TCVN 6486:1999

VIETNAM STANDARDS TCVN 6486:1999

Liquid petroleum gas (LPG) – Pressured storage – Location, design, capacity

and installation

1. Scope of application

1.1 This Standard stipulates the requirements for location, design, capacity and
installation of fixed storage tanks of liquefied petroleum gas (hereinafter referred to
as LPG) with water storage volume more than 150 liters which are used for storing
commercial and industrial LPG.

1.2 This Standard shall not be applied for:

- Transported storage tanks

- Storage during the process of distillation, gas separation.
- Cold storage

1.3 For storage tanks with capacity higher than 135m3, the requirements in this
Standards shall be considered as guidelines only, and other related standards must
be necessarily referred to.

2 Reference standards

TCVN 6153: 1996 Pressure tanks – Safety requirements in design and fabrication.

TCVN 6154: 1996 Pressure tanks – Safety requirements in design and fabrication
– Testing methods

TCVN 6155: 1996 Pressure tanks – Safety requirements in installation, utilization

and repair.

TCVN 6156: 1996 Pressure tanks – Safety requirements in installation, utilization

and repair – Testing methods.

3 Terminology

In this Standard, the following technical terms are used:

3.1 Supplier/manufacturer: means a person who fabricates or supplies equipment and

services to carry out the requirements of the person who orders.

3.2 Cathode protection: The process which reduces or prevents the corrosion of metal
structures when contacting with an electrolytic substance by applying the method of
putting the electric direct current (DC) from such electrolytic substance onto the
structure surface.

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TCVN 6486:1999
3.3 Design pressure: means a pressure used to calculate the thickness of the system
working with LPG so that such system can bear the product pressure at the highest
temperature during its operation.

3.4 Emergency stop valve: the valve which disconnects a system from the second
system in case an emergency status occurs at one of the two systems.

3.5 Storage tank or pressure tank: A pressure bearing tank without emergency
pressure reducing equipment.

3.6 Pressure release valve: Valve used to protect a system when an over-pressure
problem occurs in the system by way of automatically discharging a solvent out of
the system.

3.7 Emergency stop equipment: A system or equipment designed to stop a system

safely in an emergency case.

3.8 Overflow quickly-closing valve: Valve disconnecting the flow when it exceeds
allowable limit.

3.9 Safety distance: the smallest distance between objects or structures to ensure safety
in cases of LPG leakage or when fire occurs. It will limit to the maximum the
danger, damage as well as stop them from spreading out.

4. General requirements

4.1 The use of storage tank shall be approved by the authorities.

4.2 Storage tank, system of storage tanks shall be designed, fabricated, installed and
maintained including periodical inspecting and testing pursuant to TCVN 6153 ÷
6156 and other current regulations in related technical standards.

5. Location of storage tank installation

5.1 The LPG storage tanks shall be located in the open air, outside the buildings or
enclosed construction works, not on the building roof or balcony.

5.2 The storage tanks shall not be placed under the works such as building eaves,
bridges or electricity conduct lines in the air.

5.3 Once the LPG storage tanks are located in the areas where there are access roads to
hospitals, schools or trading centers, etc., surrounding the area there shall be open-
styled protection fence with minimum height of 1.8m and such fence shall be
located 1.5m at minimum away from the storage tank.

5.4 The fence surrounding the tank area shall have at least 2 accesses (ways in and out)
which are not located close to each other. Their minimum width shall be 1m at
minimum and be open outwards. Automatic gate lock shall not be used.

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TCVN 6486:1999
5.5 In the storage area there shall be safety signboards placed in easily-recognized
places to warn for dangers, prevention methods, fire alarming methods and fire-
fighting authority’s telephone numbers.

5.6 Pressure release valves shall be always in good condition. The discharging opening
shall be put in airy places.

5.7 The storage tanks shall not be placed one over the other. For the tanks placed on the
ground there shall be solid platforms. Those platforms shall be even and able to bear
the maximum water load of the storage tank.

5.8 The surface below the storage tank shall be flat and even to avoid agglomeration of
LPG once the tank is leaked.

5.9 When storage tank warehouse is equipped with water-using fire-fighting system, the
drainage system shall be calculated to be able to drain the surface water.

5.10 It is not allowed to place storage tanks in the areas where may often be flooded. In
places where there are high level of underground water, the storage tanks placed
underground or half-underground shall be firmly anchored.

