HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2g: Liquefied Petroleum Gas Storage Tank at 801 Singing Wood Drive (2).FROM: Tony L. Trabbie, Fire Chief /1 t-
By: Mark Krikorian, Fire Marshal
SUBJECT- APPROVE A NEW 499-GALLON LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS
STORAGE TANK FOR EMERGENCY POWER GENERATION AT B01
SINGING WOOD DRIVE, A REAL PROPERTY ZONED AS R-0
Recommended Action: Conditional Approval
SUMMARY
The applicant is requesting approval of a new 499-gallon liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
storage tank for emergency power generation on real property zoned as First One-
Family (R-O), Arcadia Municipal Code Section 3141.2 limits storage of LPG outdoors in
a R�O zone to 10 gallons- Arcadia Municipal Code Section 3141.3 allows the City
set forth by Section 3141 .2. An aerial photo of the site, a diagram of the LPG storage
tank, and a letter of application are attached with this staff report. It is recommended
that the City Council conditionally approve this application.
BACKGROUND
Historically, LPG has been used for cooking and heating purposes in residential
settings, although in this incident the applicant intends to use LPG for emergency power
generation only. A hazard posed • storage of LPG is a boiling liquid expanding vapor
explosion (BLEVE), which is an explosion caused by the rupture of a vessel containing
a pressurized liquid above its boiling point. Due to large fire losses in the 1950's, many
safety precautions were gradually introduced into gas containers, such as stronger steel
shells and pressure relief valves, As a result, today's LPG containers are much safer,
Fire loss data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) shows that from
20;00-2004, 23 civilian deaths were caused • LP gas related fires- However, a majority
of these were due to cooking fires utilizing barbeques, hibachis, and grills. No fire loss
due to LPG being utilized for emergency power generation was reported.
The City
• Arcadia has regulated the use • flammable liq ds • private property since
the passage of Ordinance 199 in 1927. In 1949, regulation of LPG in residential zones
began with the passage • Ordinance 758. In 1992, the present LPG storage quantity
limitation of 10 gallons in residential areas began with the passage of Ordinance 1970
(Arcadia Municipal Code Section 3141.2).
LPG Tank Installation Application — 801 Singing Wood Drive
January 15, 2013
Page 2 of 3
The California Fire Code (CFC) was created in 1927 and has, reg,ulated the use and
storage of LPG with the issuance of an operational permit. An operational permit
regulates the use and storage of LPG containers with respect to setbacks, signage,
safety devices, and fire protection. Traditionally, the: maximum size of LPG container
that was regu:lated and required an operational permit was between 120 to 125 gallons.
However, the 2007 CFC introduced a new permit exception for storage of 500 gallons or
less LPG tanks for R-3 (single-family dwelling) occupancies. This exception was
continued in the 2010 CFC but has not been granted in the City of Arcadia due to the
more stringent requirement of AMC 3141.2. Commercial use and storage of LPG
allows no quantity exception and all CFC requirements are applied.
APPLICANT: Robert Y11
LOCATION: 801 Singing Wood Drivvt
REQUEST: Approval of a new 499-gallon LPG storage tank for
the purpose of emergency power generation
SITE AREA: 168,224 square feet (3.86 acre)
EXISTING LAND USE & ZONING. The site is developed with a two-story, 12,939
square-foot single-family dwelling built in 1997.
The property is zoned R-0, or First One- Family
Zone.
The proposal is to install a 499-gallon LPG tank in the rear yard' of the property, not
visible from the street. It wilt
• utilized as a fuel' source for a 48-kilowatt generator.
The generator will provide emergency power to the single-famiily dwelling in the case of
a power outage. The LPG tank will be set back from the single-family dwelling to the
south for approximately 100 feet, This property is not located in the City's Wildland's
Urban Interface.
Since the 2011 wind storm, the Fire Department has received multiple inquiries into the
use of LPG for residential emergency power generation though no formal applications
were submitted. Due to this interest, it is the intent of the Fire Department to explore
the possibility of modifying AMC 3141.2 to allow greater quantities of LPG to be used
solely for emergency power generation with certain safeguards adopted. This would
occur during the adoption of the 2013 Code cycle and would go into effect on January 1,
2014.
As conditions of approval for this application, it is recommended that the fo:lloiwing
criteria must be met. First, CFC requirements for LPG storage must be applied even
thoug;h the size of the tank is below the operational permit threshold- Setback
requirements with respect to property lines and buildings, though currently met • the
installation location, must be ensured should any future development take place on the
LPG Tank Installation Application — 801 Singing Wood Drive
January 15, 2013
Page 3 of 3
applicant's property. Secondly, signage shall be provided to aid emergency personnel
in identifying the contents of the tank and therefore allow the appropriate hazard
response. Moreover, clearance to combustibles shall be provided to protect the tank
from exposure fires. I'n addition, an appropriate fire extinguisher shall be provided to
allow the applicant the ability to protect the tank from exposure fire. Finally, refueling of
the tank shall be conducted with the safeguards required by the CFC. A letter of
understanding from the applicant should be attained listing the requirements set forth.
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It is recommended that the City Council approve this application, subject to the following
conditions:
a. A minimum 10-foot setback shall be maintained between the tank and all
buildings in perpetuity, as required by CFC Chapter 38. All future developments
on the property shall be subject to this requirement.
b. Signage shall be provided on the tank indicating its contents and also warning of
"NO SMOKING WITHIN 25 FEET."
c. Weeds, grass, brush, trash, and other combustible materials shall be kept a
minimum of 10 feet from the tank.
d. A minimum 6A:80BC fire extinguisher shall be provided within 50 feet of the tank.
It shall be the applicant's responsibility to have the fire extinguisher serviced by a
qualified contractor on an annual basis.
e. During refueling, the LP tank vehicle shall not be left unattended at any time.
MGM=
Dominic Laz'z6"'retto
City Manager
Attachments- Aerial photo of subject property
LPG tank diagram
Letter of application
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