I was asked what I thought was the best flammable liquid code on the entire planet. Honestly, I can not answer, as I do not know all the flammable liquid codes on the planet, only those I have worked with in the countries where I do process safety work. But in my limited experience, I would say Ontario’s Ministry of Labour is one of my favorites as it requires some serious upgrades in terms of physical design and ventilation rates. For example:
In the USA (IFC, NFPA, and OSHA) the required baseline ventilation rate is 1 CFM per 1 Square Foot of floor space. Ontario requires…
a rate of eighteen cubic meters per hour per square meter of floor area. That translates into 10.5 CFM; 10X’s more than required by OSHA, IFC, or NFPA.
1910.106(e)(3)(v)(a)
Areas as defined in paragraph (e)(3)(i) of this section using Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100 °F (37.8 °C), shall be ventilated at a rate of not less than 1 cubic foot per minute per square foot of solid floor area.
NFPA 30, 18.6.5
Mechanical ventilation systems shall provide at least 1 cfm of exhaust air for each square foot of floor area (0.3 m3/min/m2), but not less than 150 cfm (4 m3/min).
IFC 5705.3.7.5.1 Ventilation
Continuous mechanical ventilation shall be provided at a rate of not less than 1 cfm per square foot [0.00508 m3/(s × m2)] of floor area over the design area.
Ontario also requires the room where the flammable is being dispensed to have the following design:
(A) separated from the rest of the building with partitions having,
1. at least a one-hour fire-resistance rating, and
2. self-closing doors, hinged to swing outwardly on their vertical axes,
(B) equipped with,
1. a drain connected to a dry sump or holding tank, and
2. liquid-tight seals between interior walls and floor and a liquid-tight ramped sill at any door opening, which is not in an exterior wall, and
(C) having natural ventilation to the outdoors by upper and lower exterior wall gravity louvers.