5.11 The number of storage tanks placed on the ground in a unit shall not be over 6, with
the capacity of each tank not exceeding 135m3. The horizontal storage tanks shall
neither be placed in queue nor in line along the longitudinal axis towards houses or
service buildings.

5.12 The interval between storage tank group of which the capacity of the largest tank is
not exceeding 135m3 shall not be less than 7m.

5.13 The LPG storage tanks shall not be placed in an area where around it there are
tanks storing flammable liquids, deeply refrigerated flammable gases, liquid oxygen,
low temperature substances or frozen LPG.

5.14 The LPG storage bottles used for transportation shall not be placed in the safety
separation area between storage tanks and the fence or other construction works.

5.15 The underground storage tanks shall be protected against the impacts of external
loads on the tank cover such as automobiles, moving facilities, cranes, etc.

5.16 Pumps and air compressors shall not be placed right under the tank. Within the
safety interval of 1.5m measured from the tank edge it is prohibited to arrange any
types of chemical equipment. The chemical equipment attached with flammable
sources shall be placed in electrical safety area as required.

6. Safety interval

6.1 The safety interval from storage tanks placed in using units are stipulated in Table 1

Table 1- Safety interval for storage tank area in consuming units

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TCVN 6486:1999
Dimension is calculated in m
Minimum safety interval
from tank placed underground
from tank placed on the ground
or covered with soil
to fence, boundary, to fence, boundary,
house, fixed fire- house, fixed fire-
Tank capacity
creating source creating source
(liter) between
between tanks safety
w/o fire with fire tank tanks (2)
valve or
resistance resistance cover
group of (1)
wall wall
valves
from over 150 to
2.5 1.5 1.0 - - -
500
from over 500 to
3.0 1.5 1.0 3.0 1.0 1.5
2500
from over 2500 to
7.5 4.0 1.0 4.0 3.0 1.5
10000
from over 10000
15.0 7.5 1.5 7.5 3.0 1.5
to 135000
¼ of total
from over 135000
22.5 11 diameter of 2 11 3 3
to 337500 adjacent tanks
¼ of total
over 337500 30 15 diameter of 2 15 3 3
adjacent tanks

6.2 The safety interval from on-the-ground storage tanks (Fig. 1) placed in commercial
storage units, feeding and distribution stations shall be as stipulated in Table 2.

Table 2- Safety interval from on-the-ground storage tanks placed in the plan shown
on Fig. 1

Tank capacity Minimum safety interval

(liter) A (1)
B (2)
C(3)
D(4) E(5) F(6) G(7) J(8)
less than 2500 2.5 5.0 10.0 3.0 6.0 15.0 25.0 see notes
(8)
from over 2500 to 5000 2.5 5.0 10.0 5.0 6.0 15.0 25.0

from over 5000 to 10000 2.5 5.0 10.0 7.5 6.0 15.0 25.0

from over 10000 to 50000 2.5 5.0 10.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 25.0
from over 50000 to
2.5 5.0 10.0 22.5 15.0 15.0 25.0
337500
over 337500 2.5 5.0 10.0 30.0 15.0 15.0 25.0

(notes for Fig. 1 – left to right, downwards)

Important area
Internal road
Gas bottle feeding
Gas bottle storehouse
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TCVN 6486:1999
Tank storing class-II or II products
Collecting-pipe (ống góp) system separation wall
Retaining wall
Tank storing class-III products
LPG storage tank
Office, storehouse, laboratory
Enclosure wall
Internal road
Liquid hydrocarbon pipeline
Feeding, discharging point for tank trucks
Barriers
Pressure tank storing dangerous, poisonous substances, including oxygen (?)
Internal car-park
Main gate
Emergency culvert
Enclosure wall

Notes

1) Distance between consecutive storage tanks shall be (D1 + D2)/4 but not less than 2.5m
2) Distance from the tank to separation wall and collecting pipe system/pump.
3) Distance from the storage tank to the workshop internal road or pipeline.
4) Distance from the storage tank to the boundary fence of factory, office, houses and fixed fire-
creating source.
5) Distance from the storage tank to the fence surround tank of class-I, II or III products (Class-
II requires no fence)
6) Distance from tank lorry feeding/discharging point to the fence/boundary of factory, office,
house and fixed fire-creating source.
7) Distance from tank lorry feeding/discharging point to gas bottle feeding point/ gas bottle
piling up place.
8) Safety interval between LPG storage tank and liquid oxygen storage tank as stipulated on
Table 3.

