Chapter 14.06
INSTALLATION OF UNDERGROUND FUEL STORAGE TANKS
Sections:
14.06.040 Compliance with Uniform Fire Code.
14.06.050 Special construction regulations.
14.06.060 Special notification.
14.06.010 Purpose.
The city is aware of problems with underground spills caused by leakage from underground gasoline storage tanks. In order to better protect the health and safety of the citizens of the city from potentially disastrous effects of such spills and/or the undetected leakage of fuels from underground fuel storage tanks, the following special provisions shall apply to all installations of underground fuel storage tanks. (Ord. 378 § 1, 1982).
14.06.020 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words, abbreviations and their derivations shall have the meanings given in this chapter. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future tense, words in the plural number include the singular number, and words in the singular number include the plural number.
A. “Fuel” means any flammable or combustible liquid as defined in Article 9 of the 1979 Uniform Fire Code.
B. “Uniform Fire Code” means the 1979 or subsequent editions of the Uniform Fire Code jointly published by the International Conference of Building Officials and the Western Fire Chiefs’ Association which provides a coordinated set of regulations under which are promoted uniform construction and maintenance of such regulations by governmental agencies.
C. “Drywell” means a capped well of an area four inches in diameter or larger consisting of a perforated pipe of acceptable materials installed to that depth level with the bottom of the lower tank for which the drywell is installed. (Ord. 378 § 1, 1982).
14.06.030 Prohibited acts.
It is unlawful for any individual or organization to engage in any activities which involve the installation of underground fuel storage tanks without fully complying with the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 378 § 1, 1982).
14.06.040 Compliance with Uniform Fire Code.
Individuals or organizations using or intending to use underground fuel storage tanks shall comply with the provisions of Article 79 of the Uniform Fire Code, relating to flammable and combustible liquids. (Ord. 378 § 1, 1982).
14.06.050 Special construction regulations.
Individuals and organizations intending to install underground fuel storage tanks shall comply with the following special installation and inspection requirements, in addition to the requirements contained in Article 79 of the Uniform Fire Code:
A. Prior to a fuel tank being installed in the ground, it must be approved by the city fire chief and the city’s chief building inspector or their designees while on-site and immediately prior to installation. This approval will require verification of the required coatings, approval tags and serial numbers and a complete visual inspection of the surface and/or surface coatings of the tank.
B. The installation of the tank(s) and backfilling around the tank(s) shall be completed in the presence of an on-site inspector.
C. Pressure checks of the tank(s) and the piping system(s) shall be performed precisely as outlined in the Uniform Fire Code.
D. The corrosion protective wrapping of all metallic parts requiring this type of protection shall be done in the presence of an on-site inspector.
E. Backfilling material shall be clean sand or “pea” gravel no larger than one-quarter-inch diameter. Materials excavated from the subject site(s) shall not be used for backfilling.
F. The location of all lines and/or tanks shall be “staked” by the installation contractor upon completion of all filling to provide all contractors sufficient guidance to avoid potential damage to the system(s) due to impact of heavy equipment, the driving of stakes, or similar occurrences.
G. Drywells shall be installed prior to the final inspection. These drywells shall be readily accessible to and shall be monitored by the city fire chief, the city’s chief building inspector, or the Imperial County sealer of weights and measures, or their designees, at least once each year and/or such other times as may be deemed necessary. The drywells shall be installed as follows:
1. For single tank installations, and installations consisting of three or less tanks, a single drywell shall be installed at each corner of the tank or installation and within five feet zero inches of the tank or installation.
2. For multiple tank installations, consisting of four or more tanks, drywells shall be installed at each corner of the group of tanks and on the sides of the group of tanks at the median points in distance of the longer sides of the group and within five feet zero inches of the adjacent tanks. (Ord. 378 § 1, 1982).
14.06.060 Special notification.
Any individual or organization using or operating existing and/or new underground fuel storage tanks shall immediately notify the city fire chief and the city’s chief building inspector of any identified or suspected leakages, and the owner-operator shall immediately take appropriate steps to identify and abate such leakages. (Ord. 378 § 1, 1982).