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Commodity Classifications in NFPA 13
By Brian O'Connor
18-Jan-2022
Commodity classifications are used to categorize the contents of storage occupancies so that the appropriate sprinkler system
design can be identified. Commodity classifications are determined by not only the product but also the packaging of that
product, the container those packaged products are in, and even the pallet type. This can get a little complicated, so I’ll run
through a quick example. We have glass jars stored in a double layered carboard box with cardboard dividers and it is sitting on
a reinforced plastic pallet. Even though the glass jars are only a Class I commodity, the cardboard box and plastic pallet
increases the fuel load so that it should be considered a Class IV.
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.
Class I:
A Class I commodity is defined as a noncombustible product that meets one of the following criteria:
Placed directly on wood pallets
Placed in single-layer corrugated cardboard boxes, with or without single-thickness cardboard dividers
Shrink-wrapped or paper-wrapped as a unit load
Class II:
A Class II commodity is defined as a noncombustible product that is in slatted wooden crates, solid wood boxes, multiple-
layered corrugated cardboard box, or equivalent combustible packaging material.
Class III:
A Class III commodity is defined as a product fashioned from wood, paper, natural fibers, or Group C plastics with or without
cartons, boxes, or crates.
A Class III commodity shall be permitted to contain a limited amount (5 percent or less by weight of nonexpanded plastic or 5
percent or less by volume of expanded plastic) of Group A or Group B plastics.
Class IV:
A Class IV commodity is defined as a product that meets one of the following criteria:
1. Constructed partially or totally of Group B plastics
2. Consists of free-flowing Group A plastic materials
3. Cartoned, or within a wooden container, that contains greater than 5 percent and up to 15 percent by weight of Group A
nonexpanded plastic
4. Cartoned, or within a wooden container, that contains greater than 5 percent and up to 25 percent by volume of expanded
Group A plastics
5. Cartoned, or within a wooden container, that contains a mix of Group A expanded and nonexpanded plastics and complies
with the graph section at the end of the blog
6. Exposed, that contains greater than 5 percent and up to 15 percent by weight of Group A nonexpanded plastic
7. Exposed, that contains a mix of Group A expanded and nonexpanded plastics and complies with the graph section at the
end of the blog
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 at the end of this
blog 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)
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
Group A Plastic: 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
Acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate)
Nitrile-rubber (acrylonitrile-butadiene-rubber)
Polyethylene
Butyl rubber
Nylon (nylon 6, nylon 6/6)
Polypropylene
PVF (polyvinyl fluoride)
Cellulosics (cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, ethyl cellulose)
PET (thermoplastic polyester)
Polystyrene
SAN (styrene acrylonitrile)
EPDM (ethylene-propylene rubber)
Polybutadiene
Polyurethane
SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber)
Helpful Definitions
One of the biggest issues I see when people are starting to learn about sprinkler design for storage occupancies is that they
don’t know the terminology. It is important to fully understand the definitions for the terms used in the storage chapters of NFPA
13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems. I recommend looking at the definition chapter of NFPA 13 to make sure you
understand exactly what a term means because oftentimes it means something different than what you would expect. Here are
a couple of definitions that are important to understanding this blog.
Expanded Group A Plastics: Those plastics, the density of which is reduced by the presence of air pockets dispersed throughout
their mass. Some examples include packing peanuts or acoustic foam. Nonexpanded is everything else that is not covered
under the definition of expanded.
Free Flowing Group A Plastics (protect as Class IV): Those plastics that fall out of their containers during a fire, fill flue spaces,
and create a smothering effect on the fire. Examples include powder, pellets, flakes or random-packed small objects.
Free flowing plastics are those small objects that fill a box or a subdivision within the box without restraint. The theory is that
during a fire. The objects will freely fall out of the box and either smother the fire or fall away from it, removing themselves as
fuel. Since the burning rate is reduced and fuel load has been lessened, free-flowing plastics are permitted to be treated as a
Class IV commodity.
