Cannabis Operations: Work Flow
1. ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW a. Architectural plans are submitted to Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) in application for a building permit and certificate of occupancy; i. Architectural plans are then submitted to LAFD Fire Development Services for review with respect to the clearance pending on the above building permit application; ii. Applicant follows all usual steps to obtaining their building permit and Certificate of Occupancy; b. Specific hazards particularly to be checked include: i. Occupancy classification: typically a Group F-1 Occupancy, but may constitute a Group H based upon storage of hazardous material(s) as compared to MAQ(s). Other occupancy group(s) in the same building must also be identified. ii. Whether or not sprinklers are required iii. Whether or not a fire alarm is required iv. Whether or not storage constitutes high pile combustible storage, which would require a separate plan check v. Proper egress considerations, including whether or not any egress doors are blocked by card readers or otherwise c. Approval of architectural plans is prerequisite to entertaining any equipment plans. 2. CARBON DIOXIDE ENRICHMENT a. CNG Burner (compressed flammable gas combustion process) i. Fire Permit Required (Industrial Oven, 3001.2 LAFC) ii. Fire Permit Required (Gas Detection: CNG and CO, 3805.1 LAFC) 1. Alarm signal at the lesser of 25% LEL or OSHA Personnel Exposure Limit for CNG and CO, set point to be supported by calculation 2. Alarm signal at 18.5% ambient oxygen 3. Alert signal at 3,000 ppmv CO2 and evacuation alarm signal at 30,000 ppmv 4. Audio/Visual notification required, to be separate and distinct from any fire alarm notification devices iii. Fire Permit Required (Central Station for gas detection, 105.7.1.6 LAFC) iv. CNG, CO2, CO, and low-O2 detectors with monitored alarm v. CNG and CO detectors must be UL 2075 or CSA C22.2 No. 152 listed vi. Other detectors must be NRTL listed (UL or similar) vii. Connection to plumbed in CNG line requires approval by LADBS Mechanical Test Lab, which requires testing by an approved third-party test lab upon agreement with LADBS and a resulting Modification approved by LADBS. viii. Mechanical ventilation is required at a rate not less than 1 CFM per square foot of the subject fire area 1. Requires LADBS Mechanical Plan Check approval
2. Requires duct smoke detection for 2,000 CFM or greater, which requires either a fire alarm or a sprinkler monitoring system to be installed 3. All detectors to be interlocked with mechanical ventilation b. CO2 storage tank (liquified cryogenic inert gas, pressurized) i. Fire Permit Required (Special Vessel, 105.7.1.1 LAFC) ii. CO2 and low-O2 detectors with local alarm only 1. Alarm signal at 18.5% ambient oxygen 2. Alert signal at 3,000 ppmv CO2 and evacuation alarm signal at 30,000 ppmv 3. Audio/Visual notification required, to be separate and distinct from any fire alarm notification devices iii. Detectors must be NRTL listed (UL or similar) iv. Mechanical ventilation is required at a rate not less than 1 CFM per square foot of the subject fire area 1. Requires LADBS Mechanical Plan Check approval 2. Requires duct smoke detection for 2,000 CFM or greater, which requires either a fire alarm or a sprinkler monitoring system to be installed 3. All detectors to be interlocked with mechanical ventilation 3. PLANT EXTRACTION a. May not occur in any building also containing a Group A, E, I, and/or R occupancy b. Must occur in a space dedicated to extraction exclusively c. Conditions of approval for all processes: i. Equipment listing or certification (3904.2 CFC) 1. A listing by UL or other Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory for the exact equipment to be used and for the exact purpose to be used is required; alternatively, 2. A technical report may be provided certifying the equipment a. Author of the technical report must be preapproved by LAFD i. Current/unexpired California license as a Professional Mechanical Engineer as required by the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists ii. Must have sufficient and directly relevant work experience iii. Must have references which LAFD will check b. The technical report must cover and fully describe all 14 topics required by 3904.3.1 CFC (2019) ii. Equipment plans along with the UL/NRTL listing information or technical report are submitted to LAFD Fire Development Services for review. iii. Upon approval as submitted or as may be corrected, the author of the technical report or a similarly qualifying and LAFD-approved Professional Mechanical Engineer shall visit the site to validate that all conditions described in the technical report fully agree with the physical installation and shall provide certification to LAFD FDS to this effect.
iv. LAFD FDS Inspector shall then inspect the equipment and installation. d. Non-Volatile i. Carbon Dioxide 1. Asphyxiant 2. Frostbite hazard (cryogenic liquified gas) 3. No applicable Maximum Allowable Quantity ii. Ethanol 1. Class IB Flammable Liquid 2. MAQ is 120 gallons a. May be increased by 100% with NFPA 13 sprinklers, new MAQ is 240 gallons b. May be increased by 100% if stored in approved storage cabinets, day boxes, gas cabinets, exhausted enclosures, or listed safety cans. New MAQ is 240 gallons. c. The application of both of the above is cumulative, new MAQ is 480 gallons. d. Exceeding the MAQ results in a Group H-3 Occupancy e. Volatile i. Not permitted in the City of Los Angeles at this time ii. Compressed flammable gas 1. May not be stored concurrently with any oxidizer 2. Maximum Allowable Quantity a. Gaseous Storage i. MAQ is 1,000 cubic feet b. Liquified Gas Storage i. MAQ is 150 pounds or 15 gallons c. May be increased by 100% with NFPA 13 sprinklers, new MAQ is 2,000 cubic feet, 300 pounds, or 30 gallons, as applicable d. May be increased by 100% if stored in approved storage cabinets, day boxes, gas cabinets, exhausted enclosures, or listed safety cans. New MAQ is 2,000 cubic feet, 300 pounds, or 30 gallons, as applicable. e. The application of both of the above is cumulative, new MAQ is 4,000 cubic feet, 600 pounds, or 60 gallons, as applicable. f. Exceeding the MAQ results in a Group H-2 Occupancy 4. LAFD CANNABIS UNIT a. Reviews and approves all necessary operational fire permits b. Performs recurring inspections