Class A MA Propane Storage in Garage

[69gp]

just looking for some info. I live in MA

I have a class A motor home with what I believe to be a 40 pound propane tank, I am building a garage attached to my house to store my RV in when I am not using it. I need to get a variance for side yard setback. One of the conditions the fire department is requiring is that I store no more than 2.7 pounds per living unit and no more than
5.4 aggregate pounds of propane in cylinders.

Was wondering if anyone knows a way around this requirement. The tank is built into the chassis so I cannot remove it and store it outside. So my feeling is do they want me to empty the tank before I put it into the garage.?


I will talk to the fire department to see if there is a misunderstanding about the tank.

[time2roll]

RLS7201 wrote:
As I read your post, the code is referring to DOT CYLINDERS. You coach has an ASME TANK. I don't think you have a problem.

+1

[jplante4]

Lived in Mass for 50 years. I found that it's always easier to ask for forgiveness than permission when deal with local "authorities". Just tell them you're building a garage, or better yet, a pole barn..

Your real worry is what your home insurance will cover.

[RLS7201]

69gp wrote:
just looking for some info. I live in MA

I have a class A motor home with what I believe to be a 40 pound propane tank, I am building a garage attached to my house to store my RV in when I am not using it. I need to get a variance for side yard setback. One of the conditions the fire department is requiring is that I store no more than 2.7 pounds per living unit and no more than
5.4 aggregate pounds of propane in cylinders.

Was wondering if anyone knows a way around this requirement. The tank is built into the chassis so I cannot remove it and store it outside. So my feeling is do they want me to empty the tank before I put it into the garage.?


I will talk to the fire department to see if there is a misunderstanding about the tank.

As I read your post, the code is referring to DOT CYLINDERS. You coach has an ASME TANK. I don't think you have a problem.

Richard

[10forty2]

Must be a Massachusetts thing.... in NC the Fire Code doesn't apply to residential structures....only commercial facilities.

[FlintlockCG]

Rick Jay +1

Good advice-

[Rick_Jay]

69gp,

As a fellow Taxachusetts resident, we do have lots of regulations on the books.

You state in your original post that "I am building a garage attached to my house to store my RV in when I am not using it". I would NOT tell anyone this. You are building a GARAGE!!! Don't mention "store while not using it". I believe "store" might be the word causing problems here.

I don't know the specifics of the laws, but, for instance, I believe that if you "store" fuel you are supposed to get a fire permit from the local fire department every year. Yet, how many of us keep several 5 gallon gas cans in our garage? Speaking of which, again, I forgot the specifics, but there is a limit to how much gas you can "store" in your garage in those cans (maybe 7 gallons?). Yet, we park two cars and a tractor in the garage with a total of up to 40 gallons of gasoline and 6 gallons of diesel fuel. No violations there.

As for the propane, according to the regulations, no propane powered vehicles would be able to be stored in a garage? Does THAT make sense?

This is a pretty litigious state, but if people actually lived by all of the laws and regulations in Massachusetts, no one would be able to leave the house! LOL

So, therefore, I believe you'll be OK, but refer to it as a garage. You use your motorhome regularly, you are NOT "storing" it.

You are building a garage. Vehicles loaded with fuel(s) are parked in garages. It's the expected utilization of said structure.

My $0.02.

~Rick

[msmith1199]

dougrainer wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
Well, when you go to indoor RV shows, the Fire Marshall requires ALL ASME tanks be empty and the DOT Trailer tanks be removed(even if empty). Also the Fuel level must be BELOW 1/4 tank. So, if you have an ATTACHED Garage to your house and want to store your RV (Asme or DOT LP cylinders), there may be a requirement per local code prohibiting that. Now, lets say you DO have such a code and you go ahead and store your RV in violation of that code. You then have a catastrophe that involves the House/Garage and the RV and that LP tank causes a BIG problem when it either spews or explodes. You think your Insurance will pay if you violated a code? Probably not. Years ago, Monaco in Oregon had a bad fire in the service shop when a ASME tank regulator leaked and the LP caught on fire. AFTER that, Monaco had a policy of ALL LP tanks be shut OFF and locked down with a special lock when units were in for service. Doug

Yes, your insurance company will cover the loss.

Then why can they deny a claim if you have no valid drivers license and you have an accident? Also, what do you base your answer on? My basis is, from dealing over the years, You cannot violate certain Laws or codes and then expect the Insurance company to pay if something happens because YOU caused the Fault. Doug

lets say you operate a METH lab in your house and the house blows up. You really think an Insurance company will pay for your loss?

