800 Fire and Safety Design

800 Fire and Safety Design
Abstract
This section contains guidance and requirements for tank and tank field design
which reduce the risk of fire and improve the ability to fight a fire. It presents
information on tank spacing, drainage, and impoundage and helps you determine the
need for, and design of, fixed extinguishing systems. It also lists design
considerations and methods that reduce the risk of fire. Both designer and
management can use the section to determine design criteria beyond national, state
and local codes and regulations.
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Contents
Page
810
General Considerations
800-2
811
Typical Causes of Fire
812
Design Considerations for Firefighting
813
Fire Protection
820
Location and Spacing
821
Location
822
Tank Spacing
830
Fire Suppression Systems
831
Risk Factors
832
Fire Water Systems
833
Foam Systems
840
Electrical Area Classification
800-23
850
Drainage and Impounding
800-27
851
Drainage
852
Remote Impounding
853
Diked Enclosures
800-1
800-10
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810 General Considerations

Tank fires occur at a rate of around 3 x 10-3 fires per tank year (or three fires per
year for every thousand tanks). Compared to other types of equipment in the oil and
chemical industries, this is a relatively low frequency. On the other hand, tank fires,
when they occur, can be very spectacular, attract plenty of unwanted attention, and
can be very costly. Therefore, a well-thought out balance of prevention, suppression
and acceptable level of risk is the recommended approach to fire protection on
tanks.
Overall, the design concepts for protecting tankage from fires are based on the
following objectives:
1.
Minimize the occurrence of tank fires.
2.
Avoid conditions that can result in major spills, major vapor releases, frothovers, or boilovers.
3.
Contain spills, leaks, or overfills to minimize their effect on other tanks and
associated equipment.
4.
Control fires at the tank and limit their spread to other tanks or facilities.
811 Typical Causes of Fire

Knowing the cause of past tank fires helps us prevent future fires. Some common
causes of tank fires and methods to prevent them are given below:
Lightning Ignition
See Section 430 for a discussion of tank grounding.
Seals on Open-top Floating Roof Tanks. Prevent these fires by properly designing
and maintaining shunts for primary and secondary seals, and insulated pantograph
hanger sections where applicable. (See Section 420.)
Internal Floating Roof Tanks. Ignition has occurred at vent openings due to
flammable vapors in the vapor space. The flammable vapor space can be caused by:
A sunken roof
Filling the tank after the roof has been set on its legs
Volatile liquids entering the tank due to process upset
A separated roof seal
Use of a buoyant roof, routine monitoring of the vapor space, and procedural control
during lightning storms will prevent such fires (see Section 420). Internal floating
roofs are not vulnerable to lightning ignitions at the seals, and shunts are not
required.
Cone Roof Tanks. On tanks with flammable vapor space, ignition has occurred
when there have been openings through the roof. To prevent these incidents, use
pressure/vacuum valves on the tank vents (see Section 780), assure the gaging and
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sampling hatches have been closed, and use proper maintenance to ensure that no
corrosion openings exist in the tanks vapor space. It is recommended to use floating
roof or internal floating roof tanks for flammable liquids and for liquids stored at or
above their flash point (with the exception of hot asphalt tanks).
Overfill of Tanks Storing Flammable Liquid

Overfilling can cause vapors to reach ignition sources outside the diked area (see
Exterior Ignition Sources below). Overfills are prevented by sound operating
procedures and controls. Engineering can assist by providing necessary gaging
equipment, level alarms and shutdown equipment to carry out these procedures.
This equipment should be designed and installed so that it is easy for the operator to
test and maintain it. (See Section 900.)
Ignition While Performing Hot Work

Prevent these fires by detailed preplanning to identify and avoid potential risks
when removing tanks from service and during maintenance work. Engineering can
reduce risks during these operations by: (1) providing liquid-tight pontoon
compartments (See Section 420) and (2) designing internal piping and structural
members with positive drainage to minimize risk of flammable liquids being
trapped (See Section 700.)
Hot Asphalt Tank Fires

These fires are caused mostly by cracking and rapid oxidation at excessively high
temperatures. They primarily are prevented by operational control keeping storage
temperatures below 400F. Suitable temperature indicators and alarms must be
provided. An alternate approach is to use inert blanketing for hot tanks.
Large Vapor Releases

These releases result from stocks with excessively high vapor pressure (over 14.7
psia true vapor pressure) entering atmospheric tankage. External sources have
provided the source of ignition (see External Ignition Sources below). Suitable
instrumentation on process equipment and in gasoline blending systems will
minimize the release potential. Large vapor releases also have occurred from slop
tanks where naphtha-type slops have been introduced into heated slop tanks.
Segregated piping and tankage should be provided to avoid mixing light and heated
heavy slops.
Tank Froth-overs
Froth-overs occur when water enters hot tanks (over 212F) or when hot streams
enter tanks with water bottoms. The resulting massive froth releases have travelled
significant distances to reach exterior ignition sources (see below).
Tank froth-overs can be minimized by (1) designing process limit cooling water
systems to operate at a lower pressure than the hot process streams. This method
prevents water from leaking through the cooler bundles into hot rundown streams;
(2) providing proper instrumentation on rundown lines to tankage operating below
212F, preventing these rundown streams from exceeding that temperature (usually
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200F is the tank temperature limit, see Section 1230); and (3) by designing
facilities to make it easy to regularly remove any water which accumulates in the
bottom of the tank.
Pyrophoric Ignitions
These spontaneous ignitions occur when iron sulfide deposits oxidize in the
presence of a flammable mixture in the vapor space of tanks. Such iron sulfide
deposits can form on metal in the vapor space where the hydrogen sulfide content is
high and there is no oxygen. Upon introduction of air, such deposits oxidize and
create an ignition source.
During normal operation of sour stock tanks, the risk can be minimized by using
floating roof tanks or by inert blanketing of fixed roof tanks. When removing sour
tanks from service, use careful procedural control until the tanks are gas free and all
built up deposits removed. Tank design should provide a means to evacuate gas and
sweeten the tank.
Static Electricity Ignitions

Such ignitions usually occur during initial filling, mixing, sampling, and gaging in
fixed roof tanks. Refined stocks with conductivities lower than 50
picoSiemens/meter (pS/M), and which can have flammable mixtures near the liquid
surface are particularly vulnerable. The use of floating roof tanks in these services,
with roofs properly bonded to the shell (see Standard Drawing GB-D1082 for
bonding details) basically eliminates these potentials except during the initial fill
period until the roof is floating.
Higher flash stock tanks, where hydrogen or light hydrocarbon vapors can enter
with rundown streams due to process upsets, are also vulnerable. Some preventive
steps which can be taken are:
Floating Roof Tanks:
Fill the tanks with water until the roof is floating before you introduce the
product, or
Until roof is floating during initial fill, reduce fill rate to less than 3 ft/sec
through inlet diffuser.
Make the vapor space beneath the roof inert before filling.
Fixed Roof Tanks (handling refined stocks which can have flammable mixtures
near the liquid surface):
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During initial fill, reduce the fill rate to less than 3 ft/sec through inlet diffuser
until diffuser is covered by 6" of product.
Provide gaging and sampling wells or
Provide blanketing in the vapor space (could be inert, N2 flue gas, or natural or
refinery gas).
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Contaminated High Flash Stock Tanks:
Closely control process operations, particularly stripping, to minimize carryover of hydrogen or light hydrocarbon into tanks.
Regularly sample rundown streams and test for product contamination.
Periodically test vapor space of these rundown tanks to determine if

flammability exists.
Provide gaging and sampling wells in these fixed roof tanks.
Exterior Ignition Sources

