Regulation for the Storage and Marketing System of HydrocarbonsReglamento para la Regulación del Sistema de Almacenamiento y

7593, of August 5, 1996, published in La Gaceta No. 169; in its article 5, subsection d) establishes that the supply of fuels derived from hydrocarbons is a public service, which includes: 1) petroleum derivatives, asphalts, gas, and naphthas intended to supply national demand at distribution plants and 2) petroleum derivatives, asphalts, gas, and naphthas intended for the final consumer.

Of equal importance is the need to establish standards for the storage and marketing of fuels derived from hydrocarbons, with standards characteristic of the best technologies that are in common use in the leading countries of the activity, so as to guarantee the State and the public greater safety and efficiency of the activity, as well as environmental protection.

Therefore,

(*)(Its name modified by article 11 of the Ley "Traslado del sector Telecomunicaciones del Ministerio de Ambiente, Energía y Telecomunicaciones al Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología", No. 9046 of June 25, 2012)

Regulation for the Regulation of the System of Storage and Marketing of Hydrocarbons

General Provisions

Definitions

The fundamental objective of this Executive Decree is to regulate the powers of MINAE through the Dirección General de Transporte y Comercialización de Combustibles (hereinafter DGTCC), and to establish the legal and technical requirements as well as the procedures by which the distribution, storage, and marketing of fuels derived from hydrocarbons intended for the final consumer will be governed. Also to establish the minimum technical specifications for the construction, and remodeling of service stations, and storage tanks, in order to ensure they operate under the maximum conditions of safety and functionality, preserving the integrity of the environment.

This regulation is directed at any natural or legal person who stores or markets fuels derived from hydrocarbons.

The following abbreviations will be used in this regulation:

A.

(*)(Its name modified by article 11 of the Law "Traslado del sector Telecomunicaciones del Ministerio de Ambiente, Energía y Telecomunicaciones al Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología", No. 9046 of June 25, 2012)

For the purposes of applying this regulation, the terms mentioned will have the following meaning:

Accessory installed in the storage tank, by means of which fuel is transferred from the tanker truck to the storage tank.

Place designated for the entry and exit of aircraft, duly authorized by the Dirección General de Aviación Civil.

This is the area whose function is to permit the loading and unloading maneuvers carried out at fishing and tourist docks.

This is the supply of all those inputs required by the vessel and its crew for carrying out their voyages.

Liquid and solid waste originating from sanitary services.

Liquid waste originating from storage and dispensing areas.

Water originating from rainfall.

Area designated for storing the utensils necessary for cleaning the facilities.

Area adjacent to the supply islands where motor vehicles park to refuel.

Zones in which the concentration of fuel gases or vapors exist continuously, intermittently, or periodically in the environment, under normal operating conditions.

Mixture of gases or fuel vapors in the air, which reach a concentration of flammability.

Wooden, iron, or steel artifact that floats on water and can transport people or goods; it is also referred to by the synonyms: vessel, ship, or boat.

Area for storing oils, lubricants, additives, etc., as well as spare parts and equipment parts for maintenance.

Equipment installed on the exterior of the storage tank for receiving or dispensing fuels.

Equipment installed inside the storage tank for supplying fuel to the dispenser via a remote control system.

Accessory installed in the storage tank for filling it.

These are floats secured by means of a chain or cable to a body anchored on the seabed, in such a way that they do not change position and which serve to signal a shallow channel, a rock, etc.

Panel where the switches that control the operation of electric motors are located.

Container used to transport hydrocarbons, over roads. The container may be mounted on the chassis of a transport vehicle in which the container forms a single unit (tank vehicle); it also includes towed containers (trailer system).

For the products regular gasoline, super gasoline, diesel, kerosene, bunker fuel, heavy diesel, asphalt, AV Gas, Jet Fuel, light naphtha, and heavy naphtha, it is 1900 liters; for the product GLP, it is 757 liters; and for the products IF-380 and IF-180, it is 25,000 liters. Said fuel must be stored only in own tanks duly authorized by the DGTCC.

It is referred to as a ring, bitt, etc. Element fixed to the dock that is used for mooring vessels.

Natural or legal person accredited by a competent entity for carrying out the project and construction of service stations or as a specialized laboratory in non-destructive leak testing (pruebas de hermeticidad).

Devices installed in the storage tanks and in the tank truck that allow vapor recovery during the loading and unloading operation of fuels.

Receptacle used to contain fuel spills.

Hermetic receptacle and piping used to store or convey fuels (storage tanks and product piping).

Hermetic receptacle and piping used to contain the primary element and prevent subsoil contamination in the event of the presence of fuel leaks in the primary containers (tanks or piping).

In the case of distributors without a fixed point (Peddler), the final consumer is that natural or legal person who has storage tanks duly approved by the DGTCC.

Sheltered place in ports, protected from the sea and waves, for shelter or refuge of ships.

Such distribution may be through a service station and, in the case of gas licuado de petróleo, distribution may be done in vehicles.

Area for storing garbage and waste generated in the operation of the service station.

Elements of the drainage system located in the wash and lubrication service, in which the primary treatment process for oily water from this area is carried out.

Electronic equipment that detects, by means of sensors, the presence of liquids and vapors of gasoline and diesel.

