Applicable codes for tanks for US market

[XL83NL]

The company I work for is designing and building a chemical production unit for use in the USA. The unit contains several tanks/containers/vessels, some of which are atmospheric and some are pressurized. Im looking into guidance if and which specific codes may be applicable for the design of these tanks.

As we normally serve the EU market, I am familiar with ASME and ASME stamping per NB-370. So for pressurized vessels its pretty straightforward so far. The production unit however also contains stationary and to-be-moved-around atmospheric tankes for which Im not sure if there's any applicable code I need to follow. Im looking for details which codes be applicable (e.g. any DOT spec from 49 CFR, NFPA 30, UL-142), and for details to determine if my tanks fall under the scope of any such code.

The scope for which my questions are consists of 2 tanks;
- a 100 m3 atmospheric storage tank (shaped like a sea container). Made from AISI 304. This tank is stationary and not moved around. It may contain a flammable liquid under certain cases.
- a reactor which will be designed per ASME VIII-1 with U-stamp and NB registration. The reactor is used under pressure at the production site; after the reaction is completed the reactor is depressurized, and loaded onto a trailer (similar to cement silo trucks) and driven to a user site over the road, and unloaded. At this stage the product is a gel, and not considered a hazardous material.

So far Ive done some gross review of possible codes and it seems that once a substance is either flammable or hazardous, a certain code may be applicable. But review of 49 CFR told me no DOT is applicable as the reactor doesnt contain any hazardous material during transport. However, perhaps there are other codes or laws I dont know about which may spell different requirements.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[MFJewell]

API 650 and API 620 may apply.

 

[JStephen]

For the rectangular tank, try UL-142. It'd be preferable to make it flat-bottom, cylindrical and use API-650.
For the other tank, possibly just ASME as you have it figured.
There are standards for the tanks commonly used, but a lot of tanks are built that don't fit any of the standards. I've dreamed at times of getting a committee together to create a standard for "General Industrial Tanks", but doubt that will happen.

 

[XL83NL]

- The rectangular tank needs to be rectangular for process and other reasons, so we cant look into API 650 (and it's shapes).
- For the other tank (reactor), obviously ASME applies, however, is there any transport aspect that needs to be covered? Any law or jurisdiction covering that which I havent already mentioned not determined to be in the scope?

@ MFJewell; that's too open ended. What determines if may becomes a shall or a will not?

 

[MFJewell]

What determines if may becomes a shall or a will not?

If your client or a local AHJ says it is a shall, then it will be a shall. Otherwise go read the API standards and see if you want to base your design on either of those. API 650 and 620 are for cylindrical tanks (one atmospheric up to 2.5 psi, the other low pressure up to 15 psi). You said it is shaped like a "sea container", I'm not familiar with that terminology. Perhaps you meant a conex shipping container (a.k.a. intermodal shipping container)?

As JStephen said, it may be designed to no particular standard. I designed rectangular wash tanks for a project in the DRC. I used Roark's to do hand calcs and confirmed it with a 3-d model and FEA with several loading cases (they were designed to be transportable around the site).

 

[XL83NL]

Thanks. Client requires a rectangular design for the atmospheric tank for several reasons, amongst one of which is process. Our client, actually their project team, is not US-based. They do have US colleagues, but we cant rely on that too much, as those guys are more process related rather than experienced with mechanical standards and so forth. This makes it tricky to find out if there's any law applicable to our equipment. I just want to make sure Im not overseeing anything such that once at site, an Inspector would not accept a certain piece of equipment.

Yes, indeed.

 

[XL83NL]

Is UL-142 certification something which is 'on top of another de'sign code, e.g. ASME VIII Div 1? Can both be specified? Or would specifying UL-142 mean that it also speels out requiorements for design, mateirals, thicknesses, joint design, inspection etc.? My idea is this is a yes, upon first quick review I noticed UL-142 sort of spells out the same table of contents as any regular design code.