N.Y.C. Admin. Code § FC 3203: Section FC 3203: Commodity Classification

3203.1 Classification of commodities.

Commodities shall be classified as Class I, II, III, IV or high hazard in accordance with this section. Materials listed within each commodity classification are assumed to be unmodified for improved combustibility characteristics. Use of flame-retarding modifiers or the physical form of the material could change the classification. Group A, B and C plastic commodities are classified in FC 3203.7 and plastic shelving and pallets are addressed in FC 3208.2.1.

3203.2 Class I commodities.

Class I commodities are essentially noncombustible products on wooden 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 FC 3203.7.4. Examples of Class I commodities include the following:

Alcoholic beverages not more than 20-percent alcohol

Cement in bags

Ceramics

Dairy products in nonwax-coated containers (excluding bottles)

Dry insecticides

Electrical appliances, noncombustible

Foods in noncombustible containers

Fresh fruits and vegetables in nonplastic trays or containers

Frozen foods

Glass

Glycol in metal cans

Gypsum board

Inert materials, bagged

Insulation, noncombustible

Liquids, noncombustible, in plastic containers having less than a 5-gallon (19 L) capacity

Metal products, noncombustible

3203.3 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 material with or without pallets. Class II commodities are allowed to contain a limited amount of Group A plastics in accordance with FC 3203.7.4. Examples of Class II commodities include the following:

Alcoholic beverages not more than 20-percent alcohol, in combustible containers

Foods in combustible containers

Incandescent or fluorescent light bulbs in cartons

Thinly coated fine wire on reels or in cartons

3203.4 Class III commodities.

Class III commodities are commodities of wood, paper, 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. Group A plastics shall be limited in accordance with FC 3203.7.4. Examples of Class III commodities include the following:

Aerosol, Level 1 (see FC Chapter 51)

Combustible fiberboard

Cork, baled

Feed, bagged

Fertilizers, bagged

Food in plastic containers

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

Glycol in combustible containers not more than 25 percent

Liquids, noncombustible, in plastic containers having a capacity of more than 5 gallons (19 L)

Lubricating or hydraulic fluid in metal cans

Lumber

Mattresses, excluding foam rubber and foam plastics

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

3203.5 Class IV commodities.

Class IV commodities are Class I, II or III 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 nonfree-flowing Group A plastics shall be in accordance with FC 3203.7.4. Examples of Class IV commodities include the following:

Aerosol, Level 2 (see FC Chapter 51)

Alcoholic beverages, more than 20-percent but less than 80-percent 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 (more than 25 percent and less than 50 percent)

Linoleum products

Paints, oil base in combustible containers

Pharmaceutical, alcoholic elixirs, tonics, etc.

Rugs, foam back

Shingles, asphalt

Thread or yarn, synthetic or nonviscose

3203.6 High-hazard commodities.

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

Aerosol, Level 3 (see FC Chapter 51)

Alcoholic beverages, more than 80-percent 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 percent or more)

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, asphalt, rolled, horizontal storage

Paper, asphalt, rolled, vertical storage

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

Pillows, foam rubber and foam plastics

Pyroxylin

Rubber tires

Vegetable oil and butter in plastic containers

3203.7 Classification of plastics.

Plastics shall be designated as Group A, B or C in accordance with this section.

3203.7.1 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 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 more than 15 percent plasticized, e.g., coated fabric unsupported film)

SAN (styrene acrylonitrile)

SBR (styrene butadiene rubber)

3203.7.2 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 the following:

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

Chloroprene rubber

Fluoroplastics (ECTFE, ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer; ETFE, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer; FEP, fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer)

Natural rubber (nonexpanded)

Nylon (Nylon 6, Nylon 6/6)

PVC (polyvinyl chloride more than 5-percent, but not more than 15-percent plasticized)

Silicone rubber

3203.7.3 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 the following:

Fluoroplastics (PCTFE, polychlorotrifluoroethylene; PTFE, polytetrafluoroethylene)

Melamine (melamine formaldehyde)

Phenol

PVC (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)

3203.7.4 Limited quantities of Group A plastics in mixed commodities.

FC Figure 3203.7.4 shall be used to determine the quantity of Group A plastics allowed to be stored in a package or carton or on a pallet without increasing the commodity classification.

FC Figure 3203.7.4 Mixed Commodities

a, b

a. This figure is intended to determine the commodity classification of a mixed commodity in a package, carton or on a pallet where plastics are involved.

b. The following is an example of how to apply the figure: A package containing a Class III commodity has 12-percent Group A expanded plastic by volume. The weight of the unexpanded Group A plastic is 10 percent. This commodity is classified as a Class IV commodity. If the weight of the unexpanded plastic is increased to 14 percent, the classification changes to a high-hazard commodity.

c. Percent by volume =

Volume of plastic in pallet load

Total volume of plastic load, including pallet

d. Percent by weight =

Weight of plastic in pallet load

Total weight of plastic load, including pallet