Aboveground Tank and Piping Requirements

ABOVEGROUND TANKS must be sturdy and designed for fuel storage. Tanks can be made of steel or an approved metal. Fiberglass/plastic tanks can not be used because they do not have the structural strength to support a full tank without sustaining structural damage. Tanks must be designed and constructed according to recognized engineering standards for the material being used.

Tank material must also be compatible with the liquid stored. Do not use lubricating oil or agricultural chemical drums. Galvanized tanks are suitable for gasoline storage, but not for diesel; diesel fuel reacts with the galvanized finish causing flakes to form in the fuel. These flakes would soon clog filters.

The tank may be of any shape, type, or design in accordance with sound engineering practices. Metal tanks shall be welded, riveted, caulked, bolted, or any combination of these methods.

PIPING must be constructed of steel or another approved material compatible with the liquid that will be flowing through the pipe. All piping material and parts under pressure must meet the material specifications as well as pressure and temperature limitations. The design and construction of the piping system must be suitable for the expected working pressures and structural stresses that will be present in the storage tank system.

THE ENTIRE SYSTEM containing stored liquid must have additional internal corrosion protection if not designed according to the American Petroleum Institute, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, or the Underwriters Laboratories Inc. standards. If corrosion is anticipated beyond that provided for in the design formulas, additional protection is needed. Areas of the system that are subject to external corrosion must be painted or protected by an approved means against external corrosion.

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