Accessory installed in the storage tank, by means of which water and sediments that accumulate at the bottom of the tank due to condensation can be suctioned.

Structure for protecting a coast (usually perpendicular to the coastline) and which serves to trap littoral transport or slow the erosion of a coast.

They are divided into:

Devices, installations, and accessories, fixed, mobile, or portable, for fighting fires.

Free space between the primary and secondary containers of storage tanks or double-walled piping.

Document called Generales Specifications for Service Station Construction, prepared by the professional responsible for the design.

System of accessories and conduit that do not permit the escape of a hot atmosphere generated by a short circuit inside it and prevents the entry of explosive or flammable vapors from the outside.

Hose for carrying out the sealed unloading operation of fuel from the tanker truck to the storage tanks.

Document called Manual de Procedimientos de Operación, Seguridad y Mantenimiento for service stations, prepared by its representatives.

Material generally accepted and approved by tank and pipe manufacturers for use as backfill for pits and trenches after installing tanks and piping.

Perimeter wall that delimits the dock basin.

This is the periodic and alternating movement of rise and fall of sea waters due to the forces of lunar and solar attraction combined with centrifugal force and the Coriolis effect caused by the Earth's rotation.

(Thus added the preceding subsection by article 1 of executive decree No. 36967 of January 9, 2012)

This is the set of structural elements that form a vertical face, with sufficient draft for the berthing of vessels and a horizontal surface for the deposit of goods and the movement of land-based mechanical means.

This is the action and effect of the formation of waves that move along the surface of the water due to the action of the wind.

This is the set of structural elements that form a vertical face, with sufficient draft for the berthing of vessels and a horizontal surface for the deposit of goods and the movement of land-based mechanical means.

Accessory located at the end of the dispenser hose; it serves to supply fuel to motor vehicle tanks.

Program of activities focused on safeguarding the physical integrity of persons and the environment, as well as protecting facilities, property, and vital information in the event of a risk, emergency, incident, or disaster.

Fixed and permanent system of appropriate facilities for the storage, filling, and distribution of GLP, using containers that comply with the respective Technical Regulation.

Momentary parking area, exclusively for use in the supply zone and located on the sides of the dispensers on the supply island.

Allows evaluating the quality of groundwater in the phreatic levels existing on the monitored property.

Allows detecting the presence of hydrocarbon vapors in the subsoil.

Automotive liquid fuels retailed at service stations.

Method for preventing the corrosion of metal surfaces based on coating or cathodic protection.

Set of plans developed by a company specialized in service station projects.

Non-destructive test used to evaluate the possible existence of fuel leaks in tanks and piping.

Polyvinyl chloride thermoplastic resin, obtained by polymerization of vinyl chloride, widely used in the plastics industry, which presents characteristics of resistance to the attack of liquid fuels and petroleum-derived oils.

System that quantifies and issues printed or on-screen reports of the fuel and water inventory in the storage tanks.

Equipment intended for the control and distribution of fuel from the motor pump through a dispenser.

Installation that allows collecting, conveying, and disposing of black water, oily water, and pluvial water from the service station.

System capable of immediately suspending the energy supply throughout the network connected to the motor control center and dispenser power supply.

Accessories installed in the storage tank to prevent spills due to overfilling of fuels during the unloading operation.

Set of accessories, piping, connections, and equipment specially designed to control, recover, store, and/or process hydrocarbon vapors produced during gasoline transfer operations; it includes phases I and II.

Equipment intended for the distribution of fuel by means of a pump installed in the dispenser that sucks, through a pipe, the fuel from the storage tank.

Accessories and electrical installation based on bare copper cable interconnected in a network, designed to prevent the accumulation of electrostatic charges and to send to earth the faults caused by insulation that, due to a potential difference, might produce a spark.

Encompasses all buildings or structures designed or intended partially or totally for the gathering of persons; for the purposes of this regulation, these are divided into:

Set of pump, flow meter, supply hose, and other accessories necessary to supply fuels to the motor vehicle.

This is the length of the dock that a vessel occupies or requires to be in a position to receive a service. It is physically represented by the overall length of the ship plus a 15% allowance that is added to permit maneuver and avoid risks.

That natural or legal person who possesses a tank truck which has been granted an operating authorization by MINAE, to, in the name and on behalf of a third party, provide the service of transporting fuels derived from hydrocarbons, petroleum, asphalts, gas, and naphthas, whether by land, railway, maritime, or river route.

Accessory installed in the storage tank that prevents the emission of vapors into the atmosphere.

This is the electrical panel where the switches that control the lighting system are located.

Cylindrical-bodied receptacle designed for storing fuels; it is classified into two types:

Single-walled or double-walled storage tank installed above the finished floor level inside completely impermeabilized reinforced concrete containment walls, with the corresponding spill containment measures.

Storage tank installed completely underground, confined within reinforced concrete containment walls, completely impermeabilized, or in pits covered with a geomembrane and covered with gravel or inert backfill material.

Single-walled storage tank installed above the finished floor, supported on reinforced concrete or structural steel bases and limited by containment dikes.

Commercial premises where grocery products and minor household goods are retailed.

Element of the oily drainage system in which the primary treatment process for oily water is carried out.

Spill containment sump built in the tank area.

