NFPA 232-2012 states:



7.2.3 Underground and basement storage shall be permitted in areas specifically designed by licensed or registered fire protection engineers to mitigate the inherent problems of subterranean storage.



8.3 Location.

8.3.1* File rooms shall not be located in basements. (see A.8.3.1. below)



Appendix A



A.6.3 Vaults below grade are undesirable because under certain conditions, sufficient burning or smoldering debris can accumulate in a basement to produce a cooking effect of such duration that the effects of combustion cannot be resisted by construction alone (within practical limitations). Also, vaults located below grade could be damp, causing destruction of records by the formation of mold, and could be subject to flooding under either flood or fire conditions, with consequent damage to records.



A.8.3.1 File rooms should not be located underground because, under certain conditions, burning or smoldering debris can accumulate in a basement in sufficient quantities to produce a “cooking effect” of such duration that it cannot be resisted by construction alone (within practical limitations). Underground storage imposes risk factors such as inaccessibility, delayed or impaired access, smoke and heat ventilation, water accumulation, and availability of safe refuge.



Fred

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Frederic J. Grevin

Vice-President, Records Management

New York City Economic Development Corporation

www.nycedc.com

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212-312-3903 (w)