PEI IMA Grade 9 cheat sheet

Canopy and support structures for dispensing equipment are designed for dead load, live load, wind, snow, and seismic combinations; the governing combination is the one producing the largest member force, not the largest single load.

Minimum clear height under a canopy is set so that tanker vehicles and delivery equipment can maneuver without contact; the design vehicle envelope, not the average vehicle, governs.

Column bases and anchor bolts are checked for uplift and shear from wind and seismic overturning; anchorage capacity must exceed the calculated demand with the code-required load factors applied.

Concrete slabs under dispensers and tank pads are designed for concentrated wheel and point loads; reinforcement and slab thickness are governed by punching shear at column and island locations.

Structural steel fire protection ratings depend on member type and building separation; intumescent coating thickness is specified by tested fire-resistance rating, not by a generic thickness.

Foundations for vertical tanks resist hydrostatic and seismic sloshing loads; the tank shell-to-foundation interface and anchor chair details control the design.

Expansion joints and separation between canopy structures and buildings prevent load transfer during differential settlement and seismic drift.

Drainage grading around structures falls away from foundations and tank openings; ponding loads on canopies must be considered where drainage is blocked.

Corrosion protection for structural elements in wet or fuel-exposed zones follows a coating system selected for the exposure category, with galvanizing or protective coating at buried and splash zones.

A tank is filled to no more than its defined fill limit; the fill level accounts for product expansion, and the overfill prevention device must stop delivery before the tank's safe capacity is exceeded.

Submersible pump discharge pressure plus product head determines dispenser inlet pressure; the pump bypass or relief setting must protect the piping from overpressure when all dispensers are closed.

Stage I vapor recovery routes displaced tank vapor back to the delivery tanker; Stage II captures vehicle tank vapor at the dispenser nozzle and returns it to the storage tank.

A shear valve at the dispenser base closes on impact or fire to isolate the pressurized line; it is installed at the base of the dispenser within the island, not at the submersible pump.

Spill containment at the fill point holds the volume that can drain from the delivery hose after disconnect; it is sized to the largest expected hose drainage, not to the tank volume.

Product piping slope and check valves prevent trapped product and cross-connection between products; line leak detection must be capable of detecting the regulated leak rate at operating pressure.

Flexible connector and secondary containment sump entries are tested for tightness after installation; sump entry fittings are the most common source of release into the interstitial space.

Dispenser hose and breakaway fittings are rated for the system pressure and product; the breakaway separates before the hose or fitting fails and must be replaced after actuation.

Tank inventory reconciliation compares metered dispensed volume plus physical inventory change against deliveries; unexplained loss beyond tolerance triggers leak investigation.

Equipment in classified locations is selected by Class, Division or Zone, and material group; the area classification drawing defines the boundary, and the equipment listing must match the classification.

Intrinsically safe circuits require an approved barrier or isolator, and field wiring is installed per the control drawing, including maximum capacitance and inductance limits.

Conduit and fittings in hazardous locations are listed for the location and are installed with the required sealing fittings; seals are placed at the boundary where the conduit leaves the classified area.

Bonding and grounding connect the tank, piping, dispenser, and building grounding electrode system into a single low-impedance path; resistance to ground is measured and documented.

Motor branch circuits include overload protection, short-circuit protection, and disconnecting means; the disconnect is located within sight of the motor or is capable of being locked open.

Emergency stop and power shutdown circuits remove power from dispensers and pumps; the shutdown function must be independent of the point-of-sale controller.

Automatic tank gauging and leak detection systems require backup power or battery support so that alarm and shutdown functions remain available during a power loss.

Control wiring between the dispenser controller and the console is separated from power conductors or uses shielded cable to avoid induced noise and false signals.

Circuit identification, area classification boundaries, and warning signage are documented at the panel and at each classified boundary.

Portable fire extinguishers are selected by hazard class and sized for the travel distance; the required rating and maximum travel distance are set by the occupancy and the applicable code.

Fixed suppression or dry chemical systems at dispensing islands are actuated by heat detection and discharge over the hazard; the design must cover the dispenser and the fueling area.

