Federal UST regulations often require that industry codes and standards be followed (where applicable) to ensure that the UST system works properly. For example, all UST systems must be designed, constructed, and protected from corrosion in accordance with a code of practice developed by a nationally recognized association or independent testing laboratory.

EPA has also included the use of industry codes for other sections of the rule, such as upgrading, repairing, and closing USTs. Industry codes and standards provide a means for improving methods or developing alternative methods of UST system management in a timely manner.

The UST regulations provide a flexible approach to codemaking by relying on nationally recognized organizations to develop new and improved codes and practices. EPA realizes that industry codes and standards may be updated periodically. EPA regulations do not require the use of a particular issue of any code. EPA encourages owners/operators to use the version of the code or standard that is current at the time the activity occurs.

Listed below are some industry codes and standards. Please be aware that there may be other codes or standards not listed here that may be used to meet regulatory requirements. Also be aware that inclusion on the list below does not necessarily imply EPA endorsement of either the code or the developing organization. You should refer to the current UST regulations to determine if a code of practice is required to be followed in order to meet regulatory requirements. For convenience, the industry codes and standards are arranged in two ways:

1. by subject area, and
2. by developing organization.

Note that industry codes and standards are copyrighted and are available only from the developing organization. These codes and standards must be purchased directly from the developing organization.

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Code/Standard Subject Areas

Assessing Tank Integrity, Repairing Tanks, and Interior Lining Of Tanks

API Recommended Practice 1631, "Interior Lining of Underground Storage Tanks"

ASTM G 158, "Standard Guide for Three Methods of Assessing Buried Steel Tanks"

ASTM E 1990, "Standard Guide for Performing Evaluations of Underground Storage Tank Systems for Operational Conformance with 40 CFR, Part 280 Regulations"

KWA "Recommended Practice for Inspecting Buried Lined Steel Tanks Using a Video Camera"

NACE Standard RP 0178, "Recommended Practice: Design, Fabrication, and Surface Finish of Metal Tanks and Vessels to be Lined for Chemical Immersion Service"

NACE Standard RP-0184, "Recommended Practice: Repair of Lining Systems"

NACE Standard RP0288, "Standard Recommended Practice: Inspection of Linings on Steel and Concrete"

NFPA 326, "Standard for the Safeguarding of Tanks and Containers for Entry, Cleaning, or Repair"

NLPA Standard 631, "Entry, Cleaning, Interior Inspection, Repair, and Lining of Underground Storage Tanks"

Closure

API Recommended Practice 1604, "Closure of Underground Petroleum Storage Tanks"

Corrective Action

API Publication 1628, "A Guide to the Assessment and Remediation of Underground Petroleum Releases"

API Publication 1629, "Guide for Assessing and Remediating Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soils"

ASTM E 1599, "Standard Guide for Corrective Action for Petroleum Releases"

ASTM E 1739, "Standard Guide for Risk-Based Corrective Action Applied at Petroleum Release Sites"

ASTM E 1912, "Standard Guide for Accelerated Site Characterization for Confirmed or Suspected Petroleum Releases"

ASTM E 1943, "Standard Guide for Remediation of Ground Water by Natural Attenuation at Petroleum Release Sites"

NFPA 329, "Recommended Practice for Handling Releases of Flammable and Combustible Liquids and Gases"

Oil Storage Tank Corrosion Protection Standards

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA Underground Oil Storage Tank Regulations include - Complete 40 CFR part 280 Technical Standards and Corrective Action Requirements for Owners and Operators of Underground Storage Tanks (UST) (454K byte PDF). This document defines dielectric material (coatings) used to protect underground oil storage tanks from corrosion: More about the galvanic scale and corrosion between dissimilar metals is at GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION.
• API Recommended Practice 1632, "Cathodic Protection of Underground Petroleum Storage Tanks and Piping Systems"
• NACE RP 0169, "Standard Recommended Practice: Control of External Corrosion on Underground or Submerged Metallic Piping Systems"
• NACE RP 0285 "Standard Recommended Practice: Corrosion Control of Underground Storage Tank Systems by Cathodic Protection"
• NACE Test Method TM 0101, "Measurement Techniques Related to Criteria for Cathodic Protection on Underground or Submerged Metallic Tank Systems"
• NACE Test Method TM 0497, "Measurement Techniques Related to Criteria for Cathodic Protection on Underground or Submerged Metallic Piping Systems"
• STI R892, "Recommended Practice for Corrosion Protection of Underground Piping Networks Associated with Liquid Storage and Dispensing Systems"
• STI-R-972, "Recommended Practice for the Installation of Supplemental Anodes for STI-P3 USTs"
• UL 1746, Standard for Safety: "External Corrosion Protection Systems for Steel Underground Storage Tanks"

