Chapter 8.76 FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS

It shall be the duty of the fire chief and of the building inspector, with the cooperation of the police department, to see to the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter.

8.76.030 Classifications.

A. For the purpose of this chapter, flammable liquids are divided into three classes, according to flash point, as follows:


Class I	Liquids with a flash point at or below 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-4 degrees Centigrade) closed cup tester.
Class II	Liquids with a flash point above that for Class I and at or below 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Centigrade) closed cup tester.
Class III	Liquids with a flash point above that for Class II and at or below 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 1/3 degrees Centigrade) closed cup tester.

B. The flash point shall be as determined with the Elliot, Abel, Abel Pensky or the Tag closed cup testers, but the Tag closed cup testers (standardized by the United States Bureau of Standards) shall be authoritative in case of dispute. All tests shall be made in accordance with the methods adopted by the American Society for Testing Materials.

C. Representative examples of the classes of flammable liquids are:


Class I	Class II	Class III
Ether	Alcohol	Kerosene
Carbon bisulphide	Amyl acetate	Amyl alcohol
Gasoline	Toluol	Turpentine
Naptha	Ethyl acetate	Fuel oil
Benzol	Methyl acetate
Acetone	Methyl alcohol
Collodion

8.76.040 Small storage limited.

Storage of flammable liquids of Classes I, II and III shall be in accordance with the rules governing general storage and service stations, except:

A. Not to exceed five gallons of crude petroleum, benzine, benzol, gasoline, naphtha and their compounds may be kept on hand if stored in a proper safety container, remote from flame or open fire. Such storage must not be in any cellar, basement or pit and should be in a room with direct ventilation to the outside and preferably in an outbuilding or garage.

B. Ten gallons of kerosene may be stored above ground in a proper safety can and sixty gallons may be stored for the retail trade within a building, provided storage is in an approved tank. The tank shall set in a metal pan extending at least eight inches beyond outside of the tank at the sides and rear and eighteen inches in front. The tank should be located on the first floor where the influx of natural light is sufficient to light the room, and reasonable ventilation must be provided.

8.76.050 Gasoline containers must be red.

All receptacles used for the keeping or storing of gasoline, naphtha, benzine or benzol shall be placed in red containers.

8.76.060 Empty drums.

Drums or barrels to which liquids of Classes I, II or III have been stored shall have the taps, plugs or bungs replaced immediately after the package has been emptied and shall be removed promptly from the premises.

8.76.070 Use within building restricted.

The mixing, storing or handling of Class I and II liquids in open containers is prohibited in any building except in the compounding of medicines and prescriptions in drugstores.

8.76.080 Pouring into sewers prohibited.

No liquids of Class I, II and III, or solutions containing such liquids, shall be poured into any sewer or any drain which connects with a sewer system.

8.76.090 Storage in public buildings restricted.

No liquids of Class I and II shall be kept or stored in any schoolhouse, public hall or place of assembly or in any public building, except for demonstrative purposes or for industrial or mechanical uses and then only under competent supervision.

8.76.100 Use in starting fires.

Flammable liquids shall not be used to start or kindle fires in stoves, furnaces or otherwise.

8.76.110 Fire to be kept away from flammable liquids.

Flammable liquids shall always be kept away from fire or open flame; fire or open flame shall always be kept away from flammable liquids.

8.76.120 Location of tanks – Restricted classes of property.

No storage tank shall be less than three hundred feet from any schoolhouse, church, hospital or public hall. The distance shall be measured from the near edges of the tanks in all directions to the near points of buildings. A “public hall” is any place which is used at any time for public meetings or the assembling of people for amusement, instruction or religious worship.

8.76.130 Location of tanks – Property lines and buildings.

A. The minimum distance from individual tanks to the line of adjoining property which is or may be built upon shall not be less than the following:

1. For tanks of fifty thousand gallons or less:


Tank Capacity (gallons)	Minimum Distance (feet)
3,000 or less	20
21,000 or less	25
31,000 or less	30
45,000 or less	40
50,000 or less	50

In case of tanks for the storage of crude petroleum, the foregoing minimum clearance shall be doubled.

