Chapter 5.104 SERVICE OR FILLING STATIONS

A. A “service station” is any place of business where gasoline, or any highly volatile fuels for motor vehicles or internal combustion engines, are sold or offered for sale at retail, and dispensed into fuel tanks of such motor vehicles.

B. This definition shall include also a private storage and dispensing of such products for the same purpose as those served by a service station, whether the storage is maintained for the use or benefit of the owner, lessee, agents or employees of either, or of any others.

C. The requirements covering service stations shall also govern underground storage maintained at general storage plants and places other than service stations, so far as applicable.

5.104.020 License required – Fee.

It is unlawful to conduct or operate a service or filling station (which is a building or portion thereof used for offering for sale at retail to the public, fuels, oils and accessories for motor vehicles) without having first obtained a license therefor. The annual fee for such license shall be one hundred thirty-eight dollars for a station with five pumps (for licensing purposes, each hose/nozzle that delivers fuel to automobiles shall be considered one “pump”), plus twenty-eight dollars for each additional pump. (Ord. 2010-08A § 22, 2010; Ord. 2010-08 § 22, 2010; Ord. 2002-07 § 50, 2002; Ord. 89-5 § 48, 1989; Ord. 84-5 § 42, 1984)

5.104.030 Nonbusiness filling stations.

Any person, firm or corporation maintaining or operating any storage tank for gasoline for the use of automobiles for the owner, lessee, employees or agents of such person, firm or corporation shall comply with all of the provisions of this chapter other than the requirement for the payment of a fee.

5.104.040 Bulk sales prohibited.

No motor fuels shall be dispensed at any service station except into the fuel tanks of motor vehicles, when such tanks are connected with the carburation system of such vehicles; provided, however, that individual sales up to five gallons may be made in metal receptacles when painted red and labeled in full conformity with the Illinois Red Can Gasoline Law, such individual sales to be limited to five gallons to any one person.

5.104.050 Storage limitations.

A. Service station storage shall be underground and the combined capacity of the storage tanks of Class I and Class II flammable liquid shall not exceed twenty thousand gallons.

B. Class III flammable liquid storage, at service stations, shall be underground and shall not exceed twenty thousand gallons.

C. Underground fuel oil tank connected to the station heater and underground tank for receiving crankcase draining need not be counted in computing the combined capacity.

D. The underground storage limit may be increased at airports, and industrial plants where a larger storage is required for manufacturing operations, at bus and truck terminals where operating requirements make a larger storage necessary, and in segregated locations.

5.104.060 Setting of tanks.

A. Where tanks are not subject to being driven over, they shall be buried so that their tops will be not less than two feet below the surface of the ground or beneath twelve inches of earth and slab of reinforced concrete not less than four inches in thickness. The slab shall be set on a firm, well-tamped earth foundation and shall extend at least one foot beyond the outline of the tank in all directions.

B. Where the tank site is subject to traffic by heavy vehicles, the total coverage above the top of the tank shall be not less than three feet; provided, however, that where the area over tanks is paved with reinforced concrete not less than six inches in thickness, the total coverage may be reduced to two feet.

C. Where necessary to prevent floating, tanks shall be securely anchored or weighted.

D. Tanks shall be set on a firm foundation and surrounded with earth or sand well tamped in place.

E. Tops of tanks shall be below the level of any piping to which tanks may be connected.

F. Tanks shall not be installed under any building or structure.

5.104.070 Clearance required.

A. To Basements. Individual tanks of a capacity up to two thousand gallons shall be buried so that tops of tanks shall be lower than all floors, basements, cellars or pits of buildings within ten feet thereto, on or off the property, or tanks shall maintain a clearance of ten feet thereto. For individual tanks with a capacity of more than two thousand gallons and up to six thousand gallons, this distance shall be twenty feet. For individual tanks with a capacity of more than six thousand and up to twenty thousand gallons, this distance shall be twenty-five feet.

B. To Sewers. Individual tanks of a capacity up to two thousand gallons shall be buried so that the tops of tanks shall be lower than the bottom level of all sewers, manholes, catch basins, cesspools, septic tanks, wells or cisterns within ten feet, on or off the property, or tanks shall maintain a full clearance of ten feet thereto. For individual tanks with a capacity of more than two thousand gallons and up to six thousand gallons, this distance shall be twenty feet. For individual tanks of a capacity of more than six thousand gallons and up to twenty thousand gallons, this distance shall be twenty-five feet. “Sewer” includes the sewer line out of the station building. These clearances shall not be required to a sewer line out of the service station if such sewer line is constructed throughout of cast iron with leaded joints.

