Standards Communication No.

16-099

Refining Standards & Specifications Communication

SP-42-18.2 Accessories for Atmospheric Storage Tanks

What is changing and why?

There were several changes made to the core specification SP-42-18.2 Accessories for Atmospheric Storage Tanks.
The changes to the document are summarized on the attached spreadsheet.

How does it affect you?

Storage Tank Advisory Group Members
Be aware of the revisions to the core specification.
Refinery Engineering Supervisors:
Be aware of the revisions to the core specification.

When?

The revised core specification can be found at the following link

http://cbgrs20/red/copyout.aspx?lib_no=32&doc_no=149 was posted on 10/27/2016.

What you need to do now?

Refinery Maintenance Department Administrative Assistant:
Forward this communication tool to the Storage Tank Coordinator in your department.
Refinery Engineering Department Administrative Assistant:
Forward this communication tool to the most current Supervisors and Project Managers in your department.
Refinery Engineering Supervisors and Storage Tank Coordinators:
Review the revisions to the core specification, at your next department meeting make applicable personnel
aware there has been changes to the specification.
Questions/concerns about the specification - please contact Charles Race 313-297-6074

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Change Summary for Standards Communication No. 16-099

Section
1.1

Title
Refining
References

1.2

Industry
References

3.1

Number and
Size of
Manholes
Remote
Temperature
Indicators

3.6

Local
Temperature
Indicators

Airfoam
Systems and
Gages
Tanks
Requiring
Gauging or
Sampling

5-7

Removed the following from the specification:

Important: Stairways and platforms shall be painted same as tank
shell.

5.3.1

Stairway
Design and
Construction

Changed the following section to the document to read:

Cost Saving
All parts shall be made of metal. All circumferential stairways are
to be galvanized and constructed using a double stringer design.

Approximate saving Most component can be fabrication off-site, Galvanizing can

$5K per set of stairs be done off site and there is much less field welding associated
with the installation.

5.6.4

Roof Ladders
and external
Floating Roof
Ladders

10

Changed the following section to the document to read:

Step assemblies shall be of open type and have non-slip walking
surfaces and self-leveling treads with a minimum width of 20 28
inches and a 34-inch high handrail at the nose of the tread.

Improve Safety

Small incremental Recommended width per Process Industry Practices (PIP) PIP
cost associated with VESTA002. 20" too tight for fresh-air access.
change ~$1000 per
stairs

5.8

Platform
Floor Plate

11

Changed the following section to the document to read:

Platform floor plate shall have a raised platform and 1/4 inch
nominal thickness. Flooring shall be made of nonslip material.

Revisions to
Codes/Improve Safety

Cost Neutral

3.5

5.1

Comment Description of Change

Added reference to:
1
SP-00-09 Structural Steel Fabrication and Erection

Cost Impact
Cost Neutral

Discussion
Documents are referenced in the body of the core specification

Added references to specification:

Improve Clarity
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
ASTM A123
Standard Specification for Zinc (Hot-Dip Galvanized) Coatings on
Iron and Steel Products
ASTM A1011
Standard Specification for Steel, Sheet and Strip, Hot-Rolled,
Carbon, Structural, High-Strength Low-Alloy, High-Strength LowAlloy with Improved Formability, and Ultra-High Strength

Cost Neutral

Documents are referenced in SP-00-09 specifications.

Added word cone to description:

The minimum size and quantity of cone roof and shell manholes
shall be as follows

Improve Clarity

Cost Neutral

Needed to clarify different requirement between cone roofs in

floating roof tanks

Revisions to Codes

Small incremental Changed in RSP-1172-010. Wanted 8 bolt (300#) connection

cost associated with vs. 4 bolt (150#)
change ~$300 per
flange

Revisions to Codes

Small incremental Changed in RSP-1172-010. Wanted 8 bolt (300#) connection

cost associated with vs. 4 bolt (150#)
change ~$300 per
flange

Editorial

Cost Neutral

Improve Clarity

Cost Neutral

Changed the following section to the document to read:

Remote Temperature Indicators are required on all tanks per the
requirements of RSP 1172 010. All temperature indicators shall
be installing installed in a 2-inch 300# RF flange thermowell.
Changed the following section to the document to read:
Remote Temperature Indicators are required on all tanks per the
requirements of RSP 1172 010. All temperature indicators shall
be installing installed in a 2-inch 300# RF flange thermowell.