Sources such as motor vehicles, energized electrical equipment, hot surfaces from
pump bearing failure, and open flames can start fires. These ignitions usually occur
with high vapor releases caused by overfilling or high-vapor-pressure stocks
entering tanks. A similar problem exists when froth-overs occur.
Within the immediate vicinity of the tanks and their associated impounding and
drainage areas, control is accomplished through proper electrical area classification
and work permit procedures. It is impractical to protect against ignition for the
major release situations. They are avoided through process controls, safe operating
procedures, and training.
Equipment with a higher fire risk, especially pumps, should be located outside of
tank impounds.
812 Design Considerations for Firefighting

The design must provide for containment of the tank contents and for the safety and
effectiveness of firefighters during a tank fire. The basic fire protection design
concepts for tankage areas require the movement of personnel, foam generating
equipment, and portable hoses and equipment to the fire area. It is important to
consult with the local fire fighting agency on available equipment and fire fighting
techniques during the design phase. See Section 830 for a discussion of tank fire
fighting.
Accessibility
Accessibility is the key factor, both in the movement of the mobile equipment to the
fire site and the effective, safe use there. Some of the primary overall considerations
in this regard are:
Roads. Two or more road accesses from different directions should be available to
each tank field area. A road should be provided on at least one side of all low flash
stock tanks. The roads must be wide enough or have sufficient turnouts to allow
efficient maneuvering of firefighting vehicles.
Mains, hydrants. Fire water mains and hydrants should be located along these
roadways, with hydrants positioned on the roadside of any dikes, pipeways,
drainage ditches, or other obstructions. As appropriate, walkways or accessways
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should be provided over wide pipeways or other obstructions to allow for running
hose lines into the tankage areas.
Dikes. Dike heights normally should be limited to six feet above the surrounding
land to allow ease of access over the dikes by firefighters. Stairways or other
operator accessways normally would be provided over both sides of the dike near
the roadside for operations control.
Stairways. The bottom of the tank stairway should be located on the tank near the
operator access point. For operation as well as firefighting considerations, locate the
top of the stairway on the prevailing upwind side of the tanks where practical.
Where dikes must be higher than six feet for earthen construction or four feet for
concrete, an additional stairway on the opposite side of the dike enclosure is desirable for easy egress.
Some specific design considerations for different types of anticipated fires are:
Seal Fires in Open-top Floating Roof Tanks
For larger tanks (greater than 120-foot diameter), handrails on wind girders for
emergency access around the tank, and foam dams on the roof, are required.
The wind girder walkway can also be used for seal inspections.
Foam dams as shown in Figures 800-6 and 800-7 are also required, although it
is recognized they may present a hindrance to maintenance work.
Firefighters need good access to the tank stairway for ascent to the roof
platform.
Cone Roof Tank Vent Fires
Firefighters must carry portable equipment to the roof and need a minimum
stairway width of 30 inches.
Locate the vents near the roof apex, or provide handrails in areas where vents
are located near the roof edge.
Water Drawoff Fires
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Sumps, under drawoff connections, should be connected to a closed drain

system to limit the area of any spill fires associated with these connections. The
drain line should contain a liquid seal to prevent vapor and fire transmission
into and/or from the sewer system.
The drawoff connection should be located at least 15 feet from the main tank
valve manifold to avoid manifold involvement in case of a drawoff fire. Where
water drawoff lines are connected to the suction or fill lines, an additional valve
should be provided at the suction or fill line connection to allow isolation in the
event of a fire.
In case of leakage and fire around the manifold area, the drawoff connection
can be used for injecting water into the bottom of the tank.
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Spill Fire/Impounding Basin Fire/Tank Overfill

Firefighters need access to inside of diked areas to:
Deliver foam by portable hose streams to cover small spill fires.
Deliver water to cool exposed downwind tanks.
Drainage design is important to minimize exposure from spills to other tanks,

piping, or other facilities. Remote impounding to contain the fuel carried away from
tanks and piping is good fire protection design practice.
Fully Involved Tank Fire
Firefighters need access to diked areas to cool shells of downwind-exposed

equipment.
Crude Tank Fires with Boilover Potential
Store crude in floating roof tanks to avoid boilover potential. Experience also
indicates that boilover during fires in small crude tanks is not likely.
If a cone roof crude tank fire should occur and boilover results, firefighters
must evacuate the immediate area during that occurrence and then return to
handle wide area spill fires. Overall layout should provide for such evacuation
and subsequent access needs.
Many of the designs in the sections on drainage, layout, spacing and fire
suppression systems improve the effectiveness of firefighting efforts and minimize
the spread of fire.
Fire Protection Requirements

Inherently, many of the features of tank design and construction are related to minimizing fire losses. The welding and tank foundation requirements are designed to
provide basic integrity to the tank. The steel materials of tank construction as well
as the valve connections provide for high resistance under fire exposure. The
spacing and layout requirements as well as drainage and impounding provisions are
tied directly to fire containment and control. All such items cannot be included, but
several key considerations are listed for emphasis. Reference should be made to the
appropriate sections elsewhere in the Tank Manual for details relative to their design
and installation.
General Design Requirements.
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High-level alarm(s) for protection against tank overfilling (see Section 900).
These can be an important backup for operator control during tank filling.
Acceptable types of fire resistant valves for connections below the liquid
surface and in drainage and impounding areas (see Section 850). Suitable valve
materials (normally steel) are necessary to avoid failure under fire exposure and
additional liquid release to the fire. Also, valve closure might be required after
fire exposure to stop fuel release. Specifically, no brass or bronze valves and no
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wafer butterfly valves with exposed bolts should be used on the tank and in the
drainage and impounding areas.
Acceptable design arrangements for piping flexibility near tanks including fire
resistance and mechanical flexibility (see Section 700). To avoid failures or
leakage, piping must be flexible enough to accommodate settling of tanks,
shifting of foundation, expansion and contraction from temperature changes
and soil movement. If mechanical joints are used, they should not fail during
fire exposure.
Tank sampling connections, where installed below the liquid level, should have
a root valve against the tank (normally closed except when sampling), readily
accessible by the operators. For tanks with circular stairways, these valves
should be accessible from the stairway or at a centrally located manifold (see
Section 700).
Drains for spill pads under sample connections or mixers should be tied to the
area drain system through a sealed connection. This reduces the build-up of
spilled oil which creates housekeeping and fire risk problems.
Tank nozzles for filling/withdrawal, water drawoff, and sampling should not be
installed beneath the stairway. This protects stairway access if a spill from one
of these nozzles should catch fire. Also, these nozzles should be separated from
each other (see Section 600).
Safe Practices
In addition, there are a number of safety/fire prevention practices associated with
tank maintenance and operations. Items falling into this category are:
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Safe operating practices to prevent overfilling tanks. Clearly developed and