Cylindrical container installed from the storage tanks to the dispensers and used for conveying hydrocarbons.

Cylindrical container installed from the storage tanks to the dispensers and used for conveying gasolines and/or diesel fuel.

Single-walled cylindrical container installed from the gasoline dispensers to the storage tanks and used for conveying the vapors resulting from the evaporation of gasolines.

Natural or legal person accredited by the competent authority to verify compliance with the standards for the electrical installation of service stations.

Natural or legal person accredited by the competent authority to verify compliance with the standards for the construction project and maintenance of service stations.

Natural or legal person accredited by the competent authority for performing non- destructive leak tests (pruebas de hermeticidad) of tanks and piping.

Serves to eliminate the hydraulic siphoning effect caused by the presence of an upward elbow interposed in the fuel piping, which would lead to the emptying of the tank due to the potential energy of the liquid inside it.

Accessory that immediately cuts off fuel flow upon the occurrence of an over-tension stress in the dispensing hoses.

Accessory installed at the base of the dispenser that immediately cuts off the flow of fuel or vapor in the event of a collision or fire accident directly affecting the dispenser.

Allows the flow of liquids in one direction only.

Land transport vehicle with self-propulsion on two or more wheels that does not travel on rails.

Operating life period of the service station and the typical tanker truck defined in the cost model used by ARESEP for setting margins.

Direction from which the wind blows with maximum speeds during the observation period.

Direction from which the wind blows most frequently during the observation period.

Those that directly influence the design of docks (orientation), vessel maneuvers, and, in general, the design and calculation of interior works.

The Ministry of Environment and Energy(*) is responsible, through the DGTCC, for the application of this Regulation. For this purpose, the DGTCC shall have, among other competencies, the following:

(*)(Its name was modified by Article 11 of Law "Transfer of the Telecommunications Sector from the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications to the Ministry of Science and Technology," No. 9046 of June 25, 2012)

The DGTCC shall be under the charge of the Director and the subordinate personnel necessary for the correct implementation of this Regulation.

Service Stations

Requirements

Any natural or legal person who wishes to obtain an authorization to construct and operate a service station for distribution to the final consumer, or storage for self-consumption in the case of direct customers of products derived from hydrocarbons, must submit:

If the application is made by a legal entity, a certification of the legal status of its representatives, issued no more than three months prior, must be attached.

If the applicant is not the owner of the property, a suitable document in original or certified copy must be submitted demonstrating their legitimacy for the installation and operation of the establishment.

Once the application is admitted for processing, it must be evaluated by the DGTCC within a period not exceeding ten days. If the documents must be supplemented, a notice (prevención) shall be granted to the applicant, only once, for a period not exceeding ten days, in order to correct the defects. If the requested documentation and information are not submitted within the granted period, or if they are submitted incompletely or do not conform to the requirements, the application shall be archived.

If the documentation submitted to the DGTCC is correct, an inspection shall be carried out jointly with the SETENA at the site subject to the application within a period not exceeding one month, from which a technical report signed by both bodies shall be rendered to the Director of the DGTCC within a period not exceeding ten days. Subsequently, the Director must notify the interested party for the appropriate action, within a period of ten days.

Likewise, the DGTCC shall issue a notice (prevención) to the applicant, who must submit the plan requirements. For this purpose, the following documentation must be provided:

The specialized company designated by the interested party shall prepare the construction plans mentioned below, which shall be reviewed by the DGTCC based on the legal framework.

Supply islands indicating the elements that comprise them.

Type of pavement and general finished floor levels.

Mechanical installations:

Hydraulic and air installations:

Sanitary and drainage installations:

Electrical installations:

Indicate both pipe schedule (cédula de tuberías) and "EYS" type electrical seals or similar, according to the classification of hazardous locations Group D, Class 1, Divisions 1 and 2, according to Chapter 5: Special Occupancies, of the Costa Rican Electrical Code (CODEC).

As a complement to the plans mentioned previously, the following plans shall serve as support for the complete executive project:

Area Responsible Party

Place for receiving notifications if different from the one indicated in

Once the application is approved by the DGTCC, it shall issue a recommendation letter to MINAE for the issuance of the construction and installation permit for the service station, or the denial of the application. Once the recommendation is received, the Head of the Institution has thirty days to issue the construction permit or the denial of the application. Once the resolution authorizing the construction of the service station is communicated, the DGTCC has a term of ten calendar days to deliver to the applicant the plans duly authorized and sealed by this bureau.

A period of one year is established as the validity of the construction permit, counted from the moment of notification of the authorization resolution, which must indicate the construction start date indicated in the previous article. If construction has not begun after this period has elapsed, a re-stamping (resello) of the plans must be requested, only once and within a one-month term, for which the requirements of the original application that are expired must be resubmitted; otherwise, the definitive archiving of the file (expediente) shall proceed, and the right shall expire.

Technical Specifications

The land where a land-based service station is installed must comply with the following requirements:

It must be located in zones authorized by the competent entity in accordance with the GAM, the Ministry of Health, or the regulatory plans (planes reguladores), and may not be built in residential areas, with certification to be issued by INVU or the corresponding Municipality.