Table 3

Liquid oxygen bottle LPG Storage tank capacity Safety interval

capacity (liter) (liter) (m)
Over 135000 to 265000 22.5
Up to 125000
Over 265000 30.0
Over 125000 from 135000 to over 265000 45

6.3 The safety interval from storage tank placed underground or covered with soil (Fig.
2) at the commercial maintenance establishments, bottle feeding stations and
wholesale distribution stations are stated in Table 4.

(Notes for Fig. 2 - left to right, downwards)

Limit of processing equipment

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TCVN 6486:1999
LPG above-ground storage tank
Road or railway
Gas bottle feeding point
Enclosure wall
Raw or Class I, II products
Pipeline
Gas bottle storehouse
Class III storage tank
Car-park
Safety valve or external connecting hydrant (?)
Exposed edge (?)
Office parking lot
Frozen hydrocarbon storage
Office, laboratory
Barrier
Tank lorry feeding/discharging point
External ring limit
Emergency culvert
Main gate
Enclosure wall.

Table 4- Safety interval from underground or soil-covered storage tank according to

Fig. 2

Capacity of Minimum safety interval

underground or
soil covered A B C D E F G H I J
tank (liter) (1) (2)

Up to 2500 1.5 1.0 7.5 15.0 2.0 6.0 (3) (4) 3 5

From over 2500
1.5 1.0 7.5 15.0 3.0 6.0 (3) (4) 3 5
to 5000
From over 5000
1.5 1.0 7.5 15.0 4.0 6.0 (3) (4) 3 5
to 10000
From over
2.5 1.0 7.5 15.0 7.5 10 (3) (4) 3 5
10000 to 50000
From over
2.5 1.0 7.5 15.0 15.0 10.0 (3) (4) 3 5
50000 to 337500
Over 337500 2.5 1.0 7.5 15.0 30.0 10.0 (3) (4) 3 5

Note:

1. Safety interval for the activities of excavating equipment and other maintenance equipment

2. Minimum distance from the pit edge to boundary fence or foundation of neighboring
buildings/construction works

3. Safety distance to the external ring protection system of the frozen hydrocarbon storage
tanks, not less than the external diameter of the protection system.

4. The safety interval “H” is changeable subject to maximum gas bottle piling dimension.

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TCVN 6486:1999
7 Design for above-ground storage tanks

7.1 General requirements

7.1.1 The design pressure of a storage tank shall not be less than 17 kN/cm2.

7.1.2 Tank storing propane-butane mixture shall be designed for a mixture which
contains 100% propane products or at a standard temperature which is determined
in accordance with geographical location. When selecting design pressure for
mixtures, care should be taken for the levels which the mixtures can possibly
incur during using course.

7.1.3 The vacuum degree shall only be considered if the environmental temperature
drops down below boiling degree at the atmosphere pressure or in the cases when
very high liquefying speed is selected without corresponding vapor-recovering
system (hệ thống hồi hơi)

7.1.4 The upper level design temperature selected is the highest temperature to which
the products in a storage tank can reach in normal operation condition plus
temperature differential to ensure that safety valve will not open in normal
condition.

7.1.5 The lower-level design temperature selected shall be -20oC, unless when the
temperature of the tank or the products stored inside may be lower. In this case,
the lower temperature value shall be selected.

7.1.6 The additional thickness to compensate for corrosion shall be at least 1mm for
carbon steel. When selecting materials to be used for LPG, care should be taken
for the presence of H2S or alkali products in LPG.

7.2 Connection, installation items and equipment of storage tanks

7.2.1 The storage tank shall be equipped with connection, installation items and
equipment which are suitable for LPG utilization and conform to relevant
standards.

7.2.2 The connection pipes (except for equipment connection pipes) shall have diameter
not less than 32mm for liquid pipes and 20mm for gas pipes.

7.2.3 On the liquid feeding pipeline, it is required to install one check valve and one
stop valve. The connection pipes with nominal diameter larger than or equal to
50mm shall be installed with a valve made of cast steel with minimum working
pressure equivalent to the design pressure of the pipe system, while the stop valve
shall be designed for fire-proof.

On the gas and liquid pipe system, between two stop valves there shall be a
corresponding safety release valve with set pressure equaling to 80% of trial
pressure of the equipment system.

