Los Angeles Municipal Code § 57.5003 General Requirements

Section 5003 of the CFC is hereby adopted in its entirety with the following exceptions, modifications and additions.

6. Gravity distribution systems are prohibited, unless specifically approved by the Chief.

   7. When such lines lead into buildings, anti- siphon valves shall be installed at the highest point in the supply line where it leaves the top of the tank. Approved substitute protection may be provided for highly volatile liquids.

   8. Where necessary for public safety, valves shall be provided to permit proper emergency control for piping systems at each independent element of use therein. The Chief may require piping systems to be

   equipped with block valves at such locations as may be deemed essential for public safety.

Tanks for the storage of hazardous materials in liquid form inside buildings shall be provided with any of the following:

1. A normally closed remotely-activated valve.

2. An automatic-closing heat-activated valve.

3. An approved device on each liquid transfer connection below the liquid level that shall provide a quick cut-off of flow in the event of fire.

When there is a possibility of water intruding into the space between the primary tank and secondary containment by precipitation, infiltration, or other means, the facility shall be designed and constructed with the capability to monitor and remove such water intrusion. Secondary containment systems shall have a nationally recognized testing laboratory listing or a Los Angeles Fire Department Equipment Approval.

All underground piping in connection with underground tanks shall comply with the following:

1. Piping shall lead out of the top.

2. Piping shall be covered with at least 1 foot of earth or 4 inches of earth and 4 inches of concrete except for necessary riser pipes.

3. Piping shall be equipped with means for disconnection.

4. At any point of change from the vertical to the horizontal or from the horizontal to the vertical, there shall be installed an approved flex connector assembly.

Fill pipes of underground tanks shall not exceed 8 inches inside diameter and shall be kept closed with a tight- fitting cap. Every fill opening shall be located in a fill box outside of buildings except openings for underground waste oil tanks used in connection with public garages or auto fueling stations inside buildings. Fill openings inside buildings shall be equipped in a manner to prevent escape of vapors to the inside of the buildings.

Atmospheric tanks containing hazardous materials may be insulated by the application of insulating material approved by the Chief. Insulating materials shall be fire resistant and shall not decompose rapidly if exposed to fire.

Tanks, pressure vessels, vaporizers, and associated equipment used in conjunction with liquid or gaseous hazardous materials at ambient temperatures and pressures in excess of 0.5 psig shall be in accordance with Sections 57.5003.2.4.3.1 through 57.5003.2.4.3.6.

Above-ground tanks and pressure vessels used to store liquid or gaseous hazardous materials at ambient temperatures and pressures in excess of 0.5 psig shall be in accordance with the following:

1. Tanks and pressure vessels installed above ground shall be provided with substantial masonry or noncombustible structural supports so installed as to prevent accidental movement.

2. Horizontal, above-ground tanks and pressure vessels shall be mounted on saddles in such a manner as to permit expansion and contraction, not only of the container but also of the connected piping. Only two such saddles shall be used and every container shall be supported to prevent the concentration of excessive loads on the supporting portion of the shell.

Underground tanks and pressure vessels used to store liquid or gaseous hazardous materials at ambient temperatures and pressures in excess of 0.5 psig shall be in accordance with Sections 57.5003.2.4.3.2.1 through 57.5003.2.4.3.2.8.

Storage containers or regulating equipment shall not be buried below ground unless written approval is first obtained from the Chief.

Every storage container installed underground shall be buried not less than 6 inches below the surface of the natural grade level except where the container might be subject to abrasive action or physical damage due to vehicular traffic or other causes in which case it shall be:

Installed not less than 2 feet below the surface of the natural grade level; or otherwise protected against physical damage.

The exterior surfaces of every such container shall be covered with an approved corrosion-resistant coating material applied in an approved manner.

Every such vessel shall be set on a 6-inch thick bedding of water-washed sand (beach sand shall not be used) free from soil, rock, or gravel. Before any back filling is done, the position of the vessel and the sand bedding shall be approved by the Chief. After such approval, the excavation shall be back filled with the same quality water-washed sand in such a manner that the sand back fill on the sides, ends, and the top of such vessel shall be at least 6 inches thick.

