Section 175.210  Attended Self-Service Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities and Islands

All dispensing of Class I, II or III liquids at attended self-service motor fuel dispensing facilities and islands must be under the supervision and control of an attendant. The following requirements shall apply to attended self-service motor fuel dispensing facilities and islands:

a)         All electrical installations shall comply with the edition of NFPA 70 in effect at the time of installation of the electrical equipment and shall further comply with the applicable requirements of Section 175.425.  

b)         Every self-service motor fuel dispensing facility shall maintain a control station in a location readily accessible to the attendant.  Separate fueling areas more than 100 feet apart and designated by signage so indicating may have separate control stations if each separate fueling area complies with this Subpart B and 41 Ill. Adm. Code 172, 174, 175 and 176.

c)         A method that does not require coins or currency to activate shall be provided for the attendant to contact the fire department.

d)         Conspicuously marked and easily accessible emergency stops must be provided at each facility and shall be:

1)         Located so that at least one emergency stop is at least 20 feet but not more than 100 feet from each dispenser. 

2)         Interconnected so that activation of one emergency stop activates all the emergency stops whenever more than one emergency stop is provided.

3)         Equipped with an emergency stop at all control stations, which shall be conspicuously marked and readily accessible to the attendant, whether or not the control station is less than 20 feet from any dispenser or a security booth is provided for the attendant.  The emergency stop shall be located in a position to allow all dispensing devices to be readily visible to the attendant, or as approved by OSFM. Each emergency stop shall be identified by a sign on all-weather materials stating "EMERGENCY STOP" in 2 inch red capital letters.

e)         Power for illumination of dispensing areas required by this Subpart B shall not be affected by activation of any of the electrical shutoffs when the illumination is located outside of hazardous (classified) locations or is intrinsically safe.

f)         Resetting from an emergency stop activation shall require manual intervention by the owner or attendant and shall be accomplished only after the condition that caused the activation has been corrected.

g)         All dispensing units shall be readily visible from the control station without assistive devices. However, as an alternative, in the event that the attendant's view of a dispenser is permanently obstructed, or if a dispenser is located so that activity at the dispenser is not readily visible, closed-circuit cameras that provide a view of each side of the dispensing unit and project an image on a screen at least 6 inches in diagonal located at the control station may be used. The cameras shall be allowed to sweep to provide a view of multiple dispensing locations, but must provide a view on the screen of each dispensing unit at least every 30 seconds.  In lieu of the closed-circuit camera, the facility may elect to have an emergency stop that shall be located at least 20 and not more than 50 feet from the dispenser that has a permanently obstructed view. Using an emergency stop in lieu of the closed-circuit camera pursuant to this subsection (g) must be approved in advance by OSFM.  If a closed-circuit camera or viewing screen is inoperable and cannot provide surveillance of dispensing units to the attendant at the control station, and an emergency stop has not been approved by OSFM and provided in lieu of the camera as provided in this subsection (g), self-service dispensing of fuel at these dispensers is prohibited.

h)         The attendant shall at all times be able to communicate with persons in the dispensing area. For distances greater than 40 feet between the control station and the dispenser, a communication system audible to each dispensing area shall be required that allows the attendant to give instruction or warning to the customer.

i)          All emergency stops shall be tested, and all shear valves visually inspected, at least annually to ensure that they are functioning properly and that the dispenser is mounted properly. Inspection should ensure that the shear valves are located ½ inch above or below grade; are securely mounted using a listed rigid anchor device; and the link arm functions when tripped, allowing the poppet valve to close freely.  Upon completion of this testing and inspection, the owner/operator shall complete forms titled "Certification of Operational Testing of Emergency Stops" and "Certification of Annual Inspection of All Dispenser Shear Valves", available at the UST Applications and Forms page for the DPCS at https://sfm.illinois.gov/about/divisions/petroleum-chemical-safety/applications-and-forms.html.  Documentation of annual emergency stop testing and shear valve inspection, using the OSFM forms, shall be kept at the motor fuel dispensing facility for 2 years and available for examination by a representative of OSFM. If documentation of annual testing of emergency stops is not available, the facility shall be subject to demonstration of this equipment during inspection by OSFM. 

j)          Attendants

1)         At all times when an attended motor fuel dispensing station is open for public use, at least one attendant shall be on duty, and no motor fuel shall be dispensed at any time when the attendant is not at or near the control station or pump island. The attendant's primary duty shall be to supervise the dispensing of motor fuels, motor oils and services normally related to the dispensing.

