AST Codes and Standards Developments

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USA- Rick Thornberry, President of the Code Consortium, Inc., is a professional fire protection engineer and nationally-known code consultant.

Uniform Fire Code - 10 challenges on the ConVault/Hoover proposal item #20 (to incorporate Appendix II-F into the appropriate sections of the body of the UFC for dispensing to motor vehicles/reducing separation distances) will be reviewed in Denver, CO at the next UFC hearings scheduled for August of 1997. The rank-and-file will have the opportunity to ratify the adoption of this proposal a that time. It will be necessary for AHJs in UFC territories to be contacted to determine their support in advance of the hearings.

ConVault/Hoover’s proposal item #27 (to incorporate Appendix II-F into the appropriate sections of the body of the UFC for “general storage”, as well as formally recognizing Appendix Standard A-II-F-1 and UL Standard 2085 for defining “Protected Tanks”) was not challenged and will, therefore, be automatically adopted.

Representatives from the 3 model fire codes have recently agreed with the NFPA relative to the development of a single national model fire code, with NFPA representing 50% of the decision-making body, while the combination of the UFC/SBCCI/BOCA will comprise the remaining 50%.

Two Committees: a Scoping Committee and a Perspective Drafting Committee have already been formulated and met recently in Oakbrook, Illinois to begin the overall preliminary process of reconciling the aforementioned codes and standards requirements. A task group was established to initially focus on consolidating NFPA 30A with the other three model codes. While the SAFE trade association has taken a “hands-off” position during the formative stages, ConVault, Inc. has had involvement in the form of observation/attendance at the committee meetings, as well as participation when requested by the Committees. Simply put, although ConVault, Inc. is not taking a “proactive” stance, it is imperative to be in attendance to field inquiries for vaulted/protected AST issues as directed by the Committees/task group. Furthermore, this is an ongoing demonstration of our interest and support in the overall development of the International Fire Code which will determine the initial recognition of Protected Tank Technology--several unprotected AST-vested interests at the meetings are suggesting that Protected Tanks represent “overkill” in the marketplace and should be discounted.

NFPA - ConVault, Inc. was recently represented in the March 23-29, 1997 NFPA meetings held in San Antonio, TX.

The following developments were noted:

1. NFPA 30A is without a chairman currently and will meet next in Baltimore, MD on June 11 and 12, 1997 to discuss both procedural and technical issues.

2. NFPA 30 may consolidate NFPA 30A relative to tank storage only (accessories such as pumps, etc. will remain in the NFPA 30A) within its scope. This would be helpful, as all tank storage would be located in one place. Please note that this is in the proposal stage.

3. NFPA 395 will also be consolidated with NFPA 30 and references mega-farms/service stations located in rural settings with reduced environmental/fire safety concerns. It remains ConVault, Inc.’s position that a Protected Tank can be justified in virtually every site, including mega-farms/service stations. However, we recognize that economics dictate many of the local AHJ’s decisions in permitting aboveground fuel storage and cheaper/unprotected tanks will continue to be installed on a site-by-site basis, with strict quantity limits.

SAFE Trade Association Annual Meeting - ConVault, Inc. was represented at the April 10, 1997 meeting of the Safe Aboveground Fuel Enclosures Board of Directors in Santa Clara, CA (held simultaneous to the UL/ULC Task Group/IAG meetings).The following action item was reviewed:

SAFE will speak in opposition to Appendix II-K at the UFC hearings in Denver, CO as outlined in a position paper.

CANADA - Harold Locke is the President of Locke, MacKinnon, Domingo, Gibson & Associates, a prominent Canadian Consulting firm, as well as the Chairman of the ULCAST Committee.

Bi-National ULC/UL Harmonizing Committee - The Committee met at UL-Santa Clara headquarters and discussed the following objectives:

1. A draft document for Protected Tanks Standard will be distributed in late June of 1997.

2. The public comments period will end September 30, 1997.

3. The final document will be composed at a scheduled meeting to be held in Vancouver, British Columbia the first week of October, 1997. The final document will then be distributed to all provinces and the key regulatory authorities in the USA.

It is appropriate to recognize the efforts of the ULC/UL harmonizing committee as a “trial balloon” being observed in the global arena. As both of the independent, third-party laboratories learn how to consolidate standards, additional countries are aware of process. International representatives now sit of the UL 2085 IAG as “ interested parties.” The intent of this participation is to “reduce the learning curve” for international AHJs who must develop codes/standards for storage of Flammable and Combustible Liquids.