C. To Property Lines. Individual tanks of a capacity up to two thousand gallons shall maintain a ten-foot clearance to property lines. For individual tanks of a capacity of more than two thousand gallons and up to six thousand gallons, this distance shall be twenty feet. For individual tanks of a capacity of more than six thousand gallons and up to twenty thousand gallons, this distance shall be twenty-five feet. These clearances on the side adjacent to a public street, alley or highway may be waived by consent of the authorities having immediate jurisdiction over the public street, alley or highway if it can be shown that the required sewer clearance can be maintained.

D. To Special Classes of Property. Tanks and pumps shall maintain a clearance of not less than eighty-five feet to any schoolhouse, hospital or church. The distance shall be measured from near points of tanks and pumps to near points of buildings.

5.104.080 Material and construction of tanks.

A. Tanks shall bear the label of the Underwriters’ Laboratories or meet equivalent specifications.

B. Tanks shall be thoroughly coated on the outside with tar, asphaltum or other suitable rust-resisting material.

C. Tanks shall not be surrounded or covered by cinders or other material of corrosive effect. If the soil contains corrosive material, special protection must be provided.

5.104.090 Venting of tanks.

A. Each tank shall be provided with a vent pipe, connected with the top of the tank and carried up to the outer air. Pipe shall be arranged for proper drainage to the storage tank and its lower end shall not extend through the top of the tank for a distance of not more than one inch; it shall have no traps or pockets.

B. The upper end of the pipe shall be provided with a gooseneck or T attachment, or weatherproof hood.

C. The vent pipe shall be of sufficient cross-sectional area to permit escape of air and gas during the filling operation and in no case less than one inch in diameter. If a power pump is used in filling the storage tank, and a tight connection is made to the fill pipe, the vent pipe shall not be smaller than the fill pipe.

D. The vent pipe shall terminate outside of the building not less than twelve feet above the top of the fill pipe, and not less than four feet, measuring vertically and horizontally, from any window or other building opening, and not less than fifteen feet, measured horizontally, from any opening into the basement, cellar or pit of any building, and in a location which will not permit pocketing of gas. If a tight connection is made in the filling line, the terminus of the vent pipe shall be carried to a point one foot above the level of the highest reservoir from which the tank may be filled.

E. The vent pipe from two or more tanks of the same class of liquid may be connected to one upright or main header. The area of the header shall equal the combined area of the pipes connected to it. Connection of the header shall be not less than one foot above the level of the top of the highest reservoir from which the tank may be filled.

5.104.100 Fill pipe.

A. Fill pipe shall be carried to a location outside of any building, as remote as possible from any doorway or other opening into any building and in no case closer than five feet from any such opening.

B. Location shall be in a place where there is a minimum danger of breakage from trucks or other vehicles.

C. Each fill pipe shall be closed by a screw cap of other tightfitting cap, preferably of a type which can be locked. The cap should be locked at all times when the filling or gauging process is not going on.

5.104.110 Unloading operations.

A. The unloading hose from the tank truck into the underground tank shall be metallic lined or its equivalent and shall be equipped with a nonferrous nozzle or tight connection metal nipple.

B. During unloading operations a competent person shall be present and in charge at all times.

C. If the underground tank is supplied through a permanent pipe connection to an above ground and general storage tank, the filling process may be by power-driven pump or gravity. In addition to valves at above ground tanks, a valve shall be installed within the control of service station personnel.

5.104.120 Pumps.

A. Class I and Class II flammable liquids shall be transferred from underground tanks by means of fixed pumps so designed and equipped as to allow control of the flow and to prevent leakage or accidental discharge. Supplemental means shall be provided outside of the dispensing device whereby the source of power may readily be disconnected in the event of fire or other accident. Dispensing devices for Class I and Class II flammable liquids shall be of an approved type. Liquids shall be withdrawn from tanks by means of approved pumps equipped with metallic-lined hose and nonferrous discharge nozzle.

B. No pump shall be located within a building.

C. Curb pumps, or pumps located in any portion of a public street, are prohibited.

D. Wiring of electric pumps and all electrical equipment in connection therewith shall conform to Article 500 of the 1956 Edition of the National Electrical Code, N.F.P.A. Pamphlet No. 70, published by the National Fire Protection Association.

E. Devices which discharge by gravity shall be so designed that it is impossible to retain in the gauging compartment materially more than ten gallons of liquid and so that it is not possible to lock the device without draining the liquid.

F. Systems which employ continuous air pressure on the storage tank in connection with the gauging or vending device are prohibited.

G. The use of above ground storage tanks in connection with the gauging or vending device is prohibited.

H. Setbacks of pump islands from street lines and drive-in arrangements are subject to approval of the authorities having jurisdiction over the street, highway or road.