General UST Topics

API Recommended Practice 2003, "Protection Against Ignitions Arising Out of Static, Lightning, and Stray Currents"

API Publication 2005, "Service Station Safety"

API Standard 2610, "Design, Construction, Operation, Maintenance, and Inspection of Terminal & Tank Facilities"

API Recommended Practice 1621, "Bulk Liquid Stock Control at Retail Outlets"

API Recommended Practice 1626, "Storing and Handling Ethanol and Gasoline-Ethanol Blends at Distribution Terminals and Service Stations"

API Recommended Practice 1627, "Storage and Handling of Gasoline-Methanol/Cosolvent Blends at Distribution Terminals and Service Stations"

NACE Standard RP 0177 Recommended Practice: "Mitigation of Alternating Current and Lightning Effects on Metallic Structures and Corrosion Control Systems'

NFPA 30, "Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code"

NFPA 30A, "Automotive and Marine Service Station Code"

PEI RP900 Recommended Practices for the Inspection and Maintenance of UST Systems

Filling Practices

API Recommended Practice 1007, "Loading and Unloading of MC306/DOT 406 Cargo Tank Motor Vehicles"

NFPA 385 "Standard for Tank Vehicles for Flammable and Combustible Liquids"

Installation

API Recommended Practice 1615, "Installation of Underground Petroleum Storage Systems"

PEI RP100, "Recommended Practices for Installation of Underground Liquid Storage Systems"

Release Detection

ASTM E 1430, "Standard Guide for Using Release Detection Devices with Underground Storage Tanks"

ASTM E 1526, "Standard Practice for Evaluating the Performance of Release Detection Systems for Underground Storage Tank Systems"

Tanks and Piping

FPTPI Recommended Practice T-95-02, "Remanufacturing of Fiberglass Reinforced Underground Storage Tanks"

STI-R922, "Specification for Permatank"

STI-P3, "STI-P3 Specification and Manual for External Corrosion Protection of Underground Steel Storage Tanks"

STI-F894, "ACT-100 Specification for External Corrosion Protection of FRP Composite Steel Underground Storage Tanks"

STI-F961, "ACT-100-U Specification for External Corrosion Protection of Composite Steel Underground Storage Tanks"

UL 58, Standard for Safety: "Steel Underground Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquids"

UL 971, Standard for Safety: "Non-Metallic Underground Piping for Flammable Liquids"

UL 1316, Standard for Safety: "Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Underground Storage Tanks for Petroleum Products"

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Code/Standard Developing Organizations

ANSI -- American National Standards Institute
11 West 42nd Street
New York, New York 10036
(212) 642-4900

AWWA -- American Water Works Association
6666 West Quincy Avenue
Denver, CO 80235
(303) 794-7711

API -- American Petroleum Institute
1220 L Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 682-8000

2008 Catalog of API Publications, Programs, and Services (includes API standards) (PDF) (210 pp, 3.85 MB, About PDF)

• API Recommended Practice 1007Loading and Unloading of MC306/DOT 406 Cargo Tank Motor Vehicles
• API Recommended Practice 1604 Closure of Underground Petroleum Storage Tanks
• API Recommended Practice 1615 Installation of Underground Petroleum Storage Systems
• API Recommended Practice 1621 Bulk Liquid Stock Control at Retail Outlets
• API Recommended Practice 1626 Storing and Handling Ethanol and Gasoline-Ethanol Blends at Distribution Terminals and Service Stations
• API Recommended Practice 1627 Storage and Handling of Gasoline-Methanol/Cosolvent Blends at Distribution Terminals and Service Stations
• API Publication 1628 A Guide to the Assessment and Remediation of Underground Petroleum Releases
• API Publication 1629 Guide for Assessing and Remediating Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soils
• API Recommended Practice 1631 Interior Lining of Underground Storage Tanks
• API Recommended Practice 1632 Cathodic Protection of Underground Petroleum Storage Tanks and Piping Systems
• API Recommended Practice 1635 Management of Underground Petroleum Storage Systems at Marketing and Distribution Facilities [final edition, now out of print]
• API Recommended Practice 2003 Protection Against Ignitions Arising Out of Static, Lightning, and Stray Currents
• API Publication 2005 Service Station Safety
• API Standard 2610 Design, Construction, Operation, Maintenance, and Inspection of Terminal & Tank Facilities

ASTM International -- formerly American Society for Testing and Materials
100 Barr Harbor Drive
West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959
(610) 832-9500

