Storing Large Amount of Combustible Liquid on within parking Lot in Strata Building

SnoozeAndLose on 14/06/2017 - 10:18
Last edited 14/06/2017 - 10:19

I would like to seek advice how/who to proceed to get the Jerry can removed.

Currently there are unit resident storing 4 Jerry Can (about 70L ) of petrol at the back of their parking lot.
Picture1
Picture2

It is dangerous in many ways, someone can take the petrol and start up fire , when there is fire it may cause explosion, the whole building may then collapsed, there is no suitable type of fire extinguisher to recuse petrol fire in the building (just water type fire extinguisher exist)

I identified this issues 2 months ago and I have send emails to the managing agent and they said have already forward this to the EC for decision and 2 months passed, the Jerry can are still there.

I am unsure what could I do now, therefore I want to consult ozbargain. If you have similar experience please share how you deal with it.

Thank you so much.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • k-rokfm on 14/06/2017 - 10:36
    +4

    What stops someone from starting a fire with their own petrol that they bring into the building in their own jerry cans?

    Seriously I would think its a non-issue. I would be more concerned if I was the person who owns them and worrying about them getting stolen.

  • roundnumbersonly on 14/06/2017 - 10:45
    +2

    Empty the petrol into your car, refill them with water, put them back.

    I would have thought if anything it would accelerate a fire, but cause an explosion??

    • SnoozeAndLose on 14/06/2017 - 11:04
      -2

      Problem is i am unsure if it is diesel.

      • Nugs on 15/06/2017 - 08:28

        dip finger in it, if it's oily it's diesel

      • kiitos on 16/06/2017 - 08:34
        +1

        Isn't there a colour code for jerry cans for its contents? Red for petrol, yellow for diesel? Or maybe green? Could be completely wrong.

  • nocure on 14/06/2017 - 10:53
    +1

    In NSW, 5 litres is the most you’re allowed to store inside a dwelling and 25 litres in an attached garage or carport.

    • SnoozeAndLose on 14/06/2017 - 11:04
      -1

      Do you have the link to this regulation and do you think I should contact the fire department if they don't remove the petrol?

    • mskeggs on 14/06/2017 - 11:21
      +1

      Do you have a link?
      I think this is a reference to the Australian Standard. I believe it further goes on to say you can store larger amounts in a non-attached garage and up to 100L in suitable containers outside. It isn't clear to me if this is a basement car park or a detached garage.
      I also would like to understand the enforceability of meeting the standard in a non-workplace, but that might be covered by the strata agreement.

      I personally think the OP is over reacting, considering they appear to be stored safely, and there would be more volume in an SUV petrol tank. And does the OP know if they are full or empty?
      EDIT: OP thinks they are full based on weight.

      • SnoozeAndLose on 14/06/2017 - 11:34

        it is in a basement carpark

      • donbot on 14/06/2017 - 12:03

        Stored safely?

        What about the fact they are nestled in with combustible material?
        and
        Have an ignition source of a car battery stored next to them?
        and
        Have no spill containment?
        and
        Have no fire protection is in the immediate area suitable for a fire with whats stored in those jerry cans?

        Most basement carparks provide that nothing can be stored in car spaces other than cars for the reason that it raises issues with fire protection and theft - insurers HATE flammable/combustible items stored against building walls, even if its brick/concrete dado wall construction.

    • Nugs on 15/06/2017 - 08:37

      wow, 25 litres isn't much

  • Peter Enis on 14/06/2017 - 11:12
    -1

    How do you know they aren't empty?

    • SnoozeAndLose on 14/06/2017 - 11:16

      I try to lift them up and know that they all full base on the weight.

      • [Deactivated] on 14/06/2017 - 13:09
        -3

        You are technically trespassing then, aren't you?

  • [Deactivated] on 14/06/2017 - 11:14
    +3

    I thought it was 250 litres but how do you know there not empty. Maybe spend your time doing something productive like weeding the pavement.

  • Almost Banned on 14/06/2017 - 11:28

    Check your by-laws.
    It might also be an issue for insurance.

  • bongom on 14/06/2017 - 12:29
    +3

    Are the Jerry cans for a motorbike or is this an OzBargainer buying additional fuel at the bottom of the price cycle?

  • John Kimble on 14/06/2017 - 12:41

    I identified this issues 2 months ago and I have send emails to the managing agent and they said have already forward this to the EC for decision and 2 months passed, the Jerry can are still there.

    Ask your managing agent for an update. Don't hold your breath though, strata decisions take forever…

    I also think you are overreacting. How is this affecting you? Are you just worried about the fire/explosion risk to the entire building?

    • SnoozeAndLose on 14/06/2017 - 13:23

      One of the problem is the odor sometime as our unit is just 6 meters above the basement, may be it is because they are using the can to refill their car?

      I did ask the agent, they just say that this matter is being forwarded the EC and notify the lot owner to remove the Jerry can.

      I think I am over worry but this may caused serious problem, isn't work/live safety is number one priority in Australia ?

  • gummibear on 14/06/2017 - 22:15
    +2

    They are stock piling fuel when cheap? They must be an OZB member already. Just ask them directly in this thread and they might stop =D

    • SnoozeAndLose on 15/06/2017 - 08:20

      Are you here the resident of this lot, can we meet personally?

  • alxr0101 on 15/06/2017 - 07:56

    (sigh)…..Bikies.

  • JIMB0 on 15/06/2017 - 09:44

    There's probably another 70L of petrol in that cars fuel tank as well.

    • SnoozeAndLose on 15/06/2017 - 10:51

      But no one is able to access the petrol in that car and no one can set fire up easily.

  • skillet on 15/06/2017 - 10:59

    Hey, it's a Nissan GTR.

    He's probably visiting the racing tracks once a while and that uses a lot of fuel. He needs the extra fuel to get home.

    Perhaps you can nicely ask the person to store the jerry cans in his boot?

    What's stopping someone from drilling holes in to cars petrol tanks and setting up a fire from the leak?

    • John Kimble on 15/06/2017 - 11:44

      What's stopping someone from drilling holes in to cars petrol tanks and setting up a fire from the leak?

      Potential sparks leading to injury/death?

      • Name on 15/06/2017 - 12:48

        You could also just use a screwdriver to jam open the fuel cap, and siphon the fuel out. No need to use drills or anything fancy.

  • Name on 15/06/2017 - 12:47
    +2

    I think you're over-reacting to how dangerous it is. It's in a sealed container designed to hold fuel. Just like the other thousand or so litres in all the car fuel tanks in that garage. If there is a fire in the garage those cars are going to cause a lot more damage than those few fuel cans.

    If you're concerned about someone starting a fire intentionally, whether there is fuel in those jerry cans or not, that person is going to start a fire. They'll probably come prepared as you wouldn't go somewhere to start a fire and hope someone has left a bunch of fuel laying around.

  • smux on 15/06/2017 - 15:23

    Having an old car is more of a risk than a well maintained jerry can. Old as in so old the fuel tank might have rusted out, etc. There's an office building I know of that had to be evacuated due to the entire contents of an old car's fuel tank emptying over the basement carpark's floor. Multiple fire engines, ambulance. Problem is not just the petrol on the floor and the potential fire risk, but also that the petrol vaporises and fills the air in an enclosed area like that.

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