16 Tex. Admin. Code § 13.93 - System Protection Requirements
(a)
In addition to NFPA 52 §7.3.2, and NFPA 55 §§4.11 and 7.1.9,
equipment related to a compression, storage, or dispensing installation, shall
be protected from tampering and damage in accordance with subsections (b) and
(c) of this section. These protections shall be maintained in good condition at
all times.
(b) Fencing at CNG
stationary installations shall comply with the following.
(1) Fencing material shall be chain link type
with wire at least 12-1/2 American wire gauge in size.
(2) Fencing shall be at least six feet in
height at all points. Fencing may be five feet in height when topped with at
least three strands of barbed wire, with the strands four inches
apart.
(3) Uprights, braces, and
cornerposts of the fence shall be composed of noncombustible
material.
(4) Uprights, braces, and
cornerposts of the fence shall be anchored in concrete a minimum of 12 inches
below the ground.
(5) All fenced
enclosures shall have at least one gate suitable for ingress and egress. All
gates shall be locked whenever the area enclosed is unattended.
(6) A minimum clearance of two feet shall be
maintained between the fencing and the compression equipment, cylinder
cascade(s), or container(s), and the entire dispensing system(s).
(7) Fencing which is located more than 25
feet from any point of a CNG dispensing system(s), container(s), or compression
equipment is designated as perimeter fencing. If a CNG dispensing system(s),
cylinder cascade(s), or compression equipment is located inside perimeter
fencing and is subject to vehicular traffic, it shall be protected against
damage according to the specifications set forth in subsection (c) of this
section.
(8) The storage and
compression area must be completely enclosed by fencing.
(9) Where fencing is not used to protect the
installation, then valve locks, a means of locking the electric control for the
compressors, or other suitable means shall be provided to prevent unauthorized
withdrawal of CNG.
(c)
Guardrails at CNG stationary installations shall comply with the following:
(1) Vertical supports for guardrails shall be
at least three-inch Schedule 40 steel pipe, or other material with equal or
greater strength. The vertical supports shall be capped on the top or otherwise
protected to prevent the entrance of water or debris into the guardpost,
anchored in concrete at least 18 inches below the ground, and rise at least 30
inches above the ground. Supports shall be spaced four feet apart or
less.
(2) The top of the horizontal
guardrailing shall be secured to the vertical supports at least 30 inches above
the ground. The horizontal guardrailing shall be at least three-inch Schedule
40 steel pipe, or other material with equal or greater strength. The horizontal
guardrailing shall be capped on the ends or otherwise protected to prevent the
entrance of water or debris into the guardpost, and welded or bolted to the
vertical supports with bolts of sufficient size and strength to prevent damage
to the protected equipment under normal conditions, including the nature of the
traffic to which the protected equipment is subjected.
(3) Openings in horizontal guardrailing shall
not exceed 36 inches. Only one opening is allowed on each side of the
guardrailing. A means of temporarily removing the horizontal guardrailing
and/or vertical supports to facilitate the handling of heavy equipment may be
incorporated into the horizontal guardrailing and vertical supports. In no case
shall the protection provided by the horizontal guardrailing and vertical
supports be decreased.
(4) A
minimum clearance of 24 inches shall be maintained between the railing and any
part of the CNG compression equipment, cylinder cascade(s), container(s), or
dispensing equipment.
(5) The
operating end of the container(s) and any part of the CNG compression
equipment, piping, or cylinder cascade(s) which is exposed to collision damage
or vehicular traffic shall be protected from this type of damage.
(d) Dispenser protection. Each
dispenser shall be secured to a concrete island a minimum of six inches above
the normal grade and two inches above the grade of any other fuel dispenser(s).
Each dispenser shall be protected against collision damage. Support columns or
other such protection installed at the approach end(s) of the concrete island
shall prevent collision with the dispenser. If such protection cannot be
provided, then the requirements of subsection (c) of this section shall
apply.
(e) The provisions of this
section notwithstanding, AFS may require an installation to be protected in
accordance with this section when evidence exists that because of exceptional
circumstances, added safeguards are needed to adequately protect the health,
safety, and welfare of the general public. If a person owning or operating such
an installation disagrees with the determination of AFS made under this
subsection, then that person may request a public hearing on the matter.
However, until a determination is issued subsequent to a hearing on the matter,
the subject automatic dispenser(s) shall be either protected in the manner
described by AFS or removed from CNG service and/or all of the product
withdrawn from it.
(f) At least two
monitoring sensors shall be installed at all stationary installations where
methane can be trapped to detect hazardous levels of methane. Sensors shall
activate prior to the methane level exceeding 25% of the lower flammability
limit (LFL). If the level exceeds 25% of the LFL, the sensor shall either shut
the system down or activate an audible and visual alarm. The number of sensors
to be installed shall comply with the area of coverage for each sensor and the
size of the installation. The sensors shall be installed and maintained in
accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
(g) In addition to NFPA 52
§§7.4.3.11, 7.11.5.2, and 7.14.12 and NFPA 55 §§4.10 and
7.1.8.3, all CNG storage installations, and installations protected by
guardrails only, must comply with the sign and/or lettering requirements of
Table 1 of this section.
Notes
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No prior version found.