scope:

This code shall apply to the storage, handling, and use of flammable and combustible liquids, including waste liquids, as herein defined and classified.

A complete understanding of the scope and limitations of NFPA 30 is desirable when using it as a guide and essential where it is referenced in laws or ordinances. The words "flammable" and "combustibley" have essentially the meanings of common usage, subject to the limitations given in this section and the definitions given in Section 1-7 of NFPA 30. Additional commentary on this topic is offered in Section 1-7.

The words "including waste liquids" were added in 1990 to emphasize that NFPA 30 applies to these liquids as well. It must be recognized that the fire hazard properties of a given liquid will generally be the same, regardless of whether that liquid is virgin material or a waste material that is destined for disposal or recycling.

This code shall not apply to the following:

(a)* Any liquid that has a melting point equal to or greater than 100°F (37.8%) or that does not meet the criteria for fluidity given in the definition for "Liquid" in Section 1-6 of this code:

(a) Liquids that are solid at 100°F or above, but are handled, used, or stored at temperatures above their flashpoints should be reviewed against pertinent sections of this code.

Solids having melting points below 100°F (37.8"C) are within the scope of NFPA 30 because they are easily melted at relatively low temperatures and will usually spread or flow to reach an ignition source. Some materials (asphalt, for example) do not have a sharp dividing line between the liquid and solid states. NFPA 30 defines a liquid as any material more fluid than 300 penetration asphalt. (See Section 2-6, Liquid.)

Solids having melting points at or above 100°F (37.8°C) are generally not covered by NFPA 30, because its rules are not appropriate for such materials. These materials can be shipped as solids in metal or other containers, or even in paper bags, subject to the regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation. While some technical references might list these materials as having flash points (see Subsection 1-7.2), this is not to imply that they should be treated as liquids when in the solid state. Note, however, that the appendix to this subsection cautions the user that certain provisions of NFPA 30 might be appropriate where these solid materials are handled in the liquid state.

(b) Any liquefied gas or cryogenic liquid as defined in Section 1-6 of this code;

The word "liquid" excludes any material that has a vapor pressure greater than 40 psia (absolute pressure of 276 kPa) at 100°F (37.8°C). One such material is liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is covered in NFPA 58 , Standard for the Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases. NFPA 58 also applies to other liquefied hydrocarbon gases that are similar in nature to LPG. Other liquefied gases are covered in NFPA 59A, Standard for the Production, Storage, and Handling of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and NFPA 50B, Standard for Liquefied Hydrogen Systems at Consumer Sites.

(c)* Any liquid that does not have a flash point, which can be flammable under some conditions, such as certain halogenated hydrocarbons and mixtures containing halogenated hydrocarbons;

(c) Certain mixtures of flammable or combustible liquids and halogenated hydrocarbons either do not exhibit a flash point using the standard closed-cup test methods or will exhibit elevated flash points. However, if the halogenated hydrocarbon is the more volatile component, preferential evaporation of this component can result in a liquid that does have a flash point or has a flash point that is lower than the original mixture. In order to evaluate the fire hazard of such mixtures, flash point tests should be conducted after fractional evaporation of 10, 20, 40, 60, or even 90 percent of the original sample or other fractions representative of the conditions of use. For systems such as open process tanks or spills in open air, an open-cup test method might be more appropriate for estimating the fire hazard.

Examples of liquids without flash points that might be flammable under certain conditions (such as being heated in a closed vessel) are: methyl bromide, dichloromethane, trichloroethane, and trichloroethylene. NFPA 49, Hazardous Chemicals Data, and NFPA 491M, Manual of Hazardous Chemical Reactions, can be useful in identifying such materials.

(d)* Any aerosol product;

(d) See NFPA 30B, Code for the Manufacture and Storage of Aerosol Products.

Until the 1990 edition of NFPA 30, flammable aerosols were considered to be equal in hazard to Class IA liquids and were addressed as such. In 1987, the NFPA Standards Council authorized a standards development project to specifically address aerosol products. The new Committee on Aerosol Products began development of NFPA 30B, Code for the Manufacture and Storage of Aerosol Products, in February of 1988. The first edition of this new document was adopted at NFPA's 1990 Annual Meeting.

(e) Any mist, spray, or foam;

Two such operations are spray finishing and spray lay-up of glass fiber reinforced plastic resins, details of which are given in NFPA 33, Standard for Spray Application Using Flammable or Combustible Materials.

(f) Storage of flammable and combustible liquids as covered by NFPA 395, Standard for the Storage of Flammable and Combustible Liquids at Farms and Isolated Sites.

NFPA 395, with accompanying commentary, is included in this handbook. The scope of NFPA 395 includes any isolated site, subject to the review and approval of the authority having jurisdiction.

This code shall also not apply to the following:

(a)* Transportation of flammable and combustible liquids, as governed by the U. S. Department of Transportation;

(a) Requirements for transportation of flammable and combustible liquids are found in NFPA 385, Standard for Tank Vehicles for Flammable and Combustible Liquids, and in Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 100 through 199.

"Transportation" is intended to include movement of flammable and combustible liquids by air , rail, truck, ship, and pipeline. These regulations are contained in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 172 through 179. NFPA 385, Standard for Tank Vehicles for Flammable and Combustible Liquids, is often used as the basis for local and state legislation that regulates intrastate truck shipments, although the DOT regulations are sometimes adopted by reference for the same purpose.

(b) See NFPA 31, Standard for the Installation of Oil-Burning Equipment.

The following Formal Interpretation (page 7) on the 1984 edition of NFPA 30 addressed the question of applicability to long-tterm storage of liquids in tank vehicles. It is still applicable.

In some situations, applicability of NFPA 30 depends on one's definition of "temporary." A tank vehicle that is routinely used to store a liquid for periods of time exceeding several days is being used as a portable storage tank and should be treated according to the requirements of this code. However, a tank vehicle holding a liquid awaiting shipment to a consignee can be considered to be in transport and not subject to NFPA 30, even though there might be a delay of several days between loading and actual shipment.

(b)* Storage, handling, and use of fuel oil tanks and containers connected with oil burning equipment.