Bulk installation

(1) The City Engineer may, with the approval of the Minister, grant a licence for the storage of petroleum in bulk. The following conditions shall apply to the construction, maintenance and Belize City Council 163 operation of a bulk petroleum installation and shall be specified in all licences for the storage of petroleum in bulk: The minimum distance of outside above-ground tanks to boundary line of adjoining property shall beCapacity of tank in Imperial Minimum distance to boundary Gallons line of adjoining property 0 to 12,00 10 feet 12,001 to 24,000 15 feet 24,001 to 30,000 20 feet 30,001 to 50,000 25 feet Above 50,000 25 feet Distance between any tank and railway siding upon which it is intended to work locomotives 50 feet The minimum distances between storage tanks wholly or partially above ground, with the exception of those provided for in subregulation (3)(b)(ii) and (iii) of this regulation, shall be not less than one-and-a-half times the diameter of the smaller tank or, in the case of tanks of equal size, one-and-a-half times the diameter of either. If a tank be not cylindrical the greatest horizontal dimension of the tank shall be taken to represent the diameter. (2) Tanks shall be made of mild steel, or other approved material with all metal parts completely bonded together and shall be designed and constructed according to British standards or other standards approved by the City Engineer. (3) Storage tanks may be arranged entirely below, partially above, or completely above the surface of the ground– (a) Tanks entirely below the surface of the ground must be covered to a minimum depth of twelve inches, with the exception of manhole covers. Where, in the event of a serious leakage, there 164 Belize City Council is a possibility of water supplies, courses, or drainage systems adjacent to the depot being contaminated, the tank must be completely surrounded by puddled clay not less than twelve inches in thickness, or by fine concrete of a thickness to be approved by the City Engineer. (b) Tanks partially above the surface of the ground may be set in one of the following methods– (i) Left exposed in a pit excavated in the ground, the sides of the pit to be carried out to easy slopes. The pit shall be capable of holding a volume of petroleum not less than 10 % in excess of the capacity of the tanks. Bunding may be resorted to, to reduce the tank yard area, such bunding being provided with clay or other impermeable core. (ii) Sunk not less than five feet and mounded over with soil to a minimum depth of twelve inches, with the exception of the manhole covers. This method of construction to apply only to tanks not exceeding nine feet in diameter, or alternatively, in height. (iii) Sunk less than five feet and mounded as in method No. (ii). Soil to be supported by retaining walls constructed in brick, concrete, or as otherwise approved. Where, in the event of a serious leakage, there is a possibility of water supplies, courses or drainage systems adjacent to the depot being contaminatedBelize City Council 165 Under method (i) the floor and sides of the pit must be formed of concrete or as otherwise approved by the City Engineer. Under methods (ii) and (iii), the tank must be completely surrounded by puddled clay not less than twelve inches in thickness, or by fine concrete of a thickness to be approved by the City Engineer. (iv) The method provided under (c) below for tanks completely above the surface of the ground may be applied as a further alternative method for use with tanks partially above the surface of the ground. (c) (i) Tanks completely above the surface of the ground must be supported on approved brick, stone or concrete piers or other approved methods, and surrounded by brick, stone or concrete walls or earth-bund forming pits or wells capable of holding a volume of petroleum not less than 10 % in excess of the capacity of the tanks. Where, in the event of a serious leakage, there is a possibility of water supplies, courses, or drainage systems adjacent to the depot being contaminated, the floor of the pit or well must be formed of concrete or as otherwise approved by the City Engineer. (ii) An air space of not less than 2.5 % of their capacity (including the manhole) must be provided in the tanks to allow for expansion. 166 Belize City Council (iii) The City Engineer may require the provision of a fireproof roof over uncovered tanks where special conditions exist, such as danger from sparks. (iv) tanks must be adequately protected from rust and, where exposed, must be painted white or some other light colour. (v) Pits or wells must not be connected with any drain, either permanently or temporarily. (4) The space over buried tanks must not be used for any purpose other than the temporary storage of empty metallic packages, except in the case of tanks protected by concrete covering, where, with the special approval of the City Engineer, use of this space may be made for filling vehicles, but no roof or building shall be provided over buried tanks. The City Engineer, in case where the position of buried tanks is not obvious, may require a fence to be provided round the area. (5) Ventilating pipes must be fixed to each tank and the openings of these pipes must be adequately screened by not less than two wire gauze diaphragms or screens of non-corrodible wire mesh of not less than 30 x 30 to the inch. (6) All manholes and other openings, except vent pipes, must be air-tight when closed. (7) All pumping mains and pipes must be furnished with means of stopping a flow of petroleum from the tanks in the event of any injury to the pipelines. (8) All enclosures surrounding tanks, when the latter are mounted on concrete foundations and when the entire bed within the enclosure is of concrete, shall be drained by a pipe fitted with a valve actuated from the outside of the enclosure. Such valve Belize City Council 167 shall always be kept closed except when actually in use. No water shall be allowed to accumulate in the enclosure. (9) All ventilating openings on tanks shall be protected by double diaphragms of strong, non-corrodible wire gauze having a mesh of not less than 30 x 30 to the inch, the diaphragms to be spaced not less than three inches apart; if not provided with such ventilating openings, each tank shall be fitted with a safety-valve of a type approved by the City Engineer. (10) The roofs of all tanks shall be gas-tight, except for the ventilating openings as provided in conditions (5) and (9). (11) All leaks in tanks shall be promptly repaired. (12) No fire or naked lights shall be permitted within the installation except in such buildings as are set apart for offices, soldering shed, laboratory, living quarters, engine room, boiler house or smithy. (13) The capacity of a tank in gallons shall be conspicuously marked thereon. (14) Such other conditions as may be required in any particular case, provided that the City Engineer, with the approval of the Minister, in the case of bulk petroleum installations constructed and existing on or before the date of publication of these Regulations, may, for special reasons to be recorded by him in writing before granting such a licence, dispense with any or all of the above conditions. Such licence shall be endorsed accordingly. 168 Belize City Council