Reason for Change

Improve Clarity

Changed Airfoam to foam

Changed made to be consistent with SP-42-18.6

Requirements for painting are addressed in painting
specifications

Changed made to be consistent with SP-00-09

Important:
Drainage shall be provided by one hole, 1/2 inch diameter, for
approximately every 15 sq. ft. of steel floor plate.
Holes shall be located at low spots, and shall be drilled after
erection.
Apply the following for platform floor plates:
5.8.1 Flooring shall be open type steel grating having 1-inch
deep x 3/16-inch thick bearing bars with non-skid cross bars,
pressure welded in a rectangular pattern.
5.8.2 Welded Steel Bar Grating shall be ASTM A1011, unless
noted otherwise on design drawings (or contract documents),
galvanized per ASTM A123.
5.8.15.8.3 Top surface of bearing bars shall be serrated. Grating
stair treads shall have abrasive or checkered plate nosing
6.1.5-7

Gauge Well
and Guide
Pole
Assemblies

12

Changed the following section to the document to read:

Improves Reliability
6.1.5 Guide pole slots are only allowed below the lowest
operating point of the floating tank unless an automatic gage is to
be installed on the guide pole to measure the actual liquid level. In
this case, the guide pole must be slotted along its length and
sealed with an appropriate sealing system. All guide poles on
floating roof tanks should be slotted below the lowest operating
point of the roof.
6.1.6 Floating roof tanks with guide poles being utilized for
product sampling should be slotted along the entire operating
length of the pole and sealed with an appropriate sealing system.
See Figure 6.3 (reference drawing RSD-42-18.5).
6.1.7 Floating roof tanks with guide poles equipped with an
automatic gage shall be slotted along the entire operating length of
the pole and sealed with an appropriate sealing system. See Figure
6.3 (reference drawing RSD-42-18.5).

Small incremental Changed to allow plants to have the option of slotting the guide
cost associated with pole if they fell need to sample product at the guide pole. As
change ~$1500 per written this practice would not be allowed.
pole

6.1.8

Gauge Well
and Guide
Pole
Assemblies

13

Added word well to description:

(a) sliding well cover gasket,

Cost Neutral

Improve Clarity

Needed to clarify which cover was being referenced

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Change Summary for Standards Communication No. 16-099

6.1.8

6.1.8

6.4

6.6

Gauge Well
and Guide
Pole
Assemblies
Gauge Well
and Guide
Pole
Assemblies
Primary Roof
Drains

14

Changed the section to add:

(d) guide pole float with wiper , or

Accepted Practice

Cost Neutral

Should have always been included on list of control devices

15

Changed the section to add:

(e) flexible guide pole cover.

Accepted Practice

Cost Neutral

Acceptable gauge pole emission control device per EPA

16

Cost Neutral

Reviewed requirement with the Product Control supervisors.

We currently dont have these installed on any of our tanks and
excessive rainfall events are handled procedurally.

Automatic
Bleeder Vent

17

Removed the following requirement:

Accepted Practice
An automatic roof draining device shall be provided with primary
drains when tanks are located in areas where rainfall is expected
to exceed 10 inches in a 24 hour period.
Changed the section to read:
Revision to Code
Each roof shall be equipped with a bleeder vent (vacuum
breaker), designed to open automatically when the roof lowers to
3 inches above its leg position setting, and to close automatically
when the roof raises more than 3 inches above its leg position
setting.
6.6.1 Each roof shall be equipped with leg or cable activated vents
(vacuum breakers), designed to open automatically when the roof
lowers to 6 inches above its lowest operating position and to close
automatically when the roof raises more than 6 inches above its
lowest position.

Cost Neutral

Section change to reflect current wording in API 650

6.6.2 Each automatic bleeder vent (vacuum breaker vent) shall e

equipped with a gasketed cover and the cover shall be electrically
bonded to the floating roof to prevent static electricity sparking
when they are opened.
6.6.2 Important: Boot leg must meet current environmental
regulations.
6.7.1 b

Manholes

18

Changed the section to read:

(b) Improve Clarity
Roof pontoon/compartments shall have a cover over each
manhole and be equipped with suitable hold-down fixtures or with
other means of preventing wind or fire-fighting hose streams from
removing the covers.

Small incremental Added to clarify API 650 code requirement

cost associated with
change ~$300 per
manway

6.7.2

Manholes

19

Changed the section to read:

Improve Safety
6.7.2 Deck Manways:
(a) Tanks under 60 feet in diameter shall be provided with one 30inch diameter manhole.
(b) Roofs 60Tanks between 60 feet and 150 feet in diameter and
over shall be provided with two 30-inch diameter deck manholes
for access into the tank. These manholes shall be located in
diametrically opposite positions.
(c) Tanks greater than 150 feet in diameter shall be provided with
three 30-inch diameter deck manholes for access into the tank.
These manholes shall be equally spaced around the center deck.
Roofs under 60 feet diameter shall be provided with one 30 inches
diameter deck manhole.
(d) Deck manways shall have gasketed and bolted covers.

Small incremental Need more access points on larger tank diameters for hoses,
cost associated with air movers and ladders.
change ~$1500 per
manway

8.1

Floating
Suction design

20

Added the following section to the document:

Improve Clarity
Floating Suction Design for tanks with carbon steel floating roofs:
8.1.1 The floating suction should be designed for a total uplift
force between 150-300 lbs.
8.1.2 A pivot point design should not be incorporated for floating
suctions. The floats should be fixed to the suction piping.
8.1.3 The floating suction assembly shall be long enough so that
the angle between the floor and suction piping cannot exceed 55
feet.
8.1.4 The deck plate on the underside of the floating roof shall be
seal welded where the floating suction roller makes contact with
the roof plates.
8.1.5 The floating suction assembly needs to be designed for the
specific gravity of the tank product.

Cost Neutral

Added section for design guidance

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