5.104.130 Piping.

Piping shall conform to the requirements set out in the rules under “General Storage” in the State Fire Marshal’s Rules.

5.104.140 Building.

A. No basement or excavation shall be permitted under any service station building.

B. The floor level shall be above grade so as to prevent flow of liquids or vapors into the building.

C. The floor shall be concrete.

5.104.150 Heating systems.

Heating systems in service stations that have rooms or stalls for greasing or servicing motor vehicles shall be of a type that will preclude the likelihood of gasoline gas reaching the heaters. The following types are acceptable:

A. Steam, hot-water or warm-air furnaces, cut off from the balance of the building by eight-inch masonry walls. The ceiling shall be of two coats of cement plaster over metal lath or equivalent fire-resistive construction. The door to the heater room shall open from the outside of the building. No openings shall be permitted on the inside walls except where necessary for passage of heat ducts. If warm-air heat is used, no cold-air return shall be taken closer than thirty inches from the level of the grease room floor.

1. If the heater room door opens from the office room, then such door must be sufficiently distant from the grease room door to make the travel of gasoline gas to the heater room a remote possibility. The floor of the office must be higher than the floor of the grease room and a six-inch concrete ledge must be placed across the door opening at the floor in the grease room door or furnace room door.

B. The following types of heat are acceptable without enclosure:

1. Suspended, approved type, oil or gas fired, warm-air furnaces. These shall be suspended from the ceiling joists and shall be approximately eight feet above the level of the grease room floor. Cold-air returns shall be not less than thirty inches from the level of the grease room floor.

2. Gas or oil-fired unit heaters shall be mounted eight feet above the level of the grease room floor.

3. Electric heating units and equipment located within the possible path of vapor travel shall be designed and installed so as not to create an ignition hazard and shall conform with the National Electrical Code, N.F.P.A. Pamphlet No. 70, as published by the National Fire Protection Association.

4. In single-stall stations a stove may be used, if mounted eighteen inches above the floor.

5. Stoves may be used in the office section if they are cut off by partition from the grease room and the stoves are mounted above the floor level.

5.104.160 No inflammable liquids within buildings.

A. No gasoline, naphtha or other liquids of that kind shall be kept inside of the service station.

B. No alcohol or other flammable antifreeze solutions shall be kept inside service stations except in their original sealed containers. No transfer of such liquids from these receptacles shall be made inside the service station.

5.104.170 Greasing pits.

A. Every greasing pit installed in a building or enclosed by three or more walls shall be ventilated by a vent duct not less than six inches in diameter (or equivalent cross-sectional area if a noncircular duct is used). The duct shall start within four inches of the floor and shall extend on an upward diagonal or by any bend over to sidewall, thence straight up through the roof to a height sufficient to draw off gasoline vapors which may accumulate at the bottom of the pit. The floor of the pit should pitch slightly toward the corner where the duct is located, to facilitate the flow of gases to the duct.

B. Gasoline or naphtha shall never be used to clean out any pit, whether the pit is located within a building or enclosure, or outside in the open.

C. No sewer connection shall be permitted from any greasing pit, unless protected with an approved grease trap which will effectively intercept greases and oils and prevent their entry into the sewer. The trap shall be kept cleaned out.

D. If electrically lighted, globes shall be of vaporproof construction and wiring shall be in conduit.

5.104.180 Grease traps.

If a sewer connection is made, an adequate grease trap shall be provided to intercept grease and oils. Traps shall be cleaned out at least every thirty days.

5.104.200 Safety regulations.

A. It is unlawful to service the fuel tank of any motor vehicle until the motor and ignition have been shut off.

B. No smoking shall be permitted on the premises at any time.

C. No open lights or flames shall be permitted except within a stove within the station building.

D. Premises must be kept neat and clean, free from rubbish or trash.

E. Cleaning with gasoline, naphtha or other highly flammable liquids shall not be permitted in or around the service station.

F. Underground tanks which develop leaks or which are permanently discontinued in service shall be removed promptly or shall be filled with sand. The sand is to be flushed with water until a complete sand fill is secured.

5.104.210 Fire extinguishers.

Each service station shall be equipped with at least one chemical fire extinguisher suitable for oil or gasoline fires.

5.104.220 Toilet and lavatory facilities.

A. Each filling station shall be equipped with toilet and lavatory facilities, which shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition at all times.

B. Each lavatory shall be provided with hot and cold running water, soap and individual or roller-type towels of either paper or cloth.

C. No permit for a new filling station shall be issued unless the plans show provisions for separate toilet and lavatory facilities for men and for women.

