NIOEC-SP-00-04 (2)

DOCUMENT CODE NO. OF SHEETS:18

PLAN/PRJ/SUB UNIT PHASE DISCIPLINE DOCUMENT TYPE SERIAL NO. REV. NO. DATE
NIOEC 000 EG CE SP 0004 A2 JUNE 2015

NATIONAL IRANIAN OIL REFINING & DISTRIBUTION COMPANY

NATIONAL IRANIAN OIL ENGINEERING
& CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

NIOEC SPECIFICATION

FOR

FOUNDATION AND DIKE FOR STORAGE TANKS

SECOND EDITION

JULY, 2009

THIS SPECIFICATION IS THE PROPERTY OF NATIONAL IRANIAN OIL ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. IT IS CONFIDENTIAL AND ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED TO THE OWNER. NEITHER WHOLE NOR ANY PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE DISCLOSED TO ANY THIRD PARTY, REPRODUCTED,
STORED IN ANY RETRIEVAL SYSTEM OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE
NATIONAL IRANIAN OIL ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
 JUNE, 2015 NIOEC-SP-00-04(2)

IN THE NAME OF GOD

FOREWORD

By their very nature, technical Specifications are continuously subject to modifications and
revisions. To strengthen their merit and usefulness, continuous improvements, addendum, deletion
of disparate information and consequently provision of updated revisions are to be made in order to
ascertain that such Specifications meet the current requirements, inclusive of Iranian Petroleum
Standards (IPS) and the recognized and acceptable national and international Standards, as well as
the optimal codes and practices based on the accumulated in-house know-how and plant knowledge
and experiences.

However, in reality, due to several reasons, not to mention the complexity of the matter, the
ultimate goal of continuous direct embedment of the required changes on the relevant Specifications
may be far reaching. Therefore, in the interim periods between the officially issued revisions, the
required changes will appear in other documents related to the engineering and design work of the
ongoing projects.

In response to the initiative of the Design and Engineering Directorate, and considering that the task
of the execution of several important and mega projects for the realization of the new oil refineries,
pipelines and oil terminals as well as improvements of the existing facilities, has been assigned to
NIOEC, it was decided to update the NIOEC Specifications and to issue new official revisions.

The Design and Engineering Directorate was itself entrusted to carry out this important task, and as
such by forming several special technical committees, working in close co-operation and cohesion
and sharing their expertise and knowledge, the updated and revised NIOEC Specifications were
successfully prepared and complied.

These Specifications are intended to be used for Oil Refineries, Distribution Depots, Oil Terminals,
Pipelines and Pump Stations within NIOEC's projects, and have been proven to be of high value for
such purposes. It must however be appreciated that these Specifications represent the minimum
requirements and should in no way be interpreted as a restriction on the use of better procedures,
engineering and design practices or materials.

We encourage and highly appreciate the users and other clear sighted and experts to send their
comments on the Specifications to the Design and Engineering Director of NIOEC for evaluation
and approval.
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REVISION INDEX
REV. REV. REV. REV.
PAGE 1 2 3 4 PAGE
1 2 3 4 PAGE 1 2 3 4 PAGE 1 2 3 4
1 x 26 51 76
2 x 27 52 77
3 x x 28 53 78
4 x x 29 54 79
5 x x 30 55 80
6 x x 31 56 81
7 x x 32 57 82
8 x x 33 58 83
9 x x 34 59 84
10 x x 35 60 85
11 x x 36 61 86
12 x 37 62 87
13 x 38 63 88
14 x x 39 64 89
15 x x 40 65 90
16 x 41 66 91
17 x 42 67 92
18 x 43 68 93
19 x 44 69 94
20 45 70 95
21 46 71 96
22 47 72 97
23 48 73 98
24 49 74 99
25 50 75 100

NOTES:

1) THIS SHEET IS A RECORD OF ALL REVISIONS TO THIS SPECIFICATION.

2) WHEN APPROVED EACH REVISION SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS A PART OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT.
3) NUMBER OF PAGES EXCLUDES THIS SHEET AND THE COVER SHEET.

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2 JUNE, 2015 M.MEHRAJI Z.GHETMIRI M.KARGAR NAJAFI A.R.ARMAN MOGHADAM
1 JULY,2009 S.A.MIRSHARIFI S.M.J.SEYEDI M.R.FARZAM M.A.A.SAJEDI
0 JULY,2005 S.M.J.SEYEDI M.R.FARZAM M.A.A.SAJEDI
REV. DATE PREPARED CHECKED APPROVED AUTHORIZED
 JUNE, 2015 NIOEC-SP-00-04(2)

CONTENTS: PAGE NO.

