Citations
California: Title 8, Division 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter 7
Federal: 29 CFR 1910.106, .107, .122, .123, .124, .125, and .126
A summary of the additional requirements includes the following:
- While fueling an internal combustion engine, if a spill occurs it must be washed away completely, evaporated, or equivalent action taken to control vapors before restarting the engine. Fuel tank caps must be replaced before starting the engine.
- Every gas fueling system with line pressure in excess of 15 psi must be capable of withstanding the maximum working pressure with a factor of safety of at least four, or existing installations may be provided with a relief valve installed between the regulator and the gas consuming device.
- Leaks from pipe lines, piping, or from other equipment must be stopped if employees are endangered by the liberated liquids, gases, or vapors. If hazardous leakage cannot be stopped during plant operation, diversion shields, or other effective means, must be installed.
- When dismantling or opening closed pressurized or gravity fed systems, internal pressure must be relieved or other methods utilized to prevent sudden release of pressure or spraying of liquid.
- Waste materials prone to spontaneous combustion must be disposed of as frequently as necessary to prevent their becoming a hazard. Rags soaked with vegetable or fish oil should be disposed of daily and kept in covered containers or water-filled containers until disposed of. Accumulations of seed, fish meal, etc. from which oil has been extracted must be stored in a location where fire originating from spontaneous combustion will not endanger employees.
- Ventilation must be sufficient so that under normal operating conditions concentrations of flammable vapors or gases in buildings, rooms, or similarly enclosed places must not exceed 25 percent of the lower explosive limit for such vapors except that in pits, sumps, or the other locations which are not normally entered (except in cases of emergency), such ventilation will not be required.
- Sources of ignition are not permitted in or near a pit or sump in a location near which flammable liquids are regularly and frequently, or have recently been, used, handled, or stored in other than closed containers unless tests have been made which indicate that the concentration of flammable vapor is less than 25 percent of the lower explosive limit.
- Sources of ignition are not permitted in any location where the concentration of the flammable gases or vapors exceeds or may reasonably be expected to exceed 25 percent of the lower explosive limit. Tests must be made to ascertain that this limit is not exceeded before a source of ignition is introduced into such location, and such tests must be repeated frequently (or a continuous indicator used) as long as conditions giving rise to such concentrations of flammable vapors or gases continue and a source of ignition is present. If electronic or thermal testing equipment is used, it must be approved for use in such flammable conditions.
- Flammable liquids must not be used to wash floors, walls, ceilings, structural members, furniture, equipment, machines, or machine parts, unless proper ventilation is provided and maintained. Spraying of flammable liquids for cleaning purposes is forbidden except when performed in a booth equipped with adequate ventilation, or outdoors or in open sheds with no source of ignition within 25 feet of the spraying operation.
- Two quarts or less of Category 1 flammable liquids may be used for washing in an enclosed booth provided adequate ventilation is maintained and all sources of ignition are excluded from locations where concentrations of vapors of such liquids may reasonably be expected to exceed 25 percent of lower explosive limit.
- Tubular gauges on stationary tanks, vats, or containers that contain flammable liquids must be shielded to prevent liquid spray from endangering employees should the gauge break. All such gauges must be guarded when exposed to the hazards of being broken by accidental impact and in all cases when located less than 7 feet above or 3 feet laterally from working levels or passageways. All such gauges must be provided with valves which can be readily closed in case of breakage. Where practicable, ball-check or other self-closing valves must be used.
- Carboys or drums containing flammable liquids must not be stored near steam coils or other source of heat. They may be emptied by air pressure produced by hand pumps or bulbs only.
- From the container and portable tank storage requirements, California exempts medicines, foodstuffs, cosmetics, and other consumer items containing up to 50 percent by volume of water miscible flammable or combustible liquids and with the remainder of the solution not being flammable when packaged in individual containers not exceeding one gallon in size.
- Metal containers and portable tanks meeting the requirements of NFPA No. 386, Standard for Portable Shipping Tanks, are acceptable.
