Christensen stores some plastic barrels of diesel fuel and lubricating oil against one of their warehouses. Usually about 6000 gallons.
This is not allowed in the fire code, which restricts the storage of oil and diesel fuel next to buildings to only 1100 gallons.
The location is on the east side of the “Drum Warehouse” on the center of the property. And only a stone’s throw away from homes where people live and sleep.
This is called a “mixed pile” of material — some is lubricating oil, which is not easily ignited. But some is Class II combustible, which is marked by a diamond with red flames as “1993” hazardous material, and is likely either diesel fuel or kerosene. They can ignite at only 140 degrees farenheight, so if there was something else burning in the vicinity on a hot day when materials in the sun are already 110 degrees, it would catch fire quickly.
This is a violation of IFC 2018 5704.4.2.4, which restricts storage of combustible liquids next to buildings.
5704.4.2.4 says no more than 1100 gallons can be stored next to a building.
There are 18 totes, totaling 5940 gallons of stored combustible liquid. While it is a “mixed pile”, the fire code states that all materials in the pile are treated as the most hazardous material (5704.4.2.1) and, while some are not entirely full, the fire code states that empty or partly empty containers need to be treated just like full containers. (5704.4.8).
We would like to have this pile of totes reduced to only 1100 gallons, or moved 25′ away from the building, as required for Class II combustibles (5704.4.2.4-2, last paragraph, and table 5704.4.2, column 7).
Having combustible liquids, especially easily ignited liquids like diesel fuel, next to a building that also stored combustible liquids is a violation of fire code and therefore a fire hazard. Just a stones throw away are homes where people live and sleep, and should be afforded all of the protections offered by the 2018 Fire Code.
1) IFC 2018 5704.4.2.4
2) IFC 2018 5704.4.2.4-2
3) Photo from April 21, 2020, showing about 15 totes (4950 gallons) of Class II and Class III combustible liquids in a mixed pile
4) Photo presented to Provo City Council by Fire Marshal Lynn Schofield on May 19, 2020 showing about 17 “totes” (5710 gallons) adjacent to the warehouse, in a mixed pile of Class II and Class III combustible liquids. .
5) Photo from August 12, 2020 showing 18 totes (5940 gallons) adjacent to the warehouse in a mixed pile of Class II and Class III combustible liquids. The separation from the warehouse appears to be about 12”.
Keep Provo Safe 