CAN/ULC-S601-14-REV1 MARCH 2019

STANDARD FOR SHOP FABRICATED STEEL ABOVEGROUND TANKS FOR FLAMMABLE AND

COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS

In Canada, there are two official languages, English and French. All safety warnings must be in French
and English. Attention is drawn to the possibility that some Canadian authorities may require
additional markings and/or installation instructions to be in both official languages.

SCOPE

1.1 This Standard sets forth minimum requirements for steel, non-pressure tanks that are used for
the aboveground storage of flammable and combustible liquids compatible with the material of
construction and with a specific gravity not greater than 1.0.

In addition to this Standard’s traditional safety requirements for aboveground steel tanks that
primarily evaluate structural integrity and mitigate environmental hazards from loss of liquid
containment under expected normal conditions; optional construction and/or performance
requirements, and associated ratings intended to address more severe conditions associated with
the effects of Climate Change are included in Appendix E.

NOTE: These tanks may also be used for the storage of used oil. For tanks intended solely for the
collection of used oil, refer to CAN/ULC-S652, Standard for Tank Assemblies for the Collection,
Storage and Removal of Used Oil.

1.2 This Standard covers tanks, which are fabricated, inspected and tested for leakage before
shipment from the factory.

1.3 This Standard covers the construction of tanks for use in stationary installations. Tanks fabricated
in accordance with this Standard are not intended for the transportation of flammable and
combustible liquids nor are they intended to be transported while containing such liquids.

1.5 Section 5 of this Standard covers the construction of single wall tanks. Section 6 covers the

construction of tanks with secondary containment.

1.6 This Standard also covers aboveground steel, rectangular, non-pressure workbench tanks for the

combined use as a working surface and storage of lubricating oils having capacities up to and
including 2500 L.

1.7 This Standard also covers aboveground steel, rectangular, non-pressure, generator-base tanks.

1.8 This Standard also covers utility tanks and double bottom utility tanks designed to allow for
relocation as required by their intended service. These tanks are for installation at locations such as
farms, construction sites, demolition sites, exploration sites, forestry operations and similar
locations.
1.9 (REV1) Except for optional Climate Change Adaptation requirements in Appendix E, these
requirements do not cover special evaluations for resistance to, or use after, earthquakes, floods,
high wind events, or other natural disasters.

2 REFERENCE PUBLICATIONS

2.1 The documents shown below are referenced in the text of this Standard.

• API Standard 650-2007, Welded Steel Tanks for Oil Storage

• ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, 2007

• ASTM A36/A36M-12, Standard Specification for Carbon Structural Steel

• ASTM A1011 / A1011M-13, Standard Specification for Steel, Sheet and Strip, Hot-Rolled, Carbon,

Structural High-Strength Low-Alloy and High-Strength Low-Alloy with Improved Formability and
Ultra-High Strength

• ASTM A1018/A1018M-10, Standard Specification for Steel, Sheet and Strip, Heavy-Thickness Coils,

Hot-Rolled, Carbon, Commercial, Drawing, Structural, High-Strength Low-Alloy, High-Strength Low-

Alloy with Improved Formability, and Ultra-High Strength

• Bednar, Henry H., Pressure Vessel Design Handbook, 1981

• CCME PN 1326-2003, Environmental Code of Practice for Aboveground and Underground Storage
Tank Systems Containing Petroleum and Allied Petroleum Product

• CSA 22.2 No. 0.15-01, Adhesive Labels

• CSA B139-09, Installation Code for Oil Burning Equipment

• CAN/CSA G40.20/G40.21-13, General Requirements for Rolled or Welded Structural Quality

Steel/Structural Quality Steel

• NFPA 30-2012, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code

• CAN/ULC-S602, Standard for Aboveground Steel Tanks for Fuel Oil and Lubricating Oil

• CAN/ULC-S652, Standard for Tank Assemblies for the Collection, Storage and Removal of Used Oil

• CAN/ULC-S663, Standard for Spill Containment Devices for Aboveground Flammable and
Combustible Liquid Storage Tanks

• Zick, L.P., “Stresses in Large Horizontal Cylindrical Pressure Vessels on Two Saddle Supports”,
September, 1951
 3 GLOSSARY
3.2 COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID – Any liquid having a flash point at or above 37.8 °C and below 93.3 °C and

as defined in the National Fire Code of Canada.

3.5 FLAMMABLE LIQUID – Any liquid having a flash point below 37.8 °C and a vapour pressure not

exceeding 276 kPa (absolute) at 37.8 °C and as defined in the National Fire Code of Canada.

