{"data":{"id":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-fc-5006","jurisdiction":"us-nyc","citation":"N.Y.C. Admin. Code § FC 5006","heading":"Section FC 5006: Non-Production Chemical Laboratories","body":"5006.1 Scope.\n\nThis section shall govern the storage, handling and use of laboratory chemicals in a non-production laboratory and accessory storage of laboratory chemicals in a storage room. The design and construction of non-production laboratories and accessory storage rooms for laboratory chemicals shall comply with the requirements of the construction codes, including the Building Code and the Mechanical Code.\n\n5006.2 General.\n\nLaboratory chemicals within a laboratory unit, including an educational or instructional laboratory unit, shall be stored, handled and used in accordance with this section and, except as otherwise provided in this section, NFPA 45, as modified by FC Appendix B with respect to laboratory unit fire hazard class D requirements. The ceiling, floor and walls of a laboratory unit shall be separated from all adjoining areas by a minimum 1-hour fire-rated construction.\n\n5006.3 Permits.\n\nPermits shall be required as set forth in FC 105.6.\n\n5006.4 Supervision.\n\nNon-production laboratory operations requiring a permit shall be under the personal supervision of a certificate of fitness holder. At least one certificate of fitness holder shall be present on each floor of the laboratory unit on which laboratory operations are being conducted while the laboratory is in operation. Additional certificate of fitness holders shall be provided as the commissioner may require as a condition of the permit. Accessory laboratory chemical storage rooms shall be under the general supervision of a certificate of fitness holder.\n\n5006.5 Prohibitions.\n\nIt shall be unlawful in any non-production laboratory or any accessory storage of laboratory chemicals in a storage room to:\n\n1. Store, handle or use any explosive.\n\n2. Store, handle or use any unclassified detonable organic peroxide, detonable pyrophoric material, detonable unstable (reactive) material or detonable water-reactive material.\n\n3. Store, handle or use any Class 4 unstable (reactive) material.\n\n4. Store, handle or use any Class 4 oxidizing material.\n\n5. Store, handle or use below grade any flammable gas.\n\n6. Use an open flame for heating or distilling any flammable solid, flammable liquid or flammable gas.\n\n7. Store flammable liquids in basements, cellars or other areas below grade.\n\n8. Store combustible liquids in basements, cellars or other areas below grade in a manner contrary to FC 5704.3.5.1.\n\n9. Store, handle or use LPG in Group E and I occupancies in a manner contrary to FC 6103.2.1.4.\n\n10. Store, handle or use in an educational laboratory gases classified as a Class 3 or 4 health hazard.\n\n5006.6 Quantity limitations.\n\nThe quantities of laboratory chemicals stored, handled or used within a laboratory unit, excluding storage rooms, shall be in accordance with FC 5006.6.1 through 5006.6.10. Unless designated as a control area, FC 5003.8.3 shall not apply to a laboratory unit.\n\n5006.6.1 Flammable and combustible liquids.\n\nThe density and total quantity of flammable and combustible liquids allowed within a laboratory unit, excluding storage rooms, shall be in accordance with Table 9.1.1(b) of NFPA 45, as modified by FC Appendix B, for laboratory unit fire hazard Class D.\n\nExceptions: For laboratory units other than educational or instructional laboratories pursuant to NFPA 45, as modified by FC Appendix B:\n\n1. The density of flammable and combustible liquids allowed within a Class D laboratory unit may be increased to those set forth in Table 9.1.1(b) of NFPA 45, as modified by FC Appendix B, for laboratory unit fire hazard Class B provided the total quantity of flammable and combustible liquid, including any in storage cabinets or safety cans, does not exceed 25 gallons (95 L).\n\n2. The density of flammable and combustible liquids allowed within a Class D laboratory unit may be increased to those set forth in Table 9.1.1(b) of NFPA 45, as modified by FC Appendix B, for laboratory unit fire hazard Class B provided the total quantity of flammable and combustible liquid, including any in storage cabinets or safety cans, does not exceed 30 gallons (114 L) and the walls, floors and ceilings of the laboratory unit are separated from all adjoining areas by 2-hour fire-rated construction.