WAC 296-24-33009   Container and portable tank storage.  (1) Scope.

     (a) General. This section shall apply only to the storage of flammable or combustible liquids in drums or other containers (including flammable aerosols) not exceeding 60 gallons individual capacity and those portable tanks not exceeding 660 gallons individual capacity.

     (b) Exceptions. This section shall not apply to the following:

     (i) Storage of containers in bulk plants, service stations, refineries, chemical plants, and distilleries;

     (ii) Class I or Class II liquids in the fuel tanks of a motor vehicle, aircraft, boat, or portable or stationary engine;

     (iii) Flammable or combustible paints, oils, varnishes, and similar mixtures used for painting or maintenance when not kept for a period in excess of 30 days;

     (iv) Beverages when packaged in individual containers not exceeding 1 gallon in size.

     (2) Design, construction, and capacity of containers.

     (a) General. Only approved containers and portable tanks shall be used. Metal containers and portable tanks meeting the requirements of and containing products authorized by Chapter I, Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations - October 1, 1972, (regulations issued by the hazardous materials regulations board, department of transportation), shall be deemed to be acceptable.

     (b) Emergency venting. Each portable tank shall be provided with one or more devices installed in the top with sufficient emergency venting capacity to limit internal pressure under fire exposure conditions to 10 p.s.i.g., or 30 percent of the bursting pressure of the tank, whichever is greater. The total venting capacity shall be not less than that specified in WAC 296-24-33005 (2)(e)(iii) or (v). At least one pressure-actuated vent having a minimum capacity of 6,000 cubic feet of free air (14.7 p.s.i.a. and 60°F) shall be used. It shall be set to open at not less than 5 p.s.i.g. If fusible vents are used, they shall be actuated by elements that operate at a temperature not exceeding 300°F.

TABLE H-12

MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SIZE OF

CONTAINERS AND PORTABLE TANKS

Container

Type

Flammable liquids

Combustible Liquids

Class

IA

Class

IB

Class

IC

Class

II

Class

III

Glass or approved

plastic ————–

1 pt.

1 qu.

1 gal.

Metal (other than

DOTdrums) ——–

1 gal.

5 gal.

Safety cans ———

2 gal.

5 gal.

Metal drums (DOT

spec.) ————––

60 gal.

Approved portable

tanks —————

660 gal.

     Container exemptions:

     (i) Medicines, beverages, foodstuffs, cosmetics and other common consumer items, when packaged according to commonly accepted practices, shall be exempt from the requirements of (4)(a) and (b) of this section.

     (c) Size. Flammable and combustible liquid containers shall be in accordance with Table H-12, except that glass or plastic containers of no more than 1-gallon capacity may be used for a Class IA or IB flammable liquid if:

     (i) Such liquid either would be rendered unfit for its intended use by contact with metal or would excessively corrode a metal container so as to create a leakage hazard; and

     (ii) The user's process either would require more than 1 pint of Class IA liquid or more than 1 quart of a Class IB liquid of a single assay lot to be used at one time, or would require the maintenance of an analytical standard liquid of a quality which is not met by the specified standards of liquids available, and the quantity of the analytical standard liquid required to be used in any one control process exceeds one-sixteenth the capacity of the container allowed under Table H-12 for the class of liquid; or

     (iii) The containers are intended for direct export outside the United States.

     (3) Design, construction, and capacity of storage cabinets.

     (a) Maximum capacity. Not more than 60 gallons of Class I or Class II liquids, nor more than 120 gallons of Class III liquids may be stored in a storage cabinet.

     (b) Fire resistance. Storage cabinets shall be designed and constructed to limit the internal temperature to not more than 325°F when subjected to a 10-minute fire test using the standard time-temperature curve as set forth in Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, NFPA 251-1969. All joints and seams shall remain tight and the door shall remain securely closed during the fire test. Cabinets shall be labeled "Flammable -- Keep fire away."

     (i) Metal cabinets constructed in the following manner shall be deemed to be in compliance. The bottom, top, door, and sides of cabinet shall be at least No. 18 gage sheet iron and double walled with 1 1/2-inch air space. Joints shall be riveted, welded or made tight by some equally effective means. The door shall be provided with a three-point lock, and the door sill shall be raised at least 2 inches above the bottom of the cabinet.

     (ii) Wooden cabinets constructed in the following manner shall be deemed in compliance. The bottom, sides, and top shall be constructed of an approved grade of plywood at least 1 inch in thickness, which shall not break down or delaminate under fire conditions. All joints shall be rabbetted and shall be fastened in two directions with flathead woodscrews. When more than one door is used, there shall be a rabbetted overlap of not less than 1 inch. Hinges shall be mounted in such a manner as not to lose their holding capacity due to loosening or burning out of the screws when subjected to the fire test.

