The NFPA 30 Committee considered and approved this change in the Code after an extensive review of the results of comprehensive fire tests conducted at the Southwest Research Institute, a non-profit engineering research and testing facility. The tests showed that relieving style steel containers could be safely stacked up to four high, effectively doubling warehouse space, safely managing risk due to fire loss and improving storage efficiencies. NFPA will publish a new Fire Code incorporating these changes in late summer/early fall of this year. SSCI in partnership with the American Iron and Steel Institute, the National Paint and Coatings Association, insurers, chemical companies, fire protection equipment suppliers, drum manufacturers, and closure manufacturers, sponsored the $360,000 fire tests. David Nugent, Vice President-Loss Control, Schirmer Engineering Corporation was the Technical Advisor on the project. The NFPA Code presently allows two-high storage of steel drums with relieving plugs and fire suppression systems. The next step is to work with local and state fire code officials to assure that the amendment to the NFPA Code allowing four-high steel drum storage is incorporated in community codes nationwide.