How Frequently Should an Aboveground Storage Tank Be Inspected?

The frequency of storage tank inspections must be determined by taking into account a number of parameters. According to API 653, 6.2.1, the full list of variables includes, to name a few, jurisdictional requirements, the type of product being stored, corrosion allowances and prevention systems, the outcomes of visual maintenance checks, and variations in operation modes.

The following inspection intervals apply generally:

A Routine In-Service Inspection must be carried out each month, during which employees familiar with the facility, the tank, and the properties of the product being stored visually inspect the exterior of the tank.

Staining: Visually inspect the above-ground storage tank each month for stains that can indicate leaks. Make sure there is no product inside the secondary containment and the spill collection sites.

Valves: Check the connected piping and valves visually for leaks, cracks, or corrosion.

Foundation: Check the foundation visually for signs of wear and tear, wash-out, settling, leaks, or other changes since the last inspection. Tanks change with time, therefore it's critical to document observations to help identify patterns.

Type and quantity: Keep a record of every product kind and quantity that was put into the tank.

Internal: Every few years, undertake a visual inspection by opening the tank roof access to check for corrosion, the state of the coatings, and the interior parts.

An in-service external inspection must be performed every five years.An ultrasonic thickness inspection of the shell is part of this inspection.

Unless the tank contains safeguards mentioned in API 653 Table 6.1, which extends this initial period, an Internal Inspection must be carried

out 10 years following the tank's original date of in-service.

The data from the last internal inspection and API 653 procedures to calculate corrosion rates or Risk Based Inspection (RBI) evaluation shall be

used to estimate subsequent internal inspection intervals.

You should thoroughly clean the interior of the tank in advance of the internal examination to make it easier to inspect the tank's internal parts and structure. It means that all products, water, and dirt must be completely removed.

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GNEE STORAGE TANK

GNEE STORAGE TANK