§ 13-351. New storage facilities.

(a)

Monitoring capability. All new storage facilities intended for the storage of hazardous materials that are gases, liquids or solids at STP shall be designed and constructed with a monitoring system capable of detecting that the hazardous material stored in the primary containment has entered the secondary containment. Visual inspection of the primary containment is the preferred method; however, other means of monitoring may be required by the Fire Marshal. Where secondary containment may be subject to the intrusion of water, a means of monitoring for water intrusion and for safely holding or removing the water shall also be provided. Whenever monitoring devices are provided, they shall, where applicable, be connected to attention-getting visual and/or audible alarms.

(b)

Containment requirements. Primary and secondary levels of containment shall be required for all new storage facilities intended for the storage of hazardous materials that are gases, except inert gases and gases which are components of air, where located in the open atmosphere or are present in such volume and containment as to preclude a life-threatening exchange with the existing atmosphere, liquids or solids at STP unless exempted by the Fire Marshal.

(1)

All primary containment shall be product-tight, including warehousing, enclosed structures and sheds, and shall be of construction resistant to the stored material and able to withstand the effects of chemical reaction, fire or spill as might occur.

(2)

Secondary containment:

a.

All secondary containment shall be constructed of materials of sufficient thickness, density, and composition so as not to be structurally weakened as a result of the contact with the discharged hazardous materials and so as to be capable of containing hazardous materials discharged from a primary container for a period of time equal to or longer than the maximum anticipated time sufficient to allow recovery of the discharged hazardous material.

b.

In the case of an installation with one primary container used for stationary storage, except for flammable or liquid combustible storage at a minimal storage site (see section 13-384, as amended), the secondary containment shall be large enough to contain at least 110 percent of the volume of the primary container.

c.

In the case of a storage facility with multiple primary containers, the secondary container shall be large enough to contain 150 percent of the volume of the largest primary container placed in it, or ten percent of the aggregate internal volume of all primary containers in the storage facility, whichever is greater.

d.

If the storage facility is open to rainfall, then the secondary containment must be able to additionally accommodate the volume of a 24-hour rainfall as determined by a 100-year storm history.

(3)

Laminated, coated or clad materials shall be considered single-walled and shall not be construed to fulfill the requirements of both primary and secondary containment.

(4)

Variance.

a.

A variance from the Fire Marshal's requirements for containment including, but not limited to, construction, secondary containment, and/or monitoring, may be requested from the Community Planning and Preservation Commission.

b.

The application shall be reviewed following the procedures for variances, generally, provided for in chapter 16.

c.

The Commission may authorize a variance from the terms of the requirements where, owing to special conditions:

1.

A literal enforcement of the requirements would result in unnecessary hardship not generally applicable to other similar facilities;

2.

The conditions and circumstances are peculiar to such land or structure and not apply generally to the neighboring lands or structures in the same district.

3.

The proposed alternatives would offer an equivalent degree of protection, which finding must be supported by the expert opinion of an independent consultant acceptable to the Fire Marshal and the applicant. Applicant shall bear the costs of the independent consultant.

4.

The granting of a variance will not be injurious to abutting properties or otherwise detrimental to the public welfare.

(c)

Overfill protection. Means of overfill protection may be required for any primary container used for stationary storage. This may be an overfill prevention device and/or an attention-getting high level alarm.

(d)

Separation of materials. Materials that, in combination, may cause a fire explosion, or the production of a flammable, toxic or poisonous gas, or the deterioration of a primary or secondary container, shall be separated in both the primary and secondary containment so as to avoid potential intermixing.

(e)

Drainage system. Drainage of water entering a storage facility by precipitation or infiltration from shall be controlled in a manner approved by the Fire Marshal so as to prevent hazardous materials from being discharged unless permitted to do so by another public agency. No drainage system will be approved unless the flow of the drain can be controlled.

(f)

Bulk storage. The bulk storage of flammable and combustible liquids shall be limited to quantity and placement as follows:

(1)

Storage of any substance capable of generating more than 800,000 Btu's per pound shall be prohibited.

(2)

Storage of any substance capable of generating 400,000 Btu's to 800,000 Btu's per pound shall be limited to a maximum of 550,000,000 Btu's per acre.

(3)

The primary containment of any substance regulated by this subsection shall not cover more than 20 percent of total site area contained in the legal property description.

(4)

The surface area of any secondary containment of any substance regulated by this subsection shall be 20 percent or less of the total surface area of the primary containment.

(5)

Any primary or secondary containment shall be located at least 200 feet from any residential use or sleeping occupancy.

(6)

Any secondary containment serving volatiles or highly reactive or ignitable materials shall be of a minimum four-hour fire rating.

(Code 1973, § 15-127; Code 1992, § 13-237; Ord. No. 912-G, § 1(13-237), 1-8-2009; Ord. No. 100-H, § 1, 12-19-2013)