What types of aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) are regulated by the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM)?
A. ASTs containing flammable or combustible liquids are regulated by OSFM. The OSFM does not exercise jurisdiction over tanks containing liquids that are neither flammable nor combustible (e.g., tanks for water storage, food additives, nonflammable or noncombustible processing chemicals, etc.). Therefore, a product must have an associated flash point or fire point to be regulated in accordance with Part 160 or 180 of the Rules. Some products that may not appear to be volatile to the layperson, do indeed have flash points – such as fresh and waste motor oils, transmission fluids, antifreeze, etc. There are also many products that will not flash when subjected to testing, such as water and many food additives. Tanks containing liquids that do not have an associated flash point are not required to comply with Part 160 or 180 regulations.
