Hazardous Locations -Propane Filling Station

[ACP]

I have a customer that fills propane bottles inside their facility. From what I can find in NEC 2011 code classifies the entire area as Class 1 Division 2. However my customer says they abide by NFPA-72 and that only requires a 15' radius around the fill nozzle be classified and the rest of the building is standard wiring method. Does anyone else have a better understanding of this? My concern is the existing wiring outside the 15' radius is EMT, SS fittings and open faced receptacles

 

[rbalex]

Other than the fact that NFPA 72 isn't a basis for classification, I don't know enough about the operation to make much of a comment.

Propane is one of the nastiest common volatiles out there. Under the right conditions, it drops like a rock, doesn't diffuse readily and it can carry several hundred feet while remaining ignitable.

 

[nhee2]

NFPA 58 would likely be the applicable code to classify the area. Unfortunately I don't have a copy with me

 

[nhee2]

I took a look at NFPA 58 2011 edition - it includes the following in table 6.22.2.2 regarding area classification of areas used for filling cylinders:

Cylinder filling
Indoors with ventilation Within 5ft (1.5m) in all directions from a point of transfer -- Division 1
Beyond 5ft (1.5m) and entire room -- Division 2

 

[ACP]

Thank you very much.