enforced procedures are essential in establishing firm operator control to avoid
overfilling.
Procedures and controls for filling, sampling and gauging. Static can
accumulate during filling, and restraints must be imposed during initial filling
and during sampling and gauging of certain types of tanks to avoid introduction
of an ignition source. Refer to API Recommended Practice 2003, Protection
Against Ignitions Arising Out of Static, Lightning, and Stray Currents.
Procedures for drawing water and minimizing oil losses which include operator
coverage at all times. Properly controlled water drawoff reduces the chance of
significant oil spills and resultant potential for fire.
Hot work on tanks in or out of service. Special precautions and procedures need
to be established to properly eliminate or control ignitable materials at tanks
where mechanical hot work is to be performed. Refer to Section 1100.
Procedures for in-service testing and maintenance of level and alarm systems.
Such instrumentation must be regularly tested to assure continued reliability.
Testing must include the entire system from primary level sensing element
to the alarm in the control room. Where tanks must be removed from service
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for necessary testing or maintenance, there is risk of continuing operation of

tanks without workable level control instrumentation. Refer to Section 900.
Maintenance procedures for gas testing and entering tanks. Carefully developed
cleaning, gas freeing, and gas testing procedures are essential to assure safety
of personnel entering or working on tanks, both from a fire risk and toxic
exposure standpoint. These procedures will vary based on tank type and
material previously stored. Refer to Section 1100.
Provisions for gas testing of floating roof pontoon compartments. Liquid or

vapor leakage into pontoons can occur from inadequate top seam welding,
improperly sealed manway covers, or corrosion. Before hot work can be started
in these areas, there must be assurance that flammable or combustible materials
are not present. Refer to Section 1100.
Provision for draining internal piping and structural supports when gas freeing
before mechanical work. An overlooked accumulation of hydrocarbons in
internal piping or supports can create a potential fire hazard.
Provision for draining or pumping into or out of a tank during a fire. In certain
tank fire situations, this may be the best approach to minimize losses. It should
be considered in the emergency planning.
Labeling is required on tanks in certain locations, based on legal or local

requirements, to identify contents which may be flammable, combustible, or
toxic. Refer to NFPA 704.
Requirements for Nonmetallic and Special Service Tanks

Nonmetallic tanks or tanks in special services require procedures or design
considerations:
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Use of nonmetallic tanks is limited generally to services where flammable

materials are not being handled or to remote producing areas where failure or
loss would be an acceptable risk.
Plastic tanks should be protected from lightning and static ignition, if flammable vapors can occur. Lightning protection can be provided by lightning
rods, conducting masts, or overhead ground wires. For details, see NFPA 78.
Static electricity may be a problem for plastic tanks holding conducting as well
as non-conducting fluids. All metallic objects such as manway openings, fluid
connections, or gauging instruments, even if not in contact with the liquid, must
be bonded together and grounded. Avoid having any metal projections inside
the tank that create a spark gap with a rising liquid level. These projections
provide a focal point for sparking from the liquid surface.
Internal coatings, such as plastic or paint, <80 mil (2mm) thick in metal tanks
do not create any added static hazard. Their resistivities are of the same order of
magnitude as the oil, and they create no barrier to the flow of static charge.
Special requirements for hot tanks. Controls must be established to prevent

water entering or developing in such tanks to avoid steam formation and
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resulting froth-over. Tank temperatures should be maintained above 250F for

this purpose. To avoid potential for self-igniting oxidation, maximum
temperatures should be 400F unless the tank is blanketed.
Special requirements for slop tanks. In general, light and heated heavy slops
should be segregated in separate systems to avoid significant vapor generation
when light hydrocarbon enters a heated tank.
Vapor recovery systems require special design based on many factors including
layout, type and size of tankage, and hydrocarbons involved. The overall
arrangement should not permit flammable mixtures to be drawn through
compressors or long runs of piping.
813 Fire Protection

While requirements may vary from state to state, all states incorporate, either
wholly or in part, the fire codes developed by the National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) or the International Conference of Building Officials. NFPAs
Code 30 is the most widely used fire code in the U.S. Provisions of the code apply
to many aspects of aboveground storage including design and construction of tanks,
location, spacing, venting and spillage control, and protection of adjoining property
or waterways by means of draining or diking.
The Uniform Fire Code, published by the International Conference of Building
Officials, is adopted by seven western states. The requirements of the Uniform Fire
Code are similar to those of NFPA.
820 Location and Spacing

821 Location
Tank location is influenced by a number of factors including:
Operating requirements,
Topographical features,
Fire protection considerations, and
Optimum use of property.
Operating Requirements
Operating requirements may dictate whether tankage is located close to or remote
from units which they serve. Generally tanks are uphill from their transfer pumps
and close to each other for ready access, short suction lines and minimum piping.
Sometimes stock characteristics, quality control, or other factors may require
location of tanks close to processing units. Generally these tanks should be limited
in size to meet processing needs rather than storage requirements.
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Topographical Features and Fire Protection

The surrounding topography should be used to the best advantage to suit immediate
operating needs and to allow for expansion. Elevation, drainage, grading and
excavation costs, and soil characteristics need to be considered.
Drainage is of prime importance in tank field layouts, and should be considered
during initial designs rather than as a design detail after the layout is established.
Making plot plans showing existing, new and future tankage is always helpful.
Spills must be drained away from tanks and contained in remote impounds on
Company property. Also spills should not endanger other Company facilities,
including pumps, filters, major valve manifolds, major electrical equipment, or
other equipment which may be located in the tank field.
Differences in elevation should be used in meeting drainage requirements. From a
fire prevention standpoint, these considerations become even more important when
handling flammable liquids with flash points below 100F. For such low flash stock,
including crude oil, avoid locating impounding and drainage areas at higher
elevations than other facilities. This is especially true for public roads and other
offsite facilities, and in-plant facilities where personnel or equipment exposures
might be involved.
Adequate roads are needed to provide ready access to all tanks and should be
considered in the layout. These roads may be narrow, but they should be all-weather
roads and provided with turnouts at convenient intervals to accommodate multiple
vehicles involved in handing any emergency. There must be access so that tank field
operators can conveniently reach each tank without taking a motor vehicle into an
impounding basin area or across an open drainage channel that could contain
flammable liquid.
Optimum Use of Property

