7 Del. Admin. Code § 1352-C-7.0 - Inspection Requirements for Metallic Shop-Fabricated ASTs

7.1 General Requirements for Metallic Shop-Fabricated AST Inspections

7.1.1 All new and existing metallic shop-fabricated ASTs shall meet or exceed the applicable standards or recommendations in API 653 or STI-SP001 or NACE SP0294 or the requirements in this Section whichever are more stringent. Where multiple standards may be applied during the course of a tank inspection, only 1 standard shall be applied.

7.1.2 Owners and Operators shall notify the Department in writing 10 days prior to work commencing when all new and existing metallic shop-fabricated ASTs subject to these Regulations are emptied for maintenance, repairs, or removed from service.

7.1.3 All new metallic shop-fabricated ASTs shall complete an internal inspection in accordance with PART C, Section 7.0, within 10 years of the date of completion of the installation. All existing metallic shop-fabricated ASTs shall complete an internal inspection in accordance with PART C, Section 7.4, by June 11, 2007, except those ASTs that are in compliance with an established, documented API 653 or STI-SP001 or NACE SP0294 inspection schedule.

7.1.4 All new metallic shop-fabricated ASTs shall complete an external inspection in accordance with PART C, subsection 7.3, within 5 years of the date of completion of the installation. All Existing metallic shop-fabricated ASTs shall complete an external inspection in accordance with PART C, subsection 7.3 by June 11, 2005, except those ASTs that are in compliance with an established, documented API 653 or STI-SP001 or NACE SP0294 inspection schedule.

7.1.5 When an AST has been tested or inspected as required by this regulation, the Owner or Operator shall immediately initiate the actions required or recommended by the report of the Certified API 653 Inspector or the Certified STI-SP001 Inspector, including recommendations for repair or removal from service.

7.1.6 A report of the findings of any API 653 or STI-SP001 inspection that concludes the AST is not fit for service shall be submitted to the Department and the AST Owner or Operator within 30 days of the conclusion of the inspection. The Owner or Operator shall submit to the Department with the API 653 or STI-SP001 inspection report an additional report detailing a proposed course of action including removal of the AST contents and a schedule for repairs prior to the AST being returned to service. Removal of the AST contents shall commence within 5 days of the conclusion that the AST is not fit for service and completion of the removal of the AST contents shall not exceed 90 days, unless an alternative schedule is approved by the Department.

7.1.7 Any existing metallic shop-fabricated AST not meeting the material specification requirements of UL 2085, UL 142, or API 650 Form J, shall be reviewed and analyzed by the appropriate professional engineering disciplines to determine the AST's fitness for service. In no instance shall the review exceed 90 days. A report shall be written and submitted to the AST Owner and Operator and the Department within 30 days of the conclusion of the review detailing the findings of the review and shall propose a course of action. The Department shall review the report and issue an approval or denial for the continued use of the AST to store a regulated substance within 30 days of the Department's receipt of the report.

7.1.8 Owners and Operators of ASTs shall adhere to the reporting requirements, and the corrective action requirements in accordance with the requirements specified in DERBCAP and Part E of this regulation at any time evidence of a release or leak is noted during the course of an inspection.

7.1.9 Underground pipe is not subject to the requirements of Part C, Section 7.0.

7.2 Requirements for Routine In Service Inspections for Shop-Fabricated ASTs

7.2.1 The routine in-service inspection shall monitor the external condition of the AST and all aboveground ancillary piping at an interval not to exceed 30 days.

7.2.2 The routine in service inspection shall at a minimum be completed in accordance with the guidance contained in API 653 or STI SP001 and API 570 or other equivalent procedure approved by the Department. An appropriate check list containing at a minimum the criteria in API 653 Annex C, Tank In-service Inspection Checklist and API 574 Annex A, External Inspection Checklist for Process Piping and including the condition of the Secondary Containment shall be developed and completed for each AST and aboveground Ancillary Piping at each routine in service inspection. For ASTs equipped with a Release Prevention Barrier or a double bottom, the checklist shall include criteria for visual inspection for evidence of Releases and Leaks.

7.2.3 The routine in service inspection may be completed by Owner or Operator designated personnel other than an API or STI certified inspector. If designated personnel are not specifically certified in accordance with API 653 or STI-SP001, training shall include but is not limited to the following:

7.2.3.1 Basic information regarding occupational safety, hazard recognition, personnel protection, and Facility operations; and

7.2.3.2 The procedures to be followed in conducting the daily visual and weekly Facility inspections; and

7.2.3.3 The procedures to be followed upon recognition of a hazard or the potential for a hazard; and

7.2.3.4 The procedure for evaluating the condition of the AST and appurtenances; and

7.2.3.5 The procedures for responding to releases and leaks of a regulated substance; and

7.2.3.6 Records of training shall be maintained at the Facility by the Owner or Operator for 5 years after the termination date of employment for personnel and shall be made available for review at the Department's request.

