Washington Aboveground Storage Tanks: What you need to know

Washington building code adopting by reference the national Uniform Fire Code: Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 19.27

Washington Department of Ecology (WDOE)

Local fire departments

See ADDRESSES & CONTACTS for addresses and telephone numbers.

See national section for basic information and federal regulations.

• Rules. Washington has adopted the national Uniform Fire Code that regulates the installation, modification, removal, abandonment, and closure of aboveground storage tanks (ASTs). Local fire and building codes may be more stringent than state AST rules. See the national section ABOVEGROUND STORAGE TANKS for a summary of the Code requirements.

This section covers tanks that contain petroleum and hazardous substances. See the state section HAZWASTE STORAGE AND TREATMENT TANKS for details.

See the state section USED OIL MANAGEMENT for a review of the waste oil storage requirements.

• Administration and enforcement. Local fire departments are responsible for the administration and enforcement of the state fire and building codes. WDOE is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the state's oil spill prevention plan standards.

SPILL PREVENTION

All facilities regulated under the state's oil spill regulations are required to inspect and maintain their ASTs in accordance with American Petroleum Institute (API) Standard 653. All ASTs in the state are also subject to the International Fire Code, which is part of the Washington State Uniform Building Code. See the state section SPILL PREVENTION—SPCC PLAN for more information.