5.104.230 Storage and parking of vehicles.

Except for the motor vehicles owned by the owner or operator of the service station or by his employees, not more than three vehicles for each vehicle which can be serviced within the service station structure, or at an outdoor grease pit or rack, shall be parked or stored at any one time within an area seventy-five feet from such service station building, and no such vehicles shall be so parked or stored within five feet from any public sidewalk, street, alley or other public way.

5.104.240 Approval of plans.

Drawing of blueprints made to scale shall be submitted in triplicate to the president and board of trustees and shall be approved by them before any new construction, addition or remodeling is undertaken. Drawings shall carry the name of the person, firm or corporation proposing the installation, the location, and shall in addition show the following:

A. The plot to be utilized and its immediate surroundings on all sides; all property lines to be designated and adjacent streets and highways to be named;

B. The complete installation as proposed, including tanks and their capacity, pumps, buildings, drives and all equipment;

C. Clearance from tanks to property lines;

D. Type of construction of service station building or buildings, with a clear plan showing that there will be no basement, cellar or excavation under any portion;

E. Location of basements, cellars or pits of other buildings on the property or on adjacent property, and location of tanks with reference thereto as is provided in this chapter. If a building has no basement, cellar or pit, make note to that effect;

F. Location of sewers, manholes, catchbasins, cesspools, septic tanks, wells or cisterns (whether on the property, or adjacent property or in adjoining streets, highways or alleys) and location of tanks with reference thereto. If there is no sewer, manhole or catchbasin in a street or alley, or no sewer, manhole or cesspool, no septic tank, well or cistern on the property, make a notation to that effect in the proper place;

G. Location of vent pipe outlets and location of fill pipe;

H. Ventilation of greasing pit, if greasing pit is located within a building or enclosure;

I. A complete showing of type of heat and heating arrangements;

J. Location of toilet and lavatory facilities;

K. Drawings shall be accompanied by an application for approval made out in triplicate on blanks furnished by the village clerk.

5.104.250 Overfill protection.

A system or device to automatically stop the flow of product from delivery vehicles into a flammable or combustible liquid storage tank when the storage tank reaches ninety-five percent of its total capacity shall be included in all flammable and combustible liquid storage facilities.

5.104.260 Dispenser emergency disconnect.

At all installations, public and private, where a flammable or combustible liquid is dispensed into fuel tanks of motor vehicles an electrical supply emergency disconnect for all dispensers shall be located where it is visible from the dispenser/dispensers it serves, readily accessible, and in an area protected from possible fire at the dispensers. One such disconnect shall serve all dispensers on the premises. The disconnect shall be clearly marked with a sign of letters a minimum of three inches high, shall have a contrasting background and state “Dispenser Emergency Disconnect.”

5.104.270 Leak and testing notification.

The bureau of fire prevention shall receive immediate notification from the business operator or petroleum company supplying the product, upon any suspected leak, unusual accumulation of water or foreign matter in tanks, product in foreign location, or testing of piping system or tanks for any reason.

5.104.280 Leaks – Investigation and testing.

Upon receipt of evidence of combustible or flammable liquids or vapors in basements, sewers, manholes or any other foreign location, the fire prevention bureau shall make an investigation. If deemed necessary the fire prevention bureau may require that any or all systems in the area be tested for leaks. When a test is required, the “final test” as outlined in Chapter IV of N.F.P.A. Pamphlet 329, 1972 Edition or its equivalent shall be performed within forty-eight hours after notification from the fire prevention bureau.

5.104.290 Discontinued use of tanks.

Whenever the storage or intended use of a flammable or combustible liquid tank is discontinued for a period of one hundred twenty consecutive days, or the business served by flammable or combustible liquid storage tanks is closed for one hundred twenty consecutive days, the storage tank or tanks shall immediately, after above the one-hundred-twenty-day period, be removed from the ground and/or premises. Removal of tanks shall be witnessed by a member of bureau of fire prevention, with twenty-four-hour prior notice.

5.104.300 Unlawful disposal of combustible or flammable liquid.

It is unlawful for any person to permit a flammable or combustible liquid to flow into a sewer, drain, catchbasin or similar underground structure, or to the fill material around the underground tanks, or any point where the liquid would contaminate the earth or groundwater and/or present a fire hazard.

5.104.310 Quadrennial system tightness certification.

All existing underground combustible or flammable liquid storage tanks shall be tested and certified as tight by a qualified testing individual or firm by January 1, 1976, and once every four years thereafter.

5.104.320 Inspection.

An annual inspection will be made and a certificate of inspection will be issued. This certificate, along with the business license, must be visibly posted at all times.