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TCVN 6486:1999
7.2.4 The connection pipes at the discharge ends of liquid-feeding pipeline shall be
installed with closing valve or emergency stop valve and a direct closing valve
placed outside. The connection pipes with nominal internal diameter larger than
or equal to 50m shall be installed with cast steel valve and stop valve which can
ensure safety and be able to resist against fire (the best option is to use remote
controlled types).

7.2.5 All pipe ends connecting equipment to the tank by means of open/exposed joints
shall be protected with a stop valve, unless when the internal diameter of the
connection pipe-end is less than 1/4mm and the equipment is equipped with a
fire-resistant stop valve.

7.2.6 All storage tanks shall have person-sneaking gate or check door. In the case of a
storage tank having person-sneaking gate, if such gate is oval-shaped its minimum
dimension shall be 400mm x 300mm, if round-shaped its minimum diameter shall
be 400mm. The check door shall have suitable dimension for checking inside.

7.2.7 Tank discharging bell (miệng xả) shall be positioned at the lowest liquid
collecting point in the tank.

7.2.8 The discharging bell of connection pipe end shall be fabricated into flanged or
threaded types to install discharging valve.

7.2.9 The discharging pipe end at the tank bottom shall not be higher than the internal
edge of tank wall. Unless when required by operation condition or allowed by
design, all discharging valves shall be protected with emergency stop valve
installed in front (along discharging direction)

7.2.10 The orifice of connection pipes shall be protected against damage with
mechanical structure or by arrangement. All normal orifices shall be covered with
either flange or plug.

7.3 Requirements for measurements

7.3.1 All storage tanks shall be installed with at least an instrument to measure the
liquid at highest level and a pressure meter except those with capacity less than
5000 liters in consumption places. In this case, the storage tank shall be pre-
arranged for a connection end which allows to install a pressure meter.

7.3.2 It is prohibited to use eye-glass (?) to watch the liquid level in a tank.

7.3.3 If it is necessary to measure the temperature of products stored in the tank, it is

required to install suitable thermometer on the tank, except in case the tank
capacity is less than 10000 liters.

7.3.4 All pressure storage tanks in the main warehouses and stations shall be installed
with at least a full-alarming device. If the flow velocity is high or if the pressure
may exceed the pressure set value of safety valve, it is required to install two
independent full-alarming devices. The second full-alarm device shall be so

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TCVN 6486:1999
designed and installed that it can automatically disconnect the flow, stopping it
from filling the tank.

7.3.5 Storage tanks shall be installed with safety valves having dimension suitable with
the area surrounding the tank. The connection pipe between safety valve and the
tank shall be fabricated with kinds of materials which are appropriate to the
boiling temperature at atmosphere pressure of the stored products.

7.4 Emergency closing devices

7.4.1 All pipes connecting to the tank used for liquid or gas flows shall be protected
with 2-phase stop valves. These valves shall be made of steel for storage tanks
with capacity over 10000 liters and all connection pipes which discharge liquids,

7.4.2 The 2-phase stop valve shall not be used in normal operation and is often placed
in appropriate status (on or off))

7.4.3 To discharge liquid for storage tanks with capacity more than 10000 liters, it is
required to use types of fire-safety valve which are reliable, remote controlled and
installed as close as possible to the tank. If those valves cannot be installed close
to the tank, the connection pipe section between the valve and the tank shall be
regarded as a part of the tank and shall conform to tank fabrication standards.

7.4.4 The emergency stop mechanism installed to the tank shall be compatible with the
emergency stop system of the whole factory for commercial storage, bottle
feeding and tank lorry feeding. All emergency stop valves shall be remote-
controlled and installed in locations with safety intervals to protect against tank
occurrences.

7.5 Tank supports

7.5.1 The uniform supporting frames shall ensure tank design criteria and be welded to
the saddle-shaped or V-shaped support plate which has been welded on the tank
cover. The support plates shall be punched prior to being welded to the tank
cover.

7.5.2 The structure of the supports shall ensure the extension possibility of the tank
under the impact of temperature and pressure. For tanks with capacity below
50m3, it is allowed to adjust the extension owing to anchor structure.

7.5.3 The tank support frame shall be so designed that when being installed, the tank
will be inclined towards the discharging outlet with a gradient from 1:100 to
1:400.

7.5.4 The support and foundation shall ensure loading capacity once the tank is filled
with water.

7.5.5 The sag of the saddle-shaped supporting plates shall ensure the space beneath the
tank for the safety of pipe installation, operation and equipment maintenance.

