Integrity of atmospheric storage tanks
June 19, 2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has updated its circular covering the integrity of atmospheric storage tanks, in order to raise awareness of the factors to consider when operating storage tanks containing hazardous substances.
Information was drawn from a series of site inspections ranging from refinery tank farms, large speciality chemical storage facilities and a number of smaller sites where bulk storage tanks were used to store raw, intermediate and final product materials.
While some of the information is general and can be applied to a wide range of mechanical plant, other parts of the publication are equipment-specific.
However, the circular is intended as a reference aid to assist both regulators and others concerned with the operation, and in-service integrity of storage tanks, by identifying good practices.
Other sections of the report cover issues such as:
- general integrity procedures
- damage mechanisms
- manufacturing and repair defects
- inspection practices
- non-metallic tanks
- venting and relief
- coatings and linings
- hydrotesting
The publication concludes with a summary of the most relevant codes and standards.
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