Locate tanks so that Company property is used to its maximum potential value as
plant and building sites. Tanks should be located so they are in harmony with the
planned development, or primary function, of the overall area. Consider aesthetics
when locating a tank; especially if the tank can be seen from public accessways or if
it changes the skyline. Also consider locating tanks away from easy public access
and away from sources of fire outside the fenceline.
822 Tank Spacing

Regulations
Tank spacing requirements are based on standards in the National Fire Protection
Associations Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code (NFPA 30). Company
standards have been developed by the CRTC Fire and Process Safety Team. These
standards for proximity of tanks to property lines are the same as the NFPA 30 Code
(1996 Edition). Shell-to-shell spacing is also the same as NFPA 30. This section
gives minimum layout requirements under normal situations. Greater spacing
should be considered where possible. The greater the spacing, the less likely other
equipment would be damaged as a result of a nearby fire.
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Distance from Property Lines and Public Ways

Requirements for the location of aboveground tankage with respect to property lines
and public ways are based upon the following criteria:
Pressure limitation under emergency venting conditions,

Type of liquid stored and its behavior under fire conditions,
Type of tank, and the type of fire protection available.
Use Figures 800-1 through 800-4 to calculate distances. These figures give
minimum standards which are acceptable under normal conditions. However,
consider what is adjacent to the Company's property line. Major high volume
highways and buildings of high occupancy, may be at risk or be a source of high
risk to Company facilities. In those cases, additional spacings should be considered.
Alternatively, use of the area nearer the property line for finished product tanks
containing stocks with flash points above 140F would minimize risk.
Fig. 800-1
Aboveground Tanks for Stable Flammable and Combustible Liquids (Below 200F Flash Point) Other Than
Crude Oil Reprinted with permission from NFPA 30-1996, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code,
Copyright 1996, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy MA 02269. This reprinted material is not
the complete and official position of the NFPA on the referenced subject, which is represented only by
the standard in its entirety.
Type of Tank
Level of Protection
Minimum Distance in Feet

from Property Line Which Is
or Can be Built Upon,
Including the Opposite Side
of a Public Way (Not Less
Than 5 Feet)
Floating Roof(1)
Protection for Exposures(2)
1/2 times diameter of tank
None(3)
Diameter of tank but need

not exceed 175 feet
Approved foam or inerting

system on tanks not
exceeding 150 feet in diameter(4)
Diameter of tank
None(4)
2 times diameter of tank but

need not exceed 350 feet
Approved inerting system on

the tank or approved foam
system on vertical tanks
1/2 times Figure 800-3
1/2 times Figure 800-3
Figure 800-3
Figure 800-3
None(3)
2 times Figure 800-3
Figure 800-3
Fixed Roof Vertical

with Frangible Joint
for Roof-to-Shell
Seam(1)
Fixed Roof Horizontal

and Vertical with
Emergency Relief
Venting to Limit Pressures to 2.5 psig
Minimum Distance in Feet

from Nearest Side
of Any Public Way or from
Nearest Important Building
on the Same Property (Not
Less Than 5 Feet)
(1) Approved floating roof and frangible joint designs are defined in Section 420.
(2) Protection for exposures means fire protection for structures on property adjacent to liquid storage. Fire protection for such structures
shall be acceptable when located (1) within the jurisdiction of any public fire department or (2) adjacent to plants having private fire
brigades capable of providing cooling water streams on structures on property adjacent to liquid storage.
(3) Use this for producing areas where no fire water is on site and there is no public or private fire brigade to respond
(4) For tanks over 150 feet in diameter use Protection for Exposures or None, as applicable.
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Fig. 800-2
Aboveground Tanks for Class III B Liquids with Flash Points at or above 200F Reprinted with permission
from NFPA 30-1996, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, Copyright 1996, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy MA 02269.
Tank Capacity (Gallons)
Minimum Distance in Feet from

Property Line Which Is or Can be
Built Upon Including the Opposite
Side of a Public Way

Nearest Side of Any Public Way or
from Nearest Important Building on
the Same Property
12,000 or less
12,001 to 30,000
10
30,001 to 50,000
10
10
50,001 to 100,000
15
10
100,001 or more
15
15
Fig. 800-3
Reference Minimum Distance for Use in Figure 800-1 Reprinted with permission from NFPA 30-1996,
Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, Copyright 1996, National Fire Protection Association,
Quincy MA 02269.
Tank Capacity (Gallons)

Property Line Which Is or Can
be Built Upon Including the
Opposite Side of a Public Way

Nearest Side of Any Public Way
or from Nearest Important
Building on the Same Property
275 or less
276 to 750
10
751 to 12,000
15
12,001 to 30,000
20
30,001 to 50,000
30
10
50,001 to 100,000
50
15
100,001 to 500,000
80
25
500,001 to 1,000,000
100
35
1,000,001 to 2,000,000
135
45
2,000,001 to 3,000,000
165
55
3,000,001 or more
175
60
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Fig. 800-4
Tank Manual
Aboveground Tanks for Crude Oil Reprinted with permission from NFPA 30-1996, Flammable and
Combustible Liquids Code, Copyright 1996, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy MA 02269.
Minimum Distance in
Feet from Property Line
Which Is or Can be Built
Upon Including the
Opposite Side of a
Public Way (Not Less
Than 5 Feet)
Minimum Distance in
Feet from Nearest Side
of Any Public Way or
from Nearest Important
Building on the Same
Property (Not Less
Than 5 Feet)
Type of Tank(1)
Protection
Floating Roof
Protection for
Exposures(2)
None(3)
Diameter of tank
Approved foam or
inerting system
Diameter of tank
2 times diameter of tank
4 times diameter of tank

but need to exceed 350
feet
(4)
Fixed Roof
Vertical With Frangible
Joint for Roof-to-Shell
Seam
(3)
None
(1) Approved floating roof tanks and frangible joints are defined in Section 100 and API 650.
(2) Protection for exposures shall mean fire protection for structures on property adjacent to liquid storage. Fire protection for such structures shall be acceptable when located (1) within the jurisdiction of any public fire department or (2) adjacent to plants having private
fire brigades capable of providing cooling water streams on structures on property adjacent to liquid storage.
(3) Use this for producing areas where no fire water is on site and there is no public or private fire brigade to respond.
(4) It is NOT ALLOWED to store liquid with boilover characteristics (such as crude oil) in fixed roof tanks over 120 feet in diameter. See the
Fire Protection Manual.
Shell-To-Shell Spacing
It is generally Company practice to follow NFPA 30 Code requirements for
minimum spacing between aboveground storage tanks. However, for large tanks
having diameters over 120 feet but less than 150 feet, and for smaller fixed roof
crude oil tanks in remote locations having remote impounding, Company shell-toshell spacing requirements are more conservative than NFPA 30. Greater spacing
will allow for adequate drainage of spilled oil away from tanks, limit the chance of
spread of a large tank fire and provide better access for handling fires in these large
tanks.
Figure 800-5 gives the Companys spacing requirements. In the figure, D1 and D2
are the diameters of any two adjacent tanks.
Spacing from and in Operating Facilities