3.10 NON PRESSURE TANK(S) / NON-PRESSURE – A tank that is normally vented to atmosphere and

is not intended to accommodate internal pressures at the top of the tank greater than 7 kPa (gauge)
nor internal vacuum greater than 300 Pa (gauge).

4 CONSTRUCTION – GENERAL
4.1 CAPACITIES AND DIMENSIONS

4.1.1 The actual tank capacity shall be not less than the nominal capacity but not greater than the

nominal capacity plus 2.5%.

4.2 MATERIAL
4.2.1 The steel used in the fabrication of all tanks shall be welding quality carbon or low alloy steel.
The following grades described in Subclause A to D, or their recognized equivalent, as described in
Sub-clause F are acceptable. In general, these steels exhibit minimum yield strength of 200 MPa.

A ASTM A1011/1011M, Standard Specification for Steel, Sheet and Strip, Hot-Rolled Carbon,

Structural High-Strength Low-Alloy and High-Strength Low-Alloy with Improved Formability;

B ASTM A1018/A1018M, Standard Specification for Steel, Sheet and Strip, Heavy-Thickness

Coils, Hot-Rolled, Carbon, Commercial, Drawing, Structural, High-Strength Low-Alloy, High-

Strength Low-Alloy with Improved Formability, and Ultra-High Strength;

C ASTM A36/A36M, Standard Specification for Carbon Structural Steel;

D CSA G40.20/G40.21, General Requirements for Rolled or Welded Structural Quality Steel/

Structural Quality Steel;

What does CSA mean?

This Standard covers structural quality steel plates, shapes, hollow sections,
sheet, sheet piling, and bars for general construction and engineering
purposes

What is G40 material?A high-strength, low-alloy steel plate grade specified

within G40. 21 of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). This grade is utilized
in a variety of structural applications. It is also referred to as 350W, which is its
metric designation.
E Stainless Steel Type 304/304L or 316/316L; or

F Carbon steel with a carbon content of 0.3 percent or less, or a carbon equivalency (CE) of 0.53

percent or less as determined by the formula below, and mechanical strength and welding

characteristics at least equivalent to one of the steels specified in Subclauses A through D.

Type of Carbon Steel Carbon Composition

Low Carbon/Mild 0.05-0.25%

Medium Carbon 0.26-0.60%

High Carbon 0.61-1.50%

4.2.2 All structural stiffening members shall be fabricated from steel in accordance with CSA

G40.20/G40.21, General Requirements for Rolled or Welded Structural Quality Steel, ASTM
A36/A36M, Standard Specification for Carbon Structural Steel, or equivalent

4.3 WELDING
4.3.3 Welding slag shall be removed from all internal and external welds prior to performing
production testing.

6 TANKS WITH SECONDARY CONTAINMENT

6.1 GENERAL

6.1.1 The primary tank shall be constructed in accordance with the applicable requirements of
Section 4, Construction – General and Section 5, Single Wall Tanks.

6.1.2 The secondary containment shall be provided with a means for monitoring leakage into the
interstice. The interstice shall be designed so that liquid can flow freely to the point of monitoring.
The secondary containment shall be equipped with a means of removing such liquid. A tank
connection at the top of the secondary containment is considered adequate for this purpose.

6.1.3 The secondary containment shall be capable of being air-pressure tested.

6.2 CONSTRUCTION – ALL TANKS

6.2.1 MATERIALS

6.2.1.1 The secondary containment shall be constructed with materials in accordance with
Subsection 4.2, Material.

6.2.2 CONNECTIONS

6.2.2.1 Fittings located below the normal liquid level in the primary tank shall be designed so that
the entire weld joint to the primary tank is within the interstice. Typical fittings are shown in Figure
10.

6.2.2.2 Secondary containment drain connections shall not be permitted below the highest liquid
level in the containment.

6.2.3 CONSTRUCTION

6.2.3.2 For rectangular and vertical cylindrical tanks, the secondary containment bottom thickness
shall be equal to the primary tank bottom thickness.

6.2.3.4 The secondary containment shell thickness of rectangular tanks shall be a minimum of 2.5
mm.

6.2.4 WELD JOINTS

6.2.4.1 Weld joints of the type shown in Figures 1 to 5 of the primary tank weld joint procedure and
those

in Figure 11, shall be used in the containment.

EXCEPTION: Weld joint S1.5 in Figure 1 also apply to all tank sizes, diameters and all steel
thicknesses.

6.3 CONSTRUCTION – DOUBLE WALL TANKS

6.3.1 GENERAL

6.3.1.1 Double wall tanks shall have the secondary containment wall in intimate contact with the
primary tank wall and shall be vacuum monitored.

