[Englewood, 12/21/2017] Heartland Tank Services performs comprehensive API 653 inspections for aboveground storage tanks. With offices located in Englewood, Colorado and Ponca City, Oklahoma, the company conducts inspections for clients around the Colorado-Oklahoma border.

Preserving the Integrity of Tanks

The American Petroleum Industry (API) first published the API 653, also known as Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction, in 1991. It mapped the minimum requirements for aboveground storage tanks (AST) for petroleum and liquid chemicals.

API 653 inspections are necessary to maintain the quality and integrity of ASTs. This inspection applies to tanks whose construction followed the API 650 and API12C specifications for welded and non-welded storage tanks. Inspectors pay particular attention to the tank floor (there should be no bumps), tank thickness, and electrical equipment. Inspectors notify owners of early signs of corrosion or indicators of a possible leak.

Inspection Intervals are a Problem

The API 653 inspections are in place for the maintenance of ASTs. Unfortunately, the current protocol states that inspection frequencies may be determined based on a tank’s corrosion rate. Since tank owners may rightfully claim a zero-corrosion rate, the inspection interval defaults to the maximum allowable period of up to 20 years.

The EPA cites this as “the problem” that petroleum companies and any institution that stores oil and chemicals should address. Although API protocols give them this elbow room, they need to practice social responsibility and ensure the safety of the environment and the people at large. Heartland Tank Services agrees and thereby offers its services for informal inspections.

The Tank Owners’ Initiative

Tank owners have nothing to lose by having informal inspections done. In fact, as Heartland Tank Services points out, doing so will allow tank owners to identify and address any issue early.

Watching for signs of corrosion, settling, and leaks is also important. This is why the company performs monthly external inspections (it performs formal external inspections every 5-10 years). Apart from visual examinations, its inspectors also conduct Ultrasonic Thickness tests, vacuum tests, and floor settlement surveys.

About Heartland Tank Services

Heartland Tank Services offers complete liquid storage tank services in Colorado and Oklahoma. It constructs, cleans, and repairs aboveground, steel, liquid storage tanks. It also manufactures and installs internal PVC liners for primary containment and preventing corrosion. Heartland Tank Services is the servicing arm of Heartland Tank, LLC, which focuses on the design and fabrication of high-quality fertilizer tanks.

Learn more about the company at http://heartlandtankservices.com/.