- No more than 120 gallons of Category 1, 2, 3 and 4 flammable liquids may be stored in a storage cabinet. Of this total, no more than 60 gallons may be of Category 1, 2 and 3 flammable liquid. No more than 3 such cabinets may be located in a single fire area, except that in an industrial occupancy additional cabinets may be located in the same fire area if the additional cabinet, or group of not more than 3 cabinets, is separated from any other cabinets or group of cabinets by at least 100 feet.
- California adopts the 1972 version of NFPA No. 251, Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, for fire tests on storage cabinets and inside storage rooms, and the 1974 version of NFPA No. 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Windows, for the protection of windows in inside storage rooms.
- For inside storage rooms, California specifies different allowable storage quantities than allowed under the federal requirements.
- Mechanical ventilation must be used if Class I liquids are dispensed within an inside storage room. Exhaust air must be taken from a point near a wall on one side of the room and within 12 inches of the floor with one or more make-up air inlets located on the opposite side of the room within 12 inches from the floor. The location of both the exhaust and inlet air openings must be arranged to provide, as far as practicable, air movements across all portions of the floor to prevent accumulation of flammable vapors. If ducts are used they must not be used for any other purpose and must comply with the Standard for the Installation of Blower and Exhaust Systems for Dust, Stock and Vapor Removal or Conveying, NFPA No. 91-1973 (ANSI Z33.1). If make-up air to a mechanical system is taken from within the building, the opening must be equipped with an approved fire door or damper, as required in the Standard for the Installation of Blower and Exhaust Systems, for Dust, Stock and Vapor Removal or Conveying, NFPA 91-1973 (ANSI Z33.1). Mechanical ventilation systems must provide at least one cubic foot per minute of exhaust per square foot of floor area, but not less than 150 CFM.
- Storage in excess of 10 gallons of Category 1, 2 or 3 flammable liquids combined or 60 gallons of Category 4 flammable liquids must be in containers stored in a storage cabinet or in safety cans or in an inside storage room not having an opening directly into that portion of the building used by the public.
- In office, educational and institutional occupancies, storage must be limited to that required for operation of office equipment, maintenance, demonstration, treatment, and laboratory work. All liquids in laboratories and at other points of use must meet the following storage provisions:
- no container for Category 1, 2 or 3 flammable liquids may exceed a capacity of one gallon except that safety cans can be of two gallons capacity;
- not more than 10 gallons of Category 1, 2 or 3 flammable liquids combined may be stored outside of a storage cabinet or storage room, except in safety cans;
- not more than 25 gallons of Category 1, 2 or 3 flammable liquids combined may be stored in safety cans outside of a storage room or storage cabinet;
- not more than 60 gallons of combustible liquids may be stored outside of a storage room or storage cabinet; and
- quantities of flammable and combustible liquids in excess of those set forth above must be stored in an inside storage room or storage cabinet.
- For fire control, California allows the use of portable fire extinguishers that have a rating of at least 10-B units.
- Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100oF (37.8oC), shall not be dispensed into containers unless the nozzle or fill pipe and container are electrically interconnected. This can be accomplished by maintaining metallic contact during filling, by a bond wire between them, or by other conductive path having an electrical resistance not greater than 106 ohms.
- At processing plants (including wineries), California specifies certain distances between processing vessels and lines of adjoining property, which may be built upon. The required distances may be waived when the vessels are housed within a building and the exterior wall facing the line of adjoining property which may be built upon is a blank wall having a fire resistance rating of at least four hours. When Category 1 or unstable liquids are handled, the blank wall must have explosion resistance in accordance with good engineering practice.
- Except where stored in tanks as provided in Section 5567, no Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100oF (37.8oC), shall be stored within any service station building except in closed containers of aggregate capacity not exceeding 60 gallons. One container not exceeding 60 gallons capacity equipped with an approved pump is permitted.
- Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100oF (37.8oC), may be transferred from one container to another in lubrication or service rooms of a service station building provided the electrical installation complies with Sections 5530(d) and 5574(c) and provided that any heating equipment complies with Section 5575.
- Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint at or above 100oF (37.8oC) and Category 4 flammable liquids and liquids with a flashpoint greater than 199.4oF (93oC) may be stored and dispensed inside service station buildings from tanks of not more than 120 gallons each.
