Codes and standards covering the design and construction, operation and maintenance of underground storage tanks (USTs) were instituted as early as the 1980s because of the concern over faulty USTs leaking hazardous fuels and chemicals to the environment.
Federal regulations governing USTs encouraged the compliance of tank owners and operators, and the result of regulating USTs was the closure of sub-standard USTs with only good quality USTs remaining until today.
With the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as its main partner in the UST compliance efforts, the federal regulations also sought the inputs of nationally-recognized organizations to come up with the industry codes and standards for USTs. Major organizations developed various guidelines that are integrated into the federal UST regulations. These guidelines cover various UST topics from design and construction, corrosion-protection, the application of quality tank lining products, among others. As an example, API Recommended Practice 1631, “Interior Lining of Underground Storage Tanks”, is one UST guideline created for tank lining practices. NACE Standard RP-0184 “Recommended Practice: Repair of Lining Systems”, also covers the recommended methods in tank lining applications.
Below is the list of major organizations involved in the development and testing of industry codes and standards for USTs:
– American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
– American Water Works Association (AWWA)
– American Petroleum Institute (API)
– American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
– Fiberglass Tank and Pipe Institute (FTPI)
– Ken Wilcox Associates, Inc. (KWA)
– National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE)
– National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
– National Leak Prevention Association (NLPA)
– Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI)
– Steel Tank Institute (STI)
– Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL)
– Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA)
