This article shall apply to liquids with flash points below 200° F., and to liquids with flash points above 200° F. which, when heated, assume the characteristics of liquids with flash points below 200° F., except that it shall not apply to the transportation of flammable liquids when in conformity with Interstate Commerce Commission regulations or regulations lawfully on file with and approved by the Interstate Commerce Commission, nor as applying to the military forces of the United States.
[Amended 3-16-2010 by L.L. No. 1-2010]
For the purpose of this article, the terms used herein are defined as follows:
COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID
A. 
A liquid having a closed-cup flash point at or above 100° F. (38° C.). Combustible liquids shall be subdivided as follows:
(1) 
Class II: liquids having a closed-cup flash point at or above 100° F. (38° C.).
(2) 
Class IIIA: liquids having a closed-cup flash point at or above 140° F. (60° C.) and below 200° F. (93° C.).
(3) 
Class IIIB: liquids having closed-cup flash points at or above 200° F. (93° C.).
B. 
The category of combustible liquids does not include compressed gases or cryogenic fluids.
FLAMMABLE LIQUID
A. 
A liquid having a closed-cup flash point below 100° F. (38° C.). Flammable liquids are further categorized into a group known as "Class I liquids." The Class I category is subdivided as follows:
(1) 
Class IA: liquids having a flash point below 73° F. (23° C.) and having a boiling point below 100° F. (38° C.).
(2) 
Class IB: liquids having a flash point below 73° F. (23° C.) and having a boiling point at or above 100° F. (38° C.).
(3) 
Class IC: liquids having a flash point at or above 73° F. (23° C.) and below 100° F. (38° C.).
B. 
The category of flammable liquids does not include compressed gases or cryogenic fluids.
[Amended 1-23-1996 by L.L. No. 1-1996; 3-16-2010 by L.L. No. 1-2010]
A certificate of compliance shall be obtained for any of the following:
A. 
Storage, handling or use of Class I or Class II flammable liquids in excess of six gallons in a dwelling or other place of human habitation, or in excess of 10 gallons in any other building or other occupancy, or in excess of 10 gallons outside of any building, except that no certificate of compliance shall be required for the following:
(1) 
For the storage or use of flammable liquids in the fuel tank of a motor vehicle, aircraft, motorboat, mobile power plant or mobile heating plant.
(2) 
For the storage or use of paints, oils, varnishes or similar flammable mixtures when such liquids are stored for maintenance, painting or similar purposes for a period of not more than 30 days.
B. 
Storage, handling or use of Class III flammable liquids in excess of 25 gallons in a building or in excess of 60 gallons outside of a building.
C. 
For the manufacture, processing, blending or refining of flammable liquids.
D. 
For the storage of flammable liquids in stationary tanks.
[Amended 6-13-1989 by L.L. No. 2-1989; 12-31-1996 by L.L. No. 18-1996; 3-16-2010 by L.L. No. 1-2010]
A. 
Limitations.
(1) 
The storage of Class I and II flammable liquids in aboveground tanks outside of buildings is prohibited.
(2) 
Aboveground tanks for Class III liquids are limited to one tank of 500 gallons' capacity. For multiple products, tanks are limited to one five-hundred-gallon tank per product.
(3) 
All tanks shall be labeled with product names and types and shall display proper hazard placards in accordance with NFPA 704.
B. 
The minimum distance of any part of an aboveground tank for the storage of flammable liquids other than crude petroleum to the nearest line of adjoining property which may be built upon shall not be less than the distance indicated in Table A:
TABLE A
Capacity of Tank
(gallons)
Minimum Distance
(feet)
From Property Line That Is or Can Be Built Upon, Including the Opposite Side of A Public Way
From Nearest Side of Any Public Way or From Nearest Important Building on the Same Property
275 or less
5
5
276 to 750
10
5
751 to 12,000
15
5
12,001 to 30,000
20
5
30,001 to 50,000
30
10
50,001 to 100,000
50
15
100,001 to 500,000
80
25
500,001 to 1,000,000
100
35
1,000,001 to 2,000,000
135
45
2,000,001 to 3,000,000
165
55
3,000,001 or more
175
60
C. 
Any underground storage tank not in use for more than one year must be removed. All underground storage tanks removed shall be made safe by removing all liquids from the tank and connecting lines and disconnecting suction inlet, gauge and vent lines. Said removal of the tank requires the application and receipt of a permit from the Building Inspector. Removal of the tank shall be witnessed by the Chief Fire Safety Inspector or designee.
A. 
This section shall apply to the storage of flammable liquids in drums or other portable closed containers not exceeding 60 gallons' individual capacity inside buildings. This section shall not apply to the storage of closed containers in bulk plants, service stations and refineries, nor shall it apply to areas where containers are opened for dispensing, mixing or handling.
B. 