Catalog of ASTM Standards

• ASTM E 1430 Standard Guide for Using Release Detection Devices with Underground Storage Tanks
• ASTM E 1526 Standard Practice for Evaluating the Performance of Release Detection Systems for Underground Storage Tank Systems
• ASTM E 1599 Standard Guide for Corrective Action for Petroleum Releases
• ASTM E 1739 Standard Guide for Risk-Based Corrective Action Applied at Petroleum Release Sites
• ASTM E 1912 Standard Guide for Accelerated Site Characterization for Confirmed or Suspected Petroleum Releases
• ASTM E 1943 Standard Guide for Remediation of Ground Water by Natural Attenuation at Petroleum Release Sites
• ASTM E 1990 Standard Guide for Performing Evaluations of Underground Storage Tank Systems for Operational Conformance with 40 CFR, Part 280 Regulations

FTPI -- Fiberglass Tank and Pipe Institute
11150 S. Wilcrest Drive, Suite 101
Houston, TX 77099-4343
(281) 568-4100

• FPTPI Recommended Practice T-95-02 Remanufacturing of Fiberglass Reinforced Underground Storage Tanks

KWA -- Ken Wilcox Associates, Inc.
1125 Valley Ridge Drive
Grain Valley, MO 64029
(816) 443-2494

• KWA Recommended Practice for Inspecting Buried Lined Steel Tanks Using a Video Camera

NACE International (formerly the National Association of Corrosion Engineers)
Box 218340
Houston, TX 77218-8340
(713) 492-0535

Catalog of NACE Standards

• NACE Standard RP 0169 Recommended Practice: Control of External Corrosion on Underground or Submerged Metallic Piping Systems
• NACE Standard RP 0177 Recommended Practice: Mitigation of Alternating Current and Lightning Effects on Metallic Structures and Corrosion Control Systems
• NACE Standard RP 0178 Recommended Practice: Design, Fabrication, and Surface Finish of Metal Tanks and Vessels to be Lined for Chemical Immersion Service
• NACE Standard RP-0184 Recommended Practice: Repair of Lining Systems
• NACE Standard RP 0285 Recommended Practice: Corrosion Control of Underground Storage Tank Systems by Cathodic Protection
• NACE Standard RP0288 Recommended Practice: Inspection of Linings on Steel and Concrete
• NACE Test Method TM 0101, "Measurement Techniques Related to Criteria for Cathodic Protection on Underground or Submerged Metallic Tank Systems"
• NACE Test Method TM 0497 Measurement Techniques Related to Criteria for Cathodic Protection on Underground or Submerged Metallic Piping Systems

NFPA -- National Fire Protection Association
1 Batterymarch Park
Box 9101
Quincy, MA 02269-9101
(617) 770-3000

Catalog of NFPA Standards

• NFPA 30 Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code
• NFPA 30A Automotive and Marine Service Station Code
• NFPA 326 Standard for the Safeguarding of Tanks and Containers for Entry, Cleaning, or Repair
• NFPA 329 Recommended Practice for Handling Releases of Flammable and Combustible Liquids and Gases
• NFPA 385 Standard for Tank Vehicles for Flammable and Combustible Liquids

NLPA -- National Leak Prevention Association
Phone: 815.301.2785
Fax: 240.757-0211
E-mail: info@nlpa-online.org

• NLPA Standard 631 Entry, Cleaning, Interior Inspection, Repair, and Lining of Underground Storage Tanks

PEI -- Petroleum Equipment Institute
Box 2380
Tulsa, OK 74101-2380
(918) 494-9696

• PEI RP100 Recommended Practices for Installation of Underground Liquid Storage Systems
• PEI RP900 Recommended Practices for the Inspection and Maintenance of UST Systems

STI -- Steel Tank Institute

570 Oakwood Road
Lake Zurich, IL 60047
(708) 438-TANK [8265]

Catalog of STI Standards

• STI R892 Recommended Practice for Corrosion Protection of Underground Piping Networks Associated with Liquid Storage and Dispensing Systems
• STI-R922 Specification for Permatank
• STI-R-972 Recommended Practice for the Installation of Supplemental Anodes for STI-P3 USTs
• STI-P3 STI-P3 Specification and Manual for External Corrosion Protection of Underground Steel Storage Tanks
• STI-F894 ACT-100 Specification for External Corrosion Protection of FRP Composite Steel Underground Storage Tanks
• STI-F961 ACT-100-U Specification for External Corrosion Protection of Composite Steel Underground Storage Tanks

UL -- Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
333 Pfingsten Road
Northbrook, IL 60062-2096
(847) 272-8800

Catalog of UL Standards

• UL 58 Standard for Safety: Steel Underground Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquids
• UL 971 Standard for Safety: Non-Metallic Underground Piping for Flammable Liquids
• UL 1316 Standard for Safety: Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Underground Storage Tanks for Petroleum Products
• UL 1746 Standard for Safety: External Corrosion Protection Systems for Steel Underground Storage Tanks

WFCA -- Western Fire Chiefs Association
5360 S. Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601
(213) 699-0541