demondeacon
Happy to be here
I hope the show was good. I've been working around the house most of the weekend. Here's a little education about the NC Code.
Chapter 56 covers explosives, which includes black powder, smokeless powder, small arms primers, and finished ammunition. The beginning of the chapter has this wording (5601.2.2) " Persons shall not construct a retail display nor offer for sale explosives, explosive materials or fireworks upon highways, sidewalks, public property or in Group A or E occupancies."
Unfortunately the Coliseum Annex and Education Buildings are classified as Group A (Assembly Occupancies). Now the Armory is classified as a Group B (Business).
Don't get too excited about the Armory being Group B because the code is geared toward sales in Group M (Mercantile Occupancies). Group M will be built with different construction characteristics, fire resistance requirements, exit requirements, and fire alarm and sprinkler requirements than Group B.
5601.2.3 gives the Fire Code Official (me or my designee) the ability to limit the quantity of explosive materials at any given location and require a permit.
Going strictly by the code (5601.2.2) we shouldn't allow the display of any black powder, smokeless powder, or primers at shows but we try to be reasonable. I know it's a pain to send someone out to re-stock or sell a bulk order, but those sales are only supposed to happen at mercantile locations. I'm actually sticking my neck out if I allow it and could be subject to criminal and civil penalties if a fire or explosion occurred. Mercantile occupancies are restricted to display for sale 20 pounds of smokeless powder in 1 pound containers, 1 pound of black powder, and 10,000 small arms primers. Additional amounts must be stored away from the public and meet all kinds of storage requirements.
I know it doesn't make vendors feel any better, but this is what is in the fire code. Like I said before, I reload and totally get the frustration.
Chapter 56 covers explosives, which includes black powder, smokeless powder, small arms primers, and finished ammunition. The beginning of the chapter has this wording (5601.2.2) " Persons shall not construct a retail display nor offer for sale explosives, explosive materials or fireworks upon highways, sidewalks, public property or in Group A or E occupancies."
Unfortunately the Coliseum Annex and Education Buildings are classified as Group A (Assembly Occupancies). Now the Armory is classified as a Group B (Business).
Don't get too excited about the Armory being Group B because the code is geared toward sales in Group M (Mercantile Occupancies). Group M will be built with different construction characteristics, fire resistance requirements, exit requirements, and fire alarm and sprinkler requirements than Group B.
5601.2.3 gives the Fire Code Official (me or my designee) the ability to limit the quantity of explosive materials at any given location and require a permit.
Going strictly by the code (5601.2.2) we shouldn't allow the display of any black powder, smokeless powder, or primers at shows but we try to be reasonable. I know it's a pain to send someone out to re-stock or sell a bulk order, but those sales are only supposed to happen at mercantile locations. I'm actually sticking my neck out if I allow it and could be subject to criminal and civil penalties if a fire or explosion occurred. Mercantile occupancies are restricted to display for sale 20 pounds of smokeless powder in 1 pound containers, 1 pound of black powder, and 10,000 small arms primers. Additional amounts must be stored away from the public and meet all kinds of storage requirements.
I know it doesn't make vendors feel any better, but this is what is in the fire code. Like I said before, I reload and totally get the frustration.