Spill and overfill prevention devices, secondary containment, and inventory control together form the release prevention program; each element must be independently functional.

Stormwater and runoff from fueling areas is routed through an oil-water separator or treatment before discharge; the separator is sized by the design flow rate.

Vapor recovery and vapor balance systems must be maintained and tested; a failed vapor line can cause excess emissions or pressure problems during delivery.

Emergency response planning identifies shutoff locations, alarm activation, evacuation routes, and notification contacts; the plan is exercised and updated.

Fire-rated separation between the fueling area and adjacent occupancies is maintained; openings in rated assemblies are protected with listed fire-rated closures.

Release detection records, monitoring well data, and alarm logs are retained per the regulatory schedule and are available for inspection.

Environmental sampling and reporting follow the applicable regulatory program; exceedances trigger notification within the required time frame.

Tank excavation and bedding follow the manufacturer's instructions and the engineered design; backfill material and compaction are specified and verified before tank placement.

Tanks are anchored against buoyancy where groundwater can rise above the tank bottom; the anchor design considers the empty tank condition.

Piping is installed with the required slope toward the sump or dispenser, and joints are made per the listed method for the pipe material; solvent-cemented joints require proper cure time.

Secondary containment sumps are installed with watertight entry fittings, and the sump is tested before backfill or before being placed in service.

Conduit and wiring are installed before slabs and islands are finished; pull points and sealing fittings are located so the classified boundary seal is accessible.

Dispenser islands are set to final elevation and anchored; the dispenser base, shear valve, and flexible connector alignment are checked before piping is connected.

Commissioning includes tightness testing of tanks, lines, and sumps, verification of leak detection, and functional testing of shutdowns before product is introduced.

As-built drawings and equipment records are updated during construction; deviations from design are documented and approved before concealment.

Inspection hold points are defined before backfill, before slab placement, and before first fuel delivery; work is not concealed until the hold point is released.

Tank and line tightness testing is performed at the regulated test pressure and duration; a passing test shows no loss beyond the threshold and no unexplained change in the test data.

Line leak detection is tested annually by simulating a leak or using the manufacturer's test procedure; the test verifies detection at the regulated leak rate.

Spill prevention equipment and overfill prevention devices are inspected at the required interval; overfill devices are checked for proper activation and drop tube condition.

Secondary containment sumps and interstitial spaces are tested for tightness at the required frequency; a failed sump test requires repair and retest before return to service.

Release detection equipment, including automatic tank gauging, is calibrated and functionally tested; alarm history is reviewed for patterns indicating a release.

Corrosion protection is evaluated by testing impressed-current systems and checking sacrificial anodes; the test confirms the structure remains cathodically protected.

Dispenser components, hoses, breakaways, and shear valves are inspected for damage and replaced when damaged or after actuation; inspection intervals follow the maintenance schedule.

Records of tests, inspections, repairs, and calibrations are retained and made available; missing records are treated as noncompliance during an inspection.

Walkthrough inspections check for spills, leaks, stained surfaces, odors, and damaged equipment; findings are logged and corrected within the required time.

The authority having jurisdiction adopts the applicable fire code and referenced standards; the edition in force determines the requirements that apply to a given site.

Flammable and combustible liquid storage is classified by flash point and boiling point; the class assignment drives tank, piping, and electrical requirements.

UST regulations set requirements for release detection, spill and overfill prevention, corrosion protection, and recordkeeping; new and existing systems have different compliance dates.

Operator training requirements assign responsibilities to Class A, B, and C operators; training is documented and records are maintained for each operator.

Financial responsibility requirements ensure that owners can pay for cleanup and third-party damages; the mechanism and coverage amount depend on the facility type.

Reporting obligations include release notification, corrective action, and closure; failure to notify within the required time is itself a violation.

Preconstruction notification and approval are required before installing or replacing tanks and piping; work started without notification may require removal.

Referenced standards define installation, testing, and inspection methods; compliance with the standard is demonstrated through records and third-party verification.

Closure of a tank system requires notification, product removal, cleaning, and assessment for contamination; the closure report documents the results.