Propane safety regulations

Propane safety regulations

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One of the reasons propane accidents so rarely happen is because the propane trade is highly regulated at the federal, state and local levels. The propane industry has to comply with very tight instructions on construction, permits, trade, storage, handling, etc.

The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA), the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) and the state propane gas associations play a crucial role in assisting propane companies to comply with regulatory standards but often go beyond these by organizing high-quality training courses for propane industry employees.

Basic propane safety regulations

Basic propane safety regulations, which apply throughout the United States, regard propane tank permits and distance rules. Propane tanks have to be licensed and, often, propane companies take care of licensing issues for their customers.

Propane tank permits are crucial to inform local authorities (local fire departments) of the whereabouts of hazardous materials. Similarly, propane tank distance rules are a key prevention measure as they reduce the risk that propane fires might affect neighboring buildings.

Federal propane safety regulations

The fundamental federal code in terms of propane safety is the National Fire Protection Association’s Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code (NFPA 58), which aims to reduce the risk of propane fires and explosions.

NFPA 58 deals with everything from general requirements (e.g., propane gas odor), LP gas equipment and appliances and installation of LP gas systems to vehicular transportation of LP gas and the design of propane tanks.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Standard 1910.110 (Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases) yields from NFPA 58 and further regulates the propane industry. Furthermore, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Code of Federal Regulations 40 regulates the environmental dimension of hazardous substances.

State and local propane safety regulations

All these federal regulations must be respected throughout the country. However, should states or local authorities feel that they are not sufficient they are free to adapt them and make them stricter at the state or local level.

Local propane companies know which regulations apply to their activities but should you be interested in finding out what compliance rules your home falls under, the following table enables you to see which laws and codes apply.

Some states have specialized authorities dedicated to regulating the propane industry. Often, these are state propane or liquefied petroleum gas boards. Should you have doubts about your propane company’s compliance, you can get in touch with them.

State

Regulation

LPG state institution

Alabama

LP Gas Laws

Liquefied Petroleum Gas board

LP Gas Regulations

Alaska

None

N/A

Arizona

Revised Statutes, 36-1624.01, Liquefied petroleum gas container; filling; evacuating; requirements; classification

N/A

Arkansas

State Code, Liquefied petroleum gas, containers and equipment

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board

California

Code of Regulations, Title 8, Chapter 4 / General industry safety orders

N/A

Public Utilities Code

Labor Code

Health and Safety Code

Business and Professions Code

Colorado

Revised Statutes, Title 8, Article 20, Part 4 / Liquefied petroleum gases - rules

N/A

Connecticut

Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Liquefied Natural Gas Code

N/A

Delaware

Code, Title 16, Chapter 72 / Liquefied petroleum gas containers

N/A

Florida

Statutes, Title 33, Chapter 27 / Sale of liquefied petroleum gas

N/A

Georgia

Code, Title 10, Chapter 1, Article 10 / Sale and storage of liquefied petroleum gas

N/A

Hawaii

Some local regulations

N/A

Idaho

Fire Code, Chapter 38 / Liquefied petroleum gases

State Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety Board

Code, Title 54, Chapter 53 / Liquefied Petroleum Gas Public Safety Act

Illinois

Administrative Code, Title 41, Chapter 1, Part 200 / Storage, transportation, sale and use of liquefied petroleum gas

N/A

Indiana

Code, Title 22, Article 11, Chapter 15 / Regulation of liquefied petroleum gas containers

N/A

Iowa

Code, Title III, Subtitle 5, Chapter 101 / Combustible and flammable liquids and liquefied gases

N/A

Administrative Code, Chapter 226 / Liquefied petroleum gas

Kansas

Statutes, Chapter 55, Article 11 / Liquefied Petroleum gas

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Advisory Board

Statutes, Chapter 55, Article 18 / Propane

Kentucky

Revised Statutes, Chapter 234 / Kentucky Propane Gas Laws

N/A

Louisiana

Revised Statutes Title 40, Chapter 10, Part I and Part II for liquefied petroleum gases

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Commission

Administrative Code, Title 55, Public Safety, Part IX / Liquefied petroleum gas

Maine

Revised Statutes, Title 10, Chapter 307 / Oils

N/A

Maryland

Code of Maryland, Title 20, Subtitle 56 / Liquefied petroleum gas systems

N/A

Massachusetts

Fuel and Gas Code

N/A

Code of Massachusetts Regulations, 527 CMR 6.00 / Liquefied petroleum gas containers and systems

