HAZARDOUS MATERIALS COMMITTEE
BUILDING STANDARDS COMMITTEE
PALO ALTO
May 21, 1999

In Attendance:

Ron Keefer			Menlo Park Fire District
Steve Rusconi			AIDI / Therma
Steve Forester			Forester Consulting
Reinhard Hanslka			Palo Alto Fire Dept.
Mario McArn			Stockton Fire Dept.
Janet McCarron			San Jose Fire Dept.
Gordon Simpkinson			Palo Alto Fire Dept.
Kent Miller			Stockton Fire Dept.
Ray Johnson			Redding Fire Dept.
Gale Bate			Code Resource

1. The Committees discussed the outcomes of the ICC Code Hearings held in Costa Mesa. All code changes submitted from Nor Cal were defeated. Votes to overturn the Code Development Committee's Actions were rarely made. Voting patterns appeared to be regional in nature. Fire Officials from Eastern and Southern States clearly out-numbered those from Western States.

2. Current direction from the California Fire Chiefs Association is to monitor the Code Development process of both the International Fire Code from the ICC, and the Uniform Fire Code from the Western Fire Chiefs Association. A clearer direction is expected in the near future.

3. Janet McCarron noted that a loop-hole in the State Underground Storage Tank regulations exists which requires inspectors to enter underground storage tanks, but says nothing about having that inspector certified in confined space entry.

4. Ron Keefer and Kent Miller have been getting inquiries from local businesses on proper storage of combustible liquids (diesel fuel) from companies preparing for massive power interruptions at the turn of the century (Y2K). Local businesses are being ordered from their Corporate Offices to prepare a contingency plan regarding lost of utilities during the Y2K change-over. Businesses have asked for exterior storage requirements for anywhere from 1,000 to 35,000 gallons of Diesel Fuel. Gale Bate advised that some businesses with generators powered by LPG or LNG may also be inquiring soon.
The Committee agreed that a temporary set of Standards for bulk storage of fuels would be in order. The Hazardous Materials Committee will meet again for a June Mid Month Meeting to develop said Standards.

5. Ron Keefer inquired about flammable liquids being stored in DOT Approved 55 gallon plastic containers. Currently they look like other 55 gallon containers that are not approved for flammable liquids. How do we fix this problem? Committee members said that DOT can only approve the 55 gallon container as a shipping container. Therefore it cannot be used for storage or use inside a building unless it complies with Article 79. There are many High-Tech companies in Santa Clara County which require a high-purity product. These products are stored and used, in buildings, with plastic lined, 55 gallon metal containers. Further, any company using plastic containers for the storage of flammable liquids, are being required to store the container in a Flammable Liquid Cabinet or provied another means of noncombustible storage. In accordance with Section 7903, dispensing Class I-B Flammable Liquids from a 55 gallon container is not allowed unless its within a Group H Occupancy.

Ron Keefer			Reinhard Hanselka
Gordon Simpkinson,			Building Standards Committee

Hazardous Materials Committee