Grounding Requirements
We have 100g diesel transfer tanks we use on our construction projects. From my review of the NFPA 30 standard, grounding these tanks are not required because Diesel is a Class 2 combustible liquid with a flashpoint above 100 F.
Can someone more versed in this topic weigh-in & let me know if I am missing the mark.
If there is another reference point you have or use, please feel free to pass it along.
Comments (4)
To further clarify, the transfer tank has a battery operated pump & is in a fiberglass secondary containment.
So this is just a standalone diesel tank at your construction sites used to refill your equipment, correct?
In most cases with diesel storage tanks, your interpretation is correct - diesel tanks are not required to be grounded per NFPA 30, NFPA 70 (NEC), or any other NFPA/OSHA standard (that I'm aware of).
Often, especially in non-construction settings, these tanks are essentially grounded already because they sit on concrete pads that are in direct contact with the earth, and are often bolted into those concrete pads.
It wouldn't hurt to ground it, but it's not required since diesel fuel has a relatively high flash point (sometimes >200°F).
So I am tracking on the tank itself, but per the operations manual of the fuel pump (operated from a car battery), it must be grounded. Would running a ground cable to the chassis of the forklift effectively ground this pump?