Aboveground Storage Tanks, Motor Fuel Dispensing, Flammable and

Combustible Liquids.

Captain Tom EllisonAssistant Fire Marshal, Kern County Fire

Department

What is an above ground tank system?

Tanks used for storage and dispensing of Class 1, 2, and 3 Flammable or

Combustible Liquids.

Above-ground tanks for storage and dispensing of Class 1, 2, or 3 flammable and combustible

liquids.

What are common examples of the various flammable and combustible liquids classified by NFPA 30?

� Class IA ‐ Diethyl Ether, Ethylene Oxide, some light crude oils

� Class IB ‐ Motor and Aviation Gasolines, Toluene, Lacquers, Lacquer Thinner

� Class IC ‐ Xylene, some paints, some solvent‐based cements

� Class II ‐ Diesel Fuel, Jet Fuel, Paint Thinner

� Class IIIA ‐ Home Heating Oil

� Class IIIB ‐ Motor Oil, Hydraulic Fluid, Lubricating Oils

Above-ground tanks for storage and dispensing of Class 1, 2, or 3 flammable and combustible

liquids.

What are common examples of the various flammable and combustible liquids classified by NFPA 30?

� Class IA ‐ Diethyl Ether, Ethylene Oxide, some light crude oils

� Class IB ‐ Motor and Aviation Gasolines, Toluene, Lacquers, Lacquer Thinner

� Class IC ‐ Xylene, some paints, some solvent‐based cements

� Class II ‐ Diesel Fuel, Jet Fuel, Paint Thinner

� Class IIIA ‐ Home Heating Oil

� Class IIIB ‐ Motor Oil, Hydraulic Fluid, Lubricating Oils

Class 1 Liquid Motor Fuel

Gasoline Aviation Gas

Class 2 Liquid Motor Fuels

Diesel Fuel Jet Fuel

Storage of Class 1 and Class 2 Flammable Liquids

Gasoline, Aviation Gas, Diesel Fuel, and Jet Fuel stored in above-ground tanks shall be listed and labeled as protected above-ground tanks in accordance with

UL 2085!

• California Fire Code, 2013 (CFC) Chapter 23, Section 2306.2.3

• Kern County Ordinance 17.32.074

Fire Protected Tanks, UL 2085

• 2306.2.3 Above-ground tanks located outside, above grade. 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.

1. 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.

Fire Protected Tanks, UL 2085

• Fire-Protected Tanks designed for the safe storage and dispensing of petroleum products (gasoline, diesel, fuel-oil, heating-oil, kerosene, and alcohol), chemicals and other flammable or combustible products. Fire-Protected Tanks are designed to withstand prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures while maintaining the temperature of the primary tank and its contents below thresholds that may ignite or rapidly combust the liquids/vapors within. Fire-Protected steel exterior tanks utilize a lightweight concrete thermal insulation material to achieve thermal protection. Fire-Protected concrete aggregate exterior tanks utilize a dense industrial grade concrete to achieve thermal protection. Both Fire-Protected aboveground tank designs have merits that are usually dependent upon specific end-user site and performance requirements. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has issued performance standard UL-2085, Protected Secondary Containment Aboveground Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquids, a performance standard which requires that tank designs be third-party tested and certified as having successfully passed the following tests:

UL-2085 Test Summary

Prolonged Fire-Test2-Hours at 2000 degrees F

Maximum Avg. Temp.= 280 degrees F

Hose-Stream Test 5-minutes, 45 psig water stream after fire test

Bullet Resistance Test5-rounds, 150 grain, Caliber .30, M2 Ball Ammunition2700 feet/second impact velocity

Vehicle Impact 12,000 pounds applied over 1sq. ft. @ 10mph

Leakage Test After successful completion of above, leakage test performed using 5.0 psig air; tank to hold air for 1 hour without leaking

Protected Above-Ground TanksUL 2085

Protected Above-Ground TanksUL 2085

Class 3 Combustible Liquids

Motor Oil Hydraulic Fluid

Storage of Class IIIB Combustible Liquid

• Class IIIB Liquid shall be stored and dispensed from a listed and labeled UL 2085 or UL 142 tank, shall be double walled or have secondary

containment.

• California Fire Code 2013 (CFC), Chapter 23, section 2306.2.3 sub-section 5

• Kern County Ordinance 17.32.074

A tank used for Type 3 combustible liquids (motor oil, gear oil) shall comply with UL 142 or UL 2085 standards. Each tank shall bear a permanent

nameplate or marking indicating the standard used as the basis of design.

Kern County Fire Department Construction Information for Above Ground Tanks

Installation

•www.kerncountyfire.org

Kern County Fire Department Permit Requirements for Above-Ground Fuel Tanks

http://kerncountyfire.org/images/stories/fire_prevention/Permit%20Requirements/Aboveground%20Storage%20Tanks.pdf

Enforcement of Non-Permitted Above-Ground Tanks

• CFC 104.1 General. The fire code official is hereby authorized to enforce the provisions of this code and shall have the authority to render interpretations of this code, and to adopt policies, procedures, rules and regulations in order to clarify the application of its provisions. Such interpretations, policies, procedures, rules and regulations shall be in compliance with the intent and purpose of this code and shall not have the effect of waiving requirements specifically provided for in this code.

2013 California Fire Code

• CFC 105.1.1 Permits required. Any property owner or authorized agent who intends to conduct an operation or business, or install or modify systems and equipment which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the fire code official and obtain the required permit.

2013 California Fire Code

• CFC 5704.2.9.1 Existing noncompliant installations. Existing above-ground tanks shall be maintained in accordance with the code requirements that were applicable at the time of installation. Above-ground tanks that were installed in violation of code requirements applicable at the time of installation shall be made code compliant or shall be removed in accordance with Section 5704.2.14, regardless of whether such tank has been previously inspected (see Section 106.4).

Systems in Violation of the California Fire Code

CFC section 2306.7.8; Gravity and pressure dispensing. Flammable liquids shall not be dispensed by gravity from tanks, drums,

barrels or similar containers. Flammable or combustible liquids shall not be dispensed

by a device operating through pressure within a storage tank, drum or container

California State Fire Marshal Information Bulletin 14-005

Issued: July 25, 2014

Underground Fuel Storage Tanks Prohibited for Use

as Aboveground Fuel Storage Tanks

California State Fire Marshal Information Bulletin 14-005 Addendum

Issued: January 29, 2015

Underground Storage Tanks Being Sold as Aboveground Storage Tanks