NFPA Journal - September/October 2019 - 37

CODES, STANDARDS,
AND COMPLIANCE

protection of areas where the containers
are located. The language was accepted
by the technical committee during the
meeting but failed to meet the required
two-thirds vote on the formal ballot to
secure its inclusion in the first draft.
As a result, it was included in the First
Draft Report as a committee input that
allows the public viewing and comment.
Similar language addressing valet
trash collection services was also
proposed for both new and existing
apartments in NFPA 101 as part of its
2021 first draft, but with the requirements focused mostly on the container
specifications and its location. Most
recently, at its second draft meeting in
July, NFPA 101 further revised its provisions, addressing the numerous public
comments received on the topic from
organizations and stakeholders across
the industry. Newly revised-but not yet
balloted-code language addresses the
use of alternate materials for containers

in sprinklered buildings or buildings
with noncombustible exteriors when
the dwelling units are served by egress
balconies. The language also modifies
the specifications for container construction and size; the requirement for
tight-fitting lids was removed, for example, due to the potential entrapment for
children and animals. The addition of
time limitations for trash and recycling
materials was added to ensure that the
greatest risk of the combustible materials in the containers is addressed and
minimized. NFPA 1 will hold its second
draft meeting in September, and it is
expected that similar conversations on
these issues will occur there as well.
Concerns remain as the technical
committees continue their work on this
topic. Should the codes address a service
that, as some believe, goes against a
fundamental principle that means of
egress shall be continuously maintained
free of all obstructions or impediments

to full, instant use in the case of fire
or other emergency? Should the codes
prohibit it? Locating combustible materials in an egress corridor is a common
code violation. Enforcers of the code
have expressed concern with setting an
unfair precedent by specifically allowing this practice and potentially opening
the door to buildings permitting other
combustible materials within a means
of egress with or without regulation.
Others have expressed concern that
locating trash in the egress corridors
could interfere with firefighting efforts.
Supporters of the language believe that
the enforcement community needs guidance to ensure buildings with these
services already in place are not creating potential fire and life safety hazards.
If regulated, the industry says it wants
the service to not only be successful, but
safe and compliant as well.
Other questions will also need to be
addressed as part of the NFPA 1 and
N F PA . O R G / J O U R N A L * NFPA JOURNAL

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NFPA Journal - September/October 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - September/October 2019