Exposed: Commodities not in packaging or coverings that absorb water. For example, a cardboard box or wooden container can
both absorb water so they would not be considered exposed. However, something that is wrapped in plastic sheeting could be
considered exposed since plastic sheeting doesn’t absorb water.
Cartoned - A method of storage consisting of corrugated cardboard or paperboard containers fully enclosing the commodity.
Graphs
The following tables 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. The first graph addresses
exposed commodities while the second graph addresses commodities that are cartoned or within a wooden container (non-
exposed).
Pallets
When commodities are tested, they are tested on wooden pallets. This means that wooden pallets are assumed to be used in
commodity classifications, however if plastic pallets are used, they increase the commodity classification by two classes.
Although, if the plastic pallet is made of polypropylene or high-density polyethylene and marked as “nonreinforced” then the
commodity classification only needs to be increased by one classification.
Plastic Pallet Increase (+2)
Class I --> Class III
Class II --> Class IV
Class III --> Group A Plastics
Class IV --> Cartoned nonexpanded Group A plastic
Group A Plastics --> Group A Plastics (No increase)
Unreinforced Polypropylene or High-Density Polyethylene Plastic Pallet Increase (+1)
Class I --> Class II
Class II --> Class III
Class III --> Class IV
Class IV --> Cartoned nonexpanded Group A plastic
Group A Plastics --> Group A Plastics (No increase)
Determining the classification for commodities in storage occupancies can get complicated at times but I can not stress how
important of a step this is during the sprinkler design process. It is also imperative that the owner understands what the building
is designed to handle as well as what can and can not be stored in the facility once it is built. I hope you enjoyed the blog.
Comment below if you have questions and be sure to share this with friends and colleagues who might find it helpful.
Important Notice: Any opinion expressed in this column (blog, article) is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent
the official position of NFPA or its Technical Committees. In addition, this piece is neither intended, nor should it be relied upon, to
provide professional consultation or services.
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Brian O'Connor
Technical Services Engineer, NFPA
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Kyle Camden 1 month ago
K
"Exposed: Commodities not in packaging or coverings that absorb water. For example, a cardboard box or wooden container can both
absorb water so they WOULD -n-o-t- be considered exposed. However, something that is wrapped in plastic sheeting could be considered
exposed since plastic sheeting doesn’t absorb water."
Correction - Commodities not in packaging or commodities in coverings that absorb water are considered exposed. Cardboard boxes and
wooden containers DO absorb water, so this would be considered exposed packaging or covering, however you say its NOT considered
exposed in your example.
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Victor Wang 1 month ago
Hi Kyle, this is my two cents. Exposed or Cartoned is only relevant to commodities classified as Plastic. For cardboard boxes and
wooden container, they are of Class III Commodity with low fire hazard.
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Mark Cappello 3 months ago
M
Hi Brian. I know liquor up to 100 proof is a Class IV commodity. What is the commodity classification for liquor over 100 proof stored on
wood pallets?
I can't see it in NFPA-13. Only see up to 100 proof in chapter 23. The existing sprinklers are an ESFR with K-22.4 heads with greater than 40
psi. Max storage is under 25ft and ceiling is under 40'-45' with the deflectors approx 8"-12" below that. The location is in the area of
Richmond, Calif.
Thanks, and I look forward to hearing your response.
Mark
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Polycarbonate Sheet 3 months ago
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ROMAN PLUCIŃSKI 3 months ago
R
Hi, I have a question about cardboard packaging: could storing PE, PET and PP granules in paper bags be classified as storage in
cardboard boxes?
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Kaivalya 4 months ago
Hello Brian, what category does the liquid flammable material storage in metal containers placed on wooden palates comes under ?
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April Hensley 6 months ago
A
Curious what sort of specialist can be hired to help determine what classification a company might be storing?
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TCK 6 months ago
T
A good safety engineer or loss control consultant knows.
