2020 -- S 2533

========

LC004985

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - - STATE BUILDING CODE

     

     Introduced By: Senators Ciccone, Lombardo, Lombardi, Lawson, and Goodwin

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2020

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1

     SECTION 1. Chapter 23-27.3 of the General Laws entitled "State Building Code" is hereby

2

amended by adding thereto the following section:

3

     23-27.3-800. Residential fuel oil tanks.

4

     (a) Definitions: As used in this section, the following words and terms shall have the

5

following meanings unless the context clearly indicates another or different meaning or intent:

6

     (1) ''Fuel return line'' means a line that returns unused fuel oil back to the tank.

7

     (2) ''Fuel supply line'' means a line from a tank to a burner in which oil is supplied to the

8

burner.

9

     (3) ''Oil burner'' means a device for burning oil in heating appliances including, but not

10

limited to, boilers, furnaces, water heaters or ranges.

11

     (4) ''Oil safety valve'' means a device that prevents the flow of oil if a fuel supply line

12

breaks.

13

     (5) ''Residential property'' means a one to four (4) unit dwelling used for living or sleeping. 

14

     (6) ''Tank'' means a liquid fuel tank in which heating oil is stored and from which heating

15

oil is delivered or pumped through a fuel supply line to an oil burner, whether located within a

16

dwelling or other structure, including tanks installed at or below grade level, or located outdoors

17

but excluding underground tanks wherever located.

18

     (b) An owner of residential property utilizing a heating oil tank for consumptive use on the

19

premises with one or more fuel supply lines or return lines in direct contact with concrete, earth or

 

1

other floor surfaces shall within one year of the effective date of this statute enclose any exposed

2

fuel supply line and/or exposed fuel return line with a continuous non-metallic sleeve and cause an

3

oil safety valve to be installed at the tank end of any fuel supply line in accordance with the

4

manufacturer's instructions. Prior to the first oil delivery after August 31, 2021 a licensed oil burner

5

technician shall inspect and certify compliance with the provisions of this section and shall submit

6

a copy of this certification to the municipal building official.

7

     (c) The provisions of subsection (b) of this section shall not be required if:

8

     (1) The burner is located above the fuel storage tank and the entire fuel supply line is

9

connected to, and above, the top of the tank; or

10

     (2) Any tank for which fuel supply lines or an oil safety valve were installed or upgraded

11

on or after January 1, 1990; provided, however, that such installation or upgrade has been inspected

12

and certified to be in compliance with subsection (b) of this section by a licensed oil burner

13

technician and submitted to the municipal building inspector.

14

     (d) An inspection of upgrades of fuel supply lines and the installation of oil safety valves

15

for compliance with subsection (b) or (c) of this section shall be conducted by a licensed oil burner

16

technician. Upgrades that comply with said subsection (b) or (c) of this section shall be certified by

17

such technician on a form prescribed by the municipal building inspector and the owner shall

18

submit the certification to the municipal building inspector.

19

     (e) All certifications and records filed with the municipality where the residential property

20

is located pursuant to this section shall be maintained in the municipal building inspector’s office

21

file for future reference as needed.

22

     (f) Upon commencement of a heating system fuel conversion from oil to another fuel

23

source or any changes in the location of an oil tank, the fill pipe and vent pipe from said oil tank

24

shall be immediately disconnected and removed from the tank as well as removed from the outside

25

of the building.

26

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC004985

========

 

LC004985 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - - STATE BUILDING CODE

***

1

     This act would amend the state building code to require the enclosure with a continuous

2

non-metallic sleeve of any exposed fuel supply or fuel return line within one year of passage. An

3

inspection certifying compliance with this act is required prior to the first oil delivery after August

4

31, 2021.

5

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC004985

========

 

LC004985 - Page 3 of 3