California Code of Regulations › Title 8 - Industrial Relations › Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations › Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety › Subchapter 7 - General Industry Safety Orders › Group 20 - Flammable Liquids, Gases and Vapors › Article 141 - Container and Portable Tank Storage › Section 5541 - Flammable and Combustible Liquid Warehouses or Storage Buildings

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) If storage
						building is located 50 feet or less from a building or line of adjoining
						property that may be built upon, the exposing wall shall have a fire-resistance
						rating of at least two hours with any openings protected by approved fire
						doors.
(b) The total quantity of
						liquids within a building shall not be restricted, but the arrangement of
						storage shall comply with Tables FL-4 or FL-5.
(c) Containers in piles shall be separated by
						pallets or dunnage where necessary to provide stability and to prevent
						excessive stress on container walls.
(d) Portable tanks stored over one tier high
						shall be designed to nest securely, without dunnage, and adequate materials
						handling equipment shall be available to handle tanks safely at the upper tier
						level.
(e) No pile shall be closer
						than three feet to the nearest beam, chord, girder or other obstructions, and
						shall be three feet below sprinkler deflectors or discharge orifices of water
						spray, or other overhead fire protection systems.
(f) Aisles at least three feet wide shall be
						provided where necessary for reasons of access to doors, windows or standpipe
						connections.
Table FL-4
Indoor Container Storage
Protected
								  Storage
*
Unprotected
								  Storage
Maximum Per
								  Pile
Maximum Per Pile
Category
Storage
Liquid
Level
Gals.
Gals.
1
Ground
2,750
660
&
								  Upper
(50)
(12)
Floors
Basement
Not
								  permitted
Not permitted
2
Ground
5,500
1,375
&
								  Upper
(100)
(25)
Floors
Basement
Not
								  Permitted
Not Permitted
3
Ground
16,500
4,125
FP <100F
&
								  Upper
(300)
(75)
Floors
Basement
Not
								  permitted
Not permitted
3
Ground
16,500
4,125
FP >100F &
								  Upper
(300)
(75)
Floors
Basement
5,500
Not
								  permitted
(100)
4
								  and
Ground
55,000
13,750
FP >199.4F
&
								  Upper
(1,000)
(250)
Floors
Basement
8,250
Not
								  permitted
(450)
* A sprinkler or equivalent fire protection system
						  installed in an approved manner. (Numbers in parentheses indicate corresponding
						  number of 55-gallon drums.)
NOTE 1: When two or more categories of materials are
						  stored in a single pile, the maximum gallonage permitted in that pile shall be
						  the smallest of the two or more separate maximum gallonages.
NOTE 2: Aisles shall be provided so that no container
						  is more than 12 feet from an aisle. Main aisles shall be at least eight feet
						  wide and side aisles at least four feet wide.
NOTE 3: Each pile shall be separated from each other
						  pile by at least four feet. When stored on suitably protected racks or when the
						  storage is suitably protected, containers may be piled up to the height limits
						  in Section 5541(e).
NOTE 4: FP means Flashpoint.
Table FL-5
Indoor Portable Tank Storage
Protected
								  Storage
*
Unprotected
								  Storage
Maximum Per
								  Pile
Maximum Per Pile
Category
Storage
Liquid
Level
Gals.
Gals.
1
Ground
Not
								  permitted
Not Permitted
& Upper
								  Floors
Basement
Not
								  permitted
Not permitted
2
Ground
20,000
2,000
& Upper
								  Floors
Basement
Not
								  Permitted
Not Permitted
3 FP
								  <100F
Ground
40,000
5,500
& Upper
								  Floors
Basement
Not
								  permitted
Not permitted
3
								  FP>=100F
Ground
40,000
5,500
& Upper
								  Floors
Basement
20,000
Not
								  permitted
4
								  and
Ground
60,000
22,000
FP >199.4F
& Upper
								  Floors
Basement
20,000
Not
								  permitted
* A sprinkler or equivalent fire protection system
						  installed in an approved manner.
NOTE 1: When two or more categories of materials are
						  stored in a single pile, the maximum gallonage permitted in that pile shall be
						  the smallest of the two or more separate maximum gallonages.
NOTE 2: Aisles shall be provided so that no portable
						  tank is more than 12 feet from an aisle. Main aisles shall be at least eight
						  feet wide and side aisles at least four feet wide.
NOTE 3: Each pile shall be separated from each other
						  pile by at least four feet. When stored on suitably protected racks or when the
						  storage is suitably protected, portable tanks may be piled up to the height
						  limits in Section
						  5541(e).
NOTE 4: FP means Flashpoint.
1.
						  Amendment filed 7-16-76; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 76, No.
						  29).
2. Amendment of Tables FL-4 and FL-5 filed 9-18-80; effective
						  thirtieth day thereafter (Register 80, No. 38).
3. Amendment of
						  Tables FL-4 and FL-5 filed 4-9-81; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register
						  81, No. 15).
4. Amendment of subsection (f) filed 7-23-2013;
						  operative 10-1-2013 (Register 2013, No. 30).
5. Amendment of section
						  heading and Tables FL-4 and FL-5 and their Notes, filed 5-5-2014; operative
						  5-6-2014 pursuant to Government Code section
						  11343.4(b)(3)
						  (Register 2014, No. 19).
Note: Authority cited: Section
							 142.3, Labor
							 Code. Reference: Section
							 142.3, Labor
							 Code.