PEI offers RP to minimize overfill incidents

Sept. 25, 2007
The Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI) now has available the Recommended Practices for Overfill Prevention for Shop-Fabricated Aboveground Tanks that addresses proper procedures

The Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI) now has available the Recommended Practices for Overfill Prevention for Shop-Fabricated Aboveground Tanks that addresses proper procedures and equipment to minimize aboveground tank overfill incidents, according to PEI information.

The recommended practices described in the document are limited to the installation, operation, inspection, maintenance and testing of overfill-prevention equipment used on shop-fabricated, stationary, and atmospheric aboveground tanks intended for the storage or supply of liquid petroleum products and alternative fuels. These recommended practices may be applied to tanks used for: bulk storage; motor-fuels dispensing; emergency-generator systems; residential and commercial heating-oil supply systems; or used-oil storage systems.

PEI said that the transfer of large quantities of fuel into aboveground storage tanks usually involves a variety of pumps, pipes, valves, and controls. The configuration of this equipment is very often unique to each storage-tank facility. Typically, the only person on site to manage the fuel transfer operation is the tank truck driver. The lack of industry standards for fuel-transfer procedures and equipment and the reliance on a minimum number of personnel to execute the fuel transfer pose significant challenges to reducing the occurrence of overfill incidents.

The latest practice (PEI/RP600-07) document was produced by the PEI Aboveground Tank Overfill Prevention Committee and is intended to provide a comprehensive reference that consolidates published and unpublished information from equipment manufacturers, installers, tank owners, and regulators. Printed copies of this 34-page document can be purchased on PEI’s Web site. Single copies are $40 for PEI members and $95 for non-members.

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