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NFPA 40, Standard for the Storage and Handling of Cellulose Nitrate Film

2022 NFPA 40 Standard - Current Edition
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  • Description

    Improve safety around flammable film with the 2022 edition of NFPA 40, Standard for the Storage and Handling of Cellulose Nitrate Film.

    Cellulose nitrate motion picture film requires special fire safety and fire protection precautions because of its extreme flammability. Keep your knowledge up to date on provisions concerning every aspect of storage and handling of cellulose nitrate motion picture film in film cabinets and archival vaults, motion picture projection booths and theaters, laboratories, and film exchanges with NFPA 40, Standard for the Storage and Handling of Cellulose Nitrate Film.

    The updated edition of this standard provides facility designers and engineers, code enforcers and inspectors, and film vault owners and operators with current and comprehensive requirements for the safe storage, handling, and fire protection for nitrate film, including:

    • Construction requirements and arrangements of buildings
    • Fire protection
    • Storage and handling of nitrate film
    • Motion picture projection and special processes
    • Special occupancies

    Minimize fire risks and hazards with the standard's latest technical changes.

    In the latest edition of NFPA 40, Standard for the Storage and Handling of Cellulose Nitrate Film, multiple updates were made to provide users with new safety requirements for storing nitrate film. These updates include the following:

    • Engineers, inspectors, and other users can now store nitrate film in freezers or refrigerators, depending on the quantity of the film.
    • The term extended term storage was changed to permanent storage to reflect current terminology.
    • The requirement for buildings to be of Type I construction was modified to apply to permanent storage.
    • A test method that determines the fire resistance ratings of partitions and fire doors was added.
    • New annex material was added to provide users with examples of US Department of Transportation-authorized containers for storing nitrate film.

    Improve fire protection around still and motion picture film by ordering the updated edition of NFPA 40, Standard for the Storage and Handling of Cellulose Nitrate Film, today. (Print, 23 pp., 2022)

  • Table of Contents (2022 Current Edition)

    NFPA® 40, Standard for the Storage and Handling of Cellulose Nitrate Film, 2022 Edition

    Chapter 1 Administration
    1.1 Scope.
    1.2 Purpose.
    1.3 Application.
    1.4 Retroactivity.
    1.5 Equivalency.
    1.6 Approval of Plans.
    Chapter 2 Referenced Publications
    2.1 General.
    2.2 NFPA Publications.
    2.3 Other Publications.
    2.4 References for Extracts in Mandatory Sections. (Reserved)
    Chapter 3 Definitions
    3.1 General.
    3.2 NFPA Official Definitions.
    3.3 General Definitions.
    Chapter 4 Construction Requirements and Arrangements of Buildings
    4.1 Construction.
    4.2 Exits.
    4.3 Explosion Venting.
    4.4 Space for Workers.
    4.5 Tables and Racks.
    4.6 Electrical Equipment.
    4.7 Heating, Cooling, and Refrigeration Equipment.
    4.8 Duct Systems.
    Chapter 5 Fire Protection
    5.1 Automatic Sprinklers.
    5.2 Water Supplies.
    5.3 Portable Fire Extinguishers.
    Chapter 6 Storage of Nitrate Film
    6.1 General.
    6.2 Film Cabinets.
    6.3 Vaults Other Than Permanent Storage Vaults.
    6.4 Permanent Storage Cabinets and Freezers.
    6.5 Permanent Storage Vaults.
    Chapter 7 Handling of Nitrate Film
    7.1 General Conditions.
    7.2 Containers Required.
    7.3 Shielding.
    7.4 Scrap and Discarded Film.
    7.5 Transportation.
    Chapter 8 Motion Picture Projection and Special Processes
    8.1 Enclosures for Motion Picture Projectors.
    Chapter 9 Special Occupancies
    9.1 Motion Picture Film Exchanges.
    9.2 Motion Picture Film Laboratories.
    Annex A Explanatory Material
    Annex B Additional Information on Cellulose Nitrate Film
    Annex C History of Cellulose Nitrate Film Use and Storage
    Annex D Informational References
  • Prior Editions

    2019 Edition

    Important updates in NFPA 40, Standard for the Storage and Handling of Cellulose Nitrate Film help you improve fire protection around still and motion picture film.

    Due to its extreme flammability, cellulose nitrate motion picture film requires special fire safety and fire protection precautions. Research-based NFPA 40 is your one-stop source for provisions concerning every aspect of storage and handling of cellulose nitrate motion picture film in film cabinets and archival vaults, motion picture projection booths and theaters, laboratories, and film exchanges.

    Minimize fire and related hazards with the latest edition of NFPA 40.

    Updated with new definitions that reflect terminology used by modern archivists, the 2019 edition provides facility designers and engineers, code enforcers and inspectors, and film vault owners and operators current and comprehensive requirements for safe storage, handling, and fire protection for nitrate film, including:

    • Construction requirements and arrangements of buildings
    • Fire protection
    • Storage of nitrate film
    • Handling of nitrate film
    • Motion picture projection and special processes
    • Special occupancies

    Technical changes in the 2019 edition of NFPA 40 include:

    • A new requirement for inspection and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers to comply with NFPA 10
    • Updates to the extended term storage vault requirements to give designers more flexible storage configurations
    • Revised requirements for openings in, and exhaust capacities of, projection booths to reflect modern practices and equipment
    • An added requirement for temperature and humidity control

    Improve safety around flammable film by staying up-to-code with NFPA 40. (Print, 28 pp., 2019)

    2016 Edition

    NFPA 40, Standard for the Storage and Handling of Cellulose Nitrate Film addresses fire protection for still and motion picture film.

    Cellulose nitrate motion picture film requires special fire safety and fire protection precautions due to its extreme flammability. Developed through research and lessons learned, NFPA 40 is your one-stop source for provisions concerning every aspect of storage and handling of cellulose nitrate motion picture film in film cabinets and archival vaults, motion picture projection booths and theaters, laboratories, and film exchanges.

    To avoid fire and related hazards -- and protect people and property -- facility designers and engineers, code enforcers and inspectors, and film vault owners and operators need the most up-to-date requirements for safe storage, handling, and fire protection, for nitrate film, including:

    • Construction requirements and arrangements of buildings
    • Fire protection
    • Storage of nitrate film
    • Handling of nitrate film
    • Motion picture projection and special processes
    • Special occupancies

    Only the 2016 edition of NFPA 40 provides:

    • Clarification on which types of containers should be used for motion picture film versus flat film
    • New guidance for using laboratory-grade refrigerators or freezers to slow or halt nitrate decay

    In another revision, additional Annex material expands on the equivalency between the weight of film and the number of rolls of motion picture film or the number of flat film negatives. This change enables the requirements in the 2016 NFPA 40 (given in mass of film) to be applied to both forms of film. (Softbound, 21 pp., 2016)

     

    Interested in other editions of NFPA 40? Use the drop down menu above to select the edition year you need.

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