We have had that issue. Same situation - standalone pump house with diesel-driven pumps. It depends on how paranoid the local environmental authority is. The pump house was originally a diked floor but the foundation settled so now there are cracks in the floor. We had to dike the fuel tanks and then were ordered to install a curtain around the tanks. Think shower curtain to contain a leak in case the tank sprung a leak and shot past the diking. Then, they wanted a dike around the fire pumps. So at the base of each pump we had to construct a sheet metal dike at the edge of the pad. The only thing not covered was the fuel line between the tanks and the pumps but it was a solid line with no fittings. He was concerned about leaks at the fittings. At least we didn't have to shower curtain the pumps. Ssh. That might be next. The shower curtain is a royal pain in the kiester. Obstructs vision of the gage glass and just generally gets in the way. It seems overkill for the frequency of the type of event they are paranoid about.
John Hoffman P.E. | Fire Protection Engineer | Facility Engineering Services, KCP, LLC - Burns & McDonnell Engineering | National Nuclear Security Administration's Kansas City Plant | Operated by Honeywell FM&T | 2000 E. 95th St | Kansas City, MO 64131 | ph 816-997-7213 | [email protected] From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Date: 03/13/2012 10:22 AM Subject: Control of diesel fuel spillage in pump house Sent by: [email protected] I've got a corporate Emergency and Health manager asking the question about what happens to the diesel fuel if a pipe is broken within a diesel pump house, where does it go or how is it contained? Never had anyone ask this question before. Tank is double wall, not an issue. Background: The diesel pump is located in a standalone manufactured fire pump house (package deal, all assembled in the factory), 1500 gpm pump set. Industrial site setting. There is a low level alarm on the fuel tank but if you were relying on that to signal a leak it would be too late by the time the signal alarmed. There is a 2" floor drain in the pump house but their concern is whether the diesel would run to the drain and into the municipal sanitary sewer system. Definitely a no-no. Anyone else had this question raised by an AHJ or risk consultant? Craig L. Prahl, CET Fire Protection CH2MHILL Lockwood Greene 1500 International Drive Spartanburg, SC 29304-0491 Direct - 864.599.4102 Fax - 864.599.8439 CH2MHILL Extension 74102 [email protected] _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum
