Commodity Classifications

Prepared By :Engr.
Faizan (CFPS-NFPA)
NFPA COMMODITY
CLASSIFICATIONS
Prepared By :Engr. Faizan (CFPS-NFPA)
WHAT IS COMMODITY?
• Commodity stored in warehouses consist up of three major

elements:
Material and internal packaging
External packaging
Pallet (Wooden, Plastic)

TYPES OF PALLETS
• Wooden Pallets
• Unreinforced Plastic Pallets
Melt fairly easily in a fire and are
less of a fire challenge
• Reinforced Plastic Pallet
Hold their structure and integrity
longer allowing air gaps to remain
longer within the pallet, which fuels
the flames and creates a more intense
fire
WHY COMMODITY CLASSIFICATION?
• Commodity classifications are used to categorize the contents of

storage occupancies so that the appropriate sprinkler system design
can be identified.
• Commodity class is the most critical first step in proper Storage
protection design
• The best technologies can be overwhelmed by inadequate
classifications.
• Warehouse storage sprinkler system cannot be designed without
correct identifications of commodity class.
IMPORTANCE
• Identifications of Correct Commodity class is very first step In
designing Sprinkler System for Storage Occupancies Like
Warehouse etc.
• Commodity class is used for the identification of correct sprinkler
system design.
• Failure in identification of correct commodity class can result into
system under performance or failure to prevent fire growth and
spread through a series of sprinkler heads connected to a
distribution piping system.
COMMODITY CLASSIFICATIONS
There are 7 major classifications in which NFPA has divided the
commodities:
1. CLASS I COMMODITIES
2. CLASS II COMMODITIES
3. CLASS III COMMODITIES
4. CLASS IV COMMODITIES
5. GROUP C PLASTICS
6. GROUP B PLASTICS
7. GROUP A PLASTICS (EXPANDED, NON EXPANDED)
CLASS I COMMODITIES
Class I commodity are the noncombustible
materials that are:
a. stored directly on wooden pallets
b. single layer corrugated cartons with or
with out pallets
c. Or shrink wrapped or paper wrapped as
unit load with or without pallets.
Examples:
• Frozen Food products In non-waxed or
non-plastic packaging
• Vehicle Batteries; small (for example,
automobile); wet cells (excludes lithium-
ion and other cells containing combustible
electrolytes)
CLASS II COMMODITIES
Class II commodity are the
noncombustible materials that are
stored in:
a. slatted wooden crates, solid wood
boxes, multiple-layered corrugated
b. cartons, or other similar
combustible packaging material, with
or with-out pallets
CLASS III COMMODITIES

Class III commodity are the materials
manufactured from:
a. wood, paper, natural fibers or Group C
plastics(e.g. Fluoroplastics (PCTFE —
polychlorotrifluoroethylene;
PTFE — polytetrafluoroethylene)
with or without cartons, boxes or crates and
with or without pallets. The materials that
contain 5% by volume or by weight of group C
plastics products may also be considered as
class 3 commodities
CLASS IV COMMODITIES
Class IV commodity are the materials
manufactured from:
a. group B plastics
b. or from free flowing group A plastics
c. or Contains within itself or its packaging
an appreciable amount (5 % to 15 % by
weight or 5 % to 25 % by volume) of
Group A plastics
PLASTICS
Plastics are a little more straightforward since there is a specific list of what each
group contains. Classifying plastics gets complicated when the commodity being
stored is a combination of different groups of plastics, but the graphs in the next slides
should be able to help alleviate some of that work.
Group C Plastics: Group C plastics are treated as Class III Commodities and consist of
the following:
• Fluoroplastics (PCTFE — polychlorotrifluoroethylene; PTFE —
polytetrafluoroethylene)
• Melamine (melamine formaldehyde)
• Phenolic
• PVC (polyvinyl chloride — flexible — PVCs with plasticizer content up to 20 percent)
• PVDC (polyvinylidene chloride)
• PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride)
• Urea (urea formaldehyde)
PLASTICS
Group B Plastics: Group B plastics are treated as Class IV Commodities
and consist of the following:
• Chloroprene rubber
• Fluoroplastics (ECTFE — ethylene-chlorotrifluoro-ethylene copolymer;
ETFE — ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene-copolymer; FEP — fluorinated
ethylene-propylene copolymer)
• Silicone rubber
PLASTICS
Group A Plastics: Group A plastics are further subdivided into expanded and
nonexpanded Group A plastics and consist of all of the plastics listed in the table
below.
• ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer)
• FRP (fiberglass-reinforced polyester)
• Polycarbonate
• PVC (polyvinyl chloride — highly plasticized, with plasticizer content greater than 20
percent) (rarely found)
• Acetal (polyformaldehyde)
• Natural rubber
• Polyester elastomer
HAZARD LEVEL OF COMMODITIES
• Commodity Classifications are

broken down into Classes I
through IV and Group A though C
plastics with Class I being the
lowest hazard level and Group A
expanded plastics being the
highest hazard level.
HOW TO FIND COMMODITY CLASS IN MIXED

