Specification for Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Tanks

API SPECIFICATION 12P

FOURTH EDITION, FEBRUARY 2016 EFFECTIVE DATE: AUGUST 1, 2016

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Copyright © 2015 American Petroleum Institute

Foreword

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Contents

Page

1. Scope 1

   1. General 1

   2. Compliance 1

2. Normative References 1

3. Terms and Definitions 3

4. Material 4

   1. General 4

   2. Resin 4

   3. Reinforcing Material 5

   4. Surfacing Material 5

   5. Appurtenances 5

   6. Bolting Materials 5

5. Design 5

   1. General 5

   2. Shell Design—Chop-spray 5

   3. Shell Design—Filament Wound and Chop-hoop 7

   4. Shell Design—Laminate Construction 7

   5. Bottom Knuckle Radius Design 8

   6. Bottom-to-Shell Joint (Chop-spray) Design 9

   7. Bottom Strength 9

   8. Geometry 9

   9. Roof Laminate Construction 9

   10. Cleanout 9

   11. Nozzles 9

   12. Cutout Reinforcements 10

   13. Appurtenances 12

   14. Walkway, Ladder, Lifting, Hold-down, and Tie-down Lugs 12

   15. Downcomer Pipe 12

   16. Gauge/Thief Hatches 12

   17. Design Considerations for Potential Electrostatic Hazards 12

   18. Grounding 13

6. Venting Requirements 14

   1. Normal Venting 14

   2. Emergency Venting 14

7. Fabrication and Testing 15

   1. Fabrication 15

   2. Hydrostatic Testing 15

   3. Quality Control Tests 16

   4. Optional Tests 16

   5. Painting 16

8. Marking 16

Contents

Page

Annex A (informative) Use of API Monogram by Licensees 18

Annex B (informative) Recommended Installation and Handling 21

Annex C (normative) Walkways, Stairways, and Ladders 22

Annex C (normative) FRP Tank Data Sheet (With Tank Nozzle Location Guide) 25

Figures

1. Bottom Knuckle of Flat-bottom Tank 8

2. Closed Top FRP Tank Dimensions 11

3. Typical Gauge/Thief Hatch Opening 13

4. Example of Suspended Static Conductor Bond to Grounding System 14

5. Metal Nameplate Format 17

Tables

1. Tank Dimensions 6

2. Dimensions of Manways 10

Specification for Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Tanks

1. Scope

   1. General

      
      

      This specification covers material, design, fabrication, and testing requirements for fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) tanks. Only shop-fabricated, vertical, cylindrical tanks are covered. Tanks covered by this specification are intended for aboveground and atmospheric pressure service. Unsupported cone bottom tanks are outside the scope of this specification.

      
      

      This specification is designed to provide the petroleum industry with various standard sizes of FRP tanks. Because of the versatility of FRP tanks, the user shall be responsible for determining the suitability of FRP tanks for the intended service.

      
      

      NOTE The consequences of exposing FRP tanks to high temperatures created by exposure fires should be considered. This material loses strength as the temperature increases. FRP tanks should be suitably protected against fire exposure or so located that any spills resulting from the failure of these materials could not unduly expose persons, buildings, structures, or other equipment to the possible fire incident.

      
      

   2. Compliance

      
      

      1. The manufacturer is responsible for complying with all of the provisions of this specification. The purchaser is responsible defining their specific requirements in the Data Sheet. The purchaser may make any investigation necessary to be satisfied with compliance by the manufacturer and may reject any material that does not comply with this specification.

         
         

         NOTE The purchaser is encouraged to arrange for inspection independent of the inspection furnished by the manufacturer, and the purchaser’s inspector should follow closely all the details of shop fabrication and testing herein specified that affect the integrity and safety of the completed structure.

         
         

      2. If specified by the purchaser on the Data Sheet, the tank shall be constructed in accordance with API Q1 and the API Monogram Program (see Annex A).

         
         

      3. This specification applies to new tanks. The requirements may be applied to existing tanks at the discretion of the owner/operator.

         
         

2. Normative References

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

API Recommended Practice 545, Recommended Practice for Lightning Protection of Aboveground Storage Tanks for Flammable or Combustible Liquids

API Standard 2000, Venting Atmospheric and Low-pressure Storage Tanks

API Recommended Practice 2003, Protection Against Ignitions Arising Out of Static, Lightning, and Stray Currents

AISC 1 Steel Construction Manual

1 American Institute of Steel Construction, One East Wacker Drive Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60601-1802, www.aisc.org.

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