     (4) Design and construction of inside storage rooms.

     (a) Construction. Inside storage rooms shall be constructed to meet the required fire-resistive rating for their use. Such construction shall comply with the test specifications set forth in Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, NFPA 251-1969. Where an automatic sprinkler system is provided, the system shall be designed and installed in an acceptable manner. Openings to other rooms or buildings shall be provided with noncombustible liquid-tight raised sills or ramps at least 4 inches in height, or the floor in the storage area shall be at least 4 inches below the surrounding floor. Openings shall be provided with approved self-closing fire doors. The room shall be liquid tight where the walls join the floor. A permissible alternate to the sill or ramp is an open-grated trench inside of the room which drains to a safe location. Where other portions of the building or other properties are exposed, windows shall be protected as set forth in the Standard for Fire Doors and Windows, NFPA No. 80-1968, for Class E or F openings. Wood at least 1 inch nominal thickness may be used for shelving, racks, dunnage, scuffboards, floor overlay, and similar installations.

     (b) Rating and capacity. Storage in inside storage rooms shall comply with Table H-13.

TABLE H-13

STORAGE IN INSIDE ROOMS

Fire protection* provided		Fire resistance	Maximum size	Total allowable quantities (gals./sq. Ft./floor area)
Yes —————–		2 hours —————	500 sq.ft. ————————		10
No —————–		2 hours —————	500 sq.ft. ————————		4
Yes —————–		1 hour —————–	150 sq.ft. ————————		5
No —————–		1 hour —————–	150 sq.ft. ————————		2
*	Fire protection system shall be sprinkler, water spray, carbon dioxide, or other system.

     (c) Wiring. Electrical wiring and equipment within inside storage rooms used to store Class I liquids shall comply with the provisions of chapter 296-24 WAC Part L for Class I, Division 2 locations. For inside storage rooms used to store Class II and III liquids the pertinent provisions chapter 296-24 WAC Part L apply.

     (d) Ventilation. Every inside storage room shall be provided with either a gravity or a mechanical exhaust ventilation system. Such system shall be designed to provide for a complete change of air within the room at least six times per hour. If a mechanical exhaust system is used, it shall be controlled by a switch located outside of the door. The ventilating equipment and any lighting fixtures shall be operated by the same switch. A pilot light shall be installed adjacent to the switch if Class I flammable liquids are dispensed within the room. Where gravity ventilation is provided, the fresh air intake, as well as the exhaust outlet from the room, shall be on the exterior of the building in which the room is located.

     (e) Storage in inside storage rooms. In every inside storage room there shall be maintained one clear aisle at least 3 feet wide. Containers over 30 gallons capacity shall not be stacked one upon the other. Dispensing shall be by approved pump or self-closing faucet only.

     (5) Storage inside building.

     (a) Egress. Flammable or combustible liquids, including stock for sale, shall not be stored so as to limit use of exits, stairways, or areas normally used for the safe egress of people.

     (b) Containers. The storage of flammable or combustible liquids in containers or portable tanks shall comply with (4)(c) through (e) of this section.

     (c) Office occupancies. Storage shall be prohibited except that which is required for maintenance and operation of building and operation of equipment. Such storage shall be kept in closed metal containers stored in a storage cabinet or in safety cans or in an inside storage room not having a door that opens into that portion of the building used by the public.

     (d) Mercantile occupancies and other retail stores.

     (i) In rooms or areas accessible to the public, storage shall be limited to quantities needed for display and normal merchandising purposes but shall not exceed 2 gallons per square foot of gross floor area. The gross floor area used for computing the maximum quantity permitted shall be considered as that portion of the store actually being used for merchandising flammable and combustible liquids.

     (ii) Where the aggregate quantity of additional stock exceeds 60 gallons of Class IA, or 120 gallons of Class IB, or 180 gallons of Class IC, or 240 gallons of Class II, or 500 gallons of Class III liquids, or any combination of Class I and Class II liquids exceeding 240 gallons, it shall be stored in a room or portion of the building that complies with the construction provisions for an inside storage room as prescribed in (4) of this section. For water miscible liquids, these quantities may be doubled.

     (iii) Containers in a display area shall not be stacked more than 3 feet or two containers high, whichever is the greater, unless the stacking is done on fixed shelving or is otherwise satisfactorily secured.

     (iv) Shelving shall be of stable construction, of sufficient depth and arrangement such that containers displayed thereon shall not be easily displaced.

     (v) Leaking containers shall be removed to a storage room or taken to a safe location outside the building and the contents transferred to an undamaged container.

