California Code of Regulations
Title 8 - Industrial Relations
Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations
Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety
Subchapter 7 - General Industry Safety Orders
Group 20 - Flammable Liquids, Gases and Vapors
Article 141 - Container and Portable Tank Storage
Section 5532 - Design, Construction, and Capacity of Containers

Universal Citation: 8 CA Code of Regs 5532

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) Only approved containers and portable tanks shall be used. Metal containers and portable tanks meeting the requirements of and containing products authorized by Chapter 1, Title 49, of the Code of Federal Regulations (DOT Regulations), or NFPA No. 386, Standard for Portable Shipping Tanks, shall be deemed to be acceptable.

(b) Each portable tank shall be provided with one or more devices installed in the top with sufficient emergency venting capacity to limit internal pressure under fire exposure conditions to 10 psig, or 30 percent of the bursting pressure of the tank, whichever is greater. The total venting capacity shall be not less than that specified in Subsections 5593(d) or (f). At least one pressure-actuated vent having a minimum capacity of 6,000 cu. ft. of free air per hour (14.7 psia and 60° F) shall be used. It shall be set to open at not less than 5 psig. If fusible vents are used, they shall be actuated by elements that operate at a temperature not exceeding 300 F. When used for paints, drying oils, and similar materials where plugging of the pressure-actuated vent may occur, fusible vents or vents of the type that soften to failure at a maximum of 300 F. under fire exposure, may be used for the entire emergency venting requirement.

EXCEPTIONS:

(1) Medicines, beverages, foodstuffs, cosmetics, and other common consumer items, when packaged according to commonly accepted practices, shall be exempt from the requirements of 5532(a).

(2) Glass or approved plastic containers of no more than 1-gallon capacity may be used for a Category 1 or 2 flammable liquid if:

(A) Such liquid either would be rendered unfit for its intended use by contact with metal or would excessively corrode a metal container so as to create a leakage hazard; and

(B) The user's process either would require more than 1 pint of a Category 1 flammable liquid or more than 1 quart of a Category 2 flammable liquid of a single assay lot to be used at one time, or would require the maintenance of an analytical standard liquid of a quality which is not met by the specified standards of liquids available, and the quantity of the analytical standard liquid required to be used in any one control process exceeds one-sixteenth the capacity of the container allowed under Table FL-2 for the category of liquid; or

(3) The containers are intended for direct export outside the United States.

TABLE FL-2. MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SIZE OF CONTAINERS AND PORTABLE TANKS

Container	Type Category 1	Category 2	Category 3	Category 4 & combustible
Glass or approved plastic	1 pt.	1 qt.	1 gal.	1 gal.
Metal (Other than DOT Drums)	1 gal.	5 gal.	5 gal.	5 gal.
Safety cans	2 gal.	5 gal.	5 gal.	5 gal.
Metal Drum (DOT Spec)	60 gal.	60 gal.	60 gal.	60 gal.
Approved Portable Tanks	660 gal.	660 gal.	660 gal.	660 gal.

1. Editorial correction of subsection (c)(2) and Table FL-2 filed 12-9-82 (Register 82, No. 50).
2. Amendment of subsection (c) -- EXCEPTION and repealer and new Table FL-2 filed 5-5-2014; operative 5-6-2014 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2014, No. 19).

Note: Authority cited and Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.

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