Massachusetts Aboveground Storage Tanks: What you need to know

Massachusetts Office of the State Fire Marshal: 502 Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR) 1.00 to 5.00

Massachusetts Fire Prevention Code: Massachusetts General Laws (MGL), Chapter 148

Applicability: 502 CMR 5.00

Permit Applications: 502 CMR 5.04

Inspections: 502 CMR 5.01 to 5.09

Fees: 801 CMR 4.02

Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Department of Fire Services (DFS) Division of Fire Safety

See ADDRESSES & CONTACTS for addresses and telephone numbers.

See national section for basic information and federal regulations.

• Rules. Massachusetts's aboveground storage tank (AST) requirements apply to all tanks greater than 10,000 gallons (gal) storing any fluid other than water and provide standards for construction, maintenance, and use.

Massachusetts has adopted the National Fire Protection Association Model Code (NFPA 1, 2012 Edition) with Massachusetts amendments under the Massachusetts Fire Prevention Code, which authorizes the state's regulations for tanks and containers establishing AST design, construction, installation, testing, and maintenance requirements.

A spill prevention control and countermeasure (SPCC) plan is required for ASTs of a certain capacity that contain oil. See the national section SPILL PREVENTION—SPCC PLAN for additional plan guidance.

See the state section UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS for a summary of the state's underground storage tank (UST) regulatory program.

• Administration and enforcement. The Department of Fire Services (DFS) and local fire departments are responsible for the administration and enforcement of Massachusetts's AST programs.

APPLICABILITY

502 CMR 5.00

Massachusetts requires a permit before the construction, maintenance, or use of any AST with greater than 10,000 gal (gross capacity) used for the storage of any fluid other than water. Open clarified tanks; tanks used for plating, dipping, and quenching; and oil-water separators are excluded from