Flammable Liquids | Storage Requirements

Flammable and Combustible Liquids §1910.106(d)(4) & (6); (e)(2), (3) & (6)

Flammable liquids shall be kept in covered containers or tanks when not actually in use.

The quantity of flammable or combustible liquid that may be located outside of an inside storage room or storage cabinet in any one fire area of a building shall not exceed:

• 25 gallons of Class IA liquids in containers;
• 120 gallons of Class IB, IC, II, or III liquids in containers; or
• 660 gallons of Class IB, IC, II, or III liquids in a single portable tank.

Flammable and combustible liquids shall be drawn from or transferred into containers within a building only through a closed piping system, from safety cans, by means of a device drawing through the top, or by gravity through an approved self-closing valve. Transferring by means of air pressure shall be prohibited.

Inside storage rooms for flammable and combustible liquids shall be of fire resistive construction, and liquid tight where walls join the floor, have approved self-closing fire doors at all openings, at least 4-inch sills, ramps or depressed floors or open intergrated trench which drains to a safe location, a ventilation system that provides at least six air changes within the room per hour, and in areas used for storage of Class I liquids, electrical wiring approved for use in hazardous locations.

Outside storage areas shall be graded in such a manner to divert spills away from buildings or other exposures, or be surrounded with curbs or dikes at least 6 inches high with appropriate drainage to a safe location for accumulated liquids. The area shall be protected against tampering or trespassing, where necessary, and shall be kept free of weeds, debris, and other combustible material not necessary to the storage.

Unit physical operation areas where flammable liquids with flashpoints below 100 degrees F (Class I liquids) are used shall be ventilated at a rate of not less than 1 cubic-foot-per-minute per square foot of solid floor area.

Adequate precautions shall be taken to prevent the ignition of flammable vapors. Sources of ignition include but are not limited to open flames, lightning, smoking, cutting and welding, hot surfaces, frictional heat, static, electrical and mechanical sparks, spontaneous ignition, including heat-producing chemical reactions, and radiant heat.

Class I liquids shall not be dispensed into containers unless the nozzle and container are electrically inter-connected.