1. SCOPE ............................................................................................................................................ 2
2. REFERENCES............................................................................................................................... 2
3. UNITS ............................................................................................................................................. 3
4. EXCAVATION & BACKFILL .................................................................................................... 4
5. GENERAL ...................................................................................................................................... 4
6. TYPES OF TANK FOUNDATION ............................................................................................. 4
6.1. Earth Foundations without a Ringwall .............................................................................. 4
6.2. Earth Foundations with a Concrete Ringwall ................................................................... 5
6.3. Earth Foundations with a Crushed Stone and Gravel Ringwall ..................................... 7
6.4. Slab Foundations (with or without piles) ........................................................................... 7
7. SUBGRADE SETTLEMENTS .................................................................................................... 8
8. TANK ELEVATION ..................................................................................................................... 8
9. GRANULAR RINGWALLS......................................................................................................... 8
10. GRANULAR FILL PADS........................................................................................................... 9
11. TANK FOUNDATION FINISHES .......................................................................................... 10
12. CONSTRUCTION TOLERANCES ........................................................................................ 10
13. CATHODIC PROTECTION SYSTEMS ................................................................................ 11
14. UNDER TANK LEAK DETECTION AND SUBGRADE PROTECTION......................... 11
14.1. General ................................................................................................................................ 11
14.2. Material Requirements and Construction Details .......................................................... 14
15. HYDROSTATIC TESTING OF TANKS................................................................................ 15
16. DIKED AREA AND DIKE FOR TANKS ............................................................................... 17
16.1. Diked Area .......................................................................................................................... 17
16.2. Dikes .................................................................................................................................... 17
17. TESTING RESPONSIBLITIES ............................................................................................... 18

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1. SCOPE
This Specification covers the minimum requirements for materials, design and construction of
generally occurring foundations for vertical cylindrical aboveground welded storage tanks for
atmospheric pressure. It does not apply to refrigerated, cryogenic, pressured or corrosive chemical
storage tanks.
1.1. This Specification includes:
- Excavation as required and supply and installation of all fill material, gravel and Asphaltic
concrete for tank foundations.
- Disposal of surplus excavated material.
- Application of weed killer to the sub grade.
- Dike and diked area

1.2. Items excluded from this specification:

- Rough grading

Deviations from this Specification will only be permitted on obtaining written approval from
NIOEC.
Resolution on cases not explicitly stipulated in this Specification, or on cases where conflicts may
arise among the requirements of the referenced/relevant IPS and the international standards, shall be
made through written consent and approval of NIOEC.

2. REFERENCES
The following standards, codes, and specifications, to the extent specified hereinafter, shall
constitute a part of this NIOEC Specification. Latest edition of the undated referenced documents
and the cited edition of the dated references shall apply. The applicability of changes made to the
dated references, after the cited date shall be mutually agreed upon between NIOEC and the
vendor/contractor.

AASHTO (AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION

OFFICIALS)
AASHTO T180 “Standard Method of Test for Moisture-Density Relations of Soils
using a 4.54-kg (10-lb) Rammer and a 457-mm (18-in.) Drop”

ACI (AMERICAN CONCRETE INSTITUTE)

ACI 318 “Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete”

API (AMERICAN PETROLUM STANDARD)

API STD 650 “Welded Tanks for Oil Storage”
API STD 653 “Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction”

ASTM (AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS)

ASTM C33 “Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregates”
ASTM D422 “Standard Test Methods for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils”

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ASTM D448 “Standard Classification for Sizes of Aggregate for Road and Bridge
Construction”
ASTM D693 “Standard Specification for Crushed Aggregate for Macadam
Pavements”
ASTM D6938 “Standard Test Methods for In-Place Density and Water Content of
Soil and Soil-Aggregate by Nuclear Methods (shallow Depth)
ASTM D2167 “Standard Test Methods for Density and Unit Weigh of Soil in Place
by the Rubber Balloon Method”
ASTM D4253 “Standard Test Methods for Maximum Index Density and Unit Weight
of Soils Using a Vibratory Table”
ASTM D2937 “Standard Test Methods for Density of Soil in Place by the Drive-
Cylinder Method”
ASTM D4254 “Standard Test Methods for Minimum Index Density and Unit Weight
of Soils and Calculation of Relative Density”
ASTM D1557 “Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of
Soil Using Modified Effort (56,000 ft-lbf/ft3 (2,700 kN-m/m3))”
ASTM D1556 “Standard Test Methods for Density and Unit Weight of Soil in Place
by the Sand-Cone Method”
ASTM D1241 “Standard Specification for Materials for Soil-Aggregate Sub base,
Base, and Surface Courses”
ASTM D2922 “Standard Test Method for Density of Soil and Soil-Aggregate in
Place by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth)”

NIOEC SP (NIOEC SPECIFICATIONS)

NIOEC-SP-00-01 “NIOEC Specification for Civil Design Criteria”
NIOEC-SP-00-02 “NIOEC Specification for Site Preparation Earthwork and Sewers”
NIOEC-SP-00-05 “NIOEC Specification for Excavation and Backfill for Civil Work”
NIOEC-SP-00-10 “NIOEC Specification for Units”
NIOEC-SP-00-53 “NIOEC Specification for Layout and Spacing”
NIOEC-SP-10-01 “NIOEC Specification for Concrete”
NIOEC-SP-10-12 “NIOEC Specification for Piles”
NIOEC-SP-10-17 “NIOEC Specification for Soil Engineering”
NIOEC-SP-80-24 “NIOEC Specification for Cathodic Protection of Buried and
Submerged Structures”

NIOEC SD (NIOEC-STANDARD DRAWINGS)

NIOEC-SD-1011-1~3 “Bund Walls, Steps & Pipe Sleeves”

3. UNITS
International system of unites (SI) shall be used in accordance with NIOEC-SP-00-10, unless
otherwise specified.

