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The API 650 Standard was first published in 1961 by the American Petroleum Institute to create a consistent methodology by which tanks for the oil and gas industry are built.  For industries that use above ground storage tanks for fertilizer, water, chemicals, food products, etc., there is no federal law requiring the use of API 650 Standard for building storage tanks.  On the state level, some but not all states require the API Standards in building and maintaining above ground storage tanks.  This leaves some business owners with the choice of whether to build an API tank for storing liquid

For decades, the construction of above ground storage tanks has relied on butt welded steel tanks as a mainstay. Around 1936, welded steel tanks replaced riveted tanks in new above ground storage tank construction. With this change, API standards were introduced to guide construction for safety and economy. API 650, now in its thirteenth edition, sets the standard for welded steel tanks, covering materials, design, fabrication, erection, welding, and inspection. Between 1960 and 1990, older riveted tanks transitioned to welded tanks. However, after a catastrophic failure in 1986, the economic appeal waned. In 1991, the API 653 Standard addressed

If you’re an owner of an aboveground storage tank, you’ve likely become familiar with the API 653 Standard. It serves as the globally recognized standard for inspecting aboveground welded storage tanks that store products such as liquid fertilizer at atmospheric pressure. It is based on the knowledge and experience of the world’s best tank industry engineering experts and tank owners. All tanks will require maintenance and attention throughout their lifetimes. The API 653 Standard addresses the repair, alteration, relocation, and reconstruction of existing tanks built to the API 650 Standard. Regular inspections guarantee the safety and viability of

Aboveground storage tanks are essential to life as we know it.  So many products that we use in our daily life relied in some part on an aboveground storage tank that contained fertilizer, water, oil, a processing chemical, or some other liquid. While the purpose and concept are exactly the same, there are two ways that vertical aboveground storage tanks can be built: shop-built and field erected.  The main determination of which method to use is based on the end capacity of the aboveground storage tank.  However, the tools and manner in which the tank is constructed varies between

Flexible Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Secondary Containment Liners are more commonly used in the liquid fertilizer industry to satisfy many state secondary containment requirements for aboveground storage tanks.  Most secondary containment methods serve as catch containers and only come in contact with the product when it leaks from the tank.  A flexible PVC internal tank liner works differently and has added benefits beyond simply satisfying containment requirements. Tank Liners are Primary Containment PVC tank liners are situated inside the aboveground storage tank as opposed to most other secondary containment methods that are outside of the tank. Because

Being a responsible above ground storage tank owner, you just had an API 653 certified inspection complete a full API 653 tank inspection to either fulfill your state requirements or based on The Fertilizer Institute’s recommendation of conducting an  API 653 inspection every five years.  The API 653 inspector should provide you with a report summarizing the tests conducted and the results.  So what should be included in the API 653 tank inspection report to show the safety status of your storage tank? An API 653 tank inspection report covers a large amount of information, so

“It is not the beauty of a building you should look at; it’s the construction of the foundation that will stand the test of time.” – David Allen Coe Foundation – it is the support and base of an entity, whether it is an area of knowledge (mathematics, art, music), education generally, ideology, relationships, organization of government, ecosystems, building structures, etc. The concept of needing a strong foundation is referenced throughout time from poets like Ralph Waldo Emerson to the Bible regarding building a house on sand or rock. The importance of the foundation for

The Fluid Fertilizer Foundation held its 2014 Fluid Technology Workshop in Sacramento on December 9th and 10th.  Focusing on liquid fertilizer, the various speakers addressed topics including water testing, crop management with marginal water quality, plant operation, formulation and compatibility issues, UAN composition variability, and soil testing methods. Chris Brooks from Heartland Tank Services, Inc. was one of the speakers at the 2014 Fluid Technology Workshop.  His presentation addressed above ground storage tank maintenance issues and the importance of performing regular storage tank inspections, including weekly or monthly storage tank visual inspections and an API 653 tank inspection every five

The Indiana Legislature has before it Senate Bill 312 regarding above ground storage tank registration.  The Bill was introduced by Sen. Ed Charbonneau and Sen. Mark Stoops.  This Bill appears to be following the lead of West Virginia in requiring above ground storage tanks to be registered with the state environmental department. The West Virginia Above Ground Storage Tank Act was a swift reaction to a chemical spill in the Elk River caused by an above ground steel storage tank owned by Freedom Industries.  The chemical reached the local water supply, and the water plant was not able to

Technology and agricultural work are becoming more intertwined than ever before in history — and we’re not talking about FarmVille. According to a November 1 New York Times report, today’s farmers are increasingly taking advantage of smart technology — sensors, GPS trackers, irrigation apps, cloud computing systems and communications gadgets — in order to optimize their agricultural pursuits and compete with larger farming companies. The technology is helping farmers who might have been struggling to stay afloat in an increasingly austere industry utilize their land more efficiently, and in turn maximize profits and expand. For Indiana farmer Kip Tom, this means