6.3.1.3 Where a double wall tank is of vertical or rectangular configuration, the secondary
containment shall, at a minimum, cover the bottom, and sides up to 50 mm from the highest point
of the vertical shell of the primary tank.

6.3.2 JOINTS

6.3.2.1 Double wall tank construction shall be separate from the primary tank, but may include
attachment to the primary tank by stitch welding as shown in Figure 11.

6.4 INTERSTITIAL SPACE EMERGENCY VENTS

6.4.1 Double wall tanks shall be equipped with interstitial space emergency vents sized in
accordance with Table 8. Typical emergency vent designs and location are shown in Figures 12 and
13 respectively.

7.3 SADDLES AND SUPPORT STRUCTURE

7.3.1 Tank support and stabilizing brackets shall be designed in conformance with sound engineering

practice such as evidenced by a stamped engineering drawing, or by Clauses 7.3.2 through 7.3.3.

NOTE: An acceptable configuration for saddles for horizontal cylindrical tanks is found in Appendix D,
Saddles for Horizontal Cylindrical Tanks.

7.3.2 Horizontal cylindrical tanks with capacity of 5000 L or less that do not require tank support,
may have stabilizing brackets supplied or welded to the tank to prevent rolling during use.

7.3.3 Vertical cylindrical tanks on supports such as skirts or legs shall be evaluated by structural
analysis using calculations , stamped by a professional engineer, or tested in accordance with
Subsection 8.8, Tank Support Load Test.

8 PERFORMANCE TESTS
NOTE: These tests are as required in Sections 5, Single Wall Tanks; 6, Tanks with Secondary

Containment; and 7, Accessories.

8.1 PROOF OF DESIGN TEST

8.1.1 GENERAL

8.1.1.1 Representative samples of each tank design shall be tested to demonstrate that the strength
of the assembly, head design, and the welded joints are in accordance with the requirements of
Clause 8.1.1.2.

8.1.1.2 Each tank design shall not rupture or leak, when subject to an internal hydrostatic pressure
of 175 kPa. This test shall be conducted using the apparatus shown in Figure 16 and the method
described in Subsection 8.1.3, Method.

EXCEPTION: Except for utility tanks, test gauge pressure of 105 kPa may be used instead of 175 kPa
if tanks are marked as specified in Clause 11.2.2 as applicable.

11.2.2 If a tank is subjected to a gauge pressure of 105 kPa hydrostatic pressure as covered in the
Exception to Clause 8.1.1.2, the tank shall be marked to indicate a maximum leakage test pressure
of 21 kPa

8.1.1.3 As an alternative to the requirements of Clause 8.1.1.2, tanks may be designed and certified
by a professional engineer and tested in accordance with Clause 8.1.1.4. Calculations shall allow for
a design load of 70 kPa, which prevents maximum panel deflection from exceeding its longest
dimension of the face divided by 100 under this load. The certified design shall be retained by the
manufacturer.

8.1.1.4 A sample tank constructed in accordance with a certified design as described in Clause
8.1.1.3 shall not sustain permanent distortion when subjected to an internal pressure of 35 kPa
(gauge) nor exceed the allowable design deflection when subject to an internal hydrostatic pressure
of 70 kPa (gauge). The tank shall not leak.

11 MARKING
NOTE: In Canada, there are two official languages, French and English. Attention is drawn to the fact
that some Canadian authorities may require markings to be in both official languages.

11.1 MARKING – ALL TANKS

11.1.1 The following information shall be engraved or stamped on a corrosion resistant metal
nameplate permanently attached to the tank and located so as to be readily visible when installed. If
a pressure –sensitive label, ink, paint-stencilling or other method is used, it shall comply with the
requirements of CSA 22.2 No. 0.15, Adhesive Labels or UL 969, Standard for Marking and Labelling
Systems, be suitable for outdoor use and exposure to fuel and have a surface temperature rating
within –35 ° to 60 °C.

A Name of tank manufacturer;

B Year of manufacture;

C Nominal capacity of primary tank or each compartment of a multi-compartment tank;

D Maximum operating pressure, 7 kPa;

E Maximum test pressure;

F Maximum operating vacuum, 300 Pa;

G Required venting capacity (normal + emergency), cubic m/min of primary tank or each
compartment of a multi-compartment tank; and

H Where a tank is provided with integral spill containment in accordance with Clause 7.5.1:

“WITH INTEGRAL SPILL CONTAINMENT”; and

I Standard number, e.g. CAN/ULC-S601

NOTE: Manufacturers should be aware that the authority having jurisdiction may also require that
the mark of the certifying agency be included on each tank.