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Rick 6 months ago
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Where would chemically cross linked low density polyethylene fall into. Its used for Carpet and engineered floor underlay
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Md. Nasir Uddin 1 year ago
M
what will the community class of cotton fabric roll wrapping with polythene??
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dhanam roofings 1 year ago
d
NFPA 13 outlines crucial commodity classifications for storage occupancies, impacting sprinkler system design. From Class I to IV and
Group A to C plastics, understanding product, packaging, and pallet types is essential. Commodity classifications ensure proper fire safety
measures, a complex yet vital aspect in storage facility design according to Brian O'Connor's insightful article on Dhanam Roofings .
<a href="[Link] contractors in Chennai</a>.
0 0 Reply
dhanam roofings 1 year ago
d
Thank you so much for sharing information. Very useful information for Industrial plastic Segregation . Definitely will share to our technical
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Eelco Westerveld 1 year ago
Hello Brian, is there a same sort of conversion availebel for Flammable and combustible liquids?
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Brian O'Connor 9 months ago
B
Hey Eelco, you have to check out NFPA 30 for sprinkler requirements on the storage of flammable and combustible liquids
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Ali Jafer Ahmed Musabih 1 year ago
A
Hi Brian,
Thank you for the article. It is really helpful.
I have one question that is confusing me a lot. You said in the article that there are two categories of classification: Class I to Class IV for
non-plastic commodities, and Group A to Group C for plastic commodities. You also said that Group C plastics can be equivalent to Class
III commodities, and Group B plastics can be equivalent to Class IV commodities. My question is: if my storage consists of only Group B
plastics, how should I classify it? Should I use the Group B classification or the Class IV classification? Or should I use the Group B
classification but apply the requirements for Class IV commodities?
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Brian O'Connor 9 months ago
Hey Ali, I can see how this is a little confusing but you would use the requirements for Class IV commodities.
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spica 1 year ago
Hi really nice article is given by you explained very well and proper explanation with image. i got a lot of idea from this post thanks for
sharing the post and keep tough with us
[Link]
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Steven 1 year ago
S
Hi Brian great details here. We are looking at storing blow mold plastic food grade bottles (think Yourt drink bottles) for a customer. We
are having a hard time finding sprinkler requirements. These would all be palletized on reinforced plastic pallets and shrink wrapped.
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Brian o'connor 1 year ago
Hey Steven, unfortunately I can't determine commodity classification in any particular scenario but check the type of plastic and how
it is stored. Chapter 20 in NFPA 13 should be able to help.
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Federico 2 years ago
Good afternoon Brian, looking at your presentation here above, I'm wondering if a noncombustible product inside multiple-layered
corrugated cardboard box (so a Class II commodity according to the definition above) is still a Class II commodity if it is also shrink-
wrapped with plastic film as a unit load. Thank you, Federico
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Brian o'connor 2 years ago
Check out the definition for "Exposed" and "Encapsulated" in NFPA 13. Depending on how it is shrink wrapped it could be considered
encapsulated and exposed, which could affect how you protect your warehouse.
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Federico 2 years ago
F
Hi Brian. I've a question for you. How should I consider synthetic and natural fabric cloths inside plastic bags, cartoned on pallet and
wrapped with plastic film in a double row rack storage configuration? Group A plastics cartoned nonexpanded or Group A plastics
Exposed nonexpanded? thank you Federico
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Brian o'connor 2 years ago
Dear Federico, thank you for your question but unfortunately NFPA can not help anyone determine commodity classification for their
specific installations. This is an important decision that should be made by the engineer of record.
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Quentin Yarbrough 2 years ago
Q
Good afternoon. I'm having a bit of trouble clearly defining a pallet of empty 800ml bottles that are packaged 50 each into a cardboard box
and 20 boxes per pallet. Would that be cartoned-expanded-group A plastic?
