 feet from any hot work area or other source of ignition. The air bag leads shall be protected from stray current by shunting them and wrapping them in electrical tape or by other approved method. Storage of more than 250 undeployed waste air bags shall require that the automotive salvage and wrecking facility be an

approved air bag waste collection facility.

317.7.3 Removal of undeployed waste air bags.

Undeployed waste air bags shall be disposed of by a lawful waste hauler in accordance with EPA, DOTn and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regulations.