The minimum width of vehicle entrances or exits shall be governed by Table 1, their maximum width shall be 16 m, and their separation shall not be less than 3 meters; the same restriction shall apply to side property boundaries. This separation shall be delimited by a concrete low wall or planter (murete o jardinera) of at least 20 cm wide and 25 cm high, demarcating private property from the public road, painted yellow.

TABLE 1 Right-of-way (meters) Minimum access width (meters)

TABLE 2 Double supply islands Minimum surface area Minimum frontage Supply Type of Lot area (m2) (m) Product Max. Qty.

Corner Regular gasoline (two frontages) 625 25 Super gasoline 2 Diesel Non-corner Regular gasoline (one frontage) 1,080 31 Super gasoline 3 Diesel

Architectural Plans

A service station falls within Group A (highest-risk structure according to the Costa Rican Seismic Code), and its structural failure could cause serious risks; therefore, the specialized company is responsible for the appropriate design, calculation, and construction of this structure.

The general areas of the service station shall conform to the functionality, operation, and safety requirements established in these technical specifications, taking into consideration the location of the different elements within the complex and the relationship each one has with the rest of the facilities (see illustration 1.1).

NOTES:

Each specialized company shall determine the optimal measurements according to the project's own characteristics.

SCHEME OF MINIMUM DISTANCES BETWEEN ISLANDS TABLE 3 Transverse distance Gasolines Diesel Island Island Island Island Island Double Single Double Single Satellite 1 From the island to the edge of the sidewalk or green areas at accesses and exit. 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 4.00 1 From the island to the property line 2 Island to island 6.00 6.00 3 Single diesel island to diesel satellite island ---- ---- 3.50 4 From diesel island for heavy vehicles to island for light vehicles 8.00 8.00 5 Island to tank zone limit 6.00 Longitudinal distance Gasolines Diesel Island Island Island Island Island Double Single Double Single Satellite A Island to edge of sidewalk at buildings or green areas within property. 8.00 8.00 13.0 8.00 8.00 A Island to green zone at property lines.

B Island to edge of green areas at exits (with front exit). 4.00 4.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 C Island to island 2.50 --- 2.50 --- --- D From double island to double or single island 8.00 8.00 10.00 8.00 10.00 E Island to tank zone limit. 6.00

TABLE 4 MINIMUM EQUIPMENT FOR SANITARY FACILITIES FOR SERVICE STATIONS Fixture type Men Women Toilet 1 1 Urinal 1 - Washbasin 1 1 Accessible toilet 1 1

Pavements In the design of pavements, the loads and stresses to which they will be subjected shall be adequately considered, to meet the minimum requirements of durability and continuity of service.

The minimum slope of the drainage pipes shall be 1%; each case must adapt to the topographic conditions of the land and what is established by the Ministerio de Salud. The minimum slope of the floor towards the collection cleanouts shall be 1%.

(Thus amended the previous subsection by Article 75 of Decreto Ejecutivo N° 33601 of August 9, 2006)

(Thus amended the previous point by Article 37 of the Reglamento sobre emisión de contaminantes atmosféricos provenientes de calderas y hornos de tipo directo e indirecto, approved by Decreto Ejecutivo N° 43184 of April 18, 2022)

The complementary services have been divided into two categories: Mandatory and optional complementary services.

In the event that the applicant chooses to offer any of the optional services, they shall indicate the specific areas for such services in the presentation of the respective project.

TABLE 5 Minimum distance to dispensing modules or storage Minimum number of Optional complementary service area (m) independent parkings Tire repair 6.00 1 Washing and Lubrication 6.00 1 Sale of spare parts 6.00 1 Commercial premises or Convenience store 6.00 1 Fast food 6.00 1 Mechanical workshop 15.00 2 Soda coffee shop 12.00 4 Restaurant 12.00 6

Storage Tanks

In addition to the Technical Specifications indicated in this Regulation, the provisions on the matter in the following regulations must be observed:

In the event that the impossibility of placing them underground is demonstrated, such as in areas with risk of flooding or rocky terrain, or of minimum risk according to an expansive wave study, they may be installed above the finished floor level within containment walls confined with sand or backfill material.

Said detection system shall be placed according to the manufacturer's instructions. This control system shall detect water penetrating through the secondary wall or product that might leak from the primary container. Likewise, a leak detection system shall be installed in the case of single-walled tanks installed in waterproofed concrete pits or with a geomembrane system. The foregoing for the purpose of preventing contamination of the subsoil and the aquifers, in accordance with the Ley Orgánica del Ambiente.

It must have a leak detection system.

five additional openings for the installation of the accessories indicated in subsection

The accessories required in the installation of the tanks shall be the following:

The requirements presented below apply to all flammable liquid storage tanks, which shall be of the horizontal cylindrical atmospheric type and preferably double-walled; above-ground tanks on the surface are permitted for fuel use in industry and for emergency power plants or boilers.

Storage tanks may be manufactured from any of the materials indicated in the cases presented in Table 6.

TABLE 6

The tanks shall be confined in sand, gravel, or any other select backfill material recommended by the manufacturer.

This material must not have corrosive or cementing characteristics. The maximum diameter must be 3.2 millimeters and have a well-graded particle size distribution.

