Q: Are gift shops still classified as hazardous areas if they have quantities of combustibles? I do not see the standard for gift shops to be classified as hazardous areas in the 2012 addition.
A: Nope. The 2012 edition dropped the requirement that gift shops have to be considered to be hazardous areas that was found in previous editions.
Since the combustible items that are in gift shops (i.e. greeting cards, clothes, stuffed animals, etc.) are on display rather than ‘in storage’ they are not required to comply with 19.3.2.1.5 of the 2012 LSC for hazardous areas. However, the storage room for gift shops still must comply with 19.3.2.1.5 for hazardous areas.
Brad Keyes, CHSP, is the owner of KEYES Life Safety Compliance, and his expertise is in the management of the Life Safety Program, including the Environment of Care and Emergency Management programs.
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