(a) No person, firm or corporation shall engage in or carry on the business of storing, for commercial sale or exchange, filled propane gas tanks or gas cylinders larger than thirty pounds or to sell or exchange such items within the City.
(b) Any person, firm or corporation that engages in or carries on the business of storing, for commercial sale or exchange, filled propane gas tanks or gas cylinders of thirty pounds or less each or sells or exchanges such items within the City shall adhere to the following regulations:
(1) Any storage outside of buildings or filled propane gas tanks or gas cylinders awaiting use, resale or part of a tank or cylinder exchange program shall be located not less than: twenty feet from any existing access doors, exits, stairways, windows, areas normally used, or intended to be used, as a means of egress, or other openings into buildings; twenty feet from any motor vehicle fuel dispenser; and ten feet from any combustible materials. A minimum distance of twenty-five feet shall be maintained between the storage area and any public right-of- way or lot line of property has a structure upon it or can be built upon.
(2) Filled propane gas tanks or gas cylinders at locations accessible to the public shall be protected by a lockable, ventilated, noncombustible enclosure that prevents tampering with valves and pilferage of the tanks or cylinders. Such an enclosure shall be kept locked at all times and only unlocked by a person authorized by the business to dispense the tanks or cylinders.
(3) Any storage outside of buildings of filled propane gas tanks or gas cylinders awaiting use, resale or part of a tank or cylinder exchange program shall not exceed two storage enclosures. A maximum total of 750 pounds of propane and/or gas is permitted to be stored outside of buildings.
(4) Protection of said enclosures against vehicle impact shall be provided pursuant to the direction of the Fire Safety Inspector in situations where vehicle traffic normally is expected at an enclosure site. Protection of enclosures from vehicles shall consist of one or more six-inch diameter pipes filled with concrete as specified by the Fire Safety Inspector. These pipe stanchions shall be six feet in length and located no more than four and one-half feet apart unless otherwise specified by the Fire Safety Inspector. Three feet of these stanchions shall be installed below grade, pursuant to the Fire Safety Inspector’s direction, and the three feet appearing above grade shall be painted the color of yellow identified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
(5) A permit shall be obtained from the Division of Building, Zoning, and Housing for any storage permitted by this section and a site plan showing the exact location of the storage enclosure(s) in relation to the items set forth in subsection (b)(1) above shall be submitted with the permit application.
(6) “No Smoking” signs and hazardous materials signs indicating the hazard severity shall be posted under the Fire Safety Inspector’s direction.
(7) All storage permitted by this section shall comply with Section 3809.11 of the 2003 edition of the International Fire Code.
(Ord. 44-2005. Passed 8-30-05.)