Overview of STI SP001 vs.

API 653 Tank Inspections

Gary Diewald P.E., STI Inspector #AST-1755
Antea Group
September 10, 2019

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Overview of STI versus API Tank Inspections

So you have Aboveground Storage Tanks

(ASTs) at your facility.

Which tank inspection protocol applies?

• Steel Tank Institute STI SP001

OR
• American Petroleum Institute API 653
?
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Why Inspect ASTs?
Regulatory Drivers
EPA – SPCC (40 CFR 112. 8(c)(6)):
• Test or inspect each aboveground container for integrity
• Accordance with industry standards

State and Local Regulations

• Health and Environmental Protection Agencies
• Building Codes
• Fire Codes

Best Practices
• Reduce Risk/Costs (Spills, Clean up , Product loss)

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STI SP001 Standard (6th Edition, January 2018)

Inspection and evaluation criteria required to determine suitability for continued service.
Inspect to identify the condition of and changes to AST.
• ASTs storing flammable and combustible liquids at atmospheric pressure
• Can be applied to AST storing other liquids following proper evaluation

Applicability
• Shop-Built/Fabricated AST – Horizontal or Vertical, Single or
Double Walled
• Steel Diked AST – Open or Closed
• Concrete Exterior AST
• Field-Erected AST – Limited Size
• Portable Containers – Drums, Totes (IBCs) – Plastic, Steel, Stainless

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STI SPOO1 Inspection Components
Primary tank – thickness determination
Secondary tank (if present)
Tank foundation, supports and anchors
Tank gauges and alarms
Overfill valves and alarms
Insulation covering
Tank appurtenances
Normal vents
Emergency vents
Release prevention barriers
Spill control systems
Tank valves and connections (piping)

Example Periodic Inspection Checklist provided in Standard

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Shop-Fabricated AST

Welded carbon or stainless steel AST fabricated in manufacturing facility

• Capacity of 75,000 gallons or less
• Constructed in accordance with UL 142, UL 2085, UL 2080, UL 2244,
UL 2245, SwRI 93-01, SwRI 97-04, or STI (AST F911, AST F921) standards

How to determine if you have a Shop-

Fabricated AST?
• Manufacturer Tank Plate
• Standard Certification Plate
• Capacity
• Lifting Lugs
• Tank Specifications
• Owner Purchase Records

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Evidence of Shop Fabrication

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Steel Diked ASTs

Integral steel secondary containment dike

• Open or Closed

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Concrete Exterior ASTs

UL 2085
• Steel Tank
• Integral containment liner
• Concrete Shell

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Smaller Field-Erected ASTs

Limited in size:
• Greater than 75,000 gallons
• 50 feet maximum height
• 30 feet maximum diameter
• Equates to ~264,000 gallons
• Shell thickness less than ½ inch
and bottom thickness equal to ¼ inch

AST
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3
Type and Capacity

Field-erected AST P, E(5), I (10) P, E&L (5), I (10) P, E&L (5), I (10)

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STI SPOO1 Inspection Frequency

Risk Based Hierarchy RISK

Inspection Matrix
AST Type and Size (Us Category 1 Category 2 Category 3
Gallons)
0 – 1100 gal. P P P, E & L (10)
[P, E & L (5), I (10)]
R 1101 – 5000 gal. P P, E & L (10) OR
I Shop / Fabricated
[P, L (2), E (5)]
S [P, E (10), I (20)] [P, E & L (5), I (10)]
ASTs 5001 – 30,000
P, E (20) OR OR
K gal.
[P, E (5), L (10)] [P, L (1), E (5)]
30,001 – 75,000
P, E (20) P, E & L (5), I (15) [P, E & L (5), I (10)]
gal.
Portable Containers P P P**

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STI SPOO1 Definitions

Continuous Release Detection Method (CRDM) Release Prevention Barrier (RPB)

• Inherent design - passive • Liquid containment barrier under the AST
• Liquid releases are detected visually • Steel (as in steel double bottom tanks)
• Release prevention barrier (RPB) • Concrete foundation pad or dike floor
• Secondary containment AST, including double-wall • Elastomeric liners or other suitable materials
AST or double-bottom AST
• Elevated AST, with or without release prevention
barrier

Spill Control = Secondary Containment Overfill Prevention

• Dike (concrete, earth, steel) Procedures or devices used to prevent liquid in ASTs
• Double-walled from running over or spilling out of the AST during the
• Remote Impoundment filling process

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 AST Category Chart (from STI SP001 Table A2.2):
Tank has Spill Tank has
Tank Configuration AST Category
Control? CRDM?
Single wall vertical AST in contact with ground and no spill control No No 3
Single wall vertical AST in contact with ground in an earthen dike Yes No 2
Single wall vertical AST in concrete dike with concrete floor. Concrete
Yes Yes 1
floor extends under tank completely
Single wall vertical AST in dike with elastomeric liner. Liner extends
Yes Yes 1
under tank completely
Single wall vertical AST installed on gravel and no spill control No No 3
Single wall vertical AST installed on gravel in an earthen dike Yes No 2
Elevated AST with spill control Yes Yes 1
Elevated AST without spill control No Yes 3
AST with double-bottom and spill control Yes Yes 1
Double-wall AST with overfill prevention Yes Yes 1
Double-wall AST without overfill prevention No Yes 3
Concrete exterior AST with overfill prevention Yes Yes 1
Concrete exterior AST without overfill prevention No Yes 3

