Section 170.540  Methods and Requirements of Release Detection for Piping

Owners and operators of petroleum UST systems shall provide release detection, for piping that was designed to contain regulated substances, by the following methods:  for pressurized lines – subsections (a) and (b); for suction lines – subsection (c).

a)         Line leak detectors for pressurized systems.  Mechanical and electronic line leak detectors which alert the operator to the presence of a leak by restricting or shutting off the flow of regulated substances through piping or triggering an audible or visual alarm may be used only if they detect leaks of three gallons per hour at 10 pounds per square inch line pressure within one hour.  All line leak detectors must have an operational test performed annually.  One copy of an independent third-party evaluation and its protocol for each piping release detection method shall be submitted to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.  Any deviation from the third-party evaluation shall be resubmitted for approval.

b)         Line tightness testing requirements may be met by one of the following methods:

1)         Pressurized lines must have an annual precision test that is capable of detecting a 0.1 gallon per hour leak rate at 1½ times the operating pressure for 30 minutes.

2)         Use of an inert gas to pressurize piping as approved by the OSFM is also acceptable.

3)         The use of electronic line leak detection that performs a 0.1 gallon per hour test annually is acceptable as the annual test if records can be supplied that confirm a test pass at the 0.1 rate.  These records must be kept on site for 3 years, or available within 30 minutes.

4)         A method meeting the requirements of the NWGLDE publication "List of Leak Detection Evaluations for Underground Storage Tank Systems".

c)         Suction lines. 

1)       American suction shall be tested annually using any of the following methods in the NWGLDE publication "List of Leak Detection Evaluations for Underground Storage Tank Systems":

A)          If using positive pressure, use at least 7 psi for 30 minutes.

B)          The use of a monthly monitoring method.

2)      European suction does not require a test if it is designed and constructed to meet the following:

A)        The below grade piping operates at less than atmospheric pressure;

B)        The below grade piping is sloped so that the contents of the pipe will drain back into the storage tank if the suction is released;

C)        Only one check valve is included in each suction line;

D)        The check valve is located directly below and as close as practical to the suction pump; and

E)         A method is provided that allows compliance with subsections (c)(2)(B), (D) and (E) of this Section to be readily determined.

d)         Applicable tank methods.  Any of the methods in Section 170.530(a) through (i) may be used if they are designed to detect a release from any portion of the underground piping that routinely contains regulated substances, as approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal. SIR is not acceptable as a form of line leak detection or precision test.  Interstitial piping leak detection systems that are third party approved and have an audible alarm or shut down the product flow can be used in place of annual testing in conjunction with a mechanical line leak detector.

(Source:  Amended at 27 Ill. Reg. 8164, effective May 1, 2003)