Liquified Petroleum Gases | Storage Requirements

Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases §1910.110(b)(6); (f)(1)–(7)

Location of Containers and Regulating Equipment

Containers, and first stage regulating equipment, if used, shall be located outside of buildings, except under one or more of the following:

• In buildings used exclusively for container charging, vaporization pressure reduction, gas mixing, gas manufacturing, or distribution.
• When portable use is necessary and in accordance with §1910.110(c)(5).
• LP-Gas fueled stationary or portable engines in accordance with §1910.110(e)(1) or (12).
• LP-Gas fueled industrial trucks used in accordance with §1910.110(e)(13).
• LP-Gas fueled vehicles garaged in accordance with §1910.110(e)(14).
• Containers awaiting use or resale when stored in accordance with paragraph (f) of this section.

Individual containers shall be located with respect to the nearest important building or group of buildings in accordance with Table 1.

Table 1

Water capacity per container	Minimum distances
	Containers		Between above ground containers
	Underground	Aboveground
Less than 125 gals[a]	10 feet	None	None
125 to 250 gals	10 feet	10 feet	None
251 to 500 gals	10 feet	10 feet	3 feet
501 to 2,000 gals	25 feet[b]	25 feet[b]	3 feet
2,001 to 30,000 gals	50 feet	50 feet	5 feet
30,001 to 70,000 gals	50 feet	75 feet[c]
70,001 to 90,000 gals	50 feet	100 feet[c]
[a]If the aggregate water capacity of a multi-container installation at a consumer site is 501 gallons or greater, the minimum distance shall comply with the appropriate portion of this table, applying the aggregate capacity rather than the capacity per container. If more than one installation is made, each installation shall be separated from another installation by at least 25 feet. Do not apply the MINIMUM DISTANCES BETWEEN ABOVE-GROUND CONTAINERS to such installations. [b]The above distance requirements may be reduced to not less than 10 feet for a single container of 1,200 gallons water capacity or less, providing such a container is at least 25 feet from any other LP-Gas container of more than 125 gallons water capacity. [c]¼ of sum of diameters of adjacent containers.

Containers installed for use shall not be stacked one above the other.

In the case of buildings devoted exclusively to gas manufacturing and distributing operations, the distances required by Table 1 may be reduced provided that in no case shall containers of water capacity exceeding 500 gallons be located closer than 10 feet to such gas manufacturing and distributing buildings.

Readily ignitible material such as weeds and long dry grass shall be removed within 10 feet of any container.

The minimum separation between liquefied petroleum gas containers and flammable liquid tanks shall be 20 feet, and the minimum separation between a container and the centerline of the dike shall be 10 feet. This provision shall not apply when LP-Gas containers of 125 gallons or less capacity are installed adjacent to Class III flammable liquid tanks of 275 gallons or less capacity.

Suitable means shall be taken to prevent the accumulation of flammable liquids under adjacent liquified petroleum gas containers, such as by diking, diversion curbs, or grading.

When dikes are used with flammable liquid tanks, no liquified petroleum gas containers shall be located within the diked area.

Storage of Containers Awaiting Use or Resale

Section 1910.110(f) applies to the storage of portable containers not in excess of 1,000 pounds water capacity, filled or partially filled, at user location but not connected for use, or in storage for resale by dealers or resellers.

Section 1910.110(f) does not apply to containers stored at charging plants or at plants devoted primarily to the storage and distribution of LP-Gas or other petroleum products.

Containers in storage shall be located so as to minimize exposure to excessive temperature rise, physical damage, or tampering by unauthorized persons.

Containers when stored inside shall not be located near exits, stairways, or in areas normally used or intended for the safe exit of people.

Container valves shall be protected while in storage as follows:

• By setting into recess of container to prevent the possibility of their being struck if the container is dropped upon a flat surface, or
• By ventilated cap or collar, fastened to container capable of withstanding a blow from any direction equivalent to that of a 30-pound weight dropped 4 feet. Construction must be such that a blow will not be transmitted to a valve or other connection.
• The outlet valves of containers in storage shall be closed.
• Empty containers which have been in LP-Gas service when stored inside, shall be considered as full containers for the purpose of determining the maximum quantity of LP-Gas permitted by §1910.110(f).

Storage within Buildings not Frequented by the Public (Such as Industrial Buildings)

The quantity of LP-Gas stored shall not exceed 300 pounds (approximately 2,550 cubic feet in vapor form) except as provided in §1910.110(f)(5).

Containers carried as a part of service equipment on highway mobile vehicles are not to be considered in the total storage capacity in §1910.110(f)(4)(i) provided such vehicles are stored in private garages, and are limited to one container per vehicle with an LP-Gas capacity of not more than 100 pounds. All container valves shall be closed.

Storage within Special Buildings or Rooms

The quantity of LP-Gas stored in special buildings or rooms shall not exceed 10,000 pounds.

The walls, floors, and ceilings of container storage rooms that are within or adjacent to other parts of the building shall be constructed of material having at least a 2-hour fire resistance rating.

A portion of the exterior walls or roof having an area not less than 10 percent of that of the combined area of the enclosing walls and roof shall be of explosion relieving construction.

Each opening from such storage rooms to other parts of the building shall be protected by a 1½ hour (B) fire door listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. Refer to §1910.7 for definition of nationally recognized testing laboratory.

Such rooms shall have no open flames for heating or lighting.

Such rooms shall be adequately ventilated both top and bottom to the outside only. The openings from such vents shall be at least 5 feet away from any other opening into any building.

The floors of such rooms shall not be below ground level. Any space below the floor shall be of solid fill or properly ventilated to the open air.

Such storage rooms shall not be located adjoining the line of property occupied by schools, churches, hospitals, athletic fields or other points of public gathering.

Fixed electrical equipment shall be installed in accordance with §1910.110(b)(18).

Storage Outside of Buildings

Storage outside of buildings, for containers awaiting use or resale, shall be located in accordance with Table 2 with respect to:

• The nearest important building or group of buildings
• Busy thoroughfares

Table 2

Quantity of LP-Gas Stored	Distance
500 pounds or less	0
501 to 2,500 pounds	0[a]
2,501 to 6,000 pounds	10 feet
6,001 to 10,000 pounds	20 feet
Over 10,000 pounds	25 feet
[a]Container or containers shall be at least 10 feet from any building on adjoining property, any sidewalk, or any of the exposures described in §1910.110(f)(6)(i) (c) or (d) of this paragraph.

Containers shall be in a suitable enclosure or otherwise protected against tampering.

Fire Protection

Storage location other than supply depots separated and located apart from dealer, reseller, or user establishments shall be provided with at least one approved portable fire extinguisher having a minimum rating of 8-B, C.