- Where excessive stray currents are encountered, piping handling Class I and Class II liquids at marine service stations must be electrically insulated from the shore piping.
- After completion of the installation of a piping system at automotive and marine service stations, including any paving, that section of the pressure piping system between the pump discharge and the connection for the dispensing facility must be tested for at least 30 minutes at the maximum operating pressure of the system. Such tests must be repeated at 5-year intervals thereafter.
- Each service station pump must have installed on the discharge side an approved leak detection device which will provide an indication if the piping and dispensers are not essentially liquid-tight.
- At service stations, an emergency shutoff valve must be installed in the supply line at the base of each individual island-type dispenser and at the inlet of each overhead dispensing unit. If a coupling incorporating a slip-joint feature is used to join the emergency valve to the dispenser piping, the emergency valve must automatically close before the slip-joint can disengage. The automatic closing feature of this valve must be checked at the time of initial installation and at least once a year thereafter by manually tripping the hold-open linkage.
- If located indoors, a dispenser must be located in a position where it cannot be struck by a vehicle that is out of control descending a ramp or other slope.
- The requirements of 29 CFR 1910.106(g)(3)(v)(d), applicable to remote pumping systems, also apply to dispensing systems at service stations in California.
- California’s Table FL-9, used to delineate and classify areas for the purpose of installation of electrical equipment at service stations, differs somewhat from its federal counterpart, Table H-19.
- Overhead-type dispensing units at service stations must be provided with a listed automatic-closing type hose nozzle valve without a latch-open device. A listed automatic-closing type hose nozzle valve with latch-open device may be used if the design of the system is 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.
- No delivery of any Category 1, 2 or 3 flammable liquids, shall be made into portable containers unless the container is constructed of metal or is approved for such use, has a tight closure with screwed or spring cover, and is fitted with spout or so designed that the contents can be poured without spilling.
- Each service station must be provided with at least one fire extinguisher having a minimum classification of 5B, C located so that an extinguisher will be within 100 feet of each pump, dispenser, underground fill pipe opening, and lubrication or service room.
- Tanks built of materials other than steel shall be designed to specifications embodying principles recognized as good engineering design for the material used.
- California references more current consensus standards for the construction of atmospheric tanks and low-pressure tanks.
- California standards include numerous requirements for the installation of outside aboveground storage tanks. See 5589, Installation of Outside Aboveground Tanks, and 5591, Location of Outside Aboveground Tanks with Respect to Important Buildings on Same Property.
- The minimum separation distances required between a liquefied petroleum gas container and a flammable or combustible liquid storage tank do not apply when liquefied petroleum gas containers of 125 gallons or less capacity are installed adjacent to fuel oil supply tanks of 660 gallons or less capacity.
- Insulation systems for which credit is taken under 29 CFR 1910.106(b)(2)(v)(f) must meet the additional performance criteria listed in paragraph (g)(1) of 5593, Emergency Relief Venting for Fire Exposure for Aboveground Tanks.
- The flow capacity of tank venting devices under 8 inches in nominal pipe size must be determined by actual test of each type and size of vent.
- Tanks and pressure vessels storing Category 1 flammable liquids shall be equipped with venting devices which shall be normally closed except when venting to pressure or vacuum conditions. Tanks and pressure vessels storing Category 2 flammable liquids and Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100oF (37.8oC) shall be equipped with venting devices which shall be normally closed except when venting under pressure or vacuum conditions, or with approved flame arresters.
- The area surrounding a tank or group of tanks storing Category 1, 2, 3 or 4 flammable liquids shall be provided with drainage as in (b), or shall be diked as provided in (c), to prevent accidental discharge of liquid from endangering employees or facilities. Tanks storing liquids with a flashpoint greater than 199.4oF (93oC) (formerly designated Class IIIB Combustible liquids) do not require drainage or dikes.