Every opening for the attachment of piping and appurtenant equipment shall be in the top of such vessel. No pipe or equipment connection to any such vessel shall be buried underground, but shall be aboveground, connected to a dome or passageway which is an integral part of the vessel, or shall be in a valve pit constructed as provided in Section 57.5003.2.4.3.2.6.

No pit shall be used or maintained in connection with any underground vessel which is greater than 2 feet in depth or contains in excess of 18 cubic feet of space.

A collision barrier and a security fence, constructed as provided in Section 57.312, shall be installed and maintained to provide a minimum clearance of 5 feet from the outer portion of every pit, vaporizer, pump, valve, or pipe riser.

All buried containers shall be completely uncovered for an inspection of all external surfaces at least once every three years. The intervals may be changed at the discretion of the Chief if a test plate is buried adjacent to the container and shows no appreciable corrosion on inspection by the Department after three years of service; provided, however, that every container shall be uncovered at least every 15 years. The test plates shall be of the same material as the shell of the tank and shall be at least 1/4 of the container diameter in length and 6 inches wide, and shall be buried in the water-washed sand at least as deep as the lowest surface of the container and shall not be coated. Test plates shall be provided in accordance with the following:

1. Containers 10 feet or less in length, one test plate.

2. Containers more than 10 feet but less than 20 feet in length, two test plates, one on each side near opposite ends.

3. Containers 20 feet or more in length, one test plate for each 10 feet of length, placed on alternate sides at 10-foot intervals.

The filling pipe inlet connections for tanks filled on consumer’s premises shall not be located less than 15 feet from any opening into or under a building where such opening is below the level of the filling connections; and in no case shall the filling pipe inlet connection be located less than 10 feet from any building, street, or alley.

Indirect fired vaporizers shall be equipped with the following safeguards:

1. The device that supplies the necessary heat for producing steam, hot water, or other heating medium shall be separated from all rooms containing vaporizers, pumps, and central gas mixing devices by a vapor- tight one-hour fire-resistive separation.

2. Gas-fired heating systems supplying heat exclusively for vaporization purposes shall be equipped with automatic safety devices to shut off the flow of gas to main burners, if pilot light should fail.

3. A shut-off valve shall be installed on the liquid line to the vaporizer unit outside of any vaporizer room or building.

Direct fired vaporizers shall be equipped with the following safeguards:

1. Every direct fired vaporizer shall be marked with the name of the manufacturer, the rated B.T.U. input to the burners, the area of the heat exchange surface of the vaporizer in square feet, the outside surface area in square feet, and the maximum vaporizing capacity in gallons per hour.

2. Direct fired vaporizers shall be separated from storage vessels, buildings, streets, and adjacent property lines that may be built upon in accordance with Table 57.5003.2.4.3.5.

3. Every direct fired vaporizer shall be located not less than 50 feet from filling connections.

4. Direct fired vaporizers shall be provided with a means for shutting off the fuel to the main burner and pilot from outside the vaporizer housing.

TABLE 57.5003.2.4.3.5

REQUIRED SEPARATIONS FOR VAPORIZERS

Buildings, Streets, & Adjacent

Vaporizing Capacity In Gallons Property Lines That May Be Built Storage Vessels Per Hour Upon Less Than 25 25 Feet 5 Feet 25 – 100 40 Feet 5 Feet More Than 100 50 Feet 5 Feet

Where the relief of excess pressure from process vessels might result in undue hazard to persons or property through excessive release of flammable or toxic materials, the Chief may require the operating pressure of process vessels to be a suitable margin below the design pressure. In determining the required margin, due consideration shall be given to the operating characteristics of the processes and of the facilities for relieving excess pressure. As an alternative thereto, the Chief may permit a system for safe disposal of materials vented from the facilities for relieving excess pressure.

Each manifold system and the piping connected to systems utilizing hazardous materials, shall be inspected yearly by a qualified installer or representative of the gas supplier and certified free of defects. Such certification shall be in writing, and these records shall be open to examination by the Chief.

