Chapter 13 Fuel Oil Piping and Storage
Section 1301 General
1301.1 Scope.
This chapter shall govern the design, installation, construction and repair of fuel oil storage and piping systems. The storage of fuel oil and flammable and combustible liquids shall be in accordance with Chapters 6 and 57 of the International Fire Code. The State's minimum requirements for fuel oil piping and storage shall be as established by the Georgia State Minimum Fire Safety Standards and the as adopted and amended Rules and Regulations of the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner. Any areas not addressed by the Georgia State Minimum Fire Safety Standards shall be regulated by this chapter.
1301.3 Fuel type.
An appliance shall be designed for use with the type of fuel to which it will be connected. Such appliance shall not be converted from the fuel specified on the rating plate for use with a different fuel without securing reapproval from the code official.
1301.4 Fuel tanks, piping, fittings and valves.
The tank, piping, fittings and valves for appliances burning oil shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of this chapter. Where an oil burner is served by a tank, any part of which is above the level of the burner inlet connection and where the fuel supply line is taken from the top of the tank, an approved antisiphon valve or other siphon-breaking device shall be installed in lieu of the shutoff valve.
Section 1302 Material
1302.1 General.
Piping materials shall conform to the standards cited in this section.
1302.2 Rated for system.
All materials shall be rated for the operating temperatures and pressures of the system, and shall be compatible with the type of liquid.
MATERIAL | |
Copper or copper-alloy pipe and fittings | |
Copper or copper-alloy tubing and fittings (Type K, L or M) | |
Labeled pipe | |
Nonmetallic pipe | |
Steel and stainless steel pipe and fittings | |
Steel and stainless steel tubing and fittings |
1302.4 Nonmetallic pipe.
Nonmetallic pipe shall be listed and labeled as being acceptable for the intended application for flammable and combustible liquids. Nonmetallic pipe shall be installed only outdoors, underground.
1302.5 Fittings and valves.
Fittings and valves shall be approved for the piping systems, and shall be compatible with, or shall be of the same material as, the pipe or tubing.
1302.6 Bending of pipe.
Pipe shall be approved for bending. Pipe bends shall be made with approved equipment. The bend shall not exceed the structural limitations of the pipe.
1302.8 Flexible connectors and hoses.
Flexible connectors and hoses shall be listed and labeled as being acceptable for the intended application for flammable and combustible liquids.
Section 1303 Joints and Connections
1303.1 Approval.
Joints and connections shall be approved and of a type approved for fuel oil piping systems. Threaded joints and connections shall be made tight with suitable lubricant or pipe compound. Unions requiring gaskets or packings, right or left couplings, and sweat fittings employing solder having a melting point of less than 1,000°F (538°C) shall not be used in oil lines. Cast-iron fittings shall not be used. Joints and connections shall be tight for the pressure required by test.
1303.1.1 Joints between different piping materials.
Joints between different piping materials shall be made with approved adapter fittings. Joints between different metallic piping materials shall be made with approved dielectric fittings or copper-alloy converter fittings.
1303.2 Preparation of pipe ends.
Pipe shall be cut square, reamed and chamfered and be free from all burrs and obstructions. Pipe ends shall have full-bore openings and shall not be undercut.
1303.3 Joint preparation and installation.
Where required by Sections 1303.4 through 1303.9, the preparation and installation of brazed, mechanical, threaded, press-connect and welded joints shall comply with Sections 1303.3.1 through 1303.3.5.
1303.3.2 Mechanical joints.
Mechanical joints shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
1303.3.4 Welded joints.
All joint surfaces shall be cleaned by an approved procedure. The joint shall be welded with an approved filler metal.
1303.6 Nonmetallic pipe.
Joints between nonmetallic pipe or fittings shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions for the labeled pipe and fittings.
1303.7 Steel and stainless steel pipe.
Joints between steel or stainless steel pipe or fittings shall be threaded, press-connect or welded joints complying with Section 1303.3 or mechanical joints complying with Section 1303.7.1.
1303.7.1 Mechanical joints.
Joints shall be made with an approved elastomeric seal. Mechanical joints shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Mechanical joints shall be installed outdoors, underground, unless otherwise approved.
1303.9 Piping protection.
Proper allowance shall be made for expansion, contraction, jarring and vibration. Piping other than tubing, connected to underground tanks, except straight fill lines and test wells, shall be provided with flexible connectors, or otherwise arranged to permit the tanks to settle without impairing the tightness of the piping connections.
