Print this pageNational Fire Protection Association Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code 58
Fire Safety Analysis Plan and Written Operations & Maintenance
Instructions For Propane Storage Systems
Tim Laughlin, P.E.
Course Outline
To safeguard propane installations, the NFPA and the US EPA have developed the FSA and O&M instructions that all-applicable propane facilities must comply within a certain time frame. In some states a licensed professional engineer must fully understand and prepare the FSA plan.
The 2001 edition
of the National Fire Protection Associations (NFPA) Pamphlet 58, Liquefied Petroleum
Gas Code requires a written Fire Safety Analysis (FSA) and written Operations
& Maintenance Instructions. These requirements originated at the US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) under the Risk Management Program (RMP). The NFPA 58
requirements are much less restrictive than what the EPA originally proposed.
The requirement for a written (FSA) for all tank installations over 4,000 gallons
aggregate capacity becomes effective when your State adopts the 2001 edition
NFPA 58, section 3.10, Fire Protection. New propane bulk plants and tank installations
and for ASME tank installations on roofs, must complete an FSA before completion
of the new facility. Also, a written FSA is required for all-existing bulk plants,
tanks and roof installations by three years after the effective date of the
code.
In North Carolina, a professional engineer registered in North Carolina must
prepare the FSA. Other guidelines for an alternative FSA come under the NC Department
of Agriculture.
The other RMP-like requirements are found in the new Chapter 11 of NFPA 58,
Operations and Maintenance. This requires written procedures for safely conducting
LP-Gas activities at bulk and industrial plants. Also, these procedures must
be kept up to date. Similarly, maintenance procedures must be prepared and implemented.
These must be made available to contractors coming on site to do maintenance.
Be sure to look at NFPA 58, Appendix A, sections A.11.2.1 and A.11.2.2 for some
guidance for what is expected in these procedures and what you may use to help
you prepare them.
This course includes
a multiple choice quiz at the end.
Learning Objective
At
the conclusion of this course, the student will:
- Be familiar with NFPA 58 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code 2001 Edition;
- Have a better understanding of the requirements and other regulatory provisions for preparing a Fire Safety Analysis (FSA) for the storage of propane gas (LP-Gas); and
- Be able to institute a written Operations & Maintenance for a bulk propane storage facility in accordance with NFPA 58 Chapter 11 requirements.
Course Content
The course content is in a PDF file (254 KB) Fire_Safety_Analysis.pdf. You need to open or download this document to study this course.
Course Summary
To safeguard propane
installations, the NFPA and the US EPA have developed the FSA and O&M instructions
that all-applicable propane facilities must comply within a certain time frame.
In some states a licensed professional engineer must fully understand and prepare
the FSA plan.
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDHonline.com or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered professional engineer. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