\n\n3. The quantity of flammable and combustible liquids allowed within a Class D laboratory unit, excluding quantities in storage cabinets or safety cans, may be increased from 75 gallons (284 L) to 100 gallons (379 L), provided the walls, floors and ceilings of the laboratory unit are separated from all adjoining areas by 2-hour fire-rated construction. Total quantities of flammable and combustible liquids, including quantities in storage cabinets and safety cans, may be increased from 150 gallons (568 L) to 200 gallons (757 L), provided the walls, floors and ceilings of the laboratory unit are separated from all adjoining areas by 2-hour fire-rated construction.\n\n5006.6.2 Flammable solids.\n\nThe storage, handling and use of flammable solids within a laboratory unit shall be in accordance with FC Chapters 50 and 59. The total quantity of flammable solids stored, handled and used, excluding any quantities in a storage room, shall not exceed 10 pounds (4.54 kg).\n\nException: The total quantity of flammable solids allowed within a laboratory unit that is provided with walls, floors and ceilings that separate the laboratory unit from all adjoining areas by 2-hour fire-rated construction shall not exceed 15 pounds (6.81 kg).\n\n5006.6.3 Oxidizers and organic peroxides.\n\nThe storage, handling and use of solid and liquid oxidizers and organic peroxides within a laboratory unit shall be in accordance with FC Chapters 50, 62 and 63 and the total quantity of all such material, excluding any quantities in a storage room, shall not exceed 40 pounds (18.14 kg), provided that not more than 2 pounds (0.907 kg) of such oxidizers are Class 3 oxidizers and not more than 1 pound (0.454 kg) of such peroxides are Class I organic peroxides.\n\nException: The total aggregate quantity of solid and liquid oxidizers and organic peroxides allowed within a laboratory unit that is provided with walls, floors and ceilings that separate the laboratory unit from all adjoining areas by 2-hour fire-rated construction shall not exceed 50 pounds (22.7 kg), provided that not more than 2 pounds (0.907 kg) of such oxidizers are Class 3 oxidizers and not more than 1 pound (0.454 kg) of such peroxides are Class I organic peroxides.\n\n5006.6.4 Unstable (reactive) material.\n\nThe storage, handling and use of unstable (reactive) material within a laboratory unit shall be in accordance with FC Chapters 50 and 66 and the total quantity, excluding any quantities in a storage room, shall not exceed 6 pounds (2.722 kg), provided not more than 1 pound (0.454 kg) of such reactive material is Class 3 unstable (reactive).\n\nException: The total quantity of unstable (reactive) material allowed within a laboratory unit that is provided with walls, floors and ceilings that separate the laboratory unit from all adjoining areas by 2-hour fire-rated construction shall not exceed 12 pounds (5.44 kg), provided not more than 1 pound (0.454 kg) of such reactive material is Class 3 unstable (reactive).\n\n5006.6.5 Water-reactive material.\n\nThe storage, handling and use of water-reactive material within a laboratory unit shall be in accordance with FC Chapters 50 and 67 and the total quantity, excluding any quantities in a storage room, shall not exceed 2 1/2 pounds (1.134 kg).\n\nException: The total quantity of water-reactive material allowed within a laboratory unit that is provided with walls, floors and ceilings that separate the laboratory unit from all adjoining areas by 2-hour fire-rated construction shall not exceed 5 pounds (2.27 kg).\n\n5006.6.6 Pyrophoric material.\n\nThe storage, handling and use of solid or liquid pyrophoric material within a laboratory unit shall be in accordance with FC Chapters 50 and 64 and the total quantity, excluding any quantities in a storage room, shall not exceed 1/2 pound (0.227 kg).\n\nException: The total quantity of solid or liquid pyrophoric material allowed within a laboratory unit that is provided with walls, floors and ceilings that separate the laboratory unit from all adjoining areas by 2-hour fire-rated construction shall not exceed 1 pound (0.454 kg).\n\n5006.6.7 Highly toxic material.\n\nThe storage, handling and use of solid or liquid highly toxic material within a laboratory unit shall be in accordance with FC Chapters 50 and 60 and the total quantity, excluding any quantities in a storage room, shall not exceed 5 pounds (2.27 kg).