2. For tanks of more than fifty thousand gallons to be used only for the storage of refined petroleum products or other flammable liquids not subject to boil-over:

a. Group A Tanks. If the tank is equipped with: (i) an approved permanently attached extinguishing system, or (ii) an approved floating roof, the distance shall be not less than the greatest dimension (diameter, length or height) of the tank, but such distance need not exceed one hundred twenty feet.

b. Group B Tanks. If the tank is not equipped either with: (i) an approved permanently attached extinguishing system, or (ii) an approved floating roof, the distance shall be not less than one and one-half times the greatest dimension (diameter, length or height) of the tank, but such distance need not exceed one hundred seventy-five feet.

3. For tanks of more than fifty thousand gallons to be used for the storage of crude petroleum or other flammable liquid subject to boil-over:

a. Group C Tanks. If the tank is equipped with either: (i) an approved permanently attached extinguishing system, or (ii) an approved floating roof, the distance shall be not less than twice the greatest dimension (diameter, length or height) of the tank, but such distance need not exceed one hundred seventy-five feet.

b. Group D Tanks. If the tank is not equipped either with: (i) an approved permanently attached extinguishing system, or (ii) an approved floating roof, the distance shall be not less than twice the greatest dimension (diameter, length or height) of the tank, but need not exceed three hundred fifty feet.

B. These distances shall apply also to other buildings on the property except those necessarily connected with the installation (such as oil warehouse, pumphouse and garage).

C. In particular installations these distances may be increased at the discretion of the department of public safety after consideration of such special features as topographical conditions, nature of occupancy and proximity of buildings on adjoining property, height and construction of such buildings, capacity and construction of proposed tanks and character of liquids to be stored, degree of private fire protection provided and facilities of fire departments to cope with oil fires.

D. Location of tanks with reference to railroad tracks over which passenger trains are moved shall conform to the regulations of the Bureau of Explosives of the Association of American Railroads (formerly American Railway Association), 30 Vesey Street, New York City.

E. When general oil storage is maintained in connection with a filling station, the distance from the general storage tanks the filling station building, tanks and equipment shall be the same as that required to property lines.

F. Tanks shall be located so as to avoid possible danger from high water.

G. When tanks are located on a stream without tide they shall, where possible, be downstream from burnable property.

8.76.140 Distance between tanks.

A. The minimum distance from tanks to adjacent tanks shall be as follows:


Tank Capacity (gallons)	Minimum Distance (feet)
300 or less	3
500 or less	3
1,000 or less	3
8,000 or less	3
12,000 or less	3
18,000 or less	3
24,000 or less	5
30,000 or less	10
48,000 or less	10
75,000 or less	13
100,000 or less	15
Over 100,000	One tank diameter

B. If tanks are of different capacities, the capacity of the larger tank shall govern its distance to adjacent tanks.

8.76.150 Material and construction of tanks.

A. Factory-assembled tanks shall bear the label of Underwriters’ Laboratories or meet equivalent specifications. Field-erected tanks shall meet the specifications of the National Fire Protection Association as published in NFPA Pamphlet No. 30, or those of the American Petroleum Institute. No open tanks shall be used.

B. Tanks shall be covered with asphaltum or other nonrusting coating or paint.

C. All pipe connections shall be made through flanges or reinforcements securely riveted, welded or bolted to the tank and shall be made tight.

D. All openings shall be made liquid and vapor tight, except breather vents. Gaskets used shall be such as are not affected by heat or the contents of tanks.

E. Covers for manholes, handholes and gauge holes shall be made tight fitting and normally kept in place.

8.76.160 Normal vents in tanks.

A. Each tank over one hundred gallons in capacity shall have vent openings, except safety valves, provided with approved noncorrosible flame arresters so attached as to completely cover the openings.

B. Vent openings shall be in no case less than one-fourth inch in diameter, and where a power pump is used in filling the tanks and tight connection is made to the fill pipe, the vent shall not be smaller than the fill pipe.

8.76.170 Special safety or emergency relief vents in tanks.

A. Additional vent openings or safety valves adequate to relieve any excessive pressure due to external heat shall be provided, of a type which shall be self-closing when pressure is relieved.

B. The total area of vents shall not be less than twenty-four square inches for tanks of twenty-one thousand gallons’ capacity or less and not less than eighteen square inches for tanks of more than twenty-one thousand gallons’ capacity.

8.76.180 Setting of tanks.

A. Tanks more than one foot above the ground shall have a firm foundation and supports of noncorrosible materials, the bases of which shall rest below the frost line.

B. Unprotected steel as a support for tanks shall not be permitted.

C. No combustible materials shall be permitted under or within ten feet of any storage tanks, except stairways to and walks on top, which shall be of iron or steel.

