Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1946)

E-18 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, June 22, 1946 Underwriters' Safeiy Standards ior Theatre Use of Motion Picture Film EXTRACTS FROM NATIONAL BOARD OF FIRE UNDERWRITERS' "STANDARDS FOR NITROCELLULOSE MOTION PICTURE FILM."* 1. APPLICATION OF RULES. — These regulations are intended to apply to the storage and handling of nitrocellulose motion pichire film, in all places except establishments manufacturing such film and storage incident thereto. They are not intended to apply to the storage and handling of film having a cellulose acetate or other approved slow-burning base nor to photographic and X-ray film. 2. Scope of Regulations. — These regulations are intended to provide reasonable provisions for the storage and handling of motion picture film, based on minimum requirements for safety to life and property from fire. 4. Approval of Plans. — Before constructing any building for use as a motion picture film occupancy, or remodeling any building for such occupancy, or . . . installing any enclosure for motion picture projection, or installing any screening room, complete plans of such proposed construction or installation should be submitted to the inspection department having jurisdiction for approval. These plans shall show in detail all proposed constructic n and structural changes and the means of protection to be provided, the heating system with the protection for it, the electrical equipment, and the character and location of exposures. 111. Motion picture film should preferably be stored or handled only in buildings of fireproof construction. 117. Tables and Racks.— Tables and rpcks used in connection with the handling of film (joining, inspection and assembling tables for example) shall be of metal or other non-combustible material. They should be kept at least 4 inches away from any radiator or heating apparatus. Tables shall not be provided with racks or shelves underneath them, which might be used for keeping film or other materials. 121. Artificial illumination in any room where film is handled or stored shall be restricted to incandescent electric lights, except that arc lights or other forms of electric lights may be used. 122. All electrical wiring and equipment shall conform to the National Electrical Code. The wiring method shall be rigid metal conduit or other approved type of metal raceway. Fuses shall be enclosed. 124. Light fixtures shall be firmly fixed in place, and lights shall be protected by vapor-tight globes. All lights shall be equipped with keyless sockets and operated by wall switches. 125. Portable electric lights on extension cords shall not be used in any room in which film is handled or stored, other than the stage of motion picture studios, except that in emergency such portable lamps *Reprinted by permission. may be used if equipped with approved keyless sockets and metal protection lamp guards, and having rubber-covered cords of the Hard Service (type S) or Junior Hard Service (type SJ) varieties, with suitable locking plugs. 126. Motors shall be of the non-sparking type, or shall be of an enclosed type, so arranged as to minimize the danger of sparks. 127. Motion picture projectors and other associated electrical equipment shall be of approved type and safeguarded in accordance with the requirements of the National Electrical Code. 131. Artifical heating in any building or room, other than a vault, in which motion picture film is used, handled or stored, shall be restricted to steam not exceeding 15 pounds pressure or hot water, provided however, that this shall not be construed as prohibiting the installation of an indirect system employing high pressure steam when the radiators or heating coils of such system are not located in the room or rooms to be heated. Heat generating apparatus shall be located in a separate room. Note. Ordinary hot air furnaces are prohibited. Gas, oil and electric heaters, are prohibited in rooms where film is handled or stored. 132. All steam pipes within 6 feet of the floor, and where passing through partitions or racks or near woodwork, shall be covered with approved pipe covering. All radiators, heating coils, and pipes and returns that are near the floor or are so located as to permit any combustible material, waste or dirt to come in contact therewith shall be guarded and protected by means of inch mesh galvanized steel wire cloth No. 20 B. & S. Gauge, or by its equivalent. The bottoms of such guards shall be arranged so as to lift up for cleaning purposes and the tops to slope so that guards cannot be used as shelves. Guards shall be so constructed that no film can come within 4 inches of the heating surface, and shall be made with a substantia] metal frame work which will prevent the wire mesh being forced against the radiator or pipes. 133. Air conditioning, warm air heating, air cooling and ventilating systems employing ducts shall be installed in accordance with the "Regulations on Air Conditioning, Warm Air Heating, Air Cooling and Ventilating Systems." In addition to the fire dampers required by said regulations, approved automatic fire dampers shall also be located at such points as may be necessary so that, as far as the duct system is concerned, each room in which film is handled is cut off by dampers from every other room, including those where film is handled as well as those where film is not handled. (See Par. 191 (g).) 144. Every room in which film is stored or handled, except film vaults, shall be provided with first aid fire appliances of types using water or water solutions. Note: Small hose equipment is recom-1 mended, and the following types of extin-' guishers are considered suitable: Soda acid, calcium chloride, pump tank, andj loaded stream. I 151. The storage of motion picture film, not in process or being worked upon, and except as herein-after specifically provided shall be in accordance with the following rules: J (1) Amounts in excess of 25 pounds (^ standard rolls) but not in excess of 1000 pounds (200 standard rolls) shall be kept in approved cabinets if not in vaults; (2) Amounts in excess of 1000 pounds shall be kept in vaults; (3) Storage for any considerable length of time should be in vaults only. Film Cabinets 161. Construction. — (a) Cabinets including doors shall be of a type of construction approved by the inspection department having jurisdiction. (b) Cabinets shall have a capacity of not in excess of 375 pounds of film. (c) Racks in the cabinet shall be of metal and so arranged that containers will be stored on edge only. (d) Doors shall close tightly against the jambs, and should be so arranged as to remain normally closed and latched. 162. Vents. — (a) Cabinets having a capacity of over 50 pounds of film (10 standard rolls) shall be provided with a vent from each compartment to the outside of the building. The vent shall have a minimum effective sectional area of 14 square inches per 100 pounds of film capacity. For long lengths of vent pipe a larger size may be necessary to take care of friction loss and turns in the pipe. (b) Vent flues shall be of construction equivalent to 18 U. S. gauge riveted sheet metal, and where inside the building shall be covered with 1 inch of approved heat insulating material. 163. Sprinklers. — (a) Cabinets, holding over 75 pounds of film (15 standard rolls) shall be provided with at least one automatic sprinkler; provided, however, that a cabinet constructed so that each roll is in a separate compartment and will burn out without communicating fire to film in any other compartment, need not be provided with an automatic sprinkler. (b) Cabinets of not over 125 pounds capacity for use in projection booths and {Coiithmed on Page E-26)