Underground tanks may be repaired in a method approved by the Chief and in accordance with the following provisions:

1. Before such repair, a soils investigation shall be conducted to determine if an unauthorized release has occurred.

2. A permit shall be issued in accordance with Section 57.105.7.

3. After such repair, the tank shall be tested in a method approved by the Chief.

Any person who has knowledge of an unauthorized release of a hazardous substance shall notify the Chief immediately. A written report shall be submitted by the owner, operator, or permittee within ten days after the escape of a hazardous substance from a primary container when the unauthorized release:

1. Has occurred or has the potential to enter groundwater.

2. Could endanger life, property, or the environment.

3. Is contained by secondary containment.

The written report shall provide information to the Department relating to the ability of the permittee to contain and dispose of the hazardous substance, the estimated time it will take to achieve this, and the degree of hazard created. The Chief may verify that the hazardous substance is being contained and appropriately disposed of. If at any time it is determined that the permittee is not adequately containing and disposing of such hazardous substance, the Chief shall have the power and authority to initiate and direct an emergency response in order to protect the public safety, health and welfare, public and private property, wildlife, marine fisheries, wet lands or ocean resources, or natural environment. The permittee shall be liable for reimbursement to the Department for all emergency response costs incurred.

In addition to the signage required in Section 57.5003.5, additional signage shall be provided in accordance with Sections 57.5003.5.2.1 through 57.5003.5.2.2.

Wherever corrosive materials are stored or processed, signs with letters not less than 3 inches high on contrasting background stating “WARNING – CORROSIVE MATERIALS” shall be posted at any location within a building and at any location within an area outside a building where such materials are processed or stored, and at such other locations as may be required by the Chief.

Whenever hazardous materials (water-reactive materials, acid-reactive materials, and air-reactive materials) are processed or stored, signs with letters not less than 3 inches high on contrasting background stating, “WATER- REACTIVE MATERIAL,” “ACID-REACTIVE MATERIAL,” and/or “AIR-REACTIVE MATERIAL,” appropriately identifying that type of hazard or hazards involved, shall be posted at any location inside a building and at any location within an area outside a building where such materials are stored or processed, and at such other locations as may be required by the Chief.

General precautions for the safe storage, handling or care of hazardous materials shall be in accordance with Sections 57.5003.9.1 through 57.5003.9.11.

No person shall handle hazardous materials in a manner that will give rise to an unreasonable danger to life or property by reason of chemical action, fire or explosion.

Hazardous materials falling within the scope of “Dangerous Cargo” as defined by Coast Guard regulations shall comply with Harbor and Fire Department regulations for their handling in the Los Angeles Harbor Area.

The transferring of hazardous materials by pumps shall be in accordance with the following:

1. The transfer of flammable or combustible liquids shall be through piping by means of approved pumps, inert gas, or water displacement. Except as required in process equipment, gravity flow shall not be used. The use of compressed air as a transferring medium shall be prohibited.

2. Pumps shall be of a type approved for pressure, temperature, and compatibility of materials transferred.

3. Positive displacement pumps shall be provided with pressure relief discharging back to the tank or to pump suction.

4. Equipment shall be designed and arranged to prevent the unintentional escape of liquids and vapors and to minimize the quantity escaping in the event of an accidental release.

5. Pumps shall be safely located and housed in the open or in fire-resistive or noncombustible structures. Motors used to pump contents from tanks shall not be located beneath such tanks.

Tank vehicles shall be in accordance with Sections 57.5003.15.1 through 57.5003.15.2 when used for the transportation of any of the following hazardous materials:

1. Liquefied Flammable Gasses.

2. Flammable Gasses.

3. Gaseous Toxic Materials or Gaseous Oxidizing Materials when transported at pressures in excess of 0.5 psig.

4. Liquefied Toxic Materials or Liquefied Oxidizing Materials having a vapor pressure in excess of 14.7 psig at a temperature of 100°F.

No tank vehicle shall be driven into, stored, or parked on any premises occupied by or used as an assembly, institutional, educational or residential occupancy, trailer camp, auto park or similar occupancy, except by Special Permit from the Chief pursuant to Section 57.105.8.

Transfer hoses shall be in accordance with the following:

1. Transfer hoses or manifold outlets for hose connections used with cargo tanks shall not exceed two in number. The connection between the tank and the meter shall not be considered as one of these outlets. Transfer hoses shall not be longer than 100 feet.

2. Each transfer hose shall be equipped with a shutoff valve at the discharge end. Hose used for the transfer of liquid shall be equipped with an approved safety relief valve.

3. Bleeding of piping systems and transfer hoses in other than approved locations is prohibited.