04.06 What is required for doorways and access?

Access and egress for fuel tank rooms typically has the same requirements as other rooms in the building. Rooms over a certain size may require 2 means of access.

The 4 hour fire rating for the room construction can sometimes be problematic, because standard door constructions may not be available in 4 hour rating. In some instances, doorways are constructed as double door entry to fulfill the requirement.

Another aspect of access egress is that the fuel storage room has a floor and lower wall space that provides secondary containment. Stairs are often required to allow access over the containment wall, and these steps are sometimes problematic to layout given the limited room dimensions and size of the tanks.

In some cases, the only entry into a tank room is through the roof / ceiling. Manway covers should be designed as hinged or lightweight construction. Ladders are sometimes required to be non-sparking construction.