_RP_545-2009.pdf

Recommended Practice for Lightning Protection of Aboveground Storage Tanks for Flammable or Combustible LiquidsAPI RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 545 FIRST EDITION,OCTOBER 2009Recommended Practice for Lightning Protection of Aboveground Storage Tanks for Flammable or Combustible LiquidsDownstream SegmentAPI RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 545 FIRST EDITION,OCTOBER 2009Special NotesAPI publications necessarily address problems of a general nature.With respect to particular circumstances,local,state,and federal laws and regulations should be reviewed.Neither API nor any of APIs employees,subcontractors,consultants,committees,or other assignees make any warranty or representation,either express or implied,with respect to the accuracy,completeness,or usefulness of the information contained herein,or assume any liability or responsibility for any use,or the results of such use,of any information or process disclosed in this publication.Neither API nor any of APIs employees,subcontractors,consultants,or other assignees represent that use of this publication would not infringe upon privately owned rights.API publications may be used by anyone desiring to do so.Every effort has been made by the Institute to assure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained in them;however,the Institute makes no representation,warranty,or guarantee in connection with this publication and hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting from its use or for the violation of any authorities having jurisdiction with which this publication may conflict.API publications are published to facilitate the broad availability of proven,sound engineering and operating practices.These publications are not intended to obviate the need for applying sound engineering judgment regarding when and where these publications should be utilized.The formulation and publication of API publications is not intended in any way to inhibit anyone from using any other practices.Any manufacturer marking equipment or materials in conformance with the marking requirements of an API standard is solely responsible for complying with all the applicable requirements of that standard.API does not represent,warrant,or guarantee that such products do in fact conform to the applicable API standard.Where applicable,authorities having jurisdiction should be consulted.Work sites and equipment operations may differ.Users are solely responsible for assessing their specific equipment and premises in determining the appropriateness of applying the Recommended Practice.At all times users should employ sound business,scientific,engineering,and judgment safety when using this Recommended Practice.All rights reserved.No part of this work may be reproduced,translated,stored in a retrieval system,or transmitted by any means,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording,or otherwise,without prior written permission from the publisher.Contact the Publisher,API Publishing Services,1220 L Street,NW,Washington,DC 20005.Copyright 2009 American Petroleum InstituteForewordThis Recommended Practice(RP)is based on the accumulated knowledge and experience of purchasers and manufacturers of welded steel oil storage tanks of various sizes and capacities for internal pressures not more than 17.2 kPa(2 1/2 psi)gauge.This RP is meant to be a purchase specification to facilitate the manufacture and procurement of storage tanks for the petroleum industry.If the tanks are purchased in accordance with this RP,the purchaser is required to specify certain basic requirements.The purchaser may want to modify,delete,or amplify sections of this RP,but reference to this RP shall not be made on the nameplates of or on the manufacturers certification for tanks that do not fulfill the minimum requirements of this RP or that exceed its limitations.It is strongly recommended that any modifications,deletions,or amplifications be made by supplementing this RP rather than by rewriting or incorporating sections of it into another complete RP.The design rules given in this RP are minimum requirements.More stringent design rules specified by the purchaser or furnished by the manufacturer are acceptable when mutually agreed upon by the purchaser and the manufacturer.This RP is not to be interpreted as approving,recommending,or endorsing any specific design or as limiting the method of design or construction.Shall:As used in a RP,“shall”denotes a minimum requirement in order to conform to the specification.Should:As used in a RP,“should”denotes a recommendation or that which is advised but not required in order to conform to the specification.This RP is not intended to cover storage tanks that are to be erected in areas subject to regulations more stringent than the specifications in this RP.When this RP is specified for such tanks,it should be followed insofar as it does not conflict with local requirements.The purchaser is responsible for specifying any jurisdictional requirements applicable to the d