EEMUA has published Edition 6 of its highly respected guidance EEMUA Publication 159, ‘Above ground flat bottomed storage tanks – a guide to inspection, maintenance and repair’.
EEMUA 159 is considered to be the most comprehensive users' guide available on above ground vertical cylindrical, steel storage tanks. It is also used worldwide by regulators as an example of what good practice looks like.
EEMUA 159 is intended to assist in the establishment of essential inspection and maintenance requirements in order to minimise in-service problems and extend the useful life of these storage tanks. It offers guidance on tanks built to BS, EN or API standards for the storage of petroleum and chemical feed-stocks and products and refrigerated gases. These standards include BS 2654, API 620 and API 650, DIN 4119-1 and -2, CODRES, G0801 and EN 14015. In addition, since EEMUA 159 contains information on many topics that are not covered in API 653, the EEMUA publication can be considered complementary to the API standard.
The publication sets out key features for planning and executing inspection, maintenance and repair works. It includes descriptions of the key tank components that require inspection and maintenance, degradation mechanisms and common inspection techniques, and details on tank lifting. Appendices offer guidance on how to perform assessment calculations on tank components, illustrated by means of sample calculations, as well as on repair methods.
The newly released Edition 6 includes three integrity assessment levels of increasing complexity. The use of integrity assessment levels helps to understand that different kind of rejection limits can exist for the same component. There are revised chapters on tanks and their components, degradation mechanisms and failure modes, general inspection techniques and interpretation of inspection data, tank foundations and hydrotesting. Revised flowcharts for assessing the fit-for-purpose of the tank bottom, shell and roof are now available.
The new edition also contains guidelines on change of service and guidance on new inspection methods and technologies including robotics and drones. It provides increased guidance on settlement assessment and a new chapter on stainless and duplex steel tanks. The guidelines for hydrotest exemption for major repairs and the remaining life calculations for bottom pitting have been updated.
EEMUA 159 Edition 6 is available directly from EEMUA.
Employees of EEMUA Member companies can access the publication for free; Associates receive a 50% discount off the non-member price.