2)         The attendant shall refuse service to any person who is smoking or who appears to be unable to dispense fuel safely, and shall shut off the dispensing unit if a patron fails to follow instructions in compliance with OSFM administrative rules. It shall be the responsibility of the attendant to:

A)        carefully observe the dispensing of liquids into vehicles and portable containers;

B)        control or eliminate sources of ignition;

C)        immediately notify local fire authorities of any product spilled;

D)        take other appropriate actions to prevent ignition of accidental spills;

E)        refuse service to any customer who appears to lack the ability to properly and safely utilize the equipment (e.g., intoxication, inability to place the nozzle in the gas tank receptacle, inability to follow written or oral instructions of the attendant, or the person is too young to be aware of the hazards and requirements for safe dispensing of motor vehicle fuels);

F)         to inspect all portable containers for conformance with 41 Ill. Adm. Code 174.

k)         All attendants and other employees of the motor fuel dispensing facility shall be thoroughly instructed in the location, operation and proper use of the communication system, control station, emergency stops, fire extinguishing equipment, operation of the dispensing units, and safety regulations for the dispensing of motor fuels.  Upon request, all attendants shall demonstrate to OSFM their ability to use this equipment.  Facilities that fail to instruct employees in these requirements shall be in violation and subject to enforcement action.

l)          No dwelling unit or sleeping facilities of any kind for the owner, attendant or any person shall be permitted at a self-service motor fuel dispensing facility. This does not include dormitory facilities for use of drivers at truck stops, provided that the dormitories are in compliance with the applicable provisions of 41 Ill. Adm. Code 100.

m)        Fire extinguishers shall be provided in accordance with 41 Ill. Adm. Code 174.350.

n)         Signs giving instructions for the operation of dispensing equipment must be conspicuously posted on each dispensing island where self-service is offered.

o)         Minimum Signage.  Signs shall be provided that are clearly visible to all self-service customers.  The signs shall be made of all-weather material and the lettering shall be not less than ⅞ inch high. The top of the signs shall be mounted no higher than 10 feet above grade, or at a height approved by OSFM, and shall include the following wording, at a minimum:

1)         "Warning";

2)         "Stop Engine";

3)         "No Smoking";

4)         "Persons fueling vehicles shall remain with their vehicle, at the nozzle, while fueling is in progress";

5)         "It is unlawful and dangerous for anyone to dispense gasoline into unapproved containers".

p)         Dispensing activity shall be limited to or supervised by persons old enough to hold a valid driver's license. 

q)         Collision Protection and Setbacks for LP Gas Storage Cabinets at Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities.

1)         LP gas storage cabinets (including cabinets for LP gas tank exchange for gas grills) shall comply with Section 8.4 of NFPA 58, incorporated by reference in 41 Ill. Adm. Code 174.210, and shall also provide collision protection that consists of one of the following options:

A)        guardrails;

B)        steel or concrete bollards;

C)        raised sidewalks that are at least 5 inches tall at the face with the cabinet set up so the distance from the face of the raised sidewalk to the front of the cabinet is at least 40 inches. This measurement may also include an additional bumper guard to reach the required 40 inches. Raised sidewalks may also consist of curbs or parking bumper guards; or

D)        any other arrangement certified by a Licensed Professional Engineer in accordance with national codes of practice and accepted engineering practices and approved in advance by OSFM.

2)         LP gas storage cabinets (including cabinets for LP gas tank exchange for gas grills) shall comply with the following:

A)        The distance of any LP gas storage cabinet from any opening into any building, including any doorway or window, shall not be less than 5 feet, or in the event there is only one point of egress out of the building, shall not be less than 10 feet.

B)        The distance of any LP gas storage cabinet from any dispenser shall not be less than 20 feet.

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 6837, effective May 2, 2023)