Flammable liquids (including stock for sale) shall not be stored near exits, stairways or areas normally used for the safe egress of people.
[Amended 3-16-2010 by L.L. No. 1-2010]
C. 
The storage of flammable liquids in closed containers shall comply with the following occupancy schedule, except that the Chief Fire Safety Inspector may impose a quantity limitation or require greater protection where, in his opinion, unusual hazard to life or property is involved, or he may authorize the increase of these amounts where the type of construction, fire protection provided or other factors substantially reduce the hazard.
[Amended 3-16-2010 by L.L. No. 1-2010
(1) 
Dwellings and apartment houses containing not more than three dwelling units and accompanying attached or detached garages. Storage other than fuel oil for oil burner service shall be prohibited, except that which is required for maintenance or equipment operation, which shall not exceed 6 1/2 gallons. Such flammable liquid shall be stored in metal closed containers or safety cans.
(2) 
Assembly and business occupancies, apartment houses containing more than three dwelling units, and hotels. Storage other than fuel oil for oil burner service shall be prohibited, except that which is required for maintenance and operation of the building and operation of equipment. Such storage shall be kept in closed metal containers 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.
(3) 
Educational and institutional occupancies. Storage other than fuel oil for oil burner service shall be limited to that required for maintenance, demonstration, treatment and laboratory work. Flammable liquids in the laboratories and at other points of use shall be in containers not larger than one quart or in safety cans or in storage cabinets.
(4) 
Mercantile occupancies. In rooms or areas accessible to the public, storage shall be in closed containers and limited to quantities needed for display and normal merchandising purposes. Where the aggregate quantity of additional stock exceeds 50 gallons, it shall be stored in rooms or portions of buildings that comply with the construction requirements of Subsection B above.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsections D, E, F and G, as amended, which immediately followed, which contained additional provisions regarding the storage of flammable liquids, were repealed 3-16-2010 by L.L. No. 1-2010.
A. 
This section shall apply to the storage of flammable liquids in drums or other portable closed containers not exceeding 60 gallons' individual capacity outside of buildings in areas used solely for such storage. This section shall not apply to the storage of flammable liquids in drums or portable closed containers in bulk plants, service stations and refineries.
B. 
Drums shall not be stored outside on building platforms or between buildings, or in locations adjacent thereto, in such a manner that they would contribute to the spread of fire.
C. 
Storage of over 100 drums of Class I and ll flammable liquids shall be limited to groups of 100 drums located at least 60 feet from the nearest building or line of adjoining property that may be built upon, and each group shall be separated by at least 40 feet. Storage of over 300 drums of Class III flammable liquids shall be limited to groups of 300 drums located at least 50 feet from the nearest building or line of adjoining property that may be built upon, and each group shall be separated by at least 30 feet. These distances may be reduced by 50% if sprinklers and drainage away from exposures are provided. In particular installations, the distance requirements to buildings may be altered at the discretion of the Chief Fire Safety Inspector after consideration of the height, size and character of construction and occupancy of the exposed buildings.
[Amended 12-31-1996 by L.L. No. 18-1996]
[Amended 6-13-1989 by L.L. No. 2-1989; 12-31-1996 by L.L. No. 18-1996; 3-16-2010 by L.L. No. 1-2010]
A. 
Automatic dispensing units. The installation and use of currency-operated dispensing devices for Class I flammable liquids is prohibited.
B. 
Delivery nozzles.
(1) 
Manual nozzle. The dispensing of Class I flammable liquids into the fuel tank of a vehicle or into a container shall at all times be under the control of a competent person. The use of any device which permits the dispensing of Class I flammable liquids when the hand of the operator of the discharge nozzle is removed from the nozzle control lever is hereby forbidden except when using an automatic nozzle at an automotive service station as provided in Subsection B(2) of this section.
(2) 
Automatic nozzle with latch-open devices. In lieu of being held open by hand, an approved automatic nozzle may be used for dispensing Class I flammable liquid into the fuel tank of a vehicle. Such a nozzle shall have the latch-open device as an integral part of the assembly and shall shut off the liquid reliably and positively when the gasoline tank is filled, when it falls from the filling neck of an automobile tank, when it is subject to rough usage such as dropping or lack of proper lubrication or when an automobile is driven away while the nozzle is still in the tank. A competent attendant shall be in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle being filled by such an approved nozzle.
(3) 
Latch hold-open devices on hose nozzle valves are prohibited on self-service gas pumps.
C. 
Dispensing containers. No delivery of any Class I or II flammable liquids shall be made into portable containers of five gallons' capacity or less unless such container is of approved material and construction and has a tight closure with a screwed or spring cover and is fitted with a spout or so designed that the contents can be poured without spilling.
D. 
Location of containers being filled. Portable containers shall not be filled while located inside the trunk, passenger compartment or truck bed of a vehicle.