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TCVN 6486:1999
7.5.6 The fire protection method for the supports shall be required only for steel
supports and the columns/feet of vertical tanks and sphere-shaped tanks.
Measures against water stagnant between the support and the fire protection
structure shall be taken.

7.6 Lightning protection grounding, tank grounding

7.6.1 The lightning protection system shall have a grounding resistance not over 10 Ω.

7.6.2 In order to protect against inductive lightning (sét cảm ứng) and electrostatic, it is
required that each tank shall be welded with at least 2 metal wires/cables to the
inductive lightning protection and electrostatic protection grounding systems. The
grounding resistance of these systems shall not be over 10 Ω.

7.6.3 At the LPG-feeding locations, it is required to connect the electrostatic system to

the LPG-feeding facilities.

7.6.4 A safety grounding system shall have grounding resistance not over 4 Ω. All non-
electrical metal components of the electric equipment and pump columns shall be
connected to the safe grounding system.

This grounding system shall be located 5m away from the lightning protection
system (in-soil distance)

When connecting the safety grounding system to the lightning protection

grounding system, it is required that the grounding resistance shall not be over 1
Ω.

7.6.5 The design for lightning protection and grounding system of LPG shops shall
conform to current regulations concerning construction design for lightning
protection of LPG storehouses.

8 Corrosion protection

8.1 All storage tanks shall be protected against corrosion. The protection cover shall be
checked biannually to avoid corrosion which can cause damage to the tanks.

8.2 It is not permitted to use a fire-protection cover as a replacement or to assist the fire-
fighting with water unless this cover allows internal check and tank shell thickness
measuring and is approved by the authorities.

8.3 The tanks which are applied with fire protection cover shall conform to the tank
shell thickness inspection and internal check period, which is at least once per 5
years.

9. Labels on tank shell

9.1 The following supplementary information are required to be written on the

tank shell.

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TCVN 6486:1999
- Name of manufacturer
- Date of fabrication/ production
- Fabrication standards
- Maximum working pressure
- Minimum working pressure
- Minimum working temperature
- Capacity
- Inspection office
9.2 For storage tank located outdoors, the label recording must be distinct/
unambiguous.

10. Fire protection

10.1 All electric equipment used in LPG storage area shall be type of fire and explosion
protection.
10.2 The fire fighting water supply source shall ensure a supply capacity of 10
liters/minute/m2 on the tank surface during one hour. If it is required higher by
designer, his requirement shall be met.
10.3 The fire fighting facilities/equipment for the above-ground storage tanks shall
satisfy the requirements stated in Table 5.

Table 5 - Fire fighting facilities/equipment for above-ground storage tanks

Storage tank capacity (liter) and Fire protection facility/equipment

placing locations
From over 150 to 2500 Max. distance to fire fighting water supply source:
In internal areas 100m

From over 150 to 2500
In commercial and industrial areas 100m.
From over 2500 to 56250
Liquid unloading tanks
capacity more than 15750
From over 56250 to 112500
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Max. distance to fire fighting water supply source:
19mm hose reel or 2 x 9kg fire-fighting with water
equipment
Fire-fighting powder extinguisher of 2x9 kg
Max. distance to fire fighting water supply source:
100m.
19mm fire reel. Max. distance to fire fighting water
supply source: 100m
Fire-fighting powder extinguisher of 2x9 kg
with Water supply source
Measures taken for supply cold water to the tank
19mm hose-reel
Fire-fighting powder extinguisher of 2x9 kg
Water supply source
TCVN 6486:1999

Fixed and movable water-ejecting canons

19mm hose reel
Fire-fighting powder extinguisher of 2x9 kg
More than 112500 Water supply source
Fixed and automatic water hydrants
19mm hose reel
Fire-fighting powder extinguisher of 2x9 kg

10.4 The storage tanks which are installed with fixed water-ejecting pipes shall have at
least 2 water-ejecting pipes along the top of the tank.

10.5 Flammable materials shall not be located within the fence of storage tank area.

10.6 It is required to do the cleaning and clearance frequently around the storage tank
area to eliminate fire-creating sources.

11. Checking and maintenance

11.1 All storage tanks and accessories (except for safety valves) shall be checked and
maintained on a basis of once per 5 years. For safety valve, it shall be checked and
calibrated for pressure once per 30 months.

11.2 Prior to being put into operation, storage tanks shall be technically calibrated and
safety checked in compliance with current regulations.

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