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4. EXCAVATION & BACKFILL

Site preparation, excavation and backfill for foundation, dikes and diked area for storage tanks
carried out in accordance with NIOEC-SP-00-02 & NIOEC-SP-00-05.
The excavation shall conform to the dimensions and elevations indicated on the drawings.

5. GENERAL
5.1. The Contractor shall furnish all materials, tools, equipment, utilities, facilities, etc., and shall
perform all labor and services necessary for the proper execution and completion of
foundations for storage tanks, all as shown on the drawings, as specified herein and / or
reasonably implied thereby to carry out the apparent intent of the work.

5.2. The type of tank foundations and ground improvement shall be specified in basic design based
on Geotechnical Investigation Report.

5.3. The design of tank foundations shall be based on the advice and design parameters given in the
Geotechnical Investigation Report(s), and API 650.

5.4. All anticipated settlements and deformations of the foundation shall be reviewed by specialist
civil/structural. Tank/vessel and Piping Engineers employed by the Contractor in order for them
to assess if the anticipated movement of the tank is acceptable for the design of the tank and the
tank piping attachments.

6. TYPES OF TANK FOUNDATION

Depending on the situations and soil conditions several types of foundations may be utilized, among
which the following may be stated:
- Earth Foundations without a Ringwall;
- Earth Foundations with a Concrete Ringwall;
- Earth Foundations with a Crushed-Stone and Gravel Ringwall;
- Slab Foundations (with or without piles);
For more information about tank foundation see Appendix B-API 650.

6.1. Earth Foundations without a Ringwall

6.1.1. When an engineering evaluation of subsurface conditions that is based on experience and/or
exploratory work has shown that the subgrade has adequate bearing capacity and that
settlements will be acceptable, satisfactory foundations may be constructed from earth
materials. The performance requirements for earth foundations are identical to those for more
extensive foundations. Specifically, an earth foundation should accomplish the following:
a) Provide a stable plane for the support of the tank.
b) Limit overall settlement of the tank grade to values compatible with the allowances used in
the design of the connecting piping.
c) Provide adequate drainage.
d) Not settle excessively at the perimeter due to the weight of the shell wall.

6.1.2. Many satisfactory designs are possible when sound engineering judgment is used in their
development. For smaller tanks, foundations can consist of compacted crushed stone,
screenings, fine gravel, clean sand, or similar material placed directly on virgin soil. Any
unstable material must be removed, and any replacement material must be thoroughly
compacted.

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6.2. Earth Foundations with a Concrete Ringwall

6.2.1. Large tanks and tanks with heavy or tall shells and/or self-supported roofs impose a
substantial load on the foundation under the shell. This is particularly important with regard to
shell distortion in floating-roof tanks. When there is some doubt whether a foundation will be
able to carry the shell load directly, a concrete ring wall foundation should be used. Also a
concrete ringwall with anchor bolts shall be used where it is required to provide a down force
to compensate for the uplift caused by wind or earthquake. For designing anchor bolts refer to
NIOEC-SP-00-01. As an alternative to the concrete ring wall noted in this clause, a crushed
stone ring wall may be used. A foundation with a concrete ring wall has the following
advantages:
a) It provides better distribution of the concentrated load of the shell to produce a more nearly
uniform soil loading under the tank.
b) It provides a level, solid starting plane for construction of the shell.
c) It provides a better means of leveling the tank grade, and it is capable of preserving its
contour during construction.
d) It retains the fill under the tank bottom and prevents loss of material as a result of erosion.
e) It minimizes moisture under the tank.
A disadvantage of concrete ring walls is that they may not smoothly conform to differential
settlements. This disadvantage may lead to high bending stresses in the bottom plates adjacent
to the ring wall.

6.2.2. When a concrete ringwall is designed, it shall be proportioned so that the allowable soil
bearing is not exceeded. The ringwall shall not be less than 300 mm (12 in.) thick. The
centerline diameter of the ringwall should equal the nominal diameter of the tank; however,
the ring wall centerline may vary if required to facilitate the placement of anchor bolts or to
satisfy soil bearing limits for seismic loads or excessive uplift forces. The depth of the wall
will depend on local conditions, but the depth must be sufficient to place the bottom of the
ringwall below the anticipated frost penetration and within the specified bearing strata. As a
minimum, the bottom of the ringwall, if founded on soil, shall be located 0.6 m (2 ft) below
the lowest adjacent finish grade. Tank foundations must be constructed within the tolerances
specified inclause12. Recesses shall be provided in the wall for flush-type cleanouts draw off
sumps, and any other appurtenances that require recesses.