The responsible company must take the necessary precautions to protect the workers who are working in or near the pit. The excavation and tank placement system used shall be based on the data obtained from the geotechnical study (estudio de mecánica de suelos). Once safety measures are established, the necessary precautions must be taken according to the presence or absence of groundwater and traffic in the area. Polyester geotextile meshes may be used for the purpose of stabilizing the slopes and preventing contamination of the backfill material. The minimum distance between the property line and the limit of the excavation for the tank pit shall be 2.5 m.

According to the characteristics of the terrain, the responsible company shall determine the type of anchoring required to hold the tanks in a dry or wet pit. Whatever the system, it must not cause scratches or breaks in the secondary tank. The backfill material shall be that specified by the tank manufacturer, and soft materials that crumble, compact, or deform when exposed to loads or in the presence of water must be avoided.

Double-walled tanks do not necessarily need to be housed in concrete or masonry pits; however, if the geotechnical study (estudio de mecánica de suelos) recommends it, the pit must be built. The bottom floor of the pit shall have a 1% slope toward one of the corners of the pit where, if required, a pump sump of at least 60 cm in depth shall be built, so that water that for any reason ends up inside the pits is collected at that point.

Regardless of the material used in their manufacture, two leak-tightness tests shall be applied to both single-walled and double-walled tanks; in the case of double-walled tanks, the pressure values must be gauge pressure, and said tests shall be performed, one on the primary tank and another on the secondary one, in accordance with the following criteria:

These are mandatory. They shall be of the non-destructive type and shall be performed every 5 years during the first 15 years of operation, and then every 3 years until completing the useful life of the tank with the corresponding product. The DGTCC may eventually request such tests when it needs to verify containment controls, or when it deems it pertinent in response to environmental complaints, or when there are doubts about the operation of the tanks.

In the event of failure of the spill prevention and leak detection devices, the presence of hydrocarbons in the subsoil must be detected before they migrate outside the facilities; therefore, the devices described below must be installed.

The observation well allows the detection of hydrocarbon vapors in the subsoil. It shall be built taking into consideration the following aspects:

The monitoring well allows the evaluation of groundwater quality. It must be installed when the water table closest to the surface (shallow) is at a depth of less than 8 m. If the groundwater level is above the excavation level of the pits, the observation wells are replaced by monitoring wells.

Once the pit is backfilled up to the top of the tank, the sumps, product pipelines, and vapor recovery pipelines shall be placed. The length and diameter of the accessories indicated below must be verified before proceeding to place them and following the manufacturer's instructions.

All storage tanks shall without exception have a purge device with the following characteristics:

This system helps prevent leaks and spills caused by failures in the double-containment system of the tank.

The following accessories shall be placed to receive the ventilation and vapor recovery pipelines. The capacity and length of the accessories shall be determined by the specialized company.

It consists of grouping the tank accessories into at least two sumps, with a containment chamber (contenedor) manufactured from high-density polyethylene or fiberglass, waterproofed reinforced masonry, or waterproofed cast concrete. This alternative reduces the risk of product leakage into the subsoil at those interconnections that are, by their nature, undetectable and exposed to corrosion from water and high-salinity soils. By being concentrated in the sump, it allows the connections and accessories of the upper top of the tank to be directly inspected at the finished floor level.

When an underground tank requires the installation of pipelines to interconnect one or more tanks, these must comply with double containment and allow the monitoring of their leak-tightness status, in accordance with the design proposed by the specialized company. If the design does not comply with double containment, the use of this system is prohibited.

Pipelines

TABLE 6

This shall be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Inside the trench, double-walled pipes shall be installed for product, and single-walled pipes for vapor recovery.

Rigid or flexible pipes that comply with national regulations or, failing that, with the UL Standard or similar shall be installed, with the appropriate diameter being determined by the responsible specialized company. For the joining and change of direction of non-metallic pipes, accessories specially manufactured for each case shall be used. When metallic pipes are installed, the accessories and valves shall be of the same characteristics and shall be designed in accordance with national regulations or, failing that, with the ASTM-A 53 classification or similar, seamless, schedule 40, and may incorporate cathodic protection systems for their maintenance.

Rigid and flexible pipe shall be installed. The minimum diameter of the vapor recovery pipe shall be 50.8 mm at the outlet of the dispenser sumps, and from the third dispenser onward, it shall be a minimum of 76 mm in the common network. When for any reason the slope of the vapor recovery pipe cannot be maintained from the dispensers to the storage tanks, suction bottles shall be installed to adjust slopes and thus prevent the formation of hydraulic seals due to condensation in the vapor recovery pipe system.

The vent piping may be rigid or flexible single-wall, and the underground section shall have a minimum slope of 1% from the surface section toward the storage tanks. It must have a ball valve at the connection with the fuel tank for conducting leak tests (pruebas de hermeticidad).

The protection shall be with polyethylene tape 35 mils thick, and the overlap for placement shall be 50% of the tape width; it may also be protected with cold or hot asphalt coating.

The material of the visible section of the piping shall invariably be carbon steel with a minimum diameter of 50.8 mm; the minimum height of the vents shall be 6 m above the finished floor level (NPT) when they are on an independent tower and at a minimum distance of 5 m from buildings and the property line (colindancia).

Vent discharges must be located at a horizontal distance of no less than 5 m from the property line (colindancia).