\n\n5006.6.8 Toxic material.\n\nThe storage, handling and use of solid or liquid toxic material within a laboratory unit shall be in accordance with FC Chapters 50 and 60 and the total quantity, excluding any quantities in a storage room, shall not exceed 250 pounds (113.4 kg).\n\n5006.6.9 Corrosive material.\n\nThe storage, handling or use of solid or liquid corrosive material within a laboratory shall be in accordance with FC Chapters 50 and 54 and the total quantity, excluding any quantity in a storage room, shall not exceed 250 gallons (946 L).\n\n5006.6.10 Hazardous gases.\n\nThe storage, handling and use of hazardous gases within a laboratory unit shall be in accordance with this section, FC Chapters 50, 53 through 55, 58, 60, 63, 64 and 66, as applicable, and NFPA 45, as modified by FC Appendix B. The total quantity of hazardous gases, excluding any quantity stored in a storage room, shall be in accordance with NFPA 45, as modified by FC Appendix B.\n\n5006.6.10.1 Highly toxic toxic, and corrosive gases.\n\nIt shall be unlawful to store, handle or use in any instructional laboratory unit any combination of highly toxic, toxic, and corrosive gases in quantities that exceed 20 SCF (0.566 m\n\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\t3\n\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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t).\n\n5006.6.10.2 Asphyxiant gases.\n\nWhen the quantity of cryogenic inert gases or refrigerated carbon dioxide stored, handled or used within a laboratory unit exceeds 60 gallons (227 L), an oxygen sensor shall be installed and maintained at one or more locations within the laboratory unit in accordance with FC 5505.4.1.1.1, provided that at least one oxygen sensor is installed in the laboratory unit.\n\n5006.7 Storage room classification.\n\nStorage rooms for laboratory chemicals accessory to a laboratory unit shall be classified as set forth in the Building Code.\n\n5006.8 Storage rooms.\n\nIn addition to the quantities that may be stored, handled and used in a laboratory unit pursuant to FC 5006.6, chemicals for use in a laboratory unit may be stored in a dedicated storage room complying with Chapter 4 of the Building Code and the following requirements:\n\n1. Storage room capacity shall not exceed a maximum of 300 gallons (1136 L) of chemicals, not to exceed 5 gallons per square foot (204 L/m\n\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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2\n\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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t) of floor area.\n\n2. Flammable gas storage rooms shall not contain more than 2,500 SCF (70.8 m\n\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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3\n\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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t) of flammable gas.\n\n3. Chemicals that are incompatible with each other shall not be stored in the same storage room, unless in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.\n\n4\n\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\tChemicals shall not be used within the storage room.\n\n5006.9 Safety showers.\n\nWhere more than 5 gallons (19 L) of corrosive liquid or flammable liquid are stored, handled or used, suitable facilities with fixed overhead or flexible hand-held showers shall be provided. Such shower shall be within 25 feet (7620 mm) of the laboratory unit and storage room door and shall be maintained in good working order, and readily accessible at all times.\n\n5006.10 Neutralizing or absorbing agents.\n\nWhere more than 5 gallons (19 L) of corrosive liquids are stored, handled or used, a sufficient quantity of suitable neutralizing or absorbing agents shall be provided.\n\n5006.11 Curtains and drapes.\n\nCurtains and drapes installed in a laboratory unit shall comply with the flame resistance requirements of FC Chapter 8.","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":"41e89851c7676d4af9f23b1493d9a0aba50fff668fa95322bb461f5b9bb09528","source_id":"us-nyc","stale":true,"prev":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-fc-5005","next":"us-nyc/n.y.c.-admin.-code-fc-5007"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}