     (e) General purpose public warehouses. Storage shall be in accordance with Table H-14 or H-15 and in buildings or in portions of such buildings cut off by standard firewalls. Material creating no fire exposure hazard to the flammable or combustible liquids may be stored in the same area.

TABLE H-14

INDOOR CONTAINER STORAGE

Class liquid	Storage level	Protected storage maximum per pile		Unprotected storage maximum per pile
		Gal.	Ht.	Gal.	Ht.
IA ——	Ground and upper floors ——————	2,750	3 ft.	660	3 ft.
		(50)	(1)	(12)	(1)
	Basement —————	Not permitted		Not permitted
IB ——	Ground and upper floors ——————	5,500	6 ft.	1,375	3 ft.
		(100)	(2)	(25)	(1)
	Basement —————	Not permitted		Not permitted
IC ——	Ground and upper floors ——————	16,500	6 ft	4,125	3 ft.
		(300)	(2)	(75)	(1)
	Basement —————	Not permitted		Not permitted
II ——–	Ground and upper floors ——————	16,500	9 ft.	4,125	9 ft.
		(300)	(3)	(75)	(3)
	Basement —————	5,500 (100)	9 ft. (3)	Not permitted
III ——	Ground and upper floors ——————	55,000	15 ft.	13,750	12 ft.
		(1,000)	(5)	(250)	(4)
	Basement —————	8,250 (450)	9 ft. (3)	Not permitted

Note 1:	When 2 or more classes of materials are stored in a single pile, the maximum gallonage permitted in that pile shall be the smallest of the 2 or more separate maximum gallonages.
Note 2:	Aisles shall be provided so that no container is more than 12 ft. from an aisle. Main aisles shall be at least 8 ft. wide and side aisles at least 4 ft. wide.
	(Numbers in parentheses indicate corresponding number of 55-gal. drums.)
Note 3:	Each pile shall be separated from each other by at least 4 ft.

TABLE H-15

INDOOR PORTABLE TANK STORAGE

Class liquid	Storage level	Protected storage maximum per pile		Unprotected storage maximum per pile
		Gal.	Ht.		Gal.	Ht.
IA ——	Ground and upper floors ————	Not permitted		Not permitted
	Basement —————–	Not permitted		Not permitted
IB ——	Ground and upper floors ————	20,000	7ft.		2,000	7 ft.
	Basement —————–	Not permitted		Not permitted
IC ——	Ground and upper floors ————	40,000	14 ft		5,500	7 ft.
	Basement —————–	Not permitted		Not permitted
II ——–	Ground and upper floors ————	40,000	14 ft.		5,500	7 ft.
	Basement —————–	20,000	7 ft.	Not permitted
III ——	Ground and upper floors ————	60,000	14 ft.		22,000	7 ft.
	Basement —————–	20,000	7 ft.	Not permitted

Note 1:	When 2 or more classes of materials are stored in a single pile, the maximum gallonage permitted in that pile shall be the smallest of the 2 or more separate maximum gallonages.
Note 2:	Aisles shall be provided so that no portable tank is more than 12 ft. from an aisle. Main aisles shall be at least 8 ft. wide and side aisles at least 4 ft. wide.
Note 3:	Each pile shall be separated from each other by at least 4 ft.

     (f) Flammable and combustible liquid warehouses or storage buildings.

     (i) If the storage building is located 50 feet or less from a building or line of adjoining property that may be built upon, the exposing wall shall be a blank wall having a fire-resistance rating of at least 2 hours.

     (ii) The total quantity of liquids within a building shall not be restricted, but the arrangement of storage shall comply with Table H-14 or H-15.

     (iii) Containers in piles shall be separated by pallets or dunnage where necessary to provide stability and to prevent excessive stress on container walls.

     (iv) Portable tanks stored over one tier high shall be designed to nest securely, without dunnage and adequate materials handling equipment shall be available to handle tanks safely at the upper tier level.

     (v) No pile shall be closer than 3 feet to the nearest beam, chord, girder, or other obstruction, and shall be 3 feet below sprinkler deflectors or discharge orifices of water spray, or other overhead fire protection systems.

     (vi) Aisles of at least 3 feet wide shall be provided where necessary for reasons of access to doors, windows or standpipe connections.

     (6) Storage outside buildings.

     (a) General. Storage outside buildings shall be in accordance with Table H-16 or H-17, and (6)(b) and (d) of this section.