- Dikes may be higher than an average of six feet above interior grade where provisions are made for normal and necessary emergency access to tanks, valves and other equipment, and safe egress from the diked enclosure. Where the average height of a dike containing Class I liquids is over 12 feet high, measured from interior grade, or where the distance between any tank and the top inside edge of the dike wall is less than the height of the dike wall, provisions must be made for normal operation of valves and for access to tank roof(s) without entering below the top of the dike. These provisions may be met through the use of remote operated valves, elevated walkways, or similar arrangements. Piping passing through dike walls must be designed to prevent excessive stresses as a result of settlement or fire exposure. The minimum distance between tanks and toe of the interior dike walls must be five feet. Where provision is made for draining water from diked areas, drainage must be provided at a uniform slope of not less than one percent away from tanks toward a sump, drainbox, or other safe means of disposal located at the greatest practical distance from the tank. Such drains must normally be controlled in a manner so as to prevent flammable or combustible liquids from entering natural water courses, public sewers, or public drains, if their presence would constitute a hazard. Control of drainage must be accessible under fire conditions and outside the dike.
- Each diked area containing two or more tanks must be subdivided preferably by drainage channels or at least by intermediate curbs in order to prevent spills from endangering adjacent tanks within the diked area. Subdivisions standards are detailed in 5595, Drainage, Dikes, and Walls for Aboveground Tanks.
- Selection of the type of corrosion protection to be employed for an underground storage tank must be based upon the corrosion history of the area and the judgment of a qualified engineer.
- Location and arrangement of vents for Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100oF (37.8oC). Vent pipes from underground storage tanks storing Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100oF (37.8oC) shall be so located that the discharge point is outside of buildings, higher than the fill pipe opening, and not less than 12 feet above the adjacent ground level. Vent pipes shall not be obstructed by devices that will cause excessive back pressure. Vent outlets shall be so located and directed that flammable vapors will not accumulate or travel to an unsafe location, enter building openings or be trapped under eaves or other obstructions. Tanks containing Category 1 flammable liquids shall be equipped with pressure and vacuum venting devices which shall be normally closed except when venting to pressure or vacuum conditions. Tanks storing Category 2 or 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 73oF (22.8oC) shall be equipped with pressure-vacuum vents or with approved flame arresters.
- Vent pipes from tanks storing Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint at or above 100oF (37.8oC), Category 4 flammable liquids or liquids with a flashpoint greater than 199.4oF (93oC) (formerly designated Class IIIB Combustible liquids) shall terminate outside of building and higher than the fill pipe opening.
- Where a tank is located in an area that may be subjected to flooding, installation must be in accordance with the provisions of NFPA No. 30-1973.
- Pipe, valves, faucets, fittings, and other pressure containing parts must meet the material specifications and pressure and temperature limitations of the applicable sections of ANSI B31, American National Standard Code for Pressure Piping, with certain exceptions. Plastic or similar materials must be designed to specifications embodying recognized engineering principles and must be compatible with the fluid service. Nodular iron must conform to ASTM A-445-70, Ferritic Ductile Iron Castings for Valves, Flanges, Pipe Fittings, and Other Piping Components. Malleable iron must conform to ASTM A-47-68, Malleable Iron Castings.
- ANSI B31, American National Standard Code for Pressure Piping, may be used to pressure-test piping.
- Class III liquids are exempt from the requirement that valves used for the final control for filling tank vehicles must be of the self-closing type and manually held open except where automatic means are provided for shutting off the flow when the vehicle is full or after filling of a preset amount.
- If flammable or combustible liquids are handled in bulk quantities across general purpose piers or wharves the Standard for the Construction and Protection of Piers and Wharves, NFPA No. 87, must be followed.
- On wharves used for bulk transfers, portable fire extinguishers must have a rating of at least 20-B.
- California’s Table FL-19, used to delineate and classify areas for the purpose of installation of electrical equipment at bulk plants where Class I liquids are stored or handled, differs somewhat from its federal counterpart, Table H-18.
At refineries, chemical plants, wineries, and distilleries, fired and unfired pressure vessels must be in accordance with the Boiler and Fired Pressure Vessel Safety Orders and the Unfired Pressure Vessel Safety Orders. Water must be available in volume to supply the largest single fixed installation requirement plus at least 250 gallons per minute for hose streams. Smoking may be permitted only in approved areas.
In addition, California has fire and explosion requirements under its Petroleum Safety Orders – Drilling and Production. Specifically, 6625.1 addresses the requirements for diesel engine runaway protection.