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Brian o'connor 2 years ago
B
Hey Quentin, thanks for your comment but unfortunately NFPA can not help anyone specify their commodity. Determining commodity
classification is an important engineering decision that must be made on a case by base basis.
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gokce koc 2 years ago
g
The storage area is not requiring Sprinkler Protection as per area limit of NFPA5000. Shoul i still check the sprinkler requirement as per
commodity class?
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Brian O'Connor 9 months ago
B
Hey Gokce, NFPA 13 tells you how to install sprinklers in your building while a building or fire code would tell you whether or not you
are required to install sprinklers in the building in the first place.
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Rahul 2 years ago
It is also imperative that the owner understands what the building is designed to handle as well as what can and can not be stored in the
facility once it is built.
Demat Account Charges
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Brian o'connor 2 years ago
Rahul, I agree, communication and understanding of all fire and life safety building features is essential for owners and occupants.
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David Rakovsky 2 years ago
Brian, thanks for publishing this really helpful article. I am trying to understand the commodities I have in my building. The products we
store are electronic parts like battery chargers and power cords. All of the products are using fire-retardant plastics. While they mostly
appear in the Group A list, I don't see any consideration for their fire rating. i.e. We may use ABS or Polycarbonate but they are rated UL
94V0 (per UL94: Burning stops within 10 seconds on a vertical part allowing for drops of plastic that are not inflames.) and we use PVC in
power cords but it's VW-1 (VW-1 is a rating from UL1581 for Standard for Vertical Flame Test)). So, does the NFPA13 totally disregard the
fire ratings of plastics? I feel the fire rating should allow to lower the hazard classification as the plastics have self extinguishing
properties of varying degrees. Can you shed light on it? thanks!!
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Nathan Logan 3 years ago
Great overview of commodity classification and impact on sprinkler design. Encapsulation is another factor to add that can be overlooked
and impact the system design. The decision to encapsulate product may not have been a consideration at the time of design but decided
later due to business necessity or customer requirements.
I am interested to know if the small reusable plastic totes being used more and more in industry for parts shipment should be categorized
as if a plastic pallet was in use? Or as an exposed Group A? Is there any performance data or fire testing available?
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Brian o'connor 3 years ago
Hey Nathan, thanks for your comment. NFPA 13 doesn't specifically address the use of plastic totes. They should be treated as part of
the commodity being stored and the overall classification should be adjusted accordingly. The use of plastic totes (at least the ones I
am thinking of) seem to fit the definition of exposed since they don't typically absorb water.
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Dwight Havens 3 years ago
Excellent review of how NFPA 13 classifies commodities for sprinkler design. I agree with Diaaeldin Mostafa's comment and your
response to that comment, as well as your comment, "It is also imperative that the owner understands what the building is designed to
handle as well as what can and can not be stored in the facility once it is built." If it is known what the warehouse is going to be initially
used for, assuming that the hazard can be controlled by water spray, then a sprinkler system can be designed for the hazard. The
challenge is designing a sprinkler system that is flexible enough to accommodate future changes without excessive cost, which is usually
borne by the tenant or lessee. Finally, an oft unresolved question is how are sprinkler systems to be designed for speculative warehouses,
where the potential commodity and storage arrangement is wide open?
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Brian o'connor 3 years ago
Thank you for your comment and insights Dwight! They are much appreciated.
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Diaaeldin Mostafa 3 years ago
D
Blog was really informative. Unfortunately, most of owners I have met don't know the commodities they will store & asking for the max.
flexible sprinkler design as their business differ from year to year & in same time they claim on the cost of the system
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Brian O'Connor 3 years ago
B
Diaaeldin Mostafa, thanks for your comment and I agree, it is difficult to design a system if you don't know what is going to be stored
there or how it is going to be stored. This makes it even more important to communicate with the owner to let them know any
limitations of the system and you want to make sure you get them to fill out an owners certificate that has all of the information you
need to properly classify the hazards.
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