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STI SPOO1 Inspection Types

P- Periodic AST Inspection – owner’s inspector knowledgeable in the tank operation –

Monthly and Annual frequency

E- Formal External Inspection (FEI) by certified STI inspector

I-Formal Internal Inspection (FII) by certified STI inspector

L-Leak test by owner or owner’s designee

(#) indicates maximum inspection interval in years. For example, E(20) indicates formal
external inspection every 20 years

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STI SPOO1 Inspection Frequency

Risk Based Hierarchy RISK

Inspection Matrix
AST Type and Size (Us Category 1 Category 2 Category 3
Gallons)
0 – 1100 gal. P P P, E & L (10)
[P, E & L (5), I (10)]
R 1101 – 5000 gal. P P, E & L (10) OR
I Shop / Fabricated
[P, L (2), E (5)]
S [P, E (10), I (20)] [P, E & L (5), I (10)]
ASTs 5001 – 30,000
P, E (20) OR OR
K gal.
[P, E (5), L (10)] [P, L (1), E (5)]
30,001 – 75,000
P, E (20) P, E & L (5), I (15) [P, E & L (5), I (10)]
gal.
Portable Containers P P P**

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API 653 Standard (5th Edition, November 2014)

Steel storage tanks built to API 650 or older API

12C.
Minimum requirements for maintaining the
integrity of tanks after placed in service
Addresses inspection, repair, alteration,
relocation, and reconstruction of ASTs.
• Assess suitability for continued use
• Assess Brittle Fracture Risk
• Recognizes fitness-for-service assessment
concepts

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API 653 Inspection Components

• Tank Foundation
• Bottom – flaw and thickness detection
• Shell – flaw and thickness detection
• Brittle Fracture/Failure Assessment
• Structure
• Roof
• Attached Appurtenances
• Nozzles to face of 1st flange, 1st threaded
joint, or 1st welding-end connection

Example Inspection Checklist provided in Standard

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Field-Erected AST

Applicability
• Capacity greater than 75,000 gallons
• Size greater than 50 feet in height and 30 feet in
diameter
• Welded or Riveted

How to determine if you have a Field-Erected AST?

• Manufacturer Tank Plate
• Standard Certification Plate
• Capacity
• No Lifting Lugs
• Rounded Stairway
• Tank Specifications
• Owner Purchase Records

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API 653 Inspection Frequency

Routine In-Service Inspections Internal Inspections

• Owner personnel knowledgeable in tank system • Authorized API 653 Inspector
and operation • Out of service
• Monthly • Assessment of tank bottom condition
• Calculated according the API 653, Section 6.4.2
External Inspections (corrosion rate determination)
• Authorized API 653 Inspector
• In service
• Ultrasonic thickness inspection
• Every 5 years

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API 653 Inspection Frequency
Max. Initial
Tank Safeguard
Interval
Initial Internal
i) Original nominal bottom thickness 5/16 in. or greater 12 years Inspections
ii) Cathodic protection of the soil-side of the primary tank bottom per Note 1 12 years Intervals
iii) Thin-film lining of the product-side of the tank bottom per Note 2 12 years
• 10 years from
date of initial
iv) Fiberglass-reinforced lining of the product-side of the tank bottom per Note 2 13 years service, or
v) Cathodic protection plus thin-film lining 14 years • According to
Risk-Based
vi) Cathodic protection plus fiberglass-reinforced lining 15 years
Inspection
vii) Release prevention barrier per Note 3 (when similar service assessment performed) 20 years (RBI)
Assessment
viii) Release prevention barrier per Note 3 (when RBI assessment performed) 25 years
criteria
NOTE 1 For the purposes of 6.4.2.1, effective cathodic protection of the soil-side of the primary tank bottom means a system
installed and maintained in accordance with API 651.
NOTE 2 For purposes of 6.4.2.1, lining of the product-side of the tank bottom means a lining installed, maintained and inspected
in accordance with API 652.
NOTE 3 For purposes of 6.4.2.1, a release prevention barrier means an under-bottom leak detection and containment system
designed in accordance with API 650, Appendix I.

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API 653 Inspection Frequency

Subsequent Internal
Procedure Used Max. Interval
Inspection Intervals
i) Corrosion rate procedures in 6.4.2.3 20 years
• Determined in
ii) RBI assessment per 6.4.2.4 25 years accordance with
iii) RBI assessment per 6.4.2.4 and a release prevention barrier per Note 30 years
corrosion rate
procedure
calculations
NOTE For purposes of 6.4.2.2, a release prevention barrier means an under-bottom leak detection and
containment system designed in accordance with API 650, Appendix I. • RBI procedures
• Not to exceed
maximum intervals

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Comparison STI SP001 vs. API 653
Regulatory Compliance
• Both Standards provide compliance for tank integrity inspection for SPCC and local environmental
regulations

Risk Based Benefit

• Both Standards provide reduction in inspection frequency for use of release prevention barrier for reduced
spill risk

Applicability
• STI SP001 – All configurations of shop-built tanks and smaller field-erected tanks.
• API 653 - Field-erected tanks (welded or riveted). Also includes guidance for repair, alteration, relocation.

Cost
• STI SP001 - $700 to $2,000 depending upon tank configuration, insulation, economy of scale
• API 653 - $3,500 to $5,500 depending upon tank configuration and economy of scale

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Overview of STI SP001 vs. API 653

Questions?

Gary Diewald, P.E.

Gary.Diewald@anteagroup.com

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