In the case of rigid piping, at the connection points of the piping with the tank, the joints must be swivel joints unless the pipe is vertical at its connection point with the tank. A swing joint must be installed at the base of each dispenser as well as at the connection point with a submersible pump and at the vertical part of the vent. The swing joint for threaded steel pipe consists of two 90-degree elbows with a nipple. The use of the following elements is prohibited:

There are two pumping systems, the submersible pump system and the suction pump system:

The submersible pump system consists of the submersible pump, its connections and accessories, which shall be installed in the storage tank; as well as, at the dispensers, their connections and accessories, which shall be installed on the product supply island.

The pump shall be of the remotely controlled submersible type, with an explosion-proof electric motor and a mechanical in-line leak detector. It shall be installed in the tank opening located at the end opposite the purge opening, within a hermetic container made of fiberglass, high-density polyethylene, or other authorized material. The pump shall have the capacity to operate at a normal flow in a range of 35 to 50 liters per minute per hose for gasolines, and for diesel from 35 to 90 liters per minute per hose. Depending on the number of hoses it supplies, intelligent or high-flow pumping systems may be chosen.

The suction pump system consists of the direct suction pump, its connections and accessories, which shall be installed in the storage tank; as well as the dispensers, their connections and accessories, which shall be installed on the product supply island.

The pump shall be a direct suction pump, with an explosion-proof electric motor, and installed in the dispenser. The pump shall have the capacity to operate at a normal flow in a range of 35 to 90 liters per minute per hose.

The use of one or two hoses corresponding to one or two loading positions, and four hoses for two positions, shall be permitted, and for a dispenser for three products, the use of six hoses corresponding to two loading positions shall be permitted. Dispensers shall have a mechanical or electronic computer and a display visible to the dispensing side.

Hoses shall have a maximum length of 6 m and shall have a shear valve installed at a maximum of 30 cm from the dispenser body.

Dispenser hoses and nozzles of the fuel guns shall be 19 mm in diameter for gasolines, and for diesel, 19 to 25 mm in diameter.

In Phase II vapor recovery, coaxial hoses and accessories shall be installed, as well as a vapor recovery nozzle.

All installed equipment may be new or rebuilt. It must be free of defects, bear the name of the manufacturer or rebuilder company, have complete identification of the equipment, and have a warranty certificate for its correct operation.

Dispensers shall be installed on the bases of the supply islands, firmly secured according to the manufacturer's recommendations, and must have all the valves and devices specified by the manufacturer.

Should the dispenser be struck or knocked over, the valve shall shear or break at the level of the weakened groove so that the valve closes in order to prevent a possible fuel spill. The anchoring system for these valves must withstand a force greater than 90 kg / valve.

Hermetic containers made of high-density polyethylene or other materials certified for the handling of the products shall be installed, with a thickness that complies with national regulations or, failing that, with international standards for resistance. Containers made of concrete blocks or reinforced concrete shall be permitted, provided they are waterproofed and this characteristic is certified by the professional responsible for the work.

Hermetic containers shall be free of any type of fill material to facilitate their inspection and maintenance.

(NOTE: Due to a printing error, this article was omitted and the regulation skips from 30 to 32; therefore, this article does not exist)

This system shall be installed at service stations when required by the competent authorities. In this case, the control of gasoline vapor emissions at service stations shall be carried out with the vapor recovery system, which is divided into two phases called Phase I and Phase II.

The installation of the vapor recovery system shall be mandatory when required by the DGTCC and must be carried out following the manufacturer's instructions and recommendations of the specialized company responsible for the project and installation of this system.

The pressure generated in the vehicle tank when it is supplied with fuel and the vacuum created in the storage tank when the fuel is dispensed cause the vapors from the vehicle tank to move towards the storage tank; when this is done without vacuum pumps or extractors, the system is determined to be of the Balance type. This system requires only a hermetic seal between the vapor check valve and the vehicle fill pipe to control the escape of vapors into the atmosphere.

This type of gasoline vapor recovery system necessarily uses a vacuum pump to recover vapor during the vehicle refueling process. Such pumps can be located in the dispenser or outside it, in a central system, and create a vacuum to assist the movement of vapors back to the storage tank.

The vapor/liquid ratio tends to be very high, causing overpressure in the storage tanks. This overpressure is eliminated by means of excess vapor processors.

Two tests shall be performed on the piping at the different stages of installation and shall be carried out in accordance with the following:

Vapor Recovery Piping.

§ Calibration must comply with what is indicated by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Comercio), in accordance with Executive Decree 26425-MEIC- Reglamento para surtidores de combustibles líquidos, gasolina diesel, kerosene etc. - Calibración y Verificación, La Gaceta Nº 213, of 5-11-97, and the same shall apply for subsequent inspections.

This comprises all hydraulic and pneumatic installations required by the service station.

The minimum depth at which this piping is installed shall be 30 cm below the finished floor level (nivel de piso terminado), regardless of the arrangement they have.

Electrical Installation

All service stations shall comply with the technical standards governing the matter.

For the selection of electrical equipment, the classification of hazardous areas shall be considered in accordance with point 5.2, and the requirement for explosion-proof installation shall be met, in accordance with the following:

Regardless of the classification of the location where the electrical installation is situated, the wiring shall be housed entirely within electrical conduits.