8.76.190 Grounding tanks.

All tanks shall be electrically grounded and effectively.

8.76.200 Piping – Materials and design.

Piping, valves and fittings for flammable liquids shall be designed for the working pressure and structural stresses to which they may be subjected. They may be of steel or other materials suitable for use with the liquid being handled. Pipe wall thickness determined in accordance with Section 3 of the American Standard Code for Pressure Piping (A.S. B31.1) shall be deemed to comply with this section; except, that carbon steel pipe shall not be thinner than standard wall thickness listed in the American Standard for wrought-steel and wrought-iron pipe (A.S. B36.10).

8.76.210 Piping runs.

Piping shall be run as directly as possible and proper allowance made for expansion and contraction.

8.76.220 Piping above ground.

A. Pipes shall not be surrounded or covered by cinders or other material of corrosive effect, but preferably should be laid in sand, and where carried in conduit, the openings of such conduit must be fully protected to prevent escape of liquid under dangerous conditions.

B. Pipelines buried on railroad property shall be laid at a depth of not less than three feet. Where they pass under tracks they shall be laid at least four feet below the bottom of the ties.

C. Piping buried in village streets or other area where other pipelines are carried shall be placed in conduit. Joints of conduit shall be sealed to prevent leakage and pitch shall be toward the tank yard.

D. Underground piping shall be coated with asphaltum or corrosion-resisting material.

8.76.230 Joints in pipes.

Joints may be welded or of the ordinary screw type. If the screw type, they shall be made with litharge and glycerine, lampblack or shellac.

8.76.240 Tests of piping.

Piping, after installation, shall be tested at a pressure of fifty percent in excess of the working pressure and shall be proven tight. The test shall continue for thirty minutes.

8.76.250 Normal valve in pipes.

A. Each pipe attached to a tank shall be provided with a valve at the tank, with no branches or outlets between the tank and the valve.

B. In case two or more tanks are cross-connected, there shall be a valve at each tank in each cross-section. Tanks with different classes of liquids shall not be cross-connected.

8.76.260 Emergency internal check valves.

In addition to any normal valves, there must be an extra valve at each pipeline connection to any tank below normal liquid level (regardless of when installed), which valve is an effective heat-actuated device which, in case of fire, will automatically close the valve to prevent the flow of liquid from the tank even though the pipelines are broken from the tank. These extra valves are not required in crude oil tanks in oil fields, on tanks at refineries, or on tanks at terminals which are equipped with a swing line or where facilities are provided to transfer the contents of the tank to another tank, in case of fire.

8.76.270 Dikes required.

Embankments or dikes are required:

A. For each tank containing crude oil or other liquid which has a tendency to boil over;

B. For each individual tank exceeding fifty thousand gallons (one thousand two hundred barrels) in capacity;

C. For individual tanks of less than fifty thousand gallons, or groups of tanks with individual tank capacity of less than fifty thousand gallons, when installed:

1. On the bank of a stream or other body of water, or on land permitting of rapid drainage thereto,

2. When, due to any other special conditions, the president and board of trustees deems diking to be necessary for the protection of other property.

8.76.280 Capacity of dikes.

A. Dikes for refined petroleum products not subject to boil-over shall have a capacity of not less than the capacity of the tank or groups of tanks surrounded.

B. Dikes surrounding tanks containing crude oil or other flammable liquid subject to boil-over shall have a capacity of not less than the capacity of the tanks surrounded and in addition shall have a suitable coping or deflector pointing inward, so designed and constructed as to minimize the effect of the boil-over wave. The dike shall not be less than fifty feet from the shell of the tank surrounded.

8.76.290 Material and construction of dikes.

A. Dikes shall be constructed of earth, clay masonry or reinforced concrete not higher than one-half the height of the tank or tanks enclosed, so constructed as to afford adequate protection.

B. Earthwork embankments shall be firmly and compactly built of good earth or clay, free from stones, vegetable matter and other foreign material. They shall have a flat section at the top of not less than two and one-half feet wide and a slope of at least one to one (forty-five degrees) on both sides.

C. Masonry or concrete dikes shall have footing below the frost line.

D. If a concrete floor covering is provided for the area enclosed by a concrete dike, a pump shall be provided at some convenient place, attached to which shall be a pump of approved design, so that any accumulation of water or oil may be removed immediately.

8.76.300 No openings in dikes permitted.

Embankments or dikes shall be continuous, with no openings or piping or roadway.