6.2.3. A ringwall should be reinforced against temperature changes and shrinkage and reinforced to
resist the lateral pressure of the confined fill with its surcharge from product loads. ACI 318 is
recommended for design stress values, material specifications, and rebar development and
cover. The following items concerning a ringwall shall be considered:
a) The ringwall shall be reinforced to resist the direct hoop tension resulting from the lateral
earth pressure on the ringwalls inside face. Unless substantiated by proper geotechnical
analysis, the lateral earth pressure shall be assumed to be at least 50% of the vertical
pressure due to fluid and soil weight. If a granular backfill is used, a lateral earth pressure
coefficient of 30% may be used.
b) The ringwall shall be reinforced to resist the bending moment resulting from the uniform
moment load. The uniform moment load shall account for the eccentricities of the applied
shell and pressure loads relative to the centroid of the resulting soil pressure.
The pressure load is due to the fluid pressure on the horizontal projection of the ringwall
inside the shell.
c) The ringwall shall be reinforced to resist the bending and torsion moments resulting from
lateral, wind, or seismic loads applied eccentrically to it. A rational analysis, which

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includes the effect of the foundation stiffness, shall be used to determine these moments
and soil pressure distributions.
d) The total hoop steel area required to resist the loads noted above shall not be less than the
area required for temperature changes and shrinkage. The hoop steel area required for
temperature changes and shrinkage is 0.0025 times the vertical cross-sectional area of the
ringwall or the minimum reinforcement for walls called for in ACI 318, Chapter 14.
e) For ringwalls, the vertical steel area required for temperature changes and shrinkage is
0.0015 times the horizontal cross-sectional area of the ringwall or the minimum
reinforcement for walls called for in ACI 318, Chapter 14. Additional vertical steel may be
required for uplift or tensional resistance. If the ring foundation is wider than its depth, the
design shall consider its behavior as an annular slab with flexure in the radial direction.
Temperature and shrinkage reinforcement shall meet the ACI 318 provisions for slabs.
(See ACI 318, Chapter 7)
f) When the ringwall width exceeds 460 mm (18 in.), using a footing beneath the wall should
be considered. Footings may also be useful for resistance to uplift forces.
g) Structural backfill within and adjacent to concrete ringwalls and around items such as
vaults, under tank piping, and sumps requires close field control to maintain settlement
tolerances. Backfill should be granular material compacted to the density and compacting
as specified in the foundation construction specifications. For other backfill materials,
sufficient tests shall be conducted to verify that the material has adequate strength and will
undergo minimal settlement.
h) The top of the ring shall be covered with sealed component to prevent corrosion.

Fig.1- Example of Foundation with Concrete Ringwall

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6.3. Earth Foundations with a Crushed Stone and Gravel Ringwall

6.3.1. A crushed stone or gravel ringwall will provide adequate support for high loads imposed by a
shell. A foundation with a crushed stone or gravel ringwall has the following advantages:
a) It provides better distribution of the concentrated load of the shell to produce a more nearly
uniform soil loading under the tank.
b) It provides a means of leveling the tank grade, and it is capable of preserving its contour
during construction.
c) It retains the fill under the tank bottom and prevents loss of material as a result of erosion.
d) It can more smoothly accommodate differential settlement because of its flexibility.
A disadvantage of the crushed stone or gravel ringwall is that it is more difficult to construct it
to close tolerances and achieve a flat, level plane for construction of the tank shell.

6.3.2. For crushed stone or gravel ringwalls, careful selection of design details is necessary to ensure
satisfactory performance. The type of foundation suggested is shown in Figure2. Significant
details include the following:
a) The 0.9 m (3 ft) shoulder and berm shall be protected from erosion by being constructed of
crushed stone or covered with a permanent paving material.
b) Care shall be taken during construction to prepare and maintain a smooth, level surface for
the tank bottom plates.
c) The tank grade shall be constructed to provide adequate drainage away from the tank
foundation.
d) The tank foundation must be true to the specified plane within the tolerances specified in
clause 12.

Fig.2- Example of Foundation with a Crushed Stone and Gravel Ringwall

6.4. Slab Foundations (with or without piles)

6.4.1. When the soil bearing loads must be distributed over an area larger than the tank area or when
it is specified by the owner, a reinforced concrete slab shall be used. Piles beneath the slab
may be required for proper tank support.

6.4.2. The structural design of the slab, whether on grade or on piles, shall properly account for all
loads imposed upon the slab by the tank. The reinforcement requirements and the design
details of construction shall be in accordance with ACI 318.

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6.4.3. Where poor sub-soil conditions (unacceptable settlements are expected necessitate the use of a
reinforced concrete raft and piled foundation, the raft should be designed in accordance with
normal reinforced concrete practice (see NIOEC-SP-10-01) and surfaced with a reduced
thickness of bitumen-sand mix as described in clause 11 The pile system should be designed
in accordance with requirements of NIOEC-SP-10-12.

7. SUBGRADE SETTLEMENTS
7.1. The subgrade shall be capable of supporting load of the tank, its attachments and its maximum
weight of contents (under operating conditions) without general and/or local shear failure or
excessive:
a) Unequal settlement (particularly the settlement around the periphery of the tank)
b) Center to edge settlement
c) Total settlement
d) Deformation in tank floor (particularly the deformation of the bottom plate near the shell-to-
bottom corner junction, bottom settlement near the tank shell and localized bottom remote from the
tank shell)
Tank settlement shall be calculated with the tank full of water during the hydrostatic test period. The
settlement during lifetime of the tank shall be calculated with full product load.

