STI SP001 Inspection

Steel Tank Institute (STI) SP001

Standard for Inspection of Aboveground Storage Tanks: covers the inspection of shop-fabricated steel tanks and containers built to a nationally recognized standard for above ground storage of non-corrosive, stable, combustible and flammable liquids.

Shop Fabricated Category 3 Above Ground Storage Tank Inspection Schedule

The schedule for inspection and testing on tanks in this size range offers two options for the tank owner as you will see below. The second option removes the need for an internal inspection, but increase the frequency of the leak testing and external inspections.

OPTION 1

Periodic AST Inspections MONTHLY unless otherwise directed by the engineer in the SPCC plan.

• Performed by site owner/operator
• No need to be certified, just knowledgeable
• Checklist is included in Steel Tank Institute (STI) standard
• Records of inspections must be maintained

Formal External Inspection by certified inspector EVERY FIVE YEARS
These are documented external inspection conducted by a certified inspector to assess the condition of the AST and determine its suitability for continued service without entry into the AST interior.

• Conducted by Certified Inspector
• Inspector should review previous periodic inspection checklists and previous FEIs/FIIs
• Includes ultrasonic thickness testing (UTT)
• Must determine original shell thickness and establish current shell thickness
• UTT can lead to ultrasonic testing scan (UTS)

Leak Testing by owner or owner’s designee EVERY FIVE YEARS

Leak testing is a point in time test method to determine if an AST is liquid tight. Leak testing is not preventive in the sense that it provides an indication only if the AST integrity has already been breached. Therefore, it may be used as a tank integrity measure or as a supplement to other inspection procedures. LTMs may include the following technologies:

• Gas pressure decay (includes vacuum decay)
• Gas pressure soap bubble testing
• Gas tracers (e.g., helium tracer)
• Soil tracers (chemical marker)
• Mass measurement
• Level measurement
• Hydrostatic test

Formal Internal Inspection by a certified inspector EVERY TEN YEARS

A documented internal inspection is conducted by a certified inspector to assess the internal and external condition of the AST and determine its suitability for continued service. This includes the inspection requirements of a formal external inspection. A formal internal inspection satisfies the requirements of a formal external inspection and shall be considered equivalent to or better than a formal external inspection for the purposes of scheduling.

• Performed by Qualified Tank Inspector
• STI Trained and Certified
• API Trained and Certified
• Purpose is suitability for Continued Service

OPTION NUMBER 2

Periodic AST Inspections MONTHLY unless otherwise directed by the engineer in the SPCC plan.

• Performed by site owner/operator
• No need to be certified, just knowledgeable
• Checklist is included in Steel Tank Institute (STI) standard
• Records of inspections must be maintained

Formal External Inspection by certified inspector EVERY FIVE YEARS

These are documented external inspection conducted by a certified inspector to assess the condition of the AST and determine its suitability for continued service without entry into the AST interior.

• Conducted by Certified Inspector
• Inspector should review previous periodic inspection checklists and previous FEIs/FIIs
• Includes ultrasonic thickness testing (UTT)
• Must determine original shell thickness and establish current shell thickness
• UTT can lead to ultrasonic testing scan (UTS)

Leak Testing by owner or owner’s designee EVERY YEAR

Leak testing is a point in time test method to determine if an AST is liquid tight. Leak testing is not preventive in the sense that it provides an indication only if the AST integrity has already been breached. Therefore, it may be used as a tank integrity measure or as a supplement to other inspection procedures. LTMs may include the following technologies:

• Gas pressure decay (includes vacuum decay)
• Gas pressure soap bubble testing
• Gas tracers (e.g., helium tracer)
• Soil tracers (chemical marker)
• Mass measurement
• Level measurement
• Hydrostatic test

Contact one of our specialists and find out if your facility requires a STI tank inspection.