National Fire Protection Association Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code 58

Fire Safety Analysis Plan and Written Operations & Maintenance Instructions For Propane Storage Systems

Tim Laughlin, P.E.

Course Outline

1. Learning objectives
2. Introduction
3. Course content
4. Course summary
   

This course includes a multiple choice quiz at the end.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

• Be familiar with NFPA 58 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code latest Edition;
• Have a better understanding of the requirements and other regulatory provisions for preparing a Fire Safety Analysis (FSA) for the storage of propane gas (LP-Gas); and
• Be able to institute a written Operations & Maintenance for a bulk propane storage facility in accordance with NFPA 58-2020 Chapter 15 requirements.

Course Introduction

The latest edition of the National Fire Protection Associations (NFPA) Pamphlet 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code requires a written Fire Safety Analysis (FSA) and written Operations & Maintenance Instructions. These requirements originated at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Risk Management Program (RMP). The NFPA 58 requirements are much less restrictive than what the EPA originally proposed.

The requirement for a written (FSA) for all tank installations over 4,000 gallons aggregate capacity becomes effective when your State adopts the latest edition NFPA 58, Fire
Protection (or later editions). New propane bulk plants and tank installations and for ASME tank installations on roofs, must complete an FSA before completion of the new facility. Also, a written FSA is required for all-existing bulk plants, tanks, and roof installations by three years after the effective date of the code.

In North Carolina, a professional engineer registered in North Carolina must prepare the FSA. Other guidelines for an alternative FSA come under the NC Department of Agriculture.
The other RMP-like requirements are found in the new Chapter 15 of NFPA 58, Operations and Maintenance. This requires written procedures for safely conducting LP-Gas activities at bulk and industrial plants. Also, these procedures must be kept up to date. Similarly, maintenance procedures must be prepared and implemented. These must be made available to contractors coming on site to do maintenance. Be sure to look at NFPA 58, for guidance for what is expected in these procedures and what you may use to help you prepare them.

For more information and guidelines on how to conduct an FSA, please visit the following web sites.

National Propane Gas Association at http://www.npga.org/ or http://www.propanesafety.com/.
The NC Department of Agriculture’s at http://www.ncagr.gov/standard/LP/
The National Fire Protection Association at https://www.nfpa.org/

Course Content

The course content is in a PDF file (761 KB) Fire_Safety_Analysis.pdf. You need to open or download this document to study this course.

Course Summary

To safeguard propane installations, the NFPA and the US EPA have developed the FSA and O&M instructions that all-applicable propane facilities must comply within a certain time frame. In some states a licensed professional engineer must fully understand and prepare the FSA plan.

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

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DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDHonline.com or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered professional engineer. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.

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