7.2. Where the subgrade is capable of supporting the tank and its contents, the soil shall be
thoroughly compacted to 95% of Modified AASHTO T180-10. Soft spots shall be removed and
replaced with compacted fill of granular or other stable material compacted to the same density
as the sub grade.

7.3. If the subgrade is unable to support the loadings from the tank without excessive unequal or
total settlement, one or a combination of the following methods should be considered to
improve the subgrade:
a) Remove the unsuitable sub-grade and replace with thoroughly compacted granular fill
material or other suitable material.
b) Consolidation of the unsuitable sub grade by temporary preloading the area with an
overburden of soil with or without providing vertical drains drilled into the sub grade to
accelerate the rate of consolidation.
c) Ground stabilization by chemical or grout injection methods.
d) Piling.
e) Slab foundation.
f) Improvement of the soil by vibration or dynamic compaction.
Other methods may also be acceptable however full details shall be provided by contractor for approval
by Employer.

8. TANK ELEVATION
The height above grade of the tank floor after total settlement shall not be less than 300 mm in order
to prevent ground water from being trapped beneath the tank and to facilitate piping and drainage
attachments to the lower parts of the tank. This will provide suitable drainage; help keep the tank bottom
dry.

9. GRANULAR RINGWALLS
9.1. Granular ringwalls shall be:

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9.1.1. Thoroughly compacted to 95% of Modified AASHTO T180-10, well graded crushed stone or
gravel, within the gradation limits shown in Table 1:

TABLE 1- Gradation of Crushed Stone or Gravel

PERCENTAGE PASSING
ASTM D422 SIEVE SIZE
(BY WEIGHT)

1 1/2" 37.5 mm 100

3/4" 19 mm 75-85
3/8" 9.5 mm 60-75
N4 4.75 mm 40-60
N 10 2 mm 20-40
N 30 0.6 (600 µ m) 10-20
N 200 0.075 (75 µ m) 1-10

All granular materials shall be in accordance with the requirement of ASTM D448 and D693.

9.1.2. As per AASHTO T180 compacted in layers not exceeding 150mm. thicknesses.

9.1.3. 2.0 m minimum width at the top, symmetrical about tank shell, with sloping sides of 1 vertical
to 1.5 horizontal. The top of the shoulder shall have a slope of 1:10 from the steel shell (or
outer shell) of the tank.

9.1.4. Surfaced with materials as described in Clause 10.7 and 10.8 of this Specification except the
50 mm sand asphalt surfacing outside the tank shell, be applied after the hydrostatic test.

9.2. Total and differential settlements for the life of the facility shall be computed by an
experienced Geotechnical Engineer and Foundation Designer employed by the Contractor. All
such settlements shall be reviewed and agreed with the specialist tank Vendor's. Closer
settlement in the tank foundations peripheral levels may be necessary in the case of floating
roof tanks. Uneven foundation conditions or settlement can result in the shell assuming an oval
shape at the top, causing the floating roof to stick or seal around the roof to lost.

10. GRANULAR FILL PADS

10.1. Granular fill pads shall be constructed of inert granular or other stable material approved by the
Employer.

10.2. Granular fill pads shall be laid in layers not greater than 200 mm in thickness and shall be
compacted to a minimum 95% of relative density in accordance with AASHTO-T180 and
ASTM D4253 and ASTM D4254.

10.3. Any granular materials that fall outside the suitability of the relative density tests noted in the
above ASTM standards shall be well compacted to the approval of the Employer.

10.4. All granular fill shall have moisture content suitable for achieving the minimum relative
density noted above.

10.5. Granular material gradation for fill pads shall be within the following limits (ASTM D1241):

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TABLE 2- Granular Grading Material or Crush Stone

PERCENTAGE PASSING
ASTM D422 SIEVE SIZE
(BY WEIGHT)
3" 75 mm 100
2" 50 mm 95-100
1" 25 mm 75-95
3/8" 9.5 mm 40-75
N4 4.75 mm 30-60
N 10 2 mm 20-45
N 40 0.425 (425 µ m) 15-30
N 200 0.075 (75 µ m) 0-10

10.6. The Contractor shall determine in-place density in accordance with one or more methods given
by ASTM D1556, D2167, D2937 and D2922.

10.7. The top of the pad shall be covered with 100 mm thickness of compacted crushed stone or
gravel well graded from 10 mm to 20 mm. Chips and quarry dust shall be used to fill in the
surface voids. The top of the 100 mm layer shall be sprayed with asphalt and a 50 mm thick
layer of bitumen sand mix shall then be applied extending 300 mm beyond the tank shell.

10.8. The 100 mm thick layer of crushed stone or gravel well graded 10 mm. to 20 mm. shall extend
over the granular ring wall.

11. TANK FOUNDATION FINISHES

11.1. A smooth bitumen-sand mix of minimum 50 mm thickness shall be hot laid over the
foundations for weather proofing/weather protection and to provide a sufficiently firm layer.
This surfacing shall also be required to retard corrosion of the tank bottom.

