California ICC UST Service Technician Practice Exam

Which of the following conditions allows suction piping attached to tanks installed after July 1, 1987 to be exempt from secondary containment requirements?

1. Piping must operate at high pressure

2. Piping must be sloped to drain back to the tank

3. Piping must have valves installed below ground

4. Piping must be made of plastic

The correct answer is: Piping must be sloped to drain back to the tank

The condition that allows suction piping attached to tanks installed after July 1, 1987, to be exempt from secondary containment requirements is that the piping must be sloped to drain back to the tank. This requirement ensures that in the event of a leak, the liquid will naturally flow back to the storage tank rather than pooling in the surrounding environment. By sloping the piping appropriately, it minimizes the risk of product loss and potential environmental harm, thereby justifying the exemption from secondary containment. The other options do not provide the same level of assurance regarding the prevention of environmental contamination. Operating at high pressure does not inherently address the risks associated with leaks, nor does having valves installed below ground provide an effective method for managing potential spills. Similarly, although plastic piping may have specific advantages, it does not automatically imply compliance with secondary containment standards. Thus, the requirement for the piping to be sloped is a targeted approach to risk mitigation in fuel storage systems.