Above-ground tanks shall not be used for the storage of Class I, II or III liquid motor fuels, except as provided by this section.
- Above-ground tanks used for outside, above-grade storage of Class I liquids shall be listed and labeled as protected above-ground tanks in accordance with UL 2085 and shall be in accordance with Chapter 57. Such tanks shall be located in accordance with Table 2306.2.3.
Above-ground tanks used for outside, above-grade storage of Class II or IIIA liquids shall be listed and labeled as protected above-ground tanks in accordance with UL 2085 and shall be installed in accordance with Chapter 57. Tank locations shall be in accordance with Table 2306.2.3.
Exception: Other above-ground tanks that comply with Chapter 57 where approved by the fire code official.
- Tanks containing fuels shall not exceed 12,000 gallons (45 420 L) in individual capacity or 48,000 gallons (181 680 L) in aggregate capacity. Installations with the maximum allowable aggregate capacity shall be separated from other such installations by not less than 100 feet (30 480 mm).
- Tanks located at farms, construction projects, or rural areas shall comply with Section 5706.2.
- Above-ground tanks used for outside above-grade storage of Class IIIB liquid motor fuel shall be listed and labeled in accordance with UL 142 or listed and labeled as protected above-ground tanks in accordance with UL 2085 and shall be installed in accordance with Chapter 57. Tank locations shall be in accordance with Table 2306.2.3.
MINIMUM SEPARATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ABOVE-GROUND TANKS
| CLASS OF LIQUID AND TANK TYPE | INDIVIDUAL TANK CAPACITY (gallons) | MINIMUM DISTANCE FROM NEAREST IMPORTANT BUILDING ON SAME PROPERTY (feet) | MINIMUM DISTANCE FROM NEAREST FUEL DISPENSER (feet) | MINIMUM DISTANCE FROM LOT LINE THAT IS OR CAN BE BUILT UPON, INCLUDING THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF A PUBLIC WAY (feet) | MINIMUM DISTANCE FROM NEAREST SIDE OF ANY PUBLIC WAY (feet) | MINIMUM DISTANCE BETWEEN TANKS (feet) |
| Class I protected above-ground tanks | Less than or equal to 6,000 | 5 | 25a | 15 | 5 | 3 |
| Greater than 6,000 | 15 | 25a | 25 | 15 | 3 | |
| Class II and III protected above-ground tanks | Same as Class I | Same as Class I | Same as Class Ic | Same as Class I | Same as Class I | Same as Class I |
| Tanks in vaults | 0-20,000 | 0b | 0 | 0b | 0 | Separate compartment required for each tank |
| Other tanks | All | 50 | 50 | 100 | 50 | 3 |
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 gallon = 3.785 L.
- At fleet vehicle motor fuel-dispensing facilities, a minimum separation distance is not required.
- Underground vaults shall be located such that they will not be subject to loading from nearby structures, or they shall be designed to accommodate applied loads from existing or future structures that can be built nearby.
- For Class IIIB liquids in protected above-ground tanks, a minimum separation distance is not required.
Where installation of tanks in accordance with Section 5704.2.11 is impractical, or because of property or building limitations, tanks for liquid motor fuels are allowed to be installed in buildings in special enclosures in accordance with all of the following:
- The special enclosure shall be liquid tight and vapor tight.
- The special enclosure shall not contain backfill.
- Sides, top and bottom of the special enclosure shall be of reinforced concrete not less than 6 inches (152 mm) thick, with openings for inspection through the top only.
- Tank connections shall be piped or closed such that neither vapors nor liquid can escape into the enclosed space between the special enclosure and any tanks inside the special enclosure.
- Means shall be provided whereby portable equipment can be employed to discharge to the outside any vapors that might accumulate inside the special enclosure should leakage occur.
- Tanks containing Class I, II or IIIA liquids inside a special enclosure shall not exceed 6,000 gallons (22 710 L) in individual capacity or 18,000 gallons (68 130 L) in aggregate capacity.
- Each tank within special enclosures shall be surrounded by a clear space of not less than 3 feet (910 mm) to allow for maintenance and inspection.
A listed automatic-closing-type hose nozzle valve with a latch-open device shall be provided on island-type dispensers used for dispensing Class I, II or III liquids.
Overhead-type dispensing units shall be provided with a listed automatic-closing-type hose nozzle valve with a latch-open device. The design of the system shall be such that the hose nozzle valve will close automatically in the event the valve is released from a fill opening or upon impact with a driveway.
Any latch-open device determined to be inoperative by the fire code official shall be repaired or replaced within 48 hours after notification.
Where dispensing of Class I, II or III liquids is performed, a listed automatic-closing-type hose nozzle valve shall be used incorporating all of the following features:
- The hose nozzle valve shall be equipped with an integral latch-open device.
Where the flow of product is normally controlled by devices or equipment other than the hose nozzle valve, the hose nozzle valve shall not be capable of being opened unless the delivery hose is pressurized. If pressure to the hose is lost, the nozzle shall close automatically.
Exception: Vapor recovery nozzles incorporating insertion interlock devices designed to achieve shutoff on disconnect from the vehicle fill pipe.
- The hose nozzle shall be designed such that the nozzle is retained in the fill pipe during the filling operation.
- The system shall include listed equipment with a feature that causes or requires the closing of the hose nozzle valve before the product flow can be resumed or before the hose nozzle valve can be replaced in its normal position in the dispenser.
Dispensing devices incorporating provisions for vapor recovery shall be listed and labeled. Where existing listed or labeled dispensing devices are modified for vapor recovery, such modifications shall be listed by report by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. The listing by report shall contain a description of the component parts used in the modification and recommended method of installation on specific dispensers. Such report shall be made available on request of the fire code official.
Means shall be provided to shut down fuel dispensing in the event the vapor return line becomes blocked.
Piping in vapor-balance systems shall be in accordance with Sections 5703.6, 5704.2.9 and 5704.2.11. Nonmetallic piping shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Existing and new vent piping shall be in accordance with Sections 5703.6 and 5704.2. Vapor return piping shall be installed in a manner that drains back to the tank, without sags or traps in which liquid can become trapped. If necessary, because of grade, condensate tanks are allowed in vapor return piping. Condensate tanks shall be designed and installed so that they can be drained without opening.
Flexible joints shall be installed in accordance with Section 5703.6.9.
An approved shear joint shall be rigidly mounted and connected by a union in the vapor return piping at the base of each dispensing device. The shear joint shall be mounted flush with the top of the surface on which the dispenser is mounted.
Equipment in vapor-processing systems, including hose nozzle valves, vapor pumps, flame arresters, fire checks or systems for prevention of flame propagation, controls and vapor-processing equipment, shall be individually listed for the intended use in a specified manner.
Vapor-processing systems that introduce air into the underground piping or storage tanks shall be provided with equipment for prevention of flame propagation that has been tested and listed as suitable for the intended use.
Vapor-processing equipment shall be located at or above grade. Sources of ignition shall be located not less than 50 feet (15 240 mm) from fuel-transfer areas and not less than 18 inches (457 mm) above tank fill openings and tops of dispenser islands. Vapor-processing units shall be located not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) from the nearest building or lot line of a property that can be built upon.
Exception: Where the required distances to buildings, lot lines or fuel-transfer areas cannot be obtained, means shall be provided to protect equipment against fire exposure. Acceptable means shall include but not be limited to either of the following:
- Approved protective enclosures, which extend not less than 18 inches (457 mm) above the equipment, constructed of fire-resistant or noncombustible materials.
- Fire protection using an approved water-spray system.