11.2. The bitumen-sand mix shall be such that for the bitumen to just wet the sand.

11.3. A suitable bitumen-sand can be produced by hot-mixing in the following proportions by mass:
a) 9±0.5% (m/m) non-toxic cut back bitumen (i.e. fluxed with kerosene and not creosote*);
b) 10± 1.0% (m/m) filler: either limestone dust passing a sieve of nominal aperture size 75 µm
complying with ordinary Portland cement;
c) 81 ± 1.5% (m/m) clean dry washed sand with the properties given ASTM C33.

* Creosote fluxed bitumen is not considered to be acceptable in view of its acid content.

11.4. Some variation of these proportions may be necessary to suit ambient temperature conditions,
locally available materials, etc., and it is recommended that trial mixes be made in order to
achieve the correct proportions to suit the particular case.

11.5. The chloride and sulphate contents in the sand and aggregates making up the bitumen-sand mix
shall be in compliance with the limits specified in ASTM C33. The sand shall be clean and
have a silt content of less than 5%.

12. CONSTRUCTION TOLERANCES

Where foundations true to a horizontal plane are specified, tolerances shall be as follows:
(according to API 650)

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a) Where a concrete ringwall is provided under the shell, the top of the ringwall shall be level
within ±3 mm (1/8 in.) in any 9 m (30 ft) of the circumference and within ±6 mm (1/4 in.) in the
total circumference measured from the average elevation.
b) Where a concrete ringwall is not provided, the foundation under the shell shall be level within ±3
mm (1/8 in.) in any 3 m (10 ft) of the circumference and within ±13 mm (1/2 in.) in the total
circumference measured from the average elevation.
c) Where a concrete slab foundation is provided, the first 0.3 m (1 ft) of foundation (or width of the
annular ring), measured from the outside of the tank radially towards the center, shall comply
with the concrete ringwall requirement. The remainder of the foundation shall be within ±13 mm
(1/2 in.) of the design shape.

13. CATHODIC PROTECTION SYSTEMS

Unless otherwise specified by Employer, the bases of all aboveground storage tanks shall be externally
protected using impress current cathodic protection system in accordance with NIOEC-SP-80-24.

14. UNDER TANK LEAK DETECTION AND SUBGRADE PROTECTION

14.1. General
14.1.1. Bottom leakages may occur due to corrosion of either the topside or underside of the tank
base, welding defects or cracks in base plates, or due to internal mechanical damage. The
extent of corrosion can be detected by means of internal inspection techniques but these
techniques are limited. Determining the nature and extent of the bottom underside corrosion
is more difficult. Therefore, a leak detection system shall be used in storage tanks containing
hydrocarbons, and toxic substance that can contaminate tank foundation and its subsoil and
groundwater.

14.1.2. The leak detection system may be waived if the tank contains clean water or a product that
isn’t fluid at ambient temperatures.

14.1.3. A leak detection system consists of a flexible membrane leak barrier (such as geo-
membrane), a collection sump and drain pipes.

14.1.4. Several acceptable construction details are provided for detection of leaks through the tank
bottom (see figure 3 through 9). Flexible membrane leak barrier shall be used under the tank
foundation according to figure 3 through 6. For more information refer to Appendix I-API
650.

14.1.5. The following general requirements shall be satisfied for all leak detection systems:
a) Leaks through the tank bottom shall be detectable by observation at the tank perimeter. If
a leak is detected, it shall be collected.
b) The use of electronic sensors for the detection of vapors and liquids is acceptable;
however, the requirements of Item a above shall be satisfied. Any such sensor shall be
fail-safe or have provision for calibration.
c) The materials of construction shall be chemically resistant to the range of products to be
stored at the temperature range expected in service. Other physical properties shall be
specified by Employer.
d) The permeability of the leak detection barrier shall not exceed 1×10-7 cm per second.
e) The material in contact with the subgrade shall be suitable for below-grade service or be
protected against degradation.

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f) The leak barrier shall be of one-piece construction, or the joints shall satisfy the leak
tightness, permeability, and chemical resistance requirements for the base leak-barrier
material. The manufacturer and a complete description of the leak barrier material shall
be identified to Employer.
g) The installation of sumps and pipes below the tank bottom is acceptable; however, the
required leak detection and leak tightness shall be maintained. See Figures 8 and 9 for
typical details.

14.1.6. Contractor shall submit an inspection procedure indicating inspections and test reports to be
conducted during preparation and application of the leak barrier by the Employer.

14.1.7. Drain pipes shall be placed around the circumference of the foundation in order to detect
leakages and to prevent the buildup of pore pressure due to liquid accumulating in the tank
pad.

Fig.3- Concrete Ringwall with Leak Detection at the Tank Perimeter (Typical Arrangement)

Fig.4- Crushed Stone Ringwall with Undertank Leak Detection at the Tank Perimeter (Typical
Arrangement)

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Fig.5- Earthen Foundation with Undertank Leak Detection at the Tank Perimeter (Typical
Arrangement)

Fig.6- Reinforced Concrete Slab with Leak Detection at the Tank Perimeter (Typical
Arrangement)

Fig.7- Reinforced Concrete Slab

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Fig.8- Typical Draw off Sump

Fig.9- Center Sump for Downward-Sloped Bottom

14.2. Material Requirements and Construction Details

14.2.1. The minimum thickness of flexible-membrane leak barriers shall be 800 millimicrons (30
mils) for fiber-reinforced membranes and 1000 millimicrons (40 mils) for unreinforced
membranes. If clay liners are used, they shall be thick enough to meet the permeability
requirements of Item d 14.1.5.

