Diesel Tank Overfill Protection

[TravisMack]

Has anyone here been required to provide overfill protection for UL Listed Diesel Tanks inside of a building (approx 150 - 300 gallons)? We have a local AHJ (major metro area) that is requiring overfill protection on all diesel tanks inside the building now. We are also required to have "liquid tight filling."

I have never run across this before, but this particular AHJ will not approve an installation without it.

Anyone ever hear of this, or is there something that says this tank would exempt these tanks from this requirement?

Thanks in advance!

 

[firepe]

Travis,

Curious what jurisdiction specifically it is.

And have they quoted chapter and verse where they believe they are justified in this?

 

[cdafd]

We require both if convault type sit up

I take it this is some typ of above ground tank

is it a tank under a generator, or above ground or vaulted or .......??????

 

[cdafd]

in IFC 2003 look at 3404.2.7.5.8 for overfill and states for class I II III storage tanks and look at 3404.2 for tanks required to have it, whihc has fixed tanks with no gallonage specified.



for fill look at 3404.2.9.6 for aboveground tanks states direct connection to fill pipe, with no fuel exposed to open air.

 

[TravisMack]

This is in the Greater Phx area. This is a standard diesel fuel tank you see for a fire pump in a pump room.

What cdafd is quoting is what the AHJ is using as justification. I have just not seen this applied to these small diesel tanks.

 

[cdafd]

what is your defintion of small??

also is it just plain steel tank or is it convault type.

if you wait awhile the great "Scott" will submit an answer because he more than likely wrote the requirement.

 

[TravisMack]

CDA:

Yeah, I figured I would get the final answer from Stookey. I believe it is just a standard double wall tank.

T

 

[stookeyfpe]

You looking for me Travis? Sorry if I am trying to understand the problem.

 

[TravisMack]

Basically the question is if a 150 diesel gallon tank located inside of a pump room is required to have the overfill protection and liquid tight fill under the IFC?

Phoenix FD has just recently started enforcing it. Based on the section quoted by cdafd, it seems that it is. However, since I had not had another engineer or AHJ require it, it was something we had to learn the hard way.

T

 

[cdafd]

as a wise old inspector said once " if you do not know the code you cannot enforce it"

 

[stookeyfpe]

Not required Travis. Call me. I don't want to write a book report for the web.

 

[TravisMack]

10-4...Will call on Monday!

Travis

 

[firepe]

Travis, Stooky,

Hey guys, share the wealth, lol.

I have not yet had to deal with this issue, but I would love to hear the argument or explanation to combat this interpretation.

We do 1-2 diesels a year, and if you are dealing with it, it's only a matter of time before I have to argue about it.

If you don't want to let us all in on it, contact me offline at firepe1@yahoo.com.

Thanks guys

 

[SprinklerDesigner2]

Travis, Stooky,

Hey guys, share the wealth, lol.


Please do, never know when it may be needed.

 

[TravisMack]

After I get in touch with Stookeyfpe this week, I will try to summarize his response so all can have the information.

Merry Christmas to all!

 

[stookeyfpe]

OK, sorry about my short response. I just get a little tired of writing detailed analysis that I'm unsure if they are properly interpreted.

IFC Section 3404.2.9.4 is the particular code section that is at issue:

3404.2.9.4 Above-ground tanks inside of buildings. Tanks storing Class I, II and IIIA liquids inside buildings shall be equipped with a device or other means to prevent overflow into the building including, but not limited to: a float valve; a preset meter on the fill line; a valve actuated by the weight of the tanks contents; a low head pump which is incapable of producing overflow; or a liquid-tight overflow pipe at least one pipe size larger than the fill pipe and discharging by gravity back to the outside source of liquid or to an approved location.

As written any stationary aboveground storage tank (AST) containing a Class I, II or IIIA liquid located inside of a building requires overfill protection. The problem with this provision is that overfill protection devices for small (<1,000 gallon) tanks require that the tank have a minimum 2-inch opening. I am only aware of two manufacturers of overfill devices for these small tanks (Clay & Bailey and some outfit out of France who builds a really complicated device called a Minnow) and both require a tank with a 2-inch opening. I suspect Travis's tank has a 1 1/2-inch tank fill connection.

So how does one get around this? First, talk to the code official and explain that original equipment manufacturered (OEM) overfill devices require a minimum 2-inch opening and for smaller diameters, the design would require a liquid level transmitter interfaced with a programmable logic controller connected to a electric solenoid valve. This arrangement costs more than the value of the tank, requires good engineering and is is not justified by the loss history for fire pump rooms or houses.

Secondly is that the 2006 IFC exempts fuel oil systems less than 660 gallons. Footnote "i" in Table 2703.1.1(1) exempts fuel oil systems with a volume < 660 gallons provided the installation complies with the requirements of the IFC. A fuel oil system under the requirements in IFC Section 603 does not require an overfill prevention device or system.

The other item to consider is that many of the ASTs built for fire pump installations are listed assemblies (as my memory recalls) so modifying them could be construed as a violation of their listing.

Someone needs to explain to tank manufacturers that the IFC has a particular requirement which none of them comply with for overfill protection. I think an argument as I have presented would be accepted as a basis for changing the IFC so long it was limited to tanks with a volume < 660 gallons. You guys and gals are purchasing the equipment and the manufacturers need to understand they are currently selling equipment that does not comply with the IFC.

And for more fun and irritation, the 2009 IFC will have new requirements for fuel oil systems that are more detailed and complicated.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah or Joyous Kwanza. Scott

 

[stookeyfpe]

One more thing. Travis's AST has a volume of 150 gallons. A fire pump room or house is required by NFPA 20 to be protected by automatic sprinklers.

Diesel fuel in Texas and Arizona is classified as a Class II combustible liquid and its maximum allowable quantity is 120 gallons in IFC Table 2703.1.1(1). However, this quantity is increased to 240 gallons because of the automatic sprinkler system (see footnote "f").

One can argue that the amount of storage is < the maximum allowable quantity so overfill protection is not required. I used that as a justification a number of times for small fuel tanks such as that described by Travis.