NFPA 30 Tank Separation Calculations

[jmk0407]

How does one calculate tank separation distances for groups of tanks larger than 2 x 2 in accordance with NFPA? Say if I have a grid of 3 x 3 storage tanks, all floating roof, all flammable for the sake of this question. Is it one uniform tank distance calculated by summing every possible adjacent tank diameter combinations and dividing by 6? It seems like the number will be excessively large if I follow the methodology as described for 2 tanks by 2 tanks as explained in the NFPA 30 handbook. Thank you for your assistance.

 

[IFRs]

Calculate each pair of adjacent tanks separately. The resulting grid may not be regular if the tank sizes vary.

 

[stookeyfpe]

IFR,

It appears we have a double post on the same subject. The same question was posed in the NFPA Section. We both offered him an answer, which is essentially the same.

http://eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=350907

 

[IFRs]

stookeyfpe - I can sometimes answer the easy questions, as I personally interpret the codes. You guys do the heavy lifting, thanks!

 

[jmk0407]

Thanks for your help! I wasn't sure what would be a more appropriate forum but figured that there is enough overlap.