14 C.F.R. § 420.67 Storage or handling of liquid propellants.
Title 14 - Aeronautics and Space
(a) For an explosive hazard facility where liquid propellants are handled or stored, a launch site operator shall determine the total quantity of liquid propellant and, if applicable pursuant to paragraph (a)(3) of this section, the explosive equivalent of liquid propellant in each explosive hazard facility in accordance with the following: (1) The quantity of liquid propellant in a tank, drum, cylinder, or other container is the net weight in pounds of the propellant in the container. The determination of quantity shall include any liquid propellant in associated piping to any point where positive means are provided for interrupting the flow through the pipe, or interrupting a reaction in the pipe in the event of a mishap. (2) Where two or more containers of compatible liquid propellants are handled or stored together in an explosive hazard facility, the total quantity of propellant to determine the minimum separation distance between the explosive hazard facility and all other explosive hazard facilities and each public area shall be the total quantity of liquid propellant in all containers, unless: (i) The containers are separated one from the other by the appropriate distance as provided by paragraph (b)(2) of this section; or (ii) The containers are subdivided by intervening barriers, such as diking, that prevent mixing. (iii) If paragraph (a)(2)(i) or (ii) of this section apply, a launch site operator shall use the quantity of propellant requiring the greatest separation distance pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section to determine the minimum separation distance between the explosive hazard facility and all other explosive hazard facilities and each public area. (3) Where two or more containers of incompatible liquid propellants will be handled or stored together in an explosive hazard facility, a launch site operator shall determine the explosive equivalent in pounds of the combined liquids, using the formulas provided in appendix E, table E–2, to determine the minimum separation distance between the explosive hazard facility and other explosive hazard facilities and public areas unless the containers are separated one from the other by the appropriate distance as determined in paragraph (b)(3) of this section. A launch site operator shall then use the quantity of liquid propellant requiring the greatest separation distance to determine the minimum separation distance between the explosive hazard facility and all other explosive hazard facilities and each public area. (4) A launch site operator shall convert quantities of liquid propellants from gallons to pounds using the conversion factors provided in appendix E, table E–3 and the following equation: Pounds of propellant = gallons × density of propellant (pounds per gallon). (b) A launch site operator shall use appendix E, table E–3 to determine hazard and compatibility groups and shall separate liquid propellants from each other and from each public area using distances no less than those provided in appendix E, tables E–4 through E–7 in accordance with the following: (1) A launch site operator shall measure minimum separation distances from the hazard source in an explosive hazard facility, such as a container, building, segment, or positive cutoff point in piping, closest to each explosive hazard facility. (2) A launch site operator shall measure the minimum separation distance between compatible liquid propellants using the “intragroup and compatible” distance for the propellant quantity and hazard group that requires the greater distance prescribed by appendix E, tables E–4, E–5, and E–6. (3) A launch site operator shall measure the minimum separation distance between liquid propellants of different compatibility groups using the “public area and incompatible” distance for the propellant quantity and hazard group that requires the greater distance provided in appendix E, tables E–4, E–5, and E–6, unless the propellants of different compatibility groups are subdivided by intervening barriers that prevent mixing. If such barriers are present, the minimum separation distance shall be the “intragroup and compatible” distance for the propellant quantity and group that requires the greater distance provided in appendix E, tables E–4, E–5, and E–6. (4) A launch site operator shall separate liquid propellants from each public area using a distance no less than the “public area and incompatible” distance provided in appendix E, tables E–4, E–5, and E–6. (5) A launch site operator shall separate each explosive hazard facility that contains liquid propellants where explosive equivalents apply pursuant to paragraph (a)(3) of this section from all other explosive hazard facilities of a single customer using the intraline distance provided in appendix E, table E–7, and from each public area using the public area distance provided in appendix E, table E–7.
Title 14: Aeronautics and Space
PART 420—LICENSE TO OPERATE A LAUNCH SITE
Subpart D—Responsibilities of a Licensee
§ 420.67 Storage or handling of liquid propellants.
