Requirements for Safe Entry and Cleaning of Petroleum Storage Tanks

ANSI/API STANDARD 2015—2001 SIXTH EDITION, AUGUST 2001

Requirements for Safe Entry and Cleaning of Petroleum Storage Tanks

ANSI/API STANDARD 2015—2001 SIXTH EDITION, AUGUST 2001

SPECIAL NOTES

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This document was produced under API standardization procedures that ensure appropri- ate notification and participation in the developmental process and is designated as an API standard. Questions concerning the interpretation of the content of this standard or com- ments and questions concerning the procedures under which this standard was developed should be directed in writing to the Standardization Manager, American Petroleum Institute, 1220 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005. Requests for permission to reproduce or translate all or any part of the material published herein should also be addressed to the gen- eral manager.

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Copyright © 2001 American Petroleum Institute

FOREWORD

ANSI/API Standard 2015, Requirements for Safe Entry and Cleaning of Petroleum Stor- age Tanks, was prepared under the auspices of the API Safety and Fire Protection Subcom- mittee. It is intended for use by API member companies and others to develop safe practices for planning, managing, and conducting tank cleaning work in atmospheric and low pressure storage tanks. A companion document, ANSI/API Recommended Practice 2016, Guidelines and Procedures for Entering and Cleaning Petroleum Storage Tanks, provides supplemental information applicable to the requirements and components of this standard.

API publications may be used by anyone desiring to do so. Every effort has been made by the Institute to assure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained in them; however, the Institute makes no representation, warranty, or guarantee in connection with this publication and hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting from its use or for the violation of any federal, state, or municipal regulation with which this publication may conflict.

Suggested revisions are invited and should be submitted to the Standardization Manager, American Petroleum Institute, 1220 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005.

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1. STORAGE TANK HAZARDS 22

   1. General 22

   2. Oxygen Deficiency and Enrichment 22

   3. Fire and Explosion Hazards 23

   4. Toxic Substances 24

   5. Physical and Other Hazards 26

2. HAZARD ASSESSMENT FOR ENTRY PERMITS 26

   1. General 26

   2. Levels of Entry 27

   3. Entry into Tanks Classified as Permit Required Confined Spaces 27

   4. Entry into Tanks Classified as Non-Permit Required Confined Spaces 30

   5. Entry into Tanks Classified as Non-Confined Spaces 31

   6. Entry for Assessment of Tank Condition 33

3. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT 33

   1. Protective Clothing and Equipment 33

   2. Respiratory Protection 34

4. TANK CLEANING PERSONNEL 36

   1. General 36

   2. Entry Supervisors 36

   3. Entrants 37

   4. Attendants 38

   5. Qualified Persons 39

5. ENTERING AND WORKING INSIDE THE TANK 40

   1. General 40

   2. Entry Permit 40

   3. Continuous Forced Air Ventilation 41

   4. Tank Safe (Cold) Work, Maintenance and Repairs 42

   5. Undesirable Product, Sludge, and Residue Disposal 42

6. HOT WORK AND TANK REPAIRS 42

   1. General 42

   2. Hot Work Permits 42

   3. Hot Work Hazards 43

   4. Hot Work in Leaded Service Tanks 44

   5. Fire Prevention 44

7. EMERGENCY PLANNING. 44

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   1. Emergency Response Plan 44

   2. Outside Rescue Services 45

   3. Employer (Owner/Operator and Contractor) Rescuers 45

   4. Rescue Equipment 46

   5. Other Emergencies 47

   6. Medical Emergencies 47

8. RECOMMISSIONING 47

   1. General 47

   2. Recommissioning Preparation 47

   3. Refilling Tanks 48

   4. Sampling and Gauging Tanks 48

   5. Control of Ignition Sources 49

9. TRAINING 49

   1. General 49

   2. Qualification 49

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Requirements for Safe Entry and Cleaning of Petroleum Storage Tanks

1. General

   1. SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY

      This standard is applicable to cleaning stationary atmo- spheric and low-pressure (up to and including 15 psig) above- ground petroleum storage tanks used in all sectors of the petroleum and petrochemical industry, including crude oil and gas production, refineries, petrochemical plants, bulk plants and terminals. This standard provides requirements for safely planning, coordinating and conducting tank cleaning operations from decommissioning (removal from service) through recommissioning (return to service) tanks that have contained flammable or combustible liquids or petroleum related toxic materials. This standard does not and cannot cover every possible unique hazard or situation that may arise during tank cleaning operations. These site specific, product specific and tank specific hazards and situations must be addressed by employers (owner/operators or contractors) using the appropriate principles and considerations provided for by this standard. The ANSI/API Recommended Practice 2016, Guidelines and Procedures for Entering and Cleaning Petroleum Storage Tanks, provides supplemental information applicable to the requirements of this standard.

      
      

   2. NON-APPLICABILITY AND OTHER TANK CLEANING APPLICATIONS

      This standard does not apply to the following types of tanks or vessels:

      • Pressure vessels and pressurized tanks exceeding 15 psig.

      • Cryogenic or refrigerated vessels or pressure tanks.

      • Vessels and tanks maintained under a vacuum.

      • Process vessels.

      • Underground storage tanks.

      Although ANSI/API Standard 2015 is not intended to cover non-atmospheric and non-low pressure tanks and ves- sels, many of the safe tank cleaning and entry principles and requirements in this standard would be applicable. Using the information provided in ANSI/API Standard 2015 and in ANSI/API Recommended Practice 2016, together with appropriate government regulations, industry standards, and other applicable requirements, employers (owners/operators and contractors) shall develop site and tank, potential hazard and project specific guidelines and procedures to ensure that the tanks and vessels not covered by this standard are safely decommissioned, cleaned, and re-commissioned.

      1

   3. ANSI/API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 2016

      ANSI/API Recommended Practice 2016, Guidelines and Procedures for Entering and Cleaning Petroleum Storage Tanks, provides guidance and additional information on spe- cific aspects of tank cleaning preparation, hazard awareness, decommissioning, emptying, isolating, vapor and gas freeing, degassing, ventilating, atmospheric testing, inspecting, clean- ing, entry, safe (cold) work, hot work, and recommissioning operations.

      ANSI/API Recommended Practice 2016 contains the fol- lowing sections:

      1. Petroleum Storage Tank Hazards

      2. Vapor and Gas Freeing, Degassing, and Ventilating Tanks

      3. Removing Sludge and Residue from Tanks

      4. Unique Tanks

      5. Specific Hazardous Substances

      6. Control of Ignition Sources

      7. Tank Cleaning Checklist

      8. Oxygen, Combustible Gas and Toxic Substance Instruments

      9. Floating Roof Hazards Associated with Tank Cleaning

         
         

   4. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the requirements contained in this standard, employers (owners/operators and contractors) shall refer to applicable federal, state and local government regulations pertinent to specific tank cleaning activities, including regula- tions of governments other than those of the United States, when appropriate. This standard is intended to be consistent with Title 29 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Occu- pational Safety and Health Administration Standards, Part 1910, “General Industry,” and Part 1926, “Construction.” This standard is intended to be consistent with appropriate National Fire Protection Association Codes and Standards applicable to the entry and cleaning of aboveground petro- leum storage tanks. If any provision of this standard conflicts with statutory or regulatory requirements, said statutes and regulations shall govern. This standard is not intended to function as a substitute for applicable regulations, codes, standards or employer (owner/operator and contractor) safe (cold) work and hot work practices and procedures, all of which must be reviewed in their entirety to determine their applicability to the facility, its location, the tanks involved and the proposed work.