I was an insurance adjuster and if you have insurance it will cover a loss unless there is a specific exclusion. In auto insurance, on most policies, your policy will say if you lose your drivers license you policy immediately becomes void. It's your responsibility to tell them the status of your license.

[Goldencrazy]

Some of these laws are there for good purpose. First get a clear understanding what they mean. Do not go forward until you are satisfied you understand. I somehow think you are heading for trouble ignoring or trying to work around the code. Good luck. I know this from experience litigating code interpretation and enforcement from defendant side.

[dougrainer]

msmith1199 wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
Well, when you go to indoor RV shows, the Fire Marshall requires ALL ASME tanks be empty and the DOT Trailer tanks be removed(even if empty). Also the Fuel level must be BELOW 1/4 tank. So, if you have an ATTACHED Garage to your house and want to store your RV (Asme or DOT LP cylinders), there may be a requirement per local code prohibiting that. Now, lets say you DO have such a code and you go ahead and store your RV in violation of that code. You then have a catastrophe that involves the House/Garage and the RV and that LP tank causes a BIG problem when it either spews or explodes. You think your Insurance will pay if you violated a code? Probably not. Years ago, Monaco in Oregon had a bad fire in the service shop when a ASME tank regulator leaked and the LP caught on fire. AFTER that, Monaco had a policy of ALL LP tanks be shut OFF and locked down with a special lock when units were in for service. Doug

Yes, your insurance company will cover the loss.

Then why can they deny a claim if you have no valid drivers license and you have an accident? Also, what do you base your answer on? My basis is, from dealing over the years, You cannot violate certain Laws or codes and then expect the Insurance company to pay if something happens because YOU caused the Fault. Doug

lets say you operate a METH lab in your house and the house blows up. You really think an Insurance company will pay for your loss?

[Kayteg1]

Firewall is easy to build, so if that in fact is local law, I would ask if adding fire wall to the project would change the restrictions.
CA abounded fire walls laws few years back. Still fire ceiling if you have living quarters above apply.
Not a big deal - you install 5/8" drywall instead of 1/2"

[msmith1199]

dougrainer wrote:
Well, when you go to indoor RV shows, the Fire Marshall requires ALL ASME tanks be empty and the DOT Trailer tanks be removed(even if empty). Also the Fuel level must be BELOW 1/4 tank. So, if you have an ATTACHED Garage to your house and want to store your RV (Asme or DOT LP cylinders), there may be a requirement per local code prohibiting that. Now, lets say you DO have such a code and you go ahead and store your RV in violation of that code. You then have a catastrophe that involves the House/Garage and the RV and that LP tank causes a BIG problem when it either spews or explodes. You think your Insurance will pay if you violated a code? Probably not. Years ago, Monaco in Oregon had a bad fire in the service shop when a ASME tank regulator leaked and the LP caught on fire. AFTER that, Monaco had a policy of ALL LP tanks be shut OFF and locked down with a special lock when units were in for service. Doug

Yes, your insurance company will cover the loss.

[charwan]

Not in Ga. either. However you can't have a door that's half glass. It has to be a solid door. No 5/8 sheet rock either. I wouldn't try to misled anyone and then get it built and someone come around and say you can't use it I some how doubt they're going to consider the LP tank on the M/H. By fire wall I meant 6" blocks from floor thru roof..

[dougrainer]

Well, when you go to indoor RV shows, the Fire Marshall requires ALL ASME tanks be empty and the DOT Trailer tanks be removed(even if empty). Also the Fuel level must be BELOW 1/4 tank. So, if you have an ATTACHED Garage to your house and want to store your RV (Asme or DOT LP cylinders), there may be a requirement per local code prohibiting that. Now, lets say you DO have such a code and you go ahead and store your RV in violation of that code. You then have a catastrophe that involves the House/Garage and the RV and that LP tank causes a BIG problem when it either spews or explodes. You think your Insurance will pay if you violated a code? Probably not. Years ago, Monaco in Oregon had a bad fire in the service shop when a ASME tank regulator leaked and the LP caught on fire. AFTER that, Monaco had a policy of ALL LP tanks be shut OFF and locked down with a special lock when units were in for service. Doug

[chuckftboy]

msmith1199 wrote:

charwan wrote:

69gp wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:
You may wish to check with the language in the law. Specifically is a tank built into a motorhome considered "storage" per that law. They may just be talking about loose tanks like for a barbeque. But even at that this law doesn't seem to make sense as you can't even have a barbeque there since most tanks are bigger than that?

That's my thought. I would be more concerned about the 75 gallons of gas that is in the MH as I always top it off when I come home.

Don't mention that. They may want a fire proof wall between house and garage.

Isn't it already a requirement to have a certain level of fire
resistance in a well between any garage and the house?

Not in Florida