8.76.310 Buildings – General requirements.

It is unlawful to store, sell or offer for sale any flammable or volatile liquids as defined in this chapter in an amount in excess of one gallon in any building of frame construction, or any building other than a building of fireproof construction as defined in the ordinances of the village; provided, that this section shall not be construed to prohibit the storage of such liquids in the fuel tanks of automobiles or in tanks for heating systems installed in compliance with the provisions of the village ordinances.

8.76.320 Pumphouses.

A. Motor and pump or pumps shall be located in a separate, noncombustible building, not less than ten feet from tanks, warehouse, garage or property lines.

B. Motor shall be of the polyphase, nonsparking or explosion-proof type, and shall be grounded to permanently moist earth.

C. If a pumphouse is electrically lighted, lights shall be of the vapor-proof type. Wiring shall be in a sealed conduit, and placed outside the building.

D. Motor-starting switches shall be of the explosion-proof type or oil-bath type.

E. Screened openings of not less than sixty-four inches shall be constructed in opposite corners at the floor line to provide proper ventilation.

F. All doors of the pumphouse shall open outward.

G. Doors shall be left open at all times when the pumps are in operation.

8.76.330 Unenclosed pumps and motors at loading docks.

If pumps and motors are located entirely in the open, with no enclosure whatever, they may be located at or under the loading dock.

8.76.340 Location of loading dock.

Truck loading docks and platforms shall be located not less than ten feet from storage tanks, plant buildings and property lines.

8.76.350 Location of unloading dock near passenger trains.

The location of an unloading site, with reference to railroad tracks over which passenger trains are moved, shall be subject at all times to the regulations of the Bureau of Explosives of the Association of American Railroads (formerly American Railway Association), 30 Vesey Street, New York City.

8.76.360 Electrical equipment at loading docks.

All electric lights at loading or unloading docks shall be of vapor-proof construction. Electric wiring shall be in sealed conduit at docks and switches shall be of the explosion-proof type or placed at some point remote from the docks.

8.76.370 Pump and pipelines.

A. Gasoline and naphtha shall never be handled through the same pump and pipelines as kerosene and fuel oils.

B. Pipelines shall have a definite color scheme for painting to indicate the product which is being carried by the respective lines. The color red shall be for gasoline and naphtha. Valves on lines in pumphouses shall be tagged to denote the product handled and controlled by each valve.

C. Pumps delivering to or taking supply from tanks or a tank car shall be provided with valves on both the suction and the discharge pump.

8.76.380 Grounding of tank cars.

Before unloading operations are started and before any connection or contact is made with piping or other loading equipment, the tank car shall be electrically grounded in an effective manner. Permanent electrical connection of not less than Number 0 copper cable shall be made between the rails on which tank cars stand and the piping system of the storage plant. This connection may be accomplished in two ways. The rails may be bonded by means of standard rail bonds and connected to the permanent piping system with Number 0 electric cable connections at each end of the loading or unloading section; or a similar connection may be made between each rail on which cars stand and the permanent piping system.

8.76.390 Unloading by gravity.

A. Prohibited. The withdrawal of liquids from tank cars through bottom outlets shall not be permitted. Tank cars shall be unloaded through dome (manhole) only. Pumps required to accomplish this shall be adequate type and securely installed.

B. Exception. Fuel oils may be unloaded by gravity.

C. The use of compressed air to discharge the contents of tank cars is prohibited, but this shall not be construed to prevent the use of a standard system employing an inert gas, such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen, as a pressure-generating medium for this purpose.

8.76.400 Unloading to portable containers.

Unloading from tank cars to tank trucks or to any portable containers shall not be permitted.

8.76.410 Dome covers.

After unloading, the pipe is inserted into the dome of the car and before any pumping is done, the dome shall be tightly covered with wet burlap or some other type of cover equally effective.

8.76.420 Other restrictions – Tank cars.

A. All connections between tank cars and pipelines shall be in a good condition and not permit leakage.

B. Tank cars shall not be left connected to pipelines except when loading or unloading is going on, and during all such time a competent man shall be present and in charge.

C. The presence of flame lanterns, flame switchlights or other exposed flame lights or fires during the process of loading or unloading is prohibited.

D. Siding used in connection with tank car unloading operations shall not be common to other users, or they shall be provided with necessary derails or with warning signs in accordance with Section 4, paragraph 697(b) of the Interstate Commerce Commission Regulations on the Transportation of Explosives.

