2014-12-16 RE: TFD to PR on 3000-gallon tank Saturday, March 7, 2015 4:43 AM Subject RE: Temporary LPG (Propane) Tank and Piping at Point Ruston- 5005 Main Street From Erickson, Ryan To Joe Harrison (joe@pointruston.com) Cc Boczar, Sue; Seaman, Chris; Mike Cohen (MikeC@mcconstruction.com); Johnson, David (PDS); Kinlow, Charla Sent Tuesday, December 16, 2014 4:45 PM Joe, Thanks for your email response below and our phone conversation today. Today you confirmed that the existing LPG tank at Point Ruston development is actually a 3,000 gallon capacity and was installed by Amerigas to replace the 1,000 gallon capacity tank that was originally permitted as a temporary tank by TFD. You stated that Amerigas is currently planning to quickly remove the 3,000 gallon tank and replace it with another a 1,000 gallon capacity tank. As I stated, please make sure Amerigas coordinates this work with Deputy Fire Marshal Sue Boczar since a new temporary LPG tank permit application is required to install any additional LPG tank on this site. For a temporary installation, ecology blocks are sometimes approved but the blocks must be located an adequate distance from the tank. Ecology blocks can easily slide across smooth surfaces (i.e. asphalt, concrete) upon vehicular impact which can actually result in damage to the LPG tank, valves, and piping. Therefore, the temporary vehicular impact protection must be reviewed and approved by the Fire Department. Also, I was verbally notified by Lex Vinsel, UTC Pipeline Safety Engineer, on Friday December 12, 2014 that the UTC has regulatory authority over the temporary LPG gas distribution system since there are 10 or more customers being served by the gas utility plant. Therefore, both TFD and Point Ruston need to closely coordinate our permitting efforts with the UTC from here forward. You stated that Point Ruston is still looking to respond to my request for inspection records for the underground LPG piping by Tacoma Fire Department. It is also my understanding that the UTC will also have some detailed input into the design, installation and inspection of the underground LPG gas distribution system; the UTC may become the lead permitting agency for the gas system. Please contact Lex Vinsel to begin working with the UTC and meet their requirements and regulations as well. Please note that any further LPG permits will also require close coordination with Tacoma’s Planning and Development Services Department (PDS) to ensure all environmental permitting requirements/regulations are met and EIS amendments, if any, are approved and executed. We will need to further discuss any necessary easements for the piping as more information is received from the UTC regarding the underground pipeline requirements. For the time being, the easements are the least critical concern from TFD’s standpoint since our immediate concern is with overall safety of the LPG pipeline and tank installation. Let’s discuss this as a follow up item in the near future once we get further direction from the UTC. As you requested, here is the excerpt from the adopted International Fire Code (IFC) Section 6104.2 that relates to the maximum tank capacity. Ruston Documents from emails Page 1 IFC Section 6104.2 Within the limits established by law restricting the storage of liquefied petroleum gas for the protection of heavily populated or congested areas, the aggregate capacity of any one installation shall not exceed a water capacity of 2,000 gallons (7570 L). Exception: In particular installations, this capacity limit shall be determined by the fire code official, after consideration of special features such as topographical conditions, nature of occupancy, and proximity to buildings, capacity of proposed LP-gas containers, degree of fire protection to be provided and capabilities of the local fire department. Please keep me and the Fire Department abreast of any relevant issues/items that arise with the UTC. I’m available for questions or comments as well. Regards, RYAN ERICKSON, P.E. Fire Code Official Tacoma Fire Department Prevention Division 901 Fawcett Avenue Tacoma, WA 98402 253.591.5739 rerickson@cityoftacoma.org From: Joe Harrison [mailto:jmharrison1950@yahoo.com] Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2014 10:54 AM To: Erickson, Ryan Cc: Boczar, Sue Subject: Re: Temporary LPG (Propane) Tank and Piping at Point Ruston- 5005 Main Street Good morning Ryan, Since Sue is out of the office I'll respond back to you. 1. Pt. Ruston will deploy some ecology blocks around the tank in question. 2. We are researching if there were inspections. 3. Would you direct me to the municipal code that is specific to tanks and size ? 4. Pt. Ruston will furnish easements. (Size or any other specifics) If Amerigas becomes the operator of the system should the easements be granted to them instead of Tacoma ? Thank you From: "Erickson, Ryan" To: "Mike Cohen (MikeC@mcconstruction.com)" Cc: "Boczar, Sue" ; "Joe Harrison (joe@pointruston.com)" ; "Seaman, Chris" Sent: Friday, December 5, 2014 10:30 AM Subject: Temporary LPG (Propane) Tank and Piping at Point Ruston- 5005 Main Street Dear Mr. Cohen, At our recent meeting with you, Joe Harrison, Planning and Development Services (PDS) and Tacoma Fire Department (TFD) you mentioned that the temporary permitted Ruston Documents from emails Page 2 (PDS) and Tacoma Fire Department (TFD) you mentioned that the temporary permitted 1,000 gallon LPG (propane) tank at Point Ruston Development may have been replaced with a 3,000 gallon tank by Amerigas. At the meeting I stated that TFD had no record of a permit to install a 3,000 gallon tank but there was a permit record for a 1,000 gallon tank installation. As a result of this brief discussion, TFD staff recently visited the Point Ruston site to check into the tank. Based on a visual inspection it appears the tank may not be large enough to be 3,000 gallons but we really couldn’t confirm that. Please note that the maximum LPG tank allowed within heavily populated/congested areas of Tacoma shall not exceed a water capacity of 2,000 gallons. Point Ruston development is considered a heavily populated/congested area by the Tacoma Fire Department. Some issues, listed below, with the temporary LPG tank installation were recognized and must be addressed. Please contact Sue Boczar, Deputy Fire Marshal, to discuss these issues. DFM Boczar can be reached by email at sboczar@cityoftacoma.org or at 253.594.7929 Please follow up with TFD by December 19, 2014 (2-weeks). 1. Provide adequate vehicular impact protection for the temporary LP tank and piping manifold(s). Since this is a temporary installation there is potential that concrete ecology blocks properly located may be acceptable. 2. TFD has no record of inspecting the LPG gas piping from the temporary tank to the building(s) being served. If you believe this is in error, please submit the inspection documentation for review. 3. Easements will be required for the LPG gas piping system since its crosses multiple property lines. Regards, RYAN ERICKSON, P.E. Fire Code Official Tacoma Fire Department Prevention Division 901 Fawcett Avenue Tacoma, WA 98402 253.591.5739 rerickson@cityoftacoma.org Ruston Documents from emails Page 3