7.2.4 The routine in service inspection shall include close visual inspection from the ground.

7.2.5 Routine in service inspection reports shall be retained at the Facility by the Owner or Operator for 5 years after the routine in service inspection and shall be made available for review at the Department's request.

7.2.6 The routine in service inspection program shall be developed and implemented by December 8, 2004.

7.3 Requirements for External Inspections

7.3.1 External inspections shall at a minimum follow the latest approved edition of nationally recognized codes, standards, guidelines or recommended practices including API 653, API 570, and NACE SP0294 or STI SP001.

7.3.2 External inspection frequencies for ASTs and aboveground ancillary piping shall follow the recommended guidelines, codes, standards, or recommended practices referenced in PART C, subsection 7.3.1 including the calculated corrosion rate, but in no instance shall the external inspection frequency exceed 5 years.

7.3.3 Only Certified API 653 Inspectors or Certified STI-SP001 Inspectors or Certified API 570 Inspectors shall perform external inspections. An appropriate check list containing at a minimum the criteria in API 653 Annex C, Tank In Service Inspection Checklist and API 574 Annex A, External Inspection Checklist for Process Piping and including the condition of the secondary containment, shall be developed and completed for each AST and aboveground ancillary piping at each external inspection. Where material thickness measurements are performed, only qualified American Society for Non Destructive Testing (ASNT) SNT-TC-1A, Level II technicians or ASNT Central Certification Program Level II technicians or Certified API 653 Inspectors with experience in performing material thickness measurements shall perform the test.

7.3.4 External inspection reports shall be retained at the Facility for the life of the AST by current and future Owners and Operators.

7.4 Requirements Internal Inspections

7.4.1 Internal inspections shall follow the latest approved edition of nationally recognized standards, guidelines or recommended practices including API 653 and, if applicable, NACE SP0294 or STI-SP001.

7.4.2 The internal inspection shall at a minimum be completed in accordance with the recommended guidelines, codes, standards, or recommended practices referenced in PART C, subsection 7.4.1 or other equivalent procedure approved by the Department. An appropriate check list containing at a minimum the criteria in API 653 Annex C, Tank Out-of-Service Inspection Checklist shall be developed and completed for each AST at each internal inspection.

7.4.3 Internal inspection frequencies for ASTs with an established documented corrosion rate as of June 11, 2004 shall follow the inspection frequency of API 653, or NACE SP0294, or STI SP001 as applicable including but not limited to the use of calculated corrosion rates.

7.4.4 The AST corrosion rate shall not be determined based upon experience with tanks in similar service, unless previously approved by the Department.

7.4.5 Only Certified API 653 Inspectors or Certified STI-SP001 Inspectors shall perform the internal inspections. Where non-destructive testing methods are performed, only qualified SNT-TC-1A, Level II technicians or ASNT Central Certification Program Level II technicians or Certified API 653 Inspectors with experience in performing non-destructive testing shall perform the test.

7.4.6 Alternative internal inspection intervals may be established as outlined in API 653 using the risk based inspection procedures, robotics, statistical analysis and related methods allowed by API 653. Any alternative method shall be approved by the Department prior to implementation.

7.4.7 Internal inspection reports shall be submitted to the Department and shall be retained at the Facility for the life of the AST by current and future Owners and Operators.

7.4.8 The internal inspection report shall at a minimum include the following:

7.4.8.1 The report must be typed, not written by hand; and

7.4.8.2 The report must identify the date(s) that the inspection was conducted; and

7.4.8.3 The report must indicate if the inspection was an internal inspection and what industry inspection standard was utilized; and

7.4.8.4 The report must contain the name, address, and phone number of the inspection company that conducted the inspection; and

7.4.8.5 The report must contain the printed name of the certified inspector, the inspector's certification number or copy of certification certificate, and the signature of the certified inspector; and

7.4.8.6 The report must list the tank data including the tank diameter, tank height, regulated substance stored, date of tank construction, construction code, material of tank construction, tank orientation, tank identification number as listed on the DNREC AST registration form, type of foundation, type of roof, presence or absence of secondary containment, material of construction of secondary containment, notation of type of tank bottom as single or double, presence or absence of leak detection, type of leak detection if present, presence or absence of tank insulation, presence or absence of cathodic protection, and type of cathodic protection if present.

7.4.8.7 The report must list all data collected including thickness measurements, settlement measurements, out of round measurements and cathodic protection testing results; and

7.4.8.8 The report must include all repairs required by industry standards; and

7.4.8.9 The report must include all recommendations for repairs and upgrades not required by industry standards but recommended by the certified inspector; and

7.4.8.10 The report must include details of any repairs or upgrades made to the tank as required or recommended by the certified inspector and any records of inspections of the repair or upgrade.

7.4.8.11 The report must state the date the next inspection is due according to the inspection code utilized for the inspection.

Notes

7 Del. Admin. Code § 1352-C-7.0

20 DE Reg. 815 (4/1/2017)
27 DE Reg. 536 (1/1/2024) (Final)