An operating facility is typically an area containing operating equipment such as
furnaces, boilers, pumps, compressors, pressure vessels, separators, loading rack,
etc. For convenience, pipeways and access roads normally separate operating
facilities from tankage. The minimum recommended spacing requirements between
tanks and other operating equipment including operating facilities are:
July 2000
A clear space of 100 feet from product tanks to an operating facility
800-14
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Tank Manual
Fig. 800-5
Minimum Spacing (Shell-to-Shell) Between Aboveground Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquids
Reprinted with permission from NFPA 30-1996, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, Copyright
1996, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy MA 02269.
Floating Roof
Tanks(1)
1. Tanks Not Over 120

Feet Diameter
a. For tanks having
remote
impounding
b. For tanks not
having remote
impounding
For All Type Liquids
Crude Oil
Class I & II (Other

Than Crude)(2)
Class IIIA(2)
D1 D2
------ + -----6
6
Note(3)
D1 D2
------ + -----6
6
D1 D2
------ + -----6
6
D1 D2
------ + -----6
6
D1 D2
------ + -----6
6
D 1 D2
------ + -----4
4
D1 D2
------ + -----6
6
D1 D2
------ + -----6
6
Note(3)
2. Tanks Over 120 Feet

Diameter
a. For tanks having
remote
impounding
b. For tanks not
having remote
impounding
Note
Fixed Roof Tanks
D
D
1
2
------ + -----6
6
Note(4)
D
D
1
2
------ + -----4
4
D
D
1
2
------ + -----6
6
D1 D2
------ + -----4
4
Note(4)
D1 D2
------ + -----3
3
D1 D2
------ + -----4
4
Tanks used for storing Class IIIB liquids may be spaced no less than 3 feet apart unless within a diked area or drainage path for a
tank storing Class I or II liquid, in which case provisions of this figure apply.
(1) A floating roof tank is defined in Section 100.

(2) Class I and II are liquids with flash point below 140F. Class IIIA liquids are liquids with flash point at or above 140F but below
200F. Class IIIB liquids are liquid with flash point at or above 200F.
(3) Crude oil tanks at production facilities in isolated locations having capacities not exceeding 126,000 gallons (3,000 barrels) need not
be separated by more than 3 feet.
(4) Crude oil storage in fixed roof tanks over 120 feet in diameter is not allowed. See the Fire Protection Manual.
A clear space of 200 feet from crude tanks to an operating facility
At least 200 feet from tank impoundment basins to flares (confirmed by radiant
heat calculations)
At least 75 feet from tanks to operations control buildings
At least 200 feet from tanks to cooling towers
At least 50 feet from small product tanks to drums, exchangers, loading racks
and transformers
Closer spacing may be adequate for small tanks in small plants
Other spacing requirements for producing tankage are given in the Fire Protection
Manual. For marketing plants, loading racks should be spaced a minimum of
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Tank Manual
50 feet from high flash tankage (over 100F flash point) and 100 feet for flammable
liquid storage.
830 Fire Suppression Systems

This section discusses fire risk, the Companys resulting plan for suppressing fires
in various areas, and specific design information for built-in water and foam
systems. For more information, see the latest version of API 2021, Aboveground
Storage Tank Firefighting.
831 Risk Factors

The firefighting equipment provided for tankage areas varies significantly in the
various parts of the Company, based both on economics and the risks involved. A
number of risk factors must be considered:
Tank sizes, storage volumes, and products being stored.
Type of tankage (external or internal floating roof, or cone roof).
Overall economic impact on Company operations in case of a fire loss in these

facilities.
Potential risk to non-Company properties in event of a tank fire.
Potential for risk to Company tanks from adjacent operations or facilities.
Chances for product contamination from unusual or upset operations.
Availability of operations personnel and others to adequately mount a firefighting effort.
Availability of outside fire brigades or other emergency assistance.
Public relations aspects associated with prolonged tank fires.
Tank fire history for specific geographic areas.
Resulting Plan
The Company has weighed these risks in light of its experience to decide which
facilities will have built-in fire suppression systems. The normal approach that has
evolved is:
Producing tankage normally would not be equipped with firefighting facilities.
This is primarily due to the remote locations and absence of a local source of fire
water.
Marketing bulk plants, terminals, and pipeline stations normally would not have
built-in firefighting facilities. These areas typically depend on public fire brigades
and their water supplies and equipment. In-plant firefighting facilities may be
provided in certain areas of special exposure or reduced spacing, or where local
codes and regulations require them to be installed.
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Tank Manual
Refineries and other manufacturing plants typically have built-in fire protection
facilities for tankage areas along with their other operating areas. Foam is the
primary extinguishing agent for tank fires, with water used to cool exposed tank
shells. The assumption is that only one tank fire will occur at any one time, and the
fire fighting system is sized accordingly.
Fire Suppression for Refineries and Other Manufacturing Plants

Overall design philosophies for fire suppression in tankage areas are given next. If
the Company decides that other facilities, such as marketing terminals, need in-plant
fire protection, the principles given here would need review individually before they
are applied.
Open-Top Floating Roof Tanks. Provide sufficient foam to cover the rim space
only. Depending on tank size, either portable hose streams or permanently attached
equipment would deliver the foam.
Foam solutions would be proportioned on mobile foam trucks, with the water
supplied from the fire water system. The fire water system would also need
sufficient capacity to provide cooling water for exposed tank surfaces.
Cone Roof Tanks. It has been Company policy not to install permanently attached
equipment unless required by local codes or ordinances. Any fire other than vent or
spill fires would probably involve the entire surface area. Fires in tanks over 120
feet in diameter would be difficult to extinguish with any type of fixed fire
suppression system. If portable devices could not deliver sufficient foam to the
surface for extinguishment, fire fighters would then concentrate on cooling the
shells of exposed tanks in the area. This cooling should focus primarily on the vapor
space of these tanks.
Vent-type fires can readily be handled with portable equipment.
Internal Floating Roof Tanks. Similar to cone roof tanks, except full surface fires
are not considered a likely scenario and any fire suppression equipment would be
sized for a seal fire scenario.
Tankage Area Spill Fires. No special equipment is normally provided. The areas
fire water system and foam equipment on hand for other purposes can control such
fires adequately.
832 Fire Water Systems

This section covers sizing and location of fire water mains and location of hydrants
within the tank field area. For design details of overall in-plant fire water systems,
see the Fire Protection Manual.
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Tank Manual
Fire Main Sizing

