Coffee Break Training: Alternative Motor Vehicle Fuel Storage   [open pdf - 127KB]

"With the price of gasoline breaking the $3 per gallon mark, many people are looking for low-cost or renewable fuel sources. One product making its mark in the industry is 'E85 fuel,' a liquid blend composed of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. The ethanol often is made from corn or other biomass. While the fire behavior characteristics of E85 fuel are a concern to first responders(see the International Association of Fire Chiefs warning posted at www.iafc.org), the chemical interaction between the product and storage tanks should be a concern for code enforcement and environmental personnel. While it may be possible to store ethanol (alcohol)-based products in recently manufactured metal tanks, there is a potential problem with the first generation of fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) underground tanks that were installed before 1992. The ethanol may soften the plastic components in tanks and pipe, resulting in leaks."