Vents for Fixed Roof Atmospheric IP 9-7-3

INTERNATIONAL Storage Tanks Page 1 of 1

PRACTICE (This practice is appropriate for attachment to Inquiry or Purchase Document) Rev. 1 March 1998

Changes shown by 

SCOPE
I 1.1 This practice covers the design and selection of vents for use on fixed roof atmospheric and low-pressure
storage tanks.
I 1.2 An asterisk () indicates that a decision by the Purchaser is required or that additional information is
furnished by the Purchaser.

SUMMARY OF ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

S  2.1 API Standard 2000, Venting Atmospheric and Low-Pressure Storage Tanks, shall be used for vent
sizing, as a minimum.
E,I  2.2 Local regulations, including environmental, shall take precedence, if more restrictive than this practice.

DESIGN
S,C  3.1 Flame arresters shall not be installed.
S 3.2 For asphalt service, and other high viscosity and high pour point stocks that have a plugging tendency,
the following limitations shall apply:
a. Open vents: Screens shall not be used.
b. Pressure-vacuum vents shall not be used except when the tank is blanketed with gas injected at the
vent nozzle.
S 3.3 Both Open and Pressure-vacuum vents shall be covered with a 4-mesh (4.75 mm avg. opening)
screen except as noted in Par. 3.2a. Local meteorological conditions causing ice build up on the screens
may justify removing the screens during the winter.
S 3.4 Open vents shall be of the goose-neck or mushroom type.
S  3.5 Pressure-vacuum vents shall be used when one or more of the following conditions apply, subject to the
Owner Engineer's review:
a. The stock stored has a flash point below 100F (38C).
b. Temperature of the stored product is above or within 15F (8C) of its flash point at the highest
operating temperature.
c. The stocks stored are valuable and have a low vapor pressure, such as alcohol.
d. Tanks are gas or nitrogen blanketed.
S  3.6 Non-freezing features of pressure-vacuum vents. In areas where climatic conditions are such that the
daily mean temperature falls below 30F (-1C) for periods exceeding 24 hours duration, pressure-vacuum
vents shall be provided with non-freezing features including:
a. Pallets with drip rings.
b. Pallets with flexible diaphragms to prevent a metal-to-metal contact on seating surfaces.
S,E   3.7 Pressure-vacuum vents shall be set to open at 1.30 in. of water (0.32 kPa) pressure and 1.00 in. of
water (0.25 kPa) vacuum. Lower opening pressures [minimum of 0.87 in. of water (0.22 kPa)] may be
used provided the additional breathing is acceptable to the Owner's Engineer from both a process and
environmental standpoint. The capacity of pressure-vacuum vents shall be determined at 1.50 in. of
water (0.37 kPa) pressure and 1.20 in. of water (0.30 kPa) vacuum.

Revision Memo
9/68 Original Issue 6/70 Revision 1
6/71 Revision 2 1/72 Revision 3
6/75 Revision 4 1/79 Revision 5
6/86 Revision 6 12/90 Revision 7
6/95 Revision 0 - Original Issue of International Practice
3/98 Revision 1
Par. 2.1 - Included “for vent sizing” from previous Par. 3.2 and added “as a minimum.” Par. 3.7 - Included the “capacity
of pressure-vacuum vents” determination guidelines from the previous Par. 3.9.

© Exxon Research and Engineering Company, 1995, 1998

THIS INFORMATION FOR AUTHORIZED COMPANY USE ONLY

EXXON RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY — FLORHAM PARK, N.J.