As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
COMBUSTIBLE FIBER
Readily ignitable and free-burning fibers such as cotton, sisal, henequen, istle, jute, hemp, tow, cocoa fiber, oakum, baled waste, baled wastepaper, kapok, hay, straw, Spanish moss, excelsior, synthetic fibers and other like materials, but shall not be applicable to nonresidential farm buildings.
A. 
Loose combustible fibers (not in suitable bales or packages), whether housed or in the open, shall not be stored within 100 feet of any building except as hereinafter specified.
B. 
Loose combustible fibers not exceeding 100 cubic feet may be kept in any building, provided that storage is in a metal or metal-lined bin equipped with a self-closing cover.
C. 
Quantities exceeding 100 cubic feet of loose combustible fibers, but not exceeding 500 cubic feet, may be stored in rooms or compartments having floor, walls and ceilings having a fire-resistance rating of not less than one hour. Each opening into such rooms or compartments from other parts of the building shall be equipped with an approved fire door.
D. 
Quantities exceeding 500 cubic feet of loose combustible fibers may be stored in approved vaults constructed as follows:
(1) 
Storage vaults shall be located outside of buildings or, if located inside, shall be provided with approved safety vents to the outside.
(2) 
Walls, floors and ceilings shall be constructed of brick or other approved noncombustible material. Roofs of outside vaults shall be of noncombustible material but may be so constructed as to readily give way in case of an internal explosion.
(3) 
Openings, if any, between vault and main building shall be protected on each side of the wall by an approved fire door. Wall openings in outside vaults exposing other property (not sufficiently detached to be considered cut off) shall be protected by approved fire doors or equivalent.
(4) 
Vaults located within buildings and exceeding 1,000 cubic feet storage capacity shall be protected by approved automatic sprinklers, carbon dioxide or other approved inert gas systems.
E. 
Loose fibers not exceeding 2,500 cubic feet may be stored in a detached loose house suitably located, with openings properly protected against the entrance of sparks. The loose house shall be used for no other purpose.
A. 
No single block or pile shall contain more than 25,000 cubic feet of fiber, exclusive of aisles or clearances. Blocks or piles of baled fiber shall be separated from adjacent storage by aisles not less than five feet wide or by flash-fire barriers consisting of continuous sheets of noncombustible material extending from the floor to a height of at least one foot above the highest point of piles and projecting at least one foot beyond the sides of the piles.
B. 
Sisal and other fibers in bales bound with combustible tie ropes, also jute and other fibers liable to swell when wet, shall be stored to allow for expansion in any direction without endangering building walls, ceilings or columns. Not less than three feet of clearance shall be left between walls and sides of piles, except that if a storage compartment is not more than 30 feet in width, one foot of clearance at the side walls will be sufficient, provided that a center aisle not less than five feet wide is maintained.
C. 
Not less than three feet of clearance shall be maintained between sprinkler pipes and tops of piles.