The Fire and Process Safety Team recommends sizing fire mains around tank fields
for the largest of the following:
1.
water for making the amount of foam needed for a rim seal fire
and/or
2.
cooling of adjacent tanks in the event of a full surface fire in any one tank.
Full surface tank fires are very rare and, although this scenario should not be
considered when sizing fire mains, plans should be made on where water would be
obtained if needed. The plan could include calling in outside resources and boosting
water pressure from available public or private sources or drafting from streams or
ponds. If a tank site is so remote as to preclude water being boosted to the site,
consideration may be given to supplying a branch to the location.
For Foam Generation. Mains would supply enough water to make the amount of
foam needed to handle a single rim space fire at any one time on any one open-top
floating roof tank. (Rim area is assumed to be 2 feet wide.)
With foam dams: 3.0 gpm per ten square feet of rim area
Without foam dams: 5.0 gpm per ten square feet of rim area
For Cooling the Tank. Additional water should be available to cool the tank shell
surface above the level of the floating roof.
1.0 gpm per 10 square feet of the upper half of the tank shell for 50% of the
periphery
For Cooling Adjacent Tanks. For cone roof tanks, internal floating roof tanks, and
for the remote case where an open-top floating roof tank roof may be sunk, cooling
water would be provided for a maximum of 3 adjacent tanks. (Adjacent tanks are
those downwind of a burning tank within 1-1/2 tank diameters' distance and within
any one quadrant.) Application of water to these tanks will be by fire hose stream or
portable monitors.
1.0 gpm per 10 square feet of vapor exposed surfaces, limited to upper half of
shells and 50% of the periphery of one tank and 25% of periphery on each of
the other tanks.
Fire Main Layout

Layout in the tankage areas would follow the normal looped arrangement with
adequate valving to assure flow in case of fire main damage or failures. The normal
looped arrangement is described in the Fire Protection Manual.
Hydrants
In accordance with the Fire Protection Manual, hydrants should be:
July 2000
On the streetside or accesswayside of all pipelines, fences, dike walls or

drainage ditches
800-18
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Tank Manual
Near accessways or walkways which cross drainage ditches hindering access to

the tankage
Located so that all parts of every tank shell will be within reach of a stream
from a hose no longer than 300 feet
Positioned along the road near the point of normal access to the bottom of the
stairway of open-top floating roof tanks
Located within 100 feet of any foam lateral run to the road for connection to a
mobile foam truck
833 Foam Systems

It is Company policy to provide the capability to apply foam to fight rim space fires
on open-top floating roof tanks as defined in Section 831. While roofs can sink, they
sink so infrequently that it is not Company policy to provide foam protection for a
total surface area fire.
This section covers foam attachments for open-top floating roof tanks. If, because of
local regulations or other special reasons, foam protection is to be installed on cone
roof or internal floating roof tanks, refer to NFPA 11 Low Expansion Foam And
Combined Agent Systems for design details. Overall foam design information
related to mobile vehicles, foam types and storage and portable equipment are
covered in the Fire Protection Manual. Also see that manual for various approaches
to fighting tank fires, including subsurface injection of foam through fill lines.
Materials
Hard-piped foam systems in salt water service have plugged from corrosion
products in a short time. For this service, piping should be epoxy-lined. Consult
with the appropriate CRTC specialist for an appropriate lining system.
Up to 120-foot-diameter Tanks
Hose can be laid up the stairs to the gaging platform and foam directed by hand. If
the hose won't reach all the seal from the platform, it can usually be taken down the
roof ladder, and, if necessary, onto the roof to extinguish any remaining fire at the
tank seal. Foam dams are normally justified on these smaller floating roof tanks
only in areas of high lightning frequency where tank appurtenances would interfere
with applying foam to the entire seal space from the gaging platform.
Over 120-foot-diameter Tanks

Because of their size, these tanks should have some semi-fixed or fixed facilities to
make it easier to start firefighting and to handle hoses. These facilities are described
below for various tank sizes. In addition, these large tanks should have the
following: their wind girders should have a clear width of 24 inches or greater and
handrails, so they can double as walkways; and a foam dam should be installed to
contain any foam applied in the rim space area.
On 121- to 150-foot-diameter Tanks. Foam solution piping can be routed two
ways. In the first way, a dry pipe riser is installed from ground level to a point just
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Tank Manual
above the wind girder. The riser should end below the shell top angle and be
accessible near the top of the stairway with two 2-inch valved outlets, one of
which should be equipped with a 1-inch reducer for a 1-inch fire hose. The
clearance between valve handles and the wind girder handrail should be 24 inches.
Alternately, the foam solution piping can be routed beneath the wind girder
(properly braced) to provide the hose connections at the outer edge of the handrail.
Depending on local conditions, this riser can start a few feet above ground level on
the shell of the tank or be extended to the road where it can be reached without
having to lay a hose to the tank (see Standard Drawing GC-S1005).
On 151- to 200-foot-diameter Tanks. These tanks should have two dry pipe risers:
one located near the gaging platform and the other spaced about 180 degrees from
it. The riser near the gaging platform should be fitted with a special foam maker
assembly. Applying foam beneath the platform will enable firefighters to safely
access the platform when they arrive and assess the best way to put out the fire.
Figure 800-6 shows the necessary appurtenances for the approach. The piping to the
foam maker should have a valve in it so it can be shut off from the wind girder if the
foam maker is not needed. The valve should normally be open so that if a seal fire
should occur in the vicinity of the platform the foam will run down the inside of the
shell and in to the seal space under the platform. This fixed foam maker should have
a capacity of at least 50 gpm of water-foam concentrate solution.
Fig. 800-6
July 2000
Dry Pipe Riser Installation for Floating Roof Tanks 151 to 200 feet in Diameter (Conceptual Layout Only)
800-20
Chevron Corporation
Tank Manual
Over 200-foot-diameter Tanks. Because of their size, these tanks should be

equipped with permanently attached equipment for extinguishing fires in the seal
space. Over-the-top foam application is the preferred approach for both reliability
and cost. Figure 800-7 shows the conceptual layout for this system. Several other
effective methods are commercially available and could possibly be used. The Fire
Protection Staff should be consulted for details of design.
Fig. 800-7
Over-the-top Foam Application for Tanks Over 200 feet in Diameter (Conceptual Layout Only)
Over-the-top Foam Application