Section 1304 Piping Support
Section 1305 Fuel Oil System Installation
1305.1 Size.
The fuel oil system shall be sized for the maximum capacity of fuel oil required. The minimum size of a supply line shall be 3/8-inch (9.5 mm) inside diameter nominal pipe or 3/8-inch (9.5 mm) outside diameter tubing. The minimum size of a return line shall be 1/4-inch (6.4 mm) inside diameter nominal pipe or 5/16-inch (7.9 mm) outside diameter tubing. Copper tubing shall have 0.035-inch (0.9 mm) nominal and 0.032-inch (0.8 mm) minimum wall thickness.
1305.2 Protection of pipe, equipment and appliances.
Fuel oil pipe, equipment and appliances shall be protected from physical damage.
1305.2.1 Flood hazard.
Fuel oil pipe, equipment and appliances located in flood hazard areas shall be located above the elevation required by Section 1612 of the International Building Code for utilities and attendant equipment or shall be capable of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and stresses, including the effects of buoyancy, during the occurrence of flooding up to such elevation.
1305.3 Supply piping.
Supply piping shall connect to the top of the fuel oil tank. Fuel oil shall be supplied by a transfer pump or automatic pump or by other approved means.
Exception: This section shall not apply to inside or above-ground fuel oil tanks.
1305.4 Return piping.
Return piping shall connect to the top of the fuel oil tank. Valves shall not be installed on return piping.
1305.5 System pressure.
The system shall be designed for the maximum pressure required by the fuel-oil-burning appliance. Air or other gases shall not be used to pressurize tanks.
1305.6 Fill piping.
A fill pipe shall terminate outside of a building at a point not less than 2 feet (610 mm) from any building opening at the same or lower level. A fill pipe shall terminate in a manner designed to minimize spilling when the filling hose is disconnected. Fill opening shall be equipped with a tight metal cover designed to discourage tampering.
1305.7 Vent piping.
Liquid fuel vent pipes shall terminate outside of buildings at a point not less than 2 feet (610 mm) measured vertically or horizontally from any building opening. Outer ends of vent pipes shall terminate in a weatherproof vent cap or fitting or be provided with a weatherproof hood. Vent caps shall have a minimum free open area equal to the cross-sectional area of the vent pipe and shall not employ screens finer than No. 4 mesh. Vent pipes shall terminate sufficiently above the ground to avoid being obstructed with snow or ice. Vent pipes from tanks containing heaters shall be extended to a location where oil vapors discharging from the vent will be readily diffused. If the static head with a vent pipe filled with oil exceeds 10 pounds per square inch (psi) (69 kPa), the tank shall be designed for the maximum static head that will be imposed.
Liquid fuel vent pipes shall not be cross connected with fill pipes, lines from burners or overflow lines from auxiliary tanks.
Section 1306 Oil Gauging
1306.1 Level indication.
Tanks in which a constant oil level is not maintained by an automatic pump shall be equipped with a method of determining the oil level.
1306.2 Test wells.
Test wells shall not be installed inside buildings. For outdoor service, test wells shall be equipped with a tight metal cover designed to discourage tampering.
1306.3 Inside tanks.
The gauging of inside tanks by means of measuring sticks shall not be permitted. An inside tank provided with fill and vent pipes shall be provided with a device to indicate either visually or audibly at the fill point when the oil in the tank has reached a predetermined safe level.
1306.5 Gauge glass.
A tank used in connection with any oil burner shall not be equipped with a glass gauge or any gauge that, when broken, will permit the escape of oil from the tank.
Section 1307 Fuel Oil Valves
1307.1 Building shutoff.
A shutoff valve shall be installed on the fuel oil supply line at the entrance to the building. Inside or above-ground tanks are permitted to have valves installed at the tank. The valve shall be capable of stopping the flow of fuel oil to the building or to the appliance served where the valve is installed at a tank inside the building. Valves shall comply with UL 842.
1307.2 Appliance shutoff.
A shutoff valve shall be installed at the connection to each appliance where more than one fuel-oil-burning appliance is installed.
1307.3 Pump relief valve.
A relief valve shall be installed on the pump discharge line where a valve is located downstream of the pump and the pump is capable of exceeding the pressure limitations of the fuel oil system.
1307.4 Fuel-oil heater relief valve.
A relief valve shall be installed on the discharge line of fuel-oil-heating appliances.
1307.5 Relief valve operation.
The relief valve shall discharge fuel oil when the pressure exceeds the limitations of the system. The discharge line shall connect to the fuel oil tank.