Pennsylvania Code › Title 25 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Part I - Department of Environmental Protection › Subpart D - Environmental Health and Safety › Article VI - General Health and Safety › Chapter 245 - ADMINISTRATION OF THE STORAGE TANK AND SPILL PREVENTION PROGRAM › Subchapter F - TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR ABOVEGROUND STORAGE TANKS AND FACILITIES › DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION › Section 245.523 - Aboveground storage tanks in under-ground vaults

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
The following requirements shall be met when an owner
							 or operator chooses to install an aboveground storage tank in an underground
							 vault:
(1) The vault shall completely
						  enclose the aboveground storage tank. There may be no openings in the vault
						  enclosure except those necessary for access to, inspection of, and filling,
						  emptying and venting of the tank. The walls and floor of the vault must be
						  constructed of reinforced concrete at least 6 inches thick. The top, walls and
						  floor shall be designed to withstand the anticipated loading, including loading
						  from traffic, soil and groundwater.
(2) The vault must be compatible with the
						  stored substance and have a permeability of less than 1 x
						  10-7 cm/sec for substance stored and be water
						  tight.
(3) An aboveground storage
						  tank must be in its own vault. Adjacent vaults may share a common
						  wall.
(4) There may be no backfill
						  around the aboveground storage tank and there shall be sufficient space between
						  the tank and the vault to allow inspection of the tank and ancillary
						  equipment.
(5) Vaults and
						  aboveground storage tanks must be suitably anchored to withstand uplifting by
						  either water or released substance, including when the tank is empty.
(6) Connections shall be provided to permit
						  venting of each vault to dilute, disperse and remove vapors prior to personnel
						  entering the vault.
(7) A vault
						  must be equipped with a continuous leak detection system capable of detecting
						  vapors and liquids including water. The detection system must activate an alarm
						  that automatically shuts down the dispensing system if vapors or liquids are
						  detected.
(8) A vault must have a
						  means for personnel entry. The entry point must have a warning sign indicating
						  the need for procedures for safe entry into a confined space. An entry point
						  must be secured against unauthorized entry and vandalism.
(9) A suitable means to admit a fire
						  suppression agent shall be provided for each vault.
(10) Aboveground storage tanks and ancillary
						  equipment shall be installed, maintained and inspected in accordance with the
						  requirements for aboveground storage tanks in this subchapter.
(11) Underground piping distribution systems
						  for each aboveground storage tank system used to dispense class I or class II
						  motor fuels for resale must be provided with release detection equivalent to
						  underground piping release detection addressed in §
													245.445 (relating to methods of
						  release detection for piping) and monitored as required in paragraph (7) with
						  monitoring records retained for 12 months as required under §
													245.516 (relating to recordkeeping
						  requirements).
This section cited in 25 Pa. Code §
															245.513 (relating to preventive
								maintenance and housekeeping
								requirements).