COMMODITIES
• The following graphs come from NFPA 13 to help with navigating how
a commodity should be classified when it contains Group A plastics.
Note that the X axis is percentage by volume while the Y axis is
percentage be weight.
1. The first graph addresses exposed commodities while
2. The second graph addresses commodities that are cartoned or
within a wooden container (non-exposed).
Continued…

COMMODITIES - CARTONED
continued…

COMMODITIES - EXPOSED
COMMODITY CLASSIFICATION - DECISION

MATRIX
ADJUSTMENT OF COMMODITY CLASS

BASED ON PALLET TYPE
a. WHEN COMMODITY IS PLACED ON UNREINFORCED PLASTIC PALLETS:

For Class I through Class IV commodities, when unreinforced polypropylene or
unreinforced high-density polyethylene plastic pallets are used, the classification
of the commodity unit shall be increased one class.
b. WHEN COMMODITY IS PLACED ON REINFORCED PLASTIC PALLETS:
For Class I through Class IV commodities, when reinforced polypropylene or
reinforced high-density polyethylene plastic pallets are used, the classification of
the commodity unit shall be increased two classes EXCEPT for Class IV
commodity, which shall be increased to a cartooned nonexpanded Group A
plastic commodity.
ADJUSTMENT OF COMMODITY CLASS

BASED ON PALLET TYPE
EXAMPLE:
• Pallets shall be assumed to be reinforced if no

permanent marking or manufacturer's certification of nonreinforcement
is provided. (It means increase the commodity class by two).
• No increase in the commodity classification shall be
required for Group A plastic commodities stored on plastic
pallets.
SOME OTHER COMMODITIES
• Rubber Tires
• Rolled Paper Storage
• Plastic Motor Vehicle Components
RESULT OF INCORRECT IDENTIFICATION OF

COMODITY CLASS
• A Complete Disaster
RESULT OF
INCORRECT
IDENTIFICATION OF
COMODITY:
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS
TEMPE ARIZONA 19 MARCH 1998
BULK RETAIL STORE FIRE:
NFPA investigation report said:
At the time that the building had been constructed,
the sprinkler system was designed for Class IV
commodities. However, at the time of the fire, the
commodity in the area of origin was predominantly
Group A expanded and unexpanded plastics. This
commodity would have required a greater ceiling
sprinkler density.
Source
• NFPA 01 – CHAPTER 34
• NFPA 13 – CHAPTER 20
• https://www.dcd.gov.ae/portal/en/preventive-safety/rules-regulations/uae-fire-and-life-safety-code-of-practice.jsp
• https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-media/Blogs-Landing-Page/NFPA-Today/Blog-
Posts/2022/01/18/Commodity-Classifications-in-NFPA-13
• https://archive.org/details/bulkretailstorefiretempearizona-march191998/page/n5/mode/2up

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Commodity Classifications

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Prepared By :Engr.

• Commodity stored in warehouses consist up of three major

Material and internal packaging

Pallet (Wooden, Plastic)

WHY COMMODITY CLASSIFICATION?

• Commodity classifications are used to categorize the contents of

CLASS III COMMODITIES

HAZARD LEVEL OF COMMODITIES

• Commodity Classifications are

HOW TO FIND COMMODITY CLASS IN MIXED

HOW TO FIND COMMODITY CLASS IN MIXED

HOW TO FIND COMMODITY CLASS IN MIXED

COMMODITY CLASSIFICATION - DECISION

ADJUSTMENT OF COMMODITY CLASS

a. WHEN COMMODITY IS PLACED ON UNREINFORCED PLASTIC PALLETS:

ADJUSTMENT OF COMMODITY CLASS

• Pallets shall be assumed to be reinforced if no

SOME OTHER COMMODITIES

RESULT OF INCORRECT IDENTIFICATION OF

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