Fire Prevention and Protection - Chapter 9

Outside Storage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Flammable and

Combustible Liquids
Author Technical Revision Level Approver Name Effective Date
Contact
Global Bill Sheppard 3 Jim Ellis 06/01/06
Security

1.0 PURPOSE

This standard provides the general protection requirements of the outside

storage of liquefied petroleum gas and flammable and combustible liquids.

2.0 SCOPE

This standard applies to the outside storage of liquefied petroleum gas,

flammable and combustible liquids and associated equipment.

3.0 STANDARDS

3.1 Protection Guidelines

Table 3.1, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Installations, sets forth the recommended
spacing and protection guidelines. Experience has indicated that distance
between unloading stations, vaporizers, storage tanks and major buildings are
critical with regard to the extent of potential fire involvement. As indicated in the
table, the order of fire protection preference for these tanks is: A) Buried or
Mounded, B) Water Spray or Insulate and C) No Special Protection. Groups of
tanks totaling over 60,000 gallons (227,100 L) should not be installed without
some form of special protection.

Special situations such as large groups of tanks with inadequate spacing

between tanks or other exposures may require more than one form of protection.
See NFPA 58 - Liquefied Petroleum Gases and GE GAPS Information Manual
IM 8.2.0.1. for further guidance.
 LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS INSTALLATIONS
MINIMUM SPACING FOR LPG TANKS (FEET) *
TABLE 3.1
Major Buildings, Tank Farms, Etc.

Masonry Walls Other Wall Constructions Open Sources of Other

Non-combustible Walls or Buildings Ignition, Boilers Unloading Groups of
Protection Capacity * Location No Basements with Basements Furnaces Vaporizer Riser Tanks

A. Buried 30,000 to 180,000 Distance from 50 200 50 50 25 25

or gallons/group tanks to
Mounded(1) Distance from 75 (direct;indirect fired) 75(direct;indirect fired) 75(2) -- 50 50
vaporizer 45 (steam) 45 (steam)
Distance from
unloading riser to 75 75 50 -- 50
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
B. Water 30,000 to 180,000 Distance from 100 300 75 50 50 75
Spray(3) or gallons/group tanks to
Insulated(4) Distance from 75 (direct;indirect fired) 75 (direct;indirect fired) 75(2) -- 50 50
Note: Water vaporizer to 45 (steam 45 (steam)
Spray is pre- Distance from 75 75 75 50 -- 50
ferred over unloading riser to 50 (with water spray on
Insulation platform and tank
cars and trucks)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
C. No Special 30,000 to 60,000 Distance from 100 (30,000 gallons) 300 100 75 75 75
Protection gallons/group tanks to 150 (30,001 to 60,000 gallons)
Above 60,000 gallons -
special protection under
A or B required
Distance from 75 (direct;indirect fired) 75 (direct;indirect fired) 75(2) -- 50 50
vaporizer to 45 (steam) 45 (steam)
Distance from 75 75 75 50 -- 50
unloading riser to
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(1) Minimum of 2 feet of bury over top of each tank. Tanks must be properly coated. Note: Certain "authorities having jurisdiction" do not allow this concept.
(2) Heaters for indirect vaporizers may be located adjacent to but in cut-off rooms.
(3) Water spray protection on the basis of 0.30 GPM (12.2 L/min/m2) for all tank surfaces including tank cars, tank trucks and unloading platforms. Monitor nozzles acceptable for existing
installations; however, new installations should use the other forms of protection.
(4) Insulating materials acceptable to IRI or FM. Two companies acceptable to IRI are T.S.I., Inc., of St. Louis or DE Soto Chemical, Des Moines.
* Multiply feet by 0.31 to obtain distances in meters. Multiply gallons by 3.785 to obtain liters.
 Fire Prevention and Protection - Chapter 9
Outside Storage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Flammable and
Combustible Liquids
Author Technical Revision Level Approver Name Effective Date
Contact
Global Bill Sheppard 3 Jim Ellis 06/01/06
Security

3.2 Aboveground Tank Storage of Flammable and Combustible Liquids

Regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States

and similar organizations elsewhere regarding underground tank storage have
resulted in many installations being relocated to an aboveground arrangement,
creating additional fire exposures. As a result, Table 3.2, Aboveground Tank
Storage of Flammable and Combustible Liquids, shall be followed for all General
Motors facilities with respect to class of liquid, capacities, distances from buildings
and fixed fire protection. In addition, the basic requirements of NFPA
30 - Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code - shall be applied.

These recommendations contemplate the use of atmospheric tanks, either

horizontal or vertical, with pressure relief as required in NFPA 30.

Since there is a greater emphasis on the replacement of buried tanks with

aboveground tanks, open top pits or open top vaults, this document provides
guidance for planning adequate fire protection. If pits are totally enclosed, they are
considered to be tank storage inside buildings, and the appropriate provisions of
NFPA 30 shall apply.

Special conditions such as large groups of tanks which cannot be properly

separated by the minimum distances in the Aboveground Tank Storage of
Flammable and Combustible Liquids table may require additional exposure
protection. These installations should be reviewed with the Global Security Staff to
assure adequacy of protection for these special conditions.

Buried tanks shall be arranged in accordance with the provisions of NFPA 30, as
well as, applicable governmental codes and in consultation with the Corporate
Environmental Activities Staff.
 ABOVEGROUND TANK STORAGE OF FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS
CLASS I LIQUIDS
TABLE 3.2
Distance to Diking
Total Capacity Important NFPA 30 Outside Yard Fixed Protection
Of Buildings Section 2-2.3.3 Protection (AFFF/Water Spray)
All Tanks < Feet Meters Yes No Yes No Yes No

0 – 250 52 N1 Y N
250 - 1,000 15 5 N1 Y N
1,000 - 50,000 50 15 Y2 Y N6
50,000 or Greater 100 33 Y2 Y N6
50,001 or Greater < 1004,5,6 < 33 Y2 Y Y6

CLASS II AND III LIQUIDS

0 - 1,000 52 N1 Y N
1,001 - 5,000 15 5 Y2 Y N
5,000 - 100,000 50 15 Y2 Y N
100,001 or Greater 100 33 Y2 Y N
100,001 or Greater < 1004,5 < 33 Y2 Y N3, 6
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NOTES
1. Diking may be required to protect buildings, access roads or for environmental purposes.
2. Intermediate diking which is at least 18 inches (0.5 meters) high is required within diked areas for each group of two or more tanks of Class I liquids or for each group of four or more tanks of
Class II and III liquids.
3. Portable foam application as minimum.
4. In no case less than 50 ft. (15 m) with consideration for prevailing wind.
5. Includes open vaults which have the tanks below or above grade. In no case less than 25 ft. (7.5 m) with consideration for prevailing wind.
6. Tank unloading station shall be protected if distance to important buildings is less than required for the tank farm.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
1. The requirements for Class I liquids should be followed for combined tank farms.
2. Where Class I is segregated from Class II and II by barrier wall to top of tank heights within the same tank farm, fixed AFFF/water spray may
be omitted for Class II and III.
 Fire Prevention and Protection - Chapter 9
Outside Storage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Flammable and
Combustible Liquids
Author Technical Revision Level Approver Name Effective Date
Contact
Global Bill Sheppard 3 Jim Ellis 06/01/06
Security

4.0 RECORDS – N/A

5.0 REFERENCES – N/A

6.0 REVISION HISTORY

Date Revision Level Change Description

08/01/04 1 Conversion to common
template
02/23/05 2 Correct Formatting

06/01/06 3 Common Format

Revision

7.0 DEFINITIONS – N/A

8.0 APPENDIX – N/A