Storage of Flammable Gases in Pre-Existing Facilities.
3 RCNY § 8335-01
in effect§ 8335-01 Storage of Flammable Gases in Pre-Existing Facilities.
(a) Scope. This section consolidates the Fire Prevention Code and former Fire Department rules in effect on June 30, 2008, that are applicable to the design and installation of flammable gas installations in pre-existing facilities.
(b) Definitions. [Reserved.]
(c) Ethylene Oxide. The design and installation of ethylene oxide systems used for sterilization purposes in compliance with former Fire Department rule § 23-08 in effect on June 30, 2008 are allowed and would be approved under the provisions of the Fire Code and the rules, and accordingly, such facilities shall be designed and installed in compliance with the requirements of FC 3506.
(d) Compressed Natural Gas. The design and installation of compressed natural gas storage facilities in compliance with former Fire Department rule § 23-12 are allowed and would be approved under the provisions of the Fire Code and the rules, and accordingly, such facilities shall be designed and installed in compliance with the requirements of FC 5811 and 3 RCNY § 5811-01, except that pre-existing CNG storage facilities with reduced clearance distances shall be continued in compliance with the provisions of the former Fire Department rule § 23-12(g) and (i) with respect to clearance distances until such time as such facilities may be required to comply with the Fire Code and the rules with respect to their design and installation.
(1) Former Fire Department Rule § 23-12(g)(4)(i) and (i)(7)
§ 23-12 Storage and Use of Compressed Natural Gas.
(g) Outdoor CNG container storage facilities.
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(4) No outdoor CNG storage facility shall be located within:
(i) five (5) feet of any building opening, including any door, openable window, intake or exhaust vent;
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(i) Stationary CNG installations.
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(7) No CNG container connected for use shall be located within:
(i) five (5) feet of any building opening, including any door, openable window or intake or exhaust vent;
(ii) five (5) feet of the nearest lot line, sidewalk or building on an adjoining lot . . . . .;
(iii) five (5) feet of any parked motor vehicle;
(iv) five (5) feet of any vent or fill line of any flammable or combustible liquid storage tank;
(e) Acetylene Pre-existing acetylene storage facilities the design and installation of which would not be allowed or approved under the Fire Code, but which, pursuant to FC 102.3 and 3 RCNY § 102-01, may be continued under the applicable laws, rules and regulations in effect prior to the Fire Code, shall continue to comply with the provisions of such laws, rules and regulations, including former Administrative Code § 27-4101, until such time as such facilities may be required to comply with the Fire Code and the rules with respect to their design and installation.
(1) Former Administrative Code § 27-4101
§ 27-4101 Acetylene.
a. Approval of generator. It shall be unlawful to generate acetylene, except in a generator or other suitable apparatus of a type for which a certificate of approval shall have been issued; provided, however, that nothing contained in this section shall be construed as requiring a certificate of approval for an acetylene generator having a carbide capacity not exceeding five pounds.
b. Containing building. Each building or compartment used for the generation and compression of acetylene, to a pressure greater than fifteen pounds to the square inch, shall be designed and constructed in accordance with all applicable provisions of the building code, and shall be used for no other purpose.
c. Stationary apparatus. Each stationary apparatus for generating acetylene shall be equipped with liquid seals, a safety valve, a blowoff valve or other automatic appliance for limiting the pressure of the gas to not more than fifteen pounds to the square inch at a temperature of seventy degrees Fahrenheit. The apparatus shall be installed in a waterproof compartment having the floor, walls and roof of brick or reinforced concrete. The size of such compartment shall not exceed that required to allow the free operation of the apparatus and the storage of the necessary carbide. Each such apparatus shall bear the name of the manufacturer and the year of its manufacture, and shall be identified by a serial number.
d. Compression. It shall be unlawful to compress acetylene, or transport, store or sell acetylene compressed to a greater than two hundred fifty pounds to the square inch at a temperature of seventy degrees Fahrenheit.
e. Dissolving and absorbing. It shall be unlawful to generate, transport, store or sell acetylene compressed to a pressure greater than fifteen pounds to the square inch, except when it be dissolved in acetone, or other similar solvent, and simultaneously absorbed into asbestos or other suitable porous material, and confined in a tank or cylinder of a type for which a certificate of approval shall have been issued.
f. Liquid. It shall be unlawful to generate, manufacture, transport or sell any liquid acetylene.
g. Residue of carbide. All solid residue of calcium carbide shall be promptly removed from the building and disposed of; and it shall be unlawful to discharge any such residue into a public drain or sewer.
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j. Ventilating, heating and lighting. Each building or compartment used for the generation or compression of acetylene shall be well ventilated, shall be heated only by steam or hot water, and shall be artificially lighted only by electric lights having airtight bulbs, globes or tubes.
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(Renumbered City Record 9/20/2023, eff. 10/20/2023)
Source: City of New York, Charter, Administrative Code and Rules (American Legal Publishing XML export, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCrules/0-0-0-143955Fetched: 10/24/2026