TABLE H-16

OUTDOOR CONTAINER STORAGE

1 Class	2 Maximum per pile (see note 1)	3 Distance between piles (see note 2)	4 Distance to property line that can be built upon (see notes 3 & 4)	5 Distance to street, alley, public way (see note 4)
	gal.	ft.	ft.	ft.
IA ——————	1,100	5	20	10
IB ——————	2,200	5	20	10
IC ——————	4,400	5	20	10
II ——————–	8,800	5	10	5
III ——————	22,000	5	10	5

Note 1:	When 2 or more classes of materials are stored in a single pile, the maximum gallonage in that pile shall be the smallest of the 2 or more separate gallonages.
Note 2:	Within 200 ft. of each container, there shall be 12-ft. wide access way to permit approach of fire control apparatus.
Note 3:	The distances listed apply to properties that have protection for exposures as defined. If there are exposures, and such protection for exposures does not exist, the distances in column 4 shall be doubled.
Note 4:	When total quantity stored does not exceed 50 percent of maximum per pile, the distances in columns 4 and 5 may be reduced 50 percent, but not less than 3 ft.

     (b) Maximum storage. A maximum of 1,100 gallons of flammable or combustible liquids may be located adjacent to buildings located on the same premises and under the same management provided the provisions of (6)(b)(i) and (ii) are complied with.

     (i) The building shall be a one-story building devoted principally to the handling and storing of flammable or combustible liquids or the building shall have 2 hour fire-resistive exterior walls having no opening within 10 feet of such storage.

     (ii) Where quantity stored exceeds 1,100 gallons, or provisions of (6)(b)(i) cannot be met, a minimum distance of 10 feet between buildings and nearest container of flammable or combustible liquid shall be maintained.

TABLE H-17

OUTDOOR PORTABLE TANK STORAGE

1 Class	2 Maximum per pile	3 Distance between piles	4 Distance to property line that can be built upon	5 Distance to street, alley, public way
	gal.	ft.	ft.	ft.
IA ——————–	2,200	5	20	10
IB ——————–	4,400	5	20	10
IC ——————–	8,800	5	20	10
II ——————–	17,600	5	10	5
III ——————–	44,000	5	10	5

Note 1:	When 2 or more classes of materials are stored in a single pile, the maximum gallonage in that pile shall be the smallest of the 2 or more separate gallonages.
Note 2:	Within 200 ft. of each portable tank, there shall be a 12-ft. wide access way to permit approach of fire control apparatus.
Note 3:	The distances listed apply to properties that have protection for exposures as defined. If there are exposures, and such protection for exposures does not exist, the distances in column 4 shall be doubled.
Note 4:	When total quantity stored does not exceed 50 percent of maximum per pile, the distances in columns 4 and 5 may be reduced 50 percent, but not less than 3 ft.

     (c) Spill containment. The storage area shall be graded in a manner to divert possible spills away from buildings or other exposures or shall be surrounded by a curb at least 6 inches high. When curbs are used, provisions shall be made for draining of accumulations of ground or rain water or spills of flammable or combustible liquids. Drains shall terminate at a safe location and shall be accessible to operation under fire conditions.

     (d) Security. The storage area shall be protected against tampering or trespassers where necessary and shall be kept free of weeds, debris and other combustible material not necessary to the storage.

     (7) Fire control.

     (a) Extinguishers. Suitable fire control devices, such as small hose or portable fire extinguishers, shall be available at locations where flammable or combustible liquids are stored.

     (i) At least one portable fire extinguisher having a rating of not less than 12-B units shall be located outside of, but not more than 10 feet from, the door opening into any room used for storage.

     (ii) At least one portable fire extinguisher having a rating of not less than 12-B units must be located not less than 10 feet, nor more than 25 feet, from any Class I or Class II liquid storage area located outside of a storage room but inside a building.

Note:

For additional requirements relating to portable fire extinguishers see WAC 296-800-300.

     (b) Sprinklers. When sprinklers are provided, they shall be installed in accordance with chapter 296-24 WAC, Part G-3.

     (c) Open flames and smoking. Open flames and smoking shall not be permitted in flammable or combustible liquid storage areas.

     (d) Water reactive materials. Materials which will react with water shall not be stored in the same room with flammable or combustible liquids.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. 04-18-080, § 296-24-33009, filed 8/31/04, effective 11/1/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010,[49.17].040 , and [49.17].050. 01-17-033, § 296-24-33009, filed 8/8/01, effective 9/1/01. Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.17 RCW. 94-15-096 (Order 94-07), § 296-24-33009, filed 7/20/94, effective 9/20/94; 91-24-017 (Order 91-07), § 296-24-33009, filed 11/22/91, effective 12/24/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040 and 49.17.050. 85-10-004 (Order 85-09), § 296-24-33009, filed 4/19/85; Order 76-6, § 296-24-33009, filed 3/1/76; Order 74-27, § 296-24-33009, filed 5/7/74; Order 73-5, § 296-24-33009, filed 5/9/73 and Order 73-4, § 296-24-33009, filed 5/7/73.]