Header, Nozzles, and Splash Shield. This design consists of installing a properly
sized piping header or ring main around the outside wall of the shell on or near the
wind girder and connecting it to a series of foam makers, spaced at approximately
80-foot intervals, which discharge foam down the inside surface of the shell onto
the floating roof seal. A single pipe riser supplies the header from a hose connection
near the bottom of the tank shell or from the access roadway. The seal space is filled
rapidly with all foam makers being used simultaneously. The foam discharge
nozzles must be high enough to be above the roof in its most extended position.
This necessitates the installation of splash shields attached to the top angle of the
tank which will direct the foam downward along the shell into the seal space. Piping
design should provide for inlet pressure between 75 psi and 100 psi at the foam
makers.
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July 2000
Tank Manual
Hand-held Hose Lines. Two dry pipe risers should be installed per Standard
Drawing GC-S1055: one located near the gaging platform above the wind girder
and the other about 180 degrees across the tank. These risers allow firefighters to
put out limited seal space fires with a hand-held hose from the wind girder without
having to activate the entire built-in system.
Also, high winds may prevent complete fixed systems from blanketing all areas.
The hand-held hose lines provide a ready means of covering these voids in the foam
blanket.
Application Rate. The minimum design rate of solution for this system would be
3 gpm per 10 square foot of the seal area surface. Considering the maximum
spacing of these foam makers around the seal area and the size of foam makers used
(50 gpm at 75 psi inlet pressure), the actual rate would be in excess of 3 gpm per
10 square foot of seal area surface. A minimum supply of foam concentrate should
be available to assure at least 20 minutes foam application at minimum rates for the
largest tank involved.
Foam Dams
These dams retain the foam at the seal area and provide for sufficient depth to cause
the foam to flow laterally to a point where the seal may have been ruptured. They
also prevent excess foam from flowing out onto the roof. Foam dams are required
for open-top floating roof tanks over 120 feet in diameter and for smaller tanks in
high lightning areas.
Location: Two feet from the roof edge to minimize amount of foam required to
cover the seal area.
Height: 2 feet minimum, with 6 inches elevation above the high point of weather
shields, secondary seals, collection trough for wax scrapers, or any other
appurtenance that might interfere with applying foam to the seal area.
Material: At least No. 10 U.S. Standard Gage galvanized steel sheet securely
fastened to the roof. No roof accessories such as vents or gage hatches should be
between the dam and the shell.
Drain Slots: The dam should have slots to release rainwater but the size should be
minimized to reduce the amount of foam lost during an emergency. Vertical slots, 1
inch high by inch wide spaced at 10-foot intervals will normally be adequate.
There should be no other openings on the bottom of the foam dam.
Attachment Method: The dam is to be attached to the roof by a 2" in 10" stitch
weld or other means to avoid leakage except at drain holes.
Foam Solution Piping

Galvanized pipe should be used in these systems. This piping, particularly where
salt fire water is used, is very vulnerable to scale and rust formation, with
consequential plugging of the small foam maker orifices. Periodic flow testing of
these systems is essential (see Fire Protection Manual). After testing, the system
should be fresh-water flushed.
July 2000
800-22
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Tank Manual
Calculations to Establish Recommended Foam Supplies

The following are the formulas you need to calculate the amount of tank fire foam
you need:
Tank Size.
Tank diameter - (needed to calculate the surface area square feet)
D2 .785 = Surface area sq. ft. (needed to calculate the foam-water solution
application rate
Topside/Full Involvement.
.16 gpm Surface Area Sq. Ft. = Foam-Water Solution application rate for
tanks smaller than 150 ft. diameter.
.20 gpm Surface Area Sq. Ft. = Foam-Water Solution application rate for
tanks 150 ft. diameter and larger.
.03 (3%) Foam-Water Solution gpm application rate = Concentrate gpm

required.
Topside/Seal (6 in).
D2 .785 - ((D - 1)2 .785) = Surface Area Sq. Ft.
.3 gpm Surface Area Sq. Ft. = Foam-Water Solution application rate.

required.
Concentrate gpm 20 = Concentrate (gal.) required for a 20 min. application.
Topside/Seal (8 in).
D2 .785 - ((D - 1.33)2 .785) = Surface Area Sq. Ft.

required.
Subsurface Injection.
.03 (3%) Foam-Water Solution application rate = Concentrate gpm required.
840 Electrical Area Classification

Electrical area classification of tank fields is detailed in the Electrical Manual,
Section 300. Review this document when designing electrical equipment to go on
tanks, in impounding areas, or near drainage ditches to impounding basins.
Chevron Corporation
800-23
July 2000
Tank Manual
Foam Calculations (1 of 3)
Chevron Corporation
Fig. 800-8
800-24
July 2000
Tank Manual
Chevron Corporation
Fig. 800-8
800-25
July 2000
Tank Manual
Chevron Corporation
Fig. 800-8
800-26
July 2000
Tank Manual
Section 300 is based on the concepts presented in API Recommended Practice 500B and -C for petroleum operations and NFPA 497 for chemical plants.
We classify areas to avoid fire potential during normal or reasonably anticipated
upset conditions. The classification system is not intended to include catastrophic
releases that are improbable with proper equipment design and reasonable operator
control. All areas are classed in one of two divisions:
Division 1: Areas where flammable gases (flash point < 100F) might be found
under normal operating conditions.
These might include the interior of tanks handling flammable liquids, 5 area around
pressure vents on cone roof tanks, and any sumps or below-ground pits in
impounding basins where flammable liquids are handled.
Division 2: Areas where flammable gases might be found infrequently, such as
during equipment failure or operator error.
This includes all areas 10 from tank, within impounding basins serving tanks
handling flammable liquids up to the height of the dike, areas within the drainage
paths to remote impounding, and a zone immediately adjacent to flammable liquid
tanks.
Figures 800-9 and 800-10 provide the basis for classification around flammable
storage tanks and in drainage paths to remote impounding basins.
850 Drainage and Impounding

851 Drainage
Proper drainage design is a major factor in meeting tankage safety objectives. Tank
fields preferably should drain to a remote impounding area on Company property.
This will prevent a spill from endangering adjoining property and waterways, and
from exposing valuable Company property. This section is based on the standards in
NFPA 30.
Drainage can be by large drain pipes or surface drainage but is usually provided by
overland flow in shaped channels or swales. Surface drainage should slope away
from tank piping and other equipment at a 1% minimum grade. This helps prevent
underside corrosion and fire at the base of a tank. Surface drainage can use low
diversion walls and/or drainage ditches or channels to divert the liquid to the
impounding area. Where drainage channels go through pipes or culverts, a means
should be provided to direct overflow in case of pipe plugging or flooding. This can
usually be done by lowering a section of the elevated roadway or dike directly over
the pipe or culvert.
Drainage channels should be sized as a minimum to handle the largest stream of oil
that could result from a tank overfill or discharge from a broken pipeline under
maximum normal pump pressure or by gravity from one of the tanks. (Flow
channels and dikes are not usually designed for a tank rupture.) The other major
Chevron Corporation
800-27
July 2000
Fig. 800-9
Tank Manual
Flammable Liquid Storage TankElectrical Classification of Areas Courtesy of the American Petroleum
Institute
Note 1: For floating roof tanks, the area above the tank roof and within the shell is classified
Division 1.
Note 2: High filling rates or blending operations involving Class I liquids (<100F flash point)
may require extending the boundaries of classified areas.
Note 3: Distances given are for typical process areas and oil and gas handling facilities; they
must be used with judgement, with considerations given to all factors discussed in Section 300
of the Electrical Manual.
consideration for drainage runoff would be rainfall and fire water. Some guidance
on these quantities is given in Section 500 of the Civil and Structural Manual.
Rainwater from floating roof tanks should be directed into a drainage channel to the
basin and not piped directly to public waters. This allows an easy visual check that
the roof drain is functioning properly and prevents a spill from escaping into other
areas that possibly do not have large enough retention capacity.
It is important to locate electrical equipment outside of electrically classified
drainage areas (Section 840). It should also be located far enough away from liquid
drainage and impounding areas so that it is unlikely to be damaged if a fire should
involve the spilled liquid. Motor vehicle access for tank field operators should not
cross impounding basins or drainage channels that could contain flammable liquids.
852 Remote Impounding