E. The unloading of tank cars and all operations in connection therewith shall be in full accord with the Rules and Regulations of the Interstate Commerce Commission.

8.76.430 Grounding of tank trucks.

Before loading operations begin, tank trucks shall be electrically bonded to pipeline by means of a bonding device at the loading dock.

8.76.440 Fencing.

The area which embraces the tank gear, including dike and all above ground piping and pipelines, shall be properly fenced with a metal fence.

8.76.450 Care of property.

Property shall be kept free from weeds, high grass, rubbish and litter, and shall be kept neat, clean and orderly throughout.

8.76.460 Fire protection.

Approved chemical fire extinguishers, foam generators or other smothering agents for extinguishing oil fires shall be provided.

8.76.470 No storage within building.

A. Barrels and drums used for Class I liquids, whether full or empty, shall be stored in the open or on open platforms in the plant yard. Platforms may have roofs, but all sides shall be open.

B. No open lights shall be permitted in such storage yard.

C. Caps, bungs and plugs shall be closed tightly immediately after the container is emptied.

D. Gasoline and naphtha shall be handled only in barrels or drums painted red and properly labeled and no other liquids shall be handled in such barrels or drums.

8.76.480 Tank trucks and wagons.

A. Tanks, tank trucks and wagons shall be constructed with double bulkheads.

B. Compartment tanks shall be constructed with double bulkheads unless they always carry the same class of liquids in the respective compartments (Class I, II or III).

C. Compartments of tank trucks carrying different classes of liquids shall not be manifolded together. Separate pipeline and meter shall be provided for each class of liquid to eliminate the hazard of mixing.

D. Each compartment or tank shall be numbered and the same number shall appear on the pipeline at the rear of the truck or wagon connected with that compartment.

E. A serviceable metal tag shall be fastened securely to each faucet, designating the contents of the compartment it controls by lettering not less than one-fourth-inch high. Tags shall be painted according to the same color scheme as the pipeline, red always indicating gasoline or naphtha.

F. Faucets shall be of the self-closing type.

G. Heavy bumpers shall be provided across the rear, adequate to protect all faucets in case of a rear-end collision.

H. Tanks, chassis, axles and springs shall be attached long enough to reach the ground at all times.

I. If buckets are used to deliver gasoline or naphtha, they shall be painted red and properly labeled. They shall be used for delivering gasoline and naphtha only and gasoline and naphtha shall not be delivered in any other buckets.

J. Cargo tanks and vehicle chassis shall be electrically bonded. Provisions shall be made in the tank structure and vehicle for the bonding of the vehicle to the fill pipe during the truck loading operations.

K. During loading and unloading of tank trucks and tank wagons a competent person shall be present and in charge at all times.

L. No retail deliveries from tank trucks or tank wagons shall be permitted in any street or alley of the village, except in extreme emergencies for relief purposes, and then only in quantities not to exceed two gallons.

M. Each tank truck or tank wagon shall carry an approved fire extinguisher suitable for extinguishing gasoline and oil fires, such as carbon tetrachloride, carbon dioxide, foam or powder.

8.76.490 Permits.

It is unlawful to construct, install or enlarge any tank, pump or piping equipment for the storage or handling of flammable or volatile liquids such as defined in this chapter without having first obtained a permit therefor. Application for such permits shall be made to the village clerk and shall be accompanied by drawing to scale showing the following:

A. Drawings shall show the plot of ground to be utilized and its immediate surroundings on all sides; the complete layout of tanks, loading and unloading docks, equipment and buildings; the capacity of each tank; each building, and all clearances as provided for in this chapter. In addition, the dimensions of any tank with a capacity of more than fifty thousand gallons shall be given.

B. Drawings shall show the name of the person, firm or company proposing the installation, the location with respect to city, village or town, and shall name adjacent railroads and streets.

C. Drawings shall designate passenger, freight, passing and side tracks between tracks at the point where the tank car will be placed for unloading and the nearest passenger tracks, and between the unloading dock and the closest passenger tracks.

8.76.500 Approval of permit.

No such permit shall be issued until the fire inspector has certified that the contemplated work fully complies with the ordinances of the village.

8.76.510 Permit fees.

The fee for such permits shall be:


1 gallon through 1,000 gallons	$100.00
1,001 gallons through 2,000 gallons	150.00
2,001 gallons through 20,000 gallons	200.00
Over 20,000 gallons	500.00