When conductors are installed within areas classified in Divisions 1 and 2, the following guidelines shall be followed:

The lighting panelboards and the motor control center shall be located in an area exclusively for electrical installations, which, for no reason, shall be located in the machine room and ensuring it is not located in areas classified as divisions 1 and 2. If, due to space limitations, the room housing the panelboards and the motor control center is located in any of the hazardous areas, the electrical equipment installed shall be explosion-proof.

The grounding system shall be designed and installed in accordance with the characteristics and specific requirements of the project.

The lighting of each of the exterior areas that make up the service station shall be based on mercury vapor lamps, metal halide lamps, or fluorescent lamps. The lamp enclosure must withstand a possible explosion of the bulb. The following aspects shall also be considered:

The entire installation shall be perfectly balanced, free of short circuits and improperly placed grounds. All circuits shall be completely verified before being energized and shall be evaluated before being connected to their respective loads.

It shall be inspected and put into operating condition, making any adjustments deemed necessary. Said system shall be certified by a competent electrical engineer.

After completion of the work, the specialized company shall provide the owner of the service station with all installation manuals, operation manuals, and documents related to the installed equipment.

The guidelines to follow for the general characteristics of the various architectural elements, signage, equipment, and furniture of the service stations are indicated.

It is composed of the signs for the different types of fuels being sold, as well as the identifying name of the service station.

It must be installed in the following manner:

It is classified into two groups: horizontal marking and vertical signage.

It consists of indicating the marks on the pavement necessary for the different elements that make up the service station, such as: entrances, exits, internal circulation areas, parking spaces, fuel loading and unloading areas, etc. The marking shall be carried out using the following options:

It consists of determining the low and high signs required to guide the service station users about the physical characteristics and operations of the facilities. These signs are boards fixed to posts or walls. There are three types of signage: Restrictive, Preventive, and Informative.

They are symbols or legends whose purpose is to indicate to the user the existence of physical limitations or regulatory prohibitions that regulate traffic.

They are symbols whose purpose is to warn vehicle drivers about the existence of some danger on the road and its nature.

They are used to inform users of the existence of a service or a specific place.

Their location shall be in accordance with the following guidelines:

The colors to be used to signal the different fuels and the different elements that make up the service station shall be:

TABLA 7

Upon completion of the construction phase and when the facilities are fully ready to operate, the following requirements must be presented prior to the final inspection:

Upon completion of the final inspection, the corresponding report shall be issued, and if favorable, the Director of the DGTCC, upon prior verification of the permit from the Ministerio de Salud, shall grant the operating authorization to the service station within a period of thirty days. Likewise, the recommendation for authorization shall be issued for the provision of the Public Service of supply of hydrocarbon-derived fuels. The head of the institution shall issue, within a period of thirty days, the resolution authorizing the provision of the public service.

The validity of the operating authorization for a service station shall be for a period of five years during the first fifteen years, and thereafter every three years until the useful life of the tank is completed. The MINAE shall consult the ARESEP regarding the evaluation results of the service station operator, and the ARESEP must issue a statement within a term of ten days.

Operation and Safety Measures

Before and during unloading, the transporter and the responsible person must comply with the following requirements:

For this purpose, a minimum area of four by fifteen meters must be designated, outside the traffic lanes. The fill pipes of the storage tanks must be situated at a distance of no more than three meters from the perimeter of this area.

The holder of the operating authorization and the authorization to provide the Public Service of supply of hydrocarbon-derived fuels is responsible for ensuring that the buildings (offices, service areas, storage rooms, sanitary services) are in good condition regarding repair, hygiene, cleanliness, and paint, and comply with all the standards and regulations issued by the competent agencies regarding safety and operating conditions, sanitary installations, ventilation, lighting, construction materials, and minimum dimensions for offices, workplaces, storage rooms, sanitary services, and upkeep, as well as compliance with the obligations and duties contained in the authorization resolution.

The personnel in charge of dispensing fuel must be of legal age and be duly trained for the tasks to be performed, including preventing and controlling accidents that could eventually occur. They must also have a uniform that makes them easy to identify. The company must have an Occupational Health Plan and an Emergency Plan endorsed by the Ministerio de Salud.

Every establishment where hydrocarbon derivatives are handled must have fire prevention and extinction elements in perfect working order, as established in the executive decrees Nº 25985-MEIC-MTSS "Reglamento Técnico RTCR 227:1997. Procedimiento para el mantenimiento y recarga de los extintores portátiles" and Nº 25986-MEIC-MTSS".

Spills caused by unloading at the service station or into the storage tanks, and those produced during the fueling of motor vehicles, must be eliminated before starting the engine and setting the vehicle in motion, and must be covered with fine, dry sand, synthetic absorbent materials, or application of foaming chemical agents, to subsequently be deposited in a properly ventilated place isolated from the loading and supply area. Under no circumstances shall such waste be deposited on public roads or unauthorized locations. The collection of greases and oils shall be subject to the Standards for the Discharge and Reuse of Wastewater (Decreto Ejecutivo Nº 26042-S-MINAE). The receipt of fuel shall not be permitted when the reception system (valve, hose, and coupling) is not hermetic and produces spills.