Remote impounding basins are the preferred method of containing spills from tank
fields. The impounding area should be designed to hold, at minimum, the contents
of the largest tank in the tank field. At basin capacity, the impounded liquid should
be at least 50 feet from the nearest tank or any property line that can be built on.
Where remote impounding cannot be used to contain the total contents of a spill,
July 2000
800-28
Chevron Corporation
Tank Manual
Fig. 800-10 Drainage Path to Remote Impounding Basin from Flammable Liquid Storage TankElectrical Classification of Areas
Note: Distances are for typical process areas and oil and gas handling facilities; they
must be used with judgement, with consideration given to all factors discussed in Section
300 of the Electrical Manual.
partial remote impounding is more desirable than diking to impound all spilled
liquid close to the tank and piping.
The basin should be sloped to drain to a low point where a drain pipe can release
accumulated rainwater. There must be a valve on the drain line outside of the basin
and it must be normally closed. The basin dikes are normally built of earth and
should be shaped to be durable and be easy to maintain. The dike can have an access
road on top but an access road at the outside base of the dike would be more useful
in an emergency.
853 Diked Enclosures

Where remote impounding cannot be used because of space or other limitations,
diking around the tankage may have to be used. The grading in such enclosures
should flow liquids away from tankage and piping at a 1% minimum grade to a low
point within the enclosure. This point should be remote from the tankage and
piping, where accumulated liquid can be drained or pumped out. This will tend to
minimize potential fire exposure in case of a spill fire. Similarly the surface
drainage within the enclosure should be arranged to quickly remove spilled
hydrocarbons from under pipeways to minimize involvement of the piping in case
of a spill fire. The outside base of the dike at ground level should be no closer than
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July 2000
Tank Manual
10 feet to any property line that could be built on. The area between the dike and the
fence should be kept clear for access.
Diked enclosures should be able to contain the greatest amount of liquid that can be
released from the largest tank within the diked area. The capacity of the diked area
enclosing more than one tank should be calculated by deducting the volume of the
tanks other than the largest tank, below the height of the dike. However, if multiple
small tanks in the area could be overturned or damaged during an earthquake the
diked area capacity should be greater than the capacity of the largest tank.
Dikes must be liquid-tight and impervious to the stock. They can be constructed of
suitable earth, masonry, concrete, or metal depending upon the space available.
Diked areas located in extremely porous soils may require special treatment to
prevent seepage of hazardous liquids to low-lying areas in case of spills.
The average interior height of such dikes should not be more than six feet above
grade. If higher dikes are needed due to local considerations, special added design
features, such as remote operator valves, elevated walkways, or similar arrangements may be required (consult NFPA 30).
Each dike containing two or more tanks should be subdivided, preferably by
drainage channels or at least by 18-inch high intermediate dikes, to prevent small
spills from endangering adjacent tanks within the dike area. Again NFPA 30 can
guide you on subdivision requirements.
In general, pumps, filters, and other equipment in the tank field, including major
valve manifolds, should be located outside of the dike areas where they will not be
affected by tank spills. In some cases it may not be feasible to protect this
equipment from the maximum possible spill, but it should be protected from a spill
of at least 10% of the largest tank in the impounding area.
Motor vehicle access for tank field operators would normally be excluded from the
diked areas of flammable liquid tankage. However, access must be provided into
these diked areas for maintenance equipment. This is usually accomplished by
ramped entries into the diked area. Vehicles need hot work permits to enter tank
diked areas.
Where provisions are made to drain water from the impounding area, a manual gate
valve operable from outside the impound area should be provided. It must
normally be closed.
Pipes Through Dike Walls

Openings where pipes pass through dikes must be carefully sealed. Also, the pipes
should be installed in sleeves for protection and ease of maintenance. Richmond
Refinery seals the annular space between the pipe and the sleeve with the T. D.
Williams Link Seal system. All links can be sealed with Link Seal Model LS
casing end seals. The inside diameter of the sleeve ends should be beveled to
July 2000
800-30
Chevron Corporation
Tank Manual
facilitate installation of the link seal. Link seals can be ordered in accordance with
the following designations:
Designation Service
C
Standard service -40F to +250F (insulating type)
Corrosive service -40F to +250F
Oil resistant service -40F to +250F
High temperature service 67F to +450F
FD
FS fire rated service (non-insulating)
Pyro-Pac
To be used on lines entering firewalls, impound areas,

and on angled entrance sleeves.
Clean Water Act

Aboveground storage systems with a capacity of 660 gallons in a single tank, or
1320 gallons in aggregate, come under the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) provision of the Clean Water Act if these facilities could
reasonably be expected to discharge oil into navigable waters. Regulated facilities
are required to develop SPCC plans for the prevention and cleanup of oil spills,
which must include a commitment of necessary manpower and materials.
The regulations issued under the act provide guidelines for the preparation and
implementation of the SPCC plan. The plan is to be prepared in accordance with
good engineering practices. It must have the full approval of management at a level
of authority required to commit the resources needed for the plans implementation.
Any additional facilities, procedures, methods, or equipment not yet fully
operational that the plan calls for are to be discussed separately. The plan should
provide details on installation and operational startup.
For petroleum storage tanks, the plan must include the design and installation of a
diked area capable of containing the contents of the largest tank plus any
precipitation runoff, thus effectively preventing spills from reaching surface water.
The plan also must include the training of personnel to detect and respond to spills.
In addition, a procedure must be set up to notify immediately the appropriate spill
response agencies. Finally, the SPCC plan must be reviewed and certified by a
registered professional engineer.
Federal OSHA Regulations

Federal OSHA regulation CFR 1910.106 covers the design, construction and
operation of tanks. The regulations also contain provisions requiring diking and
impoundment in areas surrounding aboveground tanks. API 650 and other API tank
standards are adopted in OSHA regulations. Therefore, if tanks are built per API
standards and the Companys Safety in Designs Manual, compliance requirements
will be satisfied.
Chevron Corporation
800-31
July 2000

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800 Fire and Safety Design

Typical Causes of Fire

Design Considerations for Firefighting

Location and Spacing

Fire Suppression Systems

Fire Water Systems

Electrical Area Classification

Drainage and Impounding