Section 14a.105. Loading and unloading

(a) Truck loading racks. Truck loading racks shall conform to the following:

(1) Location. Truck loading racks shall be separated from aboveground tanks, warehouses, other plant buildings, and nearest line of adjoining property that may be built upon by a clear distance of not less than 25 feet for class I liquids and 15 feet for class II and class III liquids measured from the nearest position of any fill riser. Shelter for pumps or loading personnel may be part of the loading rack. Loading racks shall be designed and equipped for the specific purpose of handling flammable or combustible liquids so that no part of the loading rack system will be subjected to pressures or circumstances beyond its designed use or capabilities.

(2) Static protection. Racks dispensing class I liquids into open domes of tank vehicles, and racks dispensing class II or class III liquids into open domes of tank vehicles which may contain flammable vapors from previous cargoes of class I liquids shall be equipped with protection against static sparks during tank vehicle filling. Protection shall consist of a metallic bond-wire permanently electrically connected to the fill-stem or some part of the fill-stem piping. The free end of such wire shall be provided with a clamp or similar device for convenient attachment to some metallic part of the cargo tank of the tank vehicle. The bond-wire connection shall be made prior to opening the dome covers. It shall be maintained in place during entire filling operation and the dome covers shall be securely closed before the bond-wire is disconnected from the cargo tank.

(b) Tank car racks. Class I liquids shall not be discharged from nor loaded into tank cars unless protection against stray currents has been provided and is used. Protection shall be designed and installed in accordance with Static Electricity, NFPA No. 77. The fire marshal may require tank cars to be unloaded through the dome or top outlet if escaping liquid would gain access to waterways, sewage systems, or endanger surrounding property.

(c) Container filling facilities. Class I liquids shall not be run into containers unless the nozzle and container are electrically interconnected. There shall be compliance with the provisions of this subsection if the metallic floorplate on which the container stands while filling is electrically connected to the fill stem, or where the fill stem is bonded to the container during filling operations by means of a bond-wire.

(d) Drainage and waste disposal. Provisions shall be made to prevent flammable or combustible liquids, which may be spilled at loading or unloading points, from entering sewers and drainage systems or natural waterways. Connections to such sewers, drains, or waterways by which flammable or combustible liquids might enter shall be provided with separator boxes or other approved means whereby such entry is precluded. Crankcase drainings and flammable or combustible liquids shall not be dumped into sewers, but shall be stored in tanks or containers equipped with pressure and vacuum relief with flame arresters outside of any building until removed from the premises.

(e) Equipment such as piping, pumps, meters and hoses which does not drain completely and is used for the transfer of class I liquids between storage tanks and the fill-stem of the loading rack shall not be utilized for transfer of class II or class III liquids unless completely purged of any residue of class I liquid.

(f) Dispersing flammable or combustible liquids from a tank vehicle or tank car into containers for private use, or into tanks of motor vehicles, is prohibited except for those tanks or containers constructed, located and used in accordance with § 14a.1(h) (relating to relative location to property), special mobile equipment, and supply tanks for oil burning appliances or equipment.

The provisions of this § 13.105 amended June 22, 1984, effective June 18, 1984, 14 Pa.B. 2131; transferred from 37 Pa. Code and renumbered as 34 Pa. Code § 14a.105, February 28, 2014, effective March 1, 2014, 44 Pa.B. 1233. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (259943) to (259944).