AWWA vs AISC Code for Bolted Steel Tank Design 1

[Grant M]

Hi everyone,

A colleague of mine recently submitted calculations provided by a bolted steel tank manufacturer to the DNR for permitting review. The tank design followed AWWA code, but the reviewer commented back, "The digester vessel structural calculations reference AWWA D103 as a basis of design. Does this design criteria provide an equivalent or greater level of design robustness compared to the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), Manual of Steel Construction as required by NRCS 313?".

I haven't been able to find anything that compares the two codes. Does anyone know if there is anything that states that AWWA is an acceptable code to use in lieu of AISC for this?

Thanks!

 

[JedClampett]

I don't think AISC has a bolted tank code.
But to answer the reviewer's questions, there's nothing less robust than AWWA D103. Any code (if you could find one) would require thicker sections. Bolted tanks are used for farms and factories (not that's there anything wrong with farms and factories), where the only driver is initial cost.
AWWA D103 is referenced in ASCE 7-16 in Chapter 23.