Customer-owned tank
pre-inspection guidelines
To save time and costs, please review the
following information prior to Air Products
inspecting your tank.
Any liquid bulk tank not installed by Air Products must pass an extensive
inspection process conducted by an Air Products' technician. The inspection
is done to ensure that the tank has been installed and equipped to meet all
requirements associated with the storage of cryogenic or gaseous products,
enabling safe delivery, storage and product use.
Our ultimate goals are safety and that all inspections pass during our
technician's initial visit. Our experience tells us that the items listed on the
next page are the most probable (but not only) causes why your tank system
may fail our inspection. In an effort to help pass the inspection on the initial
visit, please review these guidelines prior to scheduling our technician for the
inspection.
Feel free to contact your Air Products sales representative if you are unsure
about the status or intent of any items listed.
Primary reasons tanks fail inspection
• The tank is not installed, anchored to the
foundation and system piping is not completed
• The tank’s Maximum Allowable Working Pressure
(MAWP) is =/< 150 psig
– If the tank’s MAWP is =/<150 psig, please contact us
to purchase a Fill Line Closure Device (FLCD). This
is a requirement before the tank can be filled to
protect from overpressure scenarios.
• The tank’s fill line is > 15 feet long
– If so, please contact your Air Products sales
representative for guidance.
• Tank vents are directed such that they discharge
toward the driver during delivery
– Redirect vents so they will not discharge toward
the driver.
• The tank does not have proper safety relief valve
and rupture discs
– Must have full flow device for safety relief and not
thermal relief.
– Is the device able to lift freely (not bolted or wired
down)?
– The relief valve must have a set point equal to or
lower than the MAWP of the tank.
– All relief discharges must be to the outdoors.
– Must have at least one rupture disc, in addition to,
at least one safety relief valve.
• The tank was manufactured by Linde, Taylor
Wharton or UCAR between 1964-1985 and still has
the original brass tee between the stainless steel
liquid fill penetration and the pressure build inlet
– Contact your sales representative and send
a picture(s) of the fill line penetration and
surrounding piping, if easily visible, to Air Products.
Please make sure not to disturb the area around
this joint, especially if the area is covered in ice,
because if the joint has not been fixed, the ice could
be holding it together.
• Oxygen tank is too close to flammables
– Minimum of 50’ required from flammable liquids
and gas storage (see diagram).
• For oxygen deliveries, the required 8' x 12' unloading
pad, made of concrete or gravel, is not present
•T
he site cannot be accessed by a tanker truck
•T
ank pad greater than 12” above grade with no
steps/railing
– I nstall steps and railing.
• Fill connection greater than 2’ to 3’ from grade
– I nstall steps and railing or re-pipe to lower fill
connection.
• For tanks already in service, excessive ice and/or
snow blocking relief, discharge or driver access to
offloading valves
–D
e-ice system and/or remove snow.
Figure 1: Gaseous or Liquid Oxygen Distance Requirements
Structures
Buildings of Wood
50' Frame Construction
Oxygen Vessel
17' with firewall
50' Air Intake: General
10' Wall Openings
5,000 scfh or less
20' Air Intake: Small Air Compressors (Consult Safety for
large compressors)
Sewer - from Fill Connection Including Delivery Trailer
8'
3' Buildings Other than Wood Frame Construction
0
3
5
8
10
15
17
20
255
50'
Miscellaneous
50'
Places of Public
Assembly
50'
25'
Open Flames
or Welding
Oxygen Vessel
Property Lines which
5' may be built upon
10'
3' with firewall
3' with firewall
Overhead Power Lines
for Electric Trolly Train or
Bus (Distance measured
in plan view)
Overhead Power Lines
(Distance measured
in plan view)
10'
Parked Vehicles
Public Sidewalk
10'
3' Protective Structures/ Fire Wall
0
3
5
8
10
15
17
20
255
50'
Flammables, Combustibles, and Oxidizers
25' with firewall
17' with firewall
50'
17' with firewall
50'
15' to welded joints
Oxygen Vessel
75'
25' to mechanical joints
Flammable
Pipelines
8.5' with firewall
25' Non-liquefied or Dissolved Gases
(25,000 scf or less) Flammable Gas
8.5' with firewall
25' Slow-burning Combustible Solids (i.e. coal)
8.5' with firewall
25' Above-ground Storage
5' with firewall
15'
15'
5' with firewall
Non-liquefied or
Dissolved Gases
(More than 25,000 scf)
Flammable Gas
(more than 1,000 gal.)
Liquefied Gas
Flammable and
Combustible Liquid
25' Vent or Fill Connection
Underground Tank
Rapidly-burning
Combustible Solids
50' Above-ground Storage
(less than 1,000 gal.)
8.5' with firewall
Flammable and Combustible Liquid
Brush or Dry Vegetation
Class III B
Combustible Liquids
15'
3' Non-flammable Cryogens
0
3
5
8
10
15
17
20
255
distance in feet
LHY Tank
50'
75'
Figure 2: Tanker Truck Access
o
90
8'
o
45
Path of right rear tire
28'
22'
26'
24'
2'- 4"
Optimum manuvering area:
Road width: 25'
o
90 turn: 50' radius (internal)
75' radius (external)
o
180 turn: 2x vehicle length
100' normal
50' R
28'
Path of
overhang
22'
o
50 minimum
practical turning
radius
Air Products
delivery tanker
o
45
2'- 4''
Path of left front tire
68'
For more information,
please contact us at:
Corporate Headquarters
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
7201 Hamilton Boulevard
Allentown, PA 18195-1501
T 800-654-4567
T 610-706-4730
F 800-272-4449
F 610-706- 6980
[email protected]
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© Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., 2014 (37497) 320-14-002-US