{"data":{"id":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-fc-3203","jurisdiction":"us-nyc","citation":"N.Y.C. Admin. Code § FC 3203","heading":"Section FC 3203: Commodity Classification","body":"3203.1 Classification of commodities.\n\nCommodities 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.\n\n3203.2 Class I commodities.\n\nClass 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:\n\nAlcoholic beverages not more than 20-percent alcohol\n\nCement in bags\n\nCeramics\n\nDairy products in nonwax-coated containers (excluding bottles)\n\nDry insecticides\n\nElectrical appliances, noncombustible\n\nFoods in noncombustible containers\n\nFresh fruits and vegetables in nonplastic trays or containers\n\nFrozen foods\n\nGlass\n\nGlycol in metal cans\n\nGypsum board\n\nInert materials, bagged\n\nInsulation, noncombustible\n\nLiquids, noncombustible, in plastic containers having less than a 5-gallon (19 L) capacity\n\nMetal products, noncombustible\n\n3203.3 Class II commodities.\n\nClass 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:\n\nAlcoholic beverages not more than 20-percent alcohol, in combustible containers\n\nFoods in combustible containers\n\nIncandescent or fluorescent light bulbs in cartons\n\nThinly coated fine wire on reels or in cartons\n\n3203.4 Class III commodities.\n\nClass 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:\n\nAerosol, Level 1 (see FC Chapter 51)\n\nCombustible fiberboard\n\nCork, baled\n\nFeed, bagged\n\nFertilizers, bagged\n\nFood in plastic containers\n\nFurniture: wood, natural fiber, upholstered, nonplastic, wood or metal with plastic-padded and covered arm rests\n\nGlycol in combustible containers not more than 25 percent\n\nLiquids, noncombustible, in plastic containers having a capacity of more than 5 gallons (19 L)\n\nLubricating or hydraulic fluid in metal cans\n\nLumber\n\nMattresses, excluding foam rubber and foam plastics\n\nPaints, oil base, in metal cans\n\nPaper, waste, baled\n\nPaper and pulp, horizontal storage, or vertical storage that is banded or protected with approved wrap\n\nPaper in cardboard boxes\n\nPillows, excluding foam rubber and foam plastics\n\nPlastic-coated paper food containers\n\nPlywood\n\nRags, baled\n\nRugs, without foam backing\n\nSugar, bagged\n\nWood, baled\n\nWood doors, frames and cabinets\n\nYarns of natural fiber and viscose\n\n3203.5 Class IV commodities.\n\nClass 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:\n\nAerosol, Level 2 (see FC Chapter 51)\n\nAlcoholic beverages, more than 20-percent but less than 80-percent alcohol, in cans or bottles in cartons\n\nClothing, synthetic or nonviscose\n\nCombustible metal products (solid)\n\nFurniture, plastic upholstered\n\nFurniture, wood or metal with plastic covering and padding\n\nGlycol in combustible containers (more than 25 percent and less than 50 percent)\n\nLinoleum products\n\nPaints, oil base in combustible containers\n\nPharmaceutical, alcoholic elixirs, tonics, etc.\n\nRugs, foam back\n\nShingles, asphalt\n\nThread or yarn, synthetic or nonviscose\n\n3203.6 High-hazard commodities.\n\nHigh-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:\n\nAerosol, Level 3 (see FC Chapter 51)\n\nAlcoholic beverages, more than 80-percent alcohol, in bottles or cartons\n\nCommodities of any class in plastic containers in carousel storage\n\nFlammable solids (except solid combustible metals)\n\nGlycol in combustible containers (50 percent or more)\n\nLacquers, which dry by solvent evaporation, in metal cans or cartons\n\nLubricating or hydraulic fluid in plastic containers\n\nMattresses, foam rubber or foam plastics\n\nPallets and flats which are idle combustible\n\nPaper, asphalt, rolled, horizontal storage\n\nPaper, asphalt, rolled, vertical storage\n\nPaper and pulp, rolled, in vertical storage which is unbanded or not protected with an approved wrap\n\nPillows, foam rubber and foam plastics\n\nPyroxylin\n\nRubber tires\n\nVegetable oil and butter in plastic containers\n\n3203.7 Classification of plastics.\n\nPlastics shall be designated as Group A, B or C in accordance with this section.\n\n3203.7.1 Group A plastics.\n\nGroup 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:\n\nABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer)\n\nAcetal (polyformaldehyde)\n\nAcrylic (polymethyl methacrylate)\n\nButyl rubber\n\nEPDM (ethylene propylene rubber)\n\nFRP (fiberglass-reinforced polyester)\n\nNatural rubber (expanded)\n\nNitrile rubber (acrylonitrile butadiene rubber)\n\nPET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)\n\nPolybutadiene\n\nPolycarbonate\n\nPolyester elastomer\n\nPolyethylene\n\nPolypropylene\n\nPolystyrene (expanded and unexpanded)\n\nPolyurethane (expanded and unexpanded)\n\nPVC (polyvinyl chloride more than 15 percent plasticized, e.g., coated fabric unsupported film)\n\nSAN (styrene acrylonitrile)\n\nSBR (styrene butadiene rubber)\n\n3203.7.2 Group B plastics.\n\nGroup 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:\n\nCellulosics (cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, ethyl cellulose)\n\nChloroprene rubber\n\nFluoroplastics (ECTFE, ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer; ETFE, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer; FEP, fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer)\n\nNatural rubber (nonexpanded)\n\nNylon (Nylon 6, Nylon 6/6)\n\nPVC (polyvinyl chloride more than 5-percent, but not more than 15-percent plasticized)\n\nSilicone rubber\n\n3203.7.3 Group C plastics.\n\nGroup 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:\n\nFluoroplastics (PCTFE, polychlorotrifluoroethylene; PTFE, polytetrafluoroethylene)\n\nMelamine (melamine formaldehyde)\n\nPhenol\n\nPVC (polyvinyl chloride, rigid or plasticized less than 5 percent, e.g., pipe, pipe fittings)\n\nPVDC (polyvinylidene chloride)\n\nPVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride)\n\nPVF (polyvinyl fluoride)\n\nUrea (urea formaldehyde)\n\n3203.7.4 Limited quantities of Group A plastics in mixed commodities.\n\nFC 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.\n\nFC Figure 3203.7.4 Mixed Commodities \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ta, b\n\na. 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.\n\nb. 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.\n\nc. Percent by volume =\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Volume of plastic in pallet load \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTotal volume of plastic load, including pallet\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\td. Percent by weight =\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Weight of plastic in pallet load \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTotal weight of plastic load, including pallet","path":["New York City Administrative Code","Title 29","Chapter 2: New York City Fire Code"],"source_url":"https://files.amlegal.com/pdffiles/NewYorkCity/Admin/XML.zip","current_through":"Local Law 2026/135 (enacted August 31, 2026)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T02:48:57Z","sha256":"eeed0ce3021c796f018dd492e6cd675a8bbdb077276f13aa6e8caac0159317cd","source_id":"us-nyc","stale":true,"prev":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-fc-3202","next":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-fc-3204"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}