Surplus Storage of Hand Sanitizer in Schools

[timminsfd]

Has anybody got some feedback on the surplus storage of hand sanitizers for the return to school due to COVID-19.  I found OFM-TG-02-2011 and this seems to address mainly your “B” occupancies” Care and Treatment.

[Nicholas MacGillivray]

subsection 4.2.6

[Nicholas MacGillivray]

although

4.2.1.1.  (2) Except as otherwise stated in this part, this section does not apply to

(e) alcohol-based hand sanitizer products that have a capacity of not more than 1.2 L and that are in use, or

(f)   products that contain no more than 50% by volume of water-miscible flammable liquids or combustible liquids, with the remainder of the solution being non-flammable, that are stored in closed containers with a capacity of not more than 5 L.

[John Wilson]

There’s 2 problems with the exemptions Nick mentions.

(e) I see lots of places where they are using a gallon jug with a pump top on it for public use so even if that’s the only supply of it in the building, it’s technically over the limits of the exemption.

(f) Min alcohol content is 60% to be effective as a hand sanitizer so this exemption doesn’t apply either.

 

TimminsFD: What quantities are you talking about? Is it a few gallons on a shelf in the janitor closet or are they storing skids of it in a corner somewhere?

[Nicholas MacGillivray]

i can only imagine how much of the stuff the larger schools are going to be stockpiling!

[timminsfd]

The quantities appear to be varying between school boards.  Some are receiving them by the skid (4L bottles) and some are dispersing the stock among the schools as needed.  We’re more concerned with the large quantity stock and how it should be recognized under the Fire Code.  Under Subsection 4.2.6., the maximum quantities allowed will be the issue.

[John Wilson]

With a quick look thru 4.2.6. and the cabinet requirements of 4.2.10. for the individual schools, I would suggest they have the 500L capacity flammable cabinets – or smaller if they can get by with it and keep the stock within these limits considering the sanitizer actually out for use is in addition to the supplies in the cabinet.

For the school board themselves, if they are receiving more stock than what they can immediately distribute, they have it delivered to the maintenance shop for storage and distribute to the schools from there as the shop should be considered an industrial occupancy and they could then work with the limits of 4.2.7.

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