14.2.2. The leak barrier shall be protected as required to prevent damage during construction. If the
foundation fill or tank pad material is likely to cause a puncture in the leak barrier, a layer of
sand or fine gravel or a geotextile material shall be used as a protective cushion.

14.2.3. The flexible leak barrier shall be covered by at least 100 mm (4 in.) of sand, as shown in
Figures3 through 6. This dimension may have to be increased if cathodic protection is to be
provided in the space between the tank bottom and the leak barrier.

14.2.4. If drain pipes are used around the tank perimeter, they shall be at least NPS 1 inch diameter
and have a minimum wall thickness of Schedule 40. The pipes should be perforated in the

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under tank area to improve their leak detection function. The inner ends and perforations of
the drain pipes shall be protected from clogging by the use of gravel, screening, geotextiles,
or another method approved by the Employer.
The drain pipes shall exit through the foundation and shall be visible to indicate any leakage.
The under tank drains shall be connected to non-clean water system. The maximum spacing
of drain pipes shall be 15 m (50 ft), with a minimum of four drain pipes per tank; however,
two drain pipes may be used for tanks 6 m (20 ft) or less in diameter.

14.2.5. The need for pipe sleeves, expansion joints, or both in conjunction with drain pipes shall be
evaluated.

14.2.6. The outlet of the drain pipes and collection sumps, if used, shall be protected from the ingress
of water from external sources.

14.2.7. Leak detection systems that use sumps in the liner below the tank bottom shall have a drain
line that extends from the sump to the tank perimeter. Consideration shall be given to
installation of supplemental perimeter drains.

15. HYDROSTATIC TESTING OF TANKS

The water test pressure is an integral part of the foundation design and all tanks shall undergo a
hydrostatic test before putting into service.
In determining the effects of soil settlement on storage tanks shall monitor settlement of the tank
bottom. In most cases, such a monitoring program is initiated during the construction and continued
during hydrostatic testing and operations.

15.1. The hydrostatic testing procedure of tanks, which is governed to a great extent by the behavior
of the subsoil shall be provided by the Contractor and submitted to the approval of the
Employer before tank foundation construction. The hydrostatic test program shall incorporate
the advice provided in the geotechnical report according to NIOEC-SP-10-17.
The filling rate and the intermediate hold points shall be strictly approved by the civil
engineering department of the Employer.

15.2. The Contractor shall be responsible for taking settlement measurements. For existing tanks that
do not have initial settlement data, program of settlement monitoring should be based on prior
service history. During operation, settlement measurements should be taken at a planned
frequency.

15.3. Measurements of tank settlement should be performed by personnel experienced in the types of
measurement procedures being performed, using equipment capable of sufficient accuracy to
distinguish settlement differences. The principle types of tank settlement consist of settlements
that relate to the tank shell and bottom plate.
The Contractor should be applied the measurement procedure for approval the Employer.

15.4. The Contractor shall make shell elevation measurements in accordance with the following:

15.4.1. Shell elevation measurements shall be made at equally-spaced intervals around the tank
circumference not exceeding 10 m. The minimum number of shell measurement points shall
be eight.

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15.4.2. Observed elevations shall be referred to a permanent benchmark. The level instrument shall
be set up at least 1.5 times tank diameter away from the tank when tank elevation readings
are taken. Six sets of settlement readings are required:
a) Before start of the hydrostatic test
b) With tank filled to 1/4 test height (±600 mm)
c) With tank filled to 1/2 test height (±600 mm)
d) With tank filled to 3/4 test height (±600 mm)
e) At least 24 hours after the tank has been filled to the maximum test height. This 24-hour
period may be increased to duration specified on the data sheet if the Employer so
requires for conditions such as:
i. The tank is the first one in the area.
ii. The tank has a larger capacity than any other existing tank in the area.
iii. The tank has a higher unit bearing load than any other existing tank in the area.
iv. There is a question regarding the rate or magnitude of settlement that will take place.
f) After tank has been emptied of test water

15.5. Any differential settlement greater than 13 mm per 10 m of circumference or a uniform

settlement over 50 mm shall be reported to the Employer for evaluation. Filling of the tank
shall be stopped until cleared.

15.6. For floating-roof tanks, the maximum and minimum annular space between the shell and the
roof rim plate prior to initial flotation and at the maximum test fill height shall be measured
and recorded.

15.7. Internal bottom elevation measurements shall be made before and after hydrostatic testing.
Measurements shall be made at maximum intervals of 3 m measured on diametrical lines
across the tank. The diametrical lines shall be spaced at equal angles, with a maximum
separation measured at the tank circumference of 10 m. A minimum of four diametrical lines
shall be used.

15.8. All elevation measurements shall be included in the Contractor’s Post-Construction Document
Package (see W.1.5, API 650).

