Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 38, September 21, 2024
(a)
General. Tanks shall be
designed and constructed to safely withstand the service to which they are
subjected. Use of a tank vehicle or railroad tank car, not meeting the
requirements of this section, for purposes other than its designed use such as
a storage or supply tank, is prohibited.
(b)
Materials and
fabrication. The materials and fabrication of tanks shall conform to
the following:
(1) Tanks shall be built of
steel unless the character of liquids stored requires some other material.
Tanks built of materials other than steel shall be designed to specifications
embodying principles recognized as good engineering design for the material
used. Unlined concrete tanks may be used for storing flammable or combustible
liquids having a gravity of 40°API or heavier. Concrete tanks with special
lining may be used for other services if the design is in accordance with sound
engineering practice. Tanks may have combustible or noncombustible linings.
Special engineering considerations are required if the specific gravity of the
liquid to be stored exceeds that of water or if the tanks are designed to
contain flammable or combustible liquids at a liquid temperature below
0°F.
(2) Tanks may be of any
shape or type consistent with sound engineering design. Metal tanks shall be
welded, riveted and caulked, brazed, or bolted, or constructed by use of a
combination of these methods. Filler metal used in brazing shall be nonferrous
metal or an alloy having a melting point above 1000°F. and below that of
the metal joined.
(c)
Atmospheric tanks. The following contain the minimum
requirements for construction of steel atmospheric tanks:
(1) Underwriters' Laboratories, Incorporated,
Subject No. 142-1981, Standard for Steel Aboveground Tanks for
Flammable and Combustible Liquids.
(2) American Petroleum Institute Standard No.
650-1980, Welded Steel Tanks for Oil Storage.
(3) American Petroleum Institute Standards
No. 12B-1977, Specification for Bolted Tanks for Storage of Production
Liquids; No. 12MD-1982, Specification for Field Welded Tanks
for Storage of Production Liquids; or No. 12F-1982,
Specification for Shop Welded Tanks for Storage of Production Liquids.
Tanks built in accordance with these standards shall be used only as
production tanks for storage of crude petroleum in oil producing
areas.
(4) Skid tanks and similar
portable equipment of 61 to 660 gallons capacity shall be of single compartment
design and constructed in accordance with accepted engineering practice. Joints
shall be welded.
(i) Tank heads over 6 feet in
diameter shall be dished, stayed, braced or reinforced.
(ii) Minimum thickness shall be in accordance
with the following:
| Capacity
Gallons | Minimum Thickness of Steel Mfrs. Gauge
no. |
| 61-275 | 14 |
| 276-550 | 12 |
| 551-660 | 10 |
(iii) A fill opening shall be provided and
shall be equipped with a closure design, so that it may be locked. The fill
opening shall be separate from the vent opening.
(iv) Tanks not mounted on runners or resting
on metal legs shall be mounted in a stable position on noncombustible blocks
approximately 6 inches in height, so as to protect the bottom of the tank from
corrosion.
(5) Skid tanks
and similar portable equipment of 661 to 2,000 gallons capacity shall be
constructed in accordance with the standards contained in the publications
referenced in subsection 5(c)(1) and (2).
(d)
Low pressure tanks. The
following contain the minimum requirements for construction of steel low
pressure tanks:
(1) American Petroleum
Institute Standard No. 620-1982, Recommended Rules for the Design and
Construction of Large, Welded Low-Pressure Storage Tanks.
(2) The normal operating pressure of the tank
shall not exceed the design pressure of the tank.
(3) Atmospheric tanks built according to
Underwriters' Laboratories, Incorporated, Subject No. 142-1981 may be used for
operating pressures not exceeding one psig and shall be limited to 21/2
psig under emergency venting conditions.
This section cited in 34 Pa. Code §
14a.111 (relating to storage and
handling); 34 Pa. Code §
14a.141 (relating to scope and
application); 34 Pa. Code §
14a.151 (relating to scope and
application); and 34 Pa. Code §
14a.161 (relating to general
provisions).
