subject: Safe Storage Options for Flammable Liquids as Recommended by OSHA [print this page] Safe Storage Options for Flammable Liquids as Recommended by OSHA
Flammable liquids are those liquids that have flashpoints below 100 degrees F. Flashpoint is described as the lowest temperature at which the liquid gives off enough vapor to ignite. OSHA has made it mandatory for the safe storage of these flammable liquids. 24 hour Hazwoper courses teach the different kinds of storage options to the employees. OSHA has also set a standard that includes safe storage of small scale flammable liquids.
Construction of Tanks: The tanks that are used for storing flammable liquids should be made of steel. This should be applied for all tanks except those that will be stored underground and the ones that contain liquids that are incompatible with steel. The manufacturers of these tanks must use a non ferrous filler material that has a melting point higher than 1000 degrees F. Also, the tank should be reinforced from the inside, in case of any suspected corrosion due to the chemical it holds. The adequate level of internal reinforcement must be determined based on the life of the tank.
Designing of Tanks: The tank connections should be marked well. Likewise, the points at which the tanks are filled or emptied should be marked properly so they are easy to find. All the connections should be made outdoors and 5 feet away from any opening in any building. The designing should be such that the tank allows internal pressure to escape.
Tank Spacing: The spacing between flammable liquid storage tanks must be restricted. The operations that use three or more rows of tanks should have enough space between tanks so that firefighters can get through. Also, emergency responders should have enough space to work their way around tanks that are set in an irregular pattern.
Location of Underground Tanks: The 24 hour Hazwoper courses as recommended by OSHA instruct industrial producers to place underground tanks carefully. The flammable tanks must be located 1 foot from the basement wall and at least 3 feet from the property line.
Short Term Storage: The small scale and short term storage of flammable liquids is described explicitly by OSHA. It has listed the permitted sizes for liquid storage containers and portable tanks. Different properties help in classifying the various flammable liquids. A table created by OSHA lists how many gallons of a flammable liquid can be stored depending upon the size of the room. The hours of fire resistance and the presence of fire fighting equipments are also taken into consideration.