15.9. The maximum filling rates shall be as follows:

TABLE 3-Maximum Filling Rate
Water Filling Rate
Bottom Course Maximum Filling
Tank Portion
Thickness Rate
Less than 22 mm – Top course 300 mm/hr
– Below top course 460 mm/hr
22 mm and thicker – Top third of tank 230 mm /hr
– Middle third of tank 300 mm /hr
– Bottom third of tank 460 mm /hr

Filling may continue while elevation measurements are being made as long as the change in
water elevation for a set of readings does not exceed 300 mm.

15.10. The Contractor shall be responsible for evaluation of the monitored settlement data. If at any
time settlement is deemed excessive, the tank should be emptied and re-leveled. For more
details refer to API 653, ANNEX B.

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16. DIKED AREA AND DIKE FOR TANKS

16.1. Diked Area
16.1.1. Storage tanks containing hydrocarbons and/or toxic substance that can contaminate its
subsoil and groundwater shall be enclosed in bounded area with separate compartments to
impound spillage. For spacing and dike capacities of storage tanks refers to NIOEC-SP-00-
53.

16.1.2. Surface finishes in diked area shall have a minimum gradient of 1:100 towards the
perimeter drainage.

16.1.3. All surface water run-offs within a diked area (rainwater, fire water used for firefighting and
cooling) shall be collected by means of surface drain channels and discharged to a liquid
filled underground valve controlled drain line.
The control valves shall:
a) Be kept normally-closed
b) Be located outside the tank diked area.
c) Be located to facilitate safe accessibility for operation.
This valve is kept normally closed and clean water is directed to Storm Water Sewer (WSW)
system. In the case of contaminated water, the valve is manually opened and directed to Oily
Water Sewer (OSW) system network. There shall be no other escape mechanism for product/
fire water/ rain water etc.

16.1.4. Where the groundwater is near the earth’s surface or permeability of soil is high, if
contaminants are being stored, impermeable membranes shall be required to prevent egress
from the tank diked area in the event of a tank leak.
The membrane liners shall be durable and resistant to the stored products. Also it shall
support of heavy equipment for operation and maintenance activities.

16.1.5. Installation and testing of the impermeable membranes shall be done in conformance with
the Manufacturer’s instructions.

16.1.6. A layer of 75 mm. pea gravel or equivalent should protect membrane liners.

16.1.7. Tall dry grass or other vegetation covering the diked area is not acceptable because of the
associated fire hazard.

16.1.8. For operational and maintenance access, at least two stairways shall be provided for each
tank diked area according to NIOEC-SD-1011-2/3. These stairways should be located at
opposite sides of the tank dikes area.

16.2. Dikes
16.2.1. Dikes shall be made of earth, concrete, or solid masonry designed and constructed as a
liquid-tight and to withstand a full hydrostatic head.

16.2.2. For arrangement and height of dikes refers to NIOEC-SP-00-53.

16.2.3. Construction of earthen dikes shall be according to NIOEC-SP-00-02.

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16.2.4. Impermeable earthen or clay structure wall shall be constructed with side slopes of
2(horizontal) for 1(vertical) and the crest elevation of the earthen wall shall have a minimum
width of 0.6 m.

16.2.5. The penetration of dikes with service line e.g. pipes; cables, etc. should be avoided. If
penetrations are unavoidable, protective pipe sleeves with sealed, flexible collars at the
upstream end shall be used. Free space shall be provided between the protective pipe sleeve
and the service line to allow for the expected settlement. The sealing material between the
pipe and sleeve shall be malleable to remain functional in the event of movements. (See
NIOEC-SD-1011-2/3)

16.2.6. Both sides of the earthen dikes shall be protected against erosion to prevent deterioration in
the wall resulting from anticipated heavy rainfalls, or during a leakage of the tank.
Rigid coverings (e.g., concrete) shall not be used for earthen dikes because of the increased
risk of uncontrolled cracking followed by washout of dike material from under the cover and
subsequent loss of integrity.

16.2.7. Reinforced concrete retaining walls used where there are space restrictions (typical
Reinforced concrete retaining walls are presented in NIOEC-SD-1011-1/3). If this type of
bund is adopted, special attention shall be paid to the following:
a) Stability of the wall;
b) Panel joints (water stops) e.g. by means of hydrocarbon resistant sealant;
c) Pipe penetrations;
d) Consequences of settlements and the effect of the relative rigidity of the structures and
dikes;
e) Deflection or deformation of the structure during the containment of liquids;
f) Means of access for operational and maintenance purposes.

17. TESTING RESPONSIBLITIES

Except as otherwise specified, the degree of compaction and density for earthwork shall be
determined and controlled in accordance with the requirements of AASHTO T180-10/ASTM
D1557-12.
It is the contractor's responsibility to inspect the filling operations and test completed fills,
determining the actual densities attained by field density tests and/or by extraction of undisturbed
core samples from the completed fill. The results of the tests obtained by the Employer and/or the
Testing Agency shall be the basis upon which the satisfactory completion of the compaction is
judged. The Employer has the right to inspect the testing procedure at all time.
All necessary laboratory/field testing by the contractor or an approved agency on his behalf shall be
performed using equipment to ASTM design or as otherwise approved by the Employer.

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