The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Flammable and combustible liquids
(see International Fire Code) means liquids with a flash point below 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius) and liquids with flash points above 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius) which are exposed to storage conditions, use conditions or process operations where they are naturally or artificially heated to or above their flash point.
Premises
means a parcel of land, which may include one or more contiguous platted lots, occupied or intended for occupancy for a particular use or set of uses, including buildings together with accessory buildings, the yard area and parking spaces.
Vaulted above-ground tank
means any UL listed (Standard 142, Steel Aboveground Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquids) steel tank, all portions of which shall be enclosed in a secondary containment and encased with six inches of reinforced concrete and the complete structure shall be UL listed in accordance with UL Subject 2085, Protected Type.
(1991 Code, sec. 11-165; Ordinance 99-540, sec. 5, adopted 7/8/99; 2007 Code, sec. 18-124)
(a) 
The requirements of the International Fire Code, 2018 edition, shall apply to all above- ground tanks used for the outside storage and dispensing of flammable and combustible liquids in excess of 60 gallons. Refineries, bulk and processing plants, and distilleries shall abide by NFPA 30 and pertinent sections referenced in the remainder of the International Fire Code.
(b) 
The fire official may impose additional requirements to reduce the level of hazard for a proposed installation.
(1991 Code, sec. 11-166; Ordinance 99-540, sec. 5, adopted 7/8/99; 2007 Code, sec. 18-125; Ordinance adopting 2022 Code)
(a) 
Maximum capacity.
Each vaulted above-ground tank shall not exceed 12,000 gallons. The total cumulative capacity of all vaulted above-ground tanks shall not exceed 50,000 gallons per premises, subject to the approval of the fire official. Each non-vaulted above-ground tank shall not exceed 1,000 gallons per premises. In no event shall the total cumulative capacity of all vaulted or non-vaulted above-ground tanks exceed 40,000 gallons per premises.
(b) 
Tank construction and venting.
All above-ground tanks shall be constructed and vented according to applicable American Petroleum Institute (API) Standards, NFPA 30 and 30A, and shall be UL listed.
(c) 
Vaulted above-ground tanks.
(1) 
All vaulted above-ground tanks shall consist of an interior steel tank which is UL listed in accordance with UL Standard 142 (Steel Aboveground Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquids) and a secondary containment liner located within the concrete vault. The entire vaulted tank assembly shall be UL listed in accordance with UL Subject 2085, Protected Type.
(2) 
All interior steel tanks of vaulted above-ground tanks shall meet the requirements of NFPA 30 for above-ground tanks, including those for venting.
(3) 
All steel tank openings within the vaulted above-ground tanks shall be threaded except for detector tubes.
(4) 
All portions of the interior steel tank within each vaulted above-ground tank, and the secondary containment, shall be enclosed in no less than six inches of reinforced concrete with all penetrations located above the normal liquid level.
(5) 
All vaults for vaulted above-ground tanks shall be placed on a reinforced concrete pad adequate to support the loading of a full vault and in accordance with manufacturers recommendations.
(6) 
All vaults for vaulted above-ground tanks shall be constructed with a five-gallon minimum overfill containment protection.
(7) 
All vaults for vaulted above-ground tanks shall have leak detection devices installed and operational at all times.
(d) 
Temporary tanks at construction sites.
Above-ground tanks with a cumulative capacity of no more than 2,000 gallons of class II combustible liquids for use at a construction site may be used for no more than 90 days if in the opinion of the fire official no unusual danger to life or property is presented. Above-ground tanks used at temporary construction sites shall meet all applicable requirements of NFPA 30 and 30A.
(e) 
Dispensing.
(1) 
No gravity feed dispensing system shall be permitted.
(2) 
All pumps and above-ground and concrete vaulted tanks are to be UL listed for the use intended and UL listed for use with each other.
(3) 
All electrical devices used with or located within 20 feet of the underground or concrete vaulted tank storage area shall conform to NFPA 70, Hazardous Locations.
(4) 
Dispensing hoses shall not exceed 20 feet in length.
(5) 
The nozzle of any hose of a dispensing device shall not reach within five feet of any building opening.
(6) 
Dispensing devices shall be located no closer than ten feet from a premises line or building.
(f) 
Tank location and protection.
(1) 
Each outermost edge of each vaulted above-ground tank shall be located no closer than five feet from the nearest premises or building.
(2) 
Each outermost edge of each vaulted above-ground tank shall be located no closer than 15 feet from the nearest property line which may be built upon, including the opposite side of a public way.
(3) 
The distance between any two above-ground tanks shall not be less than five feet.
(4) 
Diking is not required for concrete vaulted tanks installed in accordance with manufacturers specifications and approved by the fire official.
(5) 
Overfill protection shall be required for all concrete vaulted tanks.
(6) 
Approved vehicle barriers, such as concrete-filled four-inch pipe bollards or precast concrete bollards, shall be provided to protect the traffic area when any tanks are installed. The placement of these devices shall be approved by the fire official and not more than four feet on center adjacent to any vehicle accessible area.
(g) 
General fire protection standards.
(1) 
Smoking is prohibited within 50 feet of all storage and dispensing devices. Signs which prohibit smoking shall be conspicuously posted.
(2) 
Portable fire extinguishers shall be provided for the extinguishment of fires in accordance with NFPA 10 for high hazard. Additional fire control equipment may be required wherein the opinion of the fire official an unusual exposure hazard exists.
(3) 
Labeling of all tanks shall be in accordance with NFPA 704.
(4) 
Fire department vehicle access shall be provided within 150 feet of any tank.
(1991 Code, sec. 11-167; Ordinance 99-540, sec. 5, adopted 7/8/99; 2007 Code, sec. 18-126)