Michigan

Fire Prevention Code

N/A

Administrative Code, Part 56 / Storage and handling of liquefied petroleum gases

Minnesota

Statutes, Chapter 299F / Fire Marshal

N/A

Mississippi

Code, Title 75, Chapter 57 / Liquefied petroleum gases

State Liquefied Compressed Gas Board

Missouri

Revised Statutes, Chapter 323 / Liquefied petroleum gases

Propane Gas Commission

Montana

Fuel and Gas Code

N/A

Code, Title 82, Chapter 15 / Regulation of petroleum products

Nebraska

Statutes, Chapter 57 - Minerals, oil, and gas

N/A

Nevada

Revised Statutes, Chapter 590 / Motor vehicle fuel, petroleum products and antifreeze

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board

Revised Statutes, Chapter 704 / Regulation of public utilities generally

New Hampshire

Revised Statutes, Title 31, Chapter 339 / Sales of certain articles

N/A

New Jersey

Administrative Code, Title 5, Chapter 18 / Liquefied petroleum gas

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Education and Safety Board

New Mexico

Administrative Code, Title 19, Chapter 15, Part 40 - New Mexico Petroleum Gas Standard

N/A

New York

Fire Code of New York State

N/A

North Carolina

Administrative Code, Section .0700 / Standards for storage, handling and installation of LP Gas

N/A

Administrative Code, Title 38, Section 0702 / Meters on tank trucks

Administrative Code, Title 38, Section 0703 / LP Gas inspection report

Administrative Code, Title 38, Section 0704 / Approved third party testing laboratories

Administrative Code, Title 38, Section 0705 / Notification of former supplier before disconnecting

LP-Gas Law

North Dakota

Code, Title 23, Chapter 13 / Liquefied petroleum gas containers

N/A

Code, Title 18, Chapter 9 / Liquefied petroleum gas regulation

Code, Title 39, Chapter 16 / Liquefied petroleum gas transporters

Ohio

Administrative Code, Chapters 1301:7-7-38 / Liquefied Petroleum Gases

N/A

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Liquefied Petroleum Gas Research, Marketing and Safety Act

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board

Statutes, Title 52, Chapter 8 / Oklahoma Liquefied Petroleum Gas Regulation Act

Oregon

Revised Statutes 480.410 (Liquefied petroleum gas rules and regulations) through 480,460 (Disposition of fees)

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Program

Administrative Rules, 837 Division 30 / Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Pennsylvania

Propane and Liquefied Petroleum Gas Act

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Advisory Board

Statutes, Chapter 13, Subchapter A. / Liquefied petroleum gas

Rhode Island

Statutes, Title 23, Section 28 / Storage and handling of liquefied petroleum gas

N/A

South Carolina

Code of Laws, Title 40, Chapter 82 / Liquid petroleum gas

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board

South Dakota

Codified Laws, Title 34, Chapter 39 / Liquefied petroleum gases

N/A

Tennessee

Code, Title 68, Chapter 135 / Containers

N/A

Code, Title 29, Chapter 34 / Liability for liquefied petroleum gas

Liquefied Petroleum Safety Act of Tennessee

Texas

Admin Code, Title 16, Chapter 9 / LP gas safety rules

Railroad Commission of Texas

Natural Resources Code, Title 3, Chapter 113 / Liquefied petroleum gas

Utah

Administrative Code, Rule R710-6 / Liquefied Petroleum Gas Rules

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board

Vermont

Building and Fire Safety Code

N/A

Statutes, Title 9, Chapter 63, Consumer protection

Statutes, Title 10, Underground and aboveground liquid storage tanks

Virginia

Statewide Fire Prevention Code, Chapter 38 / Liquefied petroleum gases

N/A

Code of Virginia, Title 18.2 / Crimes and offenses generally

Washington

Administrative Code, Title 296, Chapter 24, Section 475 / Storage and handling of liquefied petroleum gases

N/A

West Virginia

Code, Chapter 29, Article 3 / Liquefied petroleum gas systems

N/A

Wisconsin

Statutes, Chapter 98, Section 245 / Liquefied petroleum gas sales

N/A

Wisconsin Laws, Regulation of Industry, Chapter 101, Subchapter 1 / Liquefied petroleum gas

Administrative Code, Subchapter V / Liquefied petroleum gas

Wyoming

Fire safety code / Liquefied petroleum gas installations

Board for the Regulation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Unlawful use of liquefied gas containers (2013 bill - HB 0107)

Statutes, Title 40, Chapter 7 / Standards for antifreeze and petroleum products