Hazardous Materials

The Hazardous Materials - CEDMAT Program reduces potential hazards through education, enforcement of codes and safe business practices in businesses that use and/or store hazardous materials or employ hazardous processes.

"CEDMAT" is an acronym for the Combustible, Explosive and Dangerous Materials program.

• Permit Requirements
• Hazardous Materials Information Form (FPB-500)
• HMEX - Chemical Classification Program
• How CEDMAT Works
• CEDMAT Self-Inspection Program
• How the Self-Inspection Program Works
• Corridors: Storage Restrictions
• Frequently Asked Questions

The following documents are available for viewing in Portable Document Format (PDF) using Adobe Acrobat Reader.

The trigger which puts a site into the CEDMAT program is either having hazardous materials in an amount requiring a permit or utilizing hazardous processes which require a permit.

Permit requirements can be found in the Uniform Fire Code, section 105.

Disclosure of hazardous materials on site is accomplished through completing the Hazardous Materials Information Form (PDF: 72K). The form must be completed by the business or by a consultant hired by the business.

The Hazardous Materials Information form can be completed and mailed in to: Fire and Hazard Prevention Services, 1010 2nd Ave, Ste. 300, San Diego, CA 92101, Attn: CEDMAT.

The Hazardous Materials Information form is designed to be used with the material safety data sheet (MSDS) for each chemical that is on site. The information provided by the business will be reviewed by the inspector and verified during the inspection. The information will be used as a basis for fire and building code regulation.

It is not necessary to submit a new inventory form each year if the inventory remains unchanged. This will be confirmed by the inspector performing the annual inspection.

HMEX is an acronym for Hazardous Materials Expert. HMEX is a useful tool for classifying chemical inventory for those businesses that utilize a large variety of chemicals.

We encourage a business to submit the inventory on computer disk in an EXCEL computer format. See the HMEX Chemical Classification Form (PDF: 32K). The time that it takes to transfer the data to the HMEX program is chargeable at the rate of $76 per hour. The estimated time to perform the data transfer is one to two hours.

CEDMAT is a cost recovery program with fees based on the following:

If the inspection is completed within two visits, a $76 per hour charge is assessed for all inspection-related time that is associated with the completion of the inspection.

If more than two visits are required to complete the inspection, a reinspection fee may be assessed for the third and subsequent visits at a rate of $300 per visit in addition to the hourly fee.

If additional time is needed to make corrections that have been identified during the initial visit, the inspector must be called, prior to the reinspection date, to request an extension.

Upon completion of the inspection, an invoice will be mailed to the business which is payable to the "City Treasurer."

Fire and Hazard Prevention Services has a "Guaranteed Second Opinion" policy that enables anyone to talk with a CEDMAT Supervisor if he/she disagrees with a code interpretation or simply wishes to voice a concern.

CEDMAT Self-Inspection Program

The self-inspection program rewards those businesses with a good record of compliance over the previous two years. When certain requirements are met, the self-inspection will take the place of the annual CEDMAT inspection.

Those requirements which must be met are:

During the last CEDMAT inspection, the business must have corrected all violations identified by the inspector by the second visit.

The business may not have a repeat violation. If a violation was written one year for hazardous material use or storage, a business will not qualify to self-inspect if the same violation is found during the next CEDMAT inspection.

If a building has a fire protection sprinkler or standpipe system, the Five Year Service must be current.

A business may not have a reportable spill or incident during the year prior to the self-inspection.

A checklist and introductory information is mailed to the business. A representative for the business will perform the self-inspection using the checklist, CEDMAT Self-Inspection (PDF: 204K).

The white and yellow copies of the checklist must be returned to Fire and Hazard Prevention Services, 1010 2nd Ave., Ste. 300, San Diego, CA 92101, Attn: CEDMAT Self-Inspection Program Manager, by the due date noted at the top left corner of the checklist.

Any items that do not comply with the description on the checklist should be corrected before that item is initialed.

Random spot checks are conducted to ensure self-inspections are being conducted properly.

If the CEDMAT Self-Inspection Checklist is not returned by the due date, a CEDMAT inspector will visit the facility to conduct an inspection and an hourly fee will be charged for that service.

If a business decides not to participate in the self-inspection program or if the business has changed ownership within the last year, it must call to arrange for an inspection to be made.

If assistance is needed in completing the checklist, the CEDMAT Self-Inspection Program Manager is available at (619) 533-4400.

Because of space requirements, many businesses wish to store items in their corridors. Our policy, Corridors: Storage Restrictions (PDF: 96K) explains the circumstances under which this might be allowed.