The dispensing machines must be in perfect working order, duly calibrated by the competent entity, and have a filter in the supply line that can be easily inspected, and dispensing nozzles that allow reducing the emission of vapors from the tank of the vehicle being filled. They must be kept free of spills, dirt, and objects that diminish their safety and durability. The hoses and dispensing nozzles shall be in perfect working condition and there must be no fuel leaks. The dispensers must comply with the provisions of the executive technical decree Nº 26425-MEIC "Reglamento para surtidores de combustibles líquidos (gasolina, diesel, kerosene, etc.) Calibración y Verificación", or failing that, the regulations in force for such purpose.

The traffic lanes of the service stations must be free of obstacles or fixed or temporary constructions, except for the islands intended for the dispensers, on which only the fuel dispenser(s), the water and air supply for vehicles, the auxiliary cash/credit card collection box, luminous prevention and information signs, decorative planters, and a shelf or display case for products for immediate use in vehicles shall be installed.

The perimeter channel system must be free of products and obstacles.

Once the service stations acquire the product from the RECOPE facilities, they may dispose of it at said station, without any limit on sales volume. Regarding the price to the final consumer, it must be subject to the officially fixed price.

Technical Specifications for the Design and Construction of Marine Service Stations

In addition to the requirements established for service stations in this Regulation, for a Fixed Station, it shall provide:

To maintain the validity of the authorization for a floating marine service station, the MINAE shall issue a certification in this regard, for which the interested party is obligated to keep the following documentation up to date:

Taking into consideration the location of the different elements within the complex and the relationship each one has with the rest of the facilities. Marine service stations are divided into two types:

When the applicant chooses to offer any of the aforementioned optional additional services, they must indicate the specific areas for such services from the project submission stage.

In the design of pavements for the marine service station, the loads and stresses under which they will operate shall be considered so that they meet the minimum requirements for durability and service continuity. The final pavement finish shall be reinforced concrete for fixed docks, and concrete with a low-density polyurethane core (or similar system) for floating docks, and shall have a rough finish in all cases. A trench on the dock for product piping and another for electrical installations must be provided for.

The provisions for service stations apply, with the exceptions indicated.

Marine service stations may provide within their facilities or annexed to them, the provisions of this Regulation for service stations, and must also observe the following:

The provisions established in the chapter of Specific Requirements for the Installation of Fuel Storage Tanks for Self-Consumption of this regulation shall apply.

Technical Specifications for the Project and Construction of Mixed Service Stations

In addition to the provisions for service stations in this regulation, mixed service stations must observe the following minimum technical specifications for the construction, remodeling, or expansion of a mixed service station, which, through appropriate installations and equipment destined exclusively for filling permanently installed tanks in internal combustion vehicles that use gas for propulsion, operate within maximum safety and functionality conditions, preserving the integrity of the environment.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall be used:

All elements necessary to handle, measure, and provide safety at an L.P. Gas station.

Establishment authorized to sell liquid fuels and L.P. Gas, the latter to be sold directly to vehicles specially adapted to operate with this fuel, as well as the sale of oils and other authorized complementary services.

It is the segment of the filling pipe designed to connect with the accessories of the supply vehicle. For the purposes of this regulation, the reception intake consists of all accessories between the free end of the filling pipe and the first manual shut-off valve.

That intended to conduct the gas between the different components of the Station.

That intended to conduct the gas towards the vessels mounted in vehicles that use it as fuel.

It is the segment of the supply piping designed to connect with the vehicle that uses L.P. gas as fuel. For the purposes of this regulation, the intake runs from the last manual shut-off valve before the support frame, to the tip of the terminal connector.

It is the segment of the gas station installation designed to transfer L.P. gas from the supply vehicle to the storage vessel.

In accordance with what is established for service stations, this article covers the requirements that must be added for the design and construction of a mixed service station and determines the use of materials for the different elements that comprise it, which shall be in accordance with the procedures established in the corresponding construction manuals and regulations. According to their L.P. gas storage capacity, stations are classified as:

a. With storage capacity up to 5,000 liters of water.

b. With capacity between 5,001 and 25,000 liters of water.

c. With capacity greater than 25,000 liters of water.

d. Utilization of the tanks of a storage plant.

Types of islands.

(*)(Name modified by Article 11 of Law "Transfer of the Telecommunications sector from the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications to the Ministry of Science and Technology", No. 9046 of June 25, 2012)

The hose couplings and connections must withstand a pressure of no less than 13.78 MPa (140.6 kg/cm²).

Extinguishers must be of the ABC type dry chemical powder, except for those required at electrical control panels, which may be carbon dioxide (CO2).

Mixed service stations, in addition to the storage tanks for diesel and gasoline fuels, must also install tanks for liquefied petroleum gas storage.

The following design requirements shall apply:

The following design requirements shall apply:

In all stations, access by unauthorized personnel to the station's storage zone must be prevented. This restriction must be achieved by means of a cyclone-type mesh fence, as a minimum.

The pumps and compressors for transferring gas must be anchored to concrete or metal bases above the finished floor level and must be grounded.

Receiving and Supply Outlets:

If they are weldable, they must be schedule 40 with connections of equivalent strength.

A support frame for the outlet made of reinforced concrete or structural steel firmly anchored to the ground, and with a strength greater than the fracture point mentioned in the following subsection.

Minimum Distances:

TABLE OF MINIMUM DISTANCES IN METERS