API 653 Certification

Data Sheets
Reference Documents

Answer
1

Fitness for Service (FFS)

Risked Based Inspection

Low Pressure Storage Tanks

Cathodic Protection

Tank Bottom Linings

Welding on In-Service Equipment containing Flammables

NDE Procedure Guidelines

Acceptance Standards for RTs of Welds

Alternative evaluation for pits and LTAs

10

Welder Qualification

11

Weld Procedure Qualification

12

Impact Testing Method and Equipment Requirements

13

Requirement for new welding electrodes

14

NDE Personnel Qualification (RT & UT Flaw Detection)

15

API 650 Appendix for Frangible Roofs

16

API 650 Appendix for Hot Tanks

Answer

Class Abbreviations

API 653 Scope (Alteration, Inspection, Repair, Reconstruction)

API 653 AIs Employer (Jurisdiction, User, Insurance company,

Contractor)
API 653 Repair Organization (authorized by Jurisdiction, Owner,
Contractor)

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Data Sheets
Dimensions

Answer

Definitions - Length of shell-to-bottom weld that if repaired is

considered a major repair or alteration
Linings - Typically anchor profile of steel surface required for the
installation of a tank bottom lining

1
2
3

Welds - Maximum undercut of a vertical weld & nozzle weld

Welds - Maximum undercut of a horizontal weld

Welds - Maximum diameter of a surface porosity cluster

Weld Qualification - Max allowed discontinuity in a Bend Test

Nameplates - Minimum size of nameplate letters

Bottoms - Minimum external projection of bottom plate on an existing

tank (from toe of shell-to-bottom FW)

Reconstruction - Max amount of peaking allowed in vert welds

Shell Calcs When calculating tmin for shell LTA, minimum distance
away from a weld where E is always 1.0
Shell Patch - Minimum overlap of shell lap-patch used to cover a hole
(edge of hole to edge of patch)
NDE - When performing a PT examination, minimum distance to clean
beyond the area to be examined
NDE - When performing a MT examination, minimum distance to clean
beyond the area to be examined
Reconstruction - Maximum amount of banding allowed in a horizontal
welds

10
11
12
13
14
15

Bottoms - Minimum overlap required for single-welded lap joints

16

Bottoms - Minimum external projection of bottom plate on a new tank

Vacuum Box - Minimum overlap of previously test surfaces when using
a vacuum box
Bottom Patch - Minimum overlap of bottom lap-patch used to cover
corroded area (edge of corrosion to edge of patch)
Bottom Patch - Minimum distance bottom lap-patch fillet weld to the
nearest existing bottom weld

17
18
19
20

Shell Patch - Minimum radius of a shell lap-patch

Reconstruction - If reusing bottom plates, min distance to cut from
existing bottom welds (if plates are not deseamed)
Reconstruction - If reusing roof plates, min distance to cut from
existing roof welds (if plates are not deseamed)

21
22

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Data Sheets
Answer

Dimensions (continued)

23

Shell Pitting - Maximum allowed vertical length of pits on a tank shell

24

Bottom Pitting - Maximum allowed length of pits in the critical zone

that can be repaired by weld-buildup

25

Bottoms - Radial length of critical zone measured from shell

26

Bottoms Suggested pad thickness

27

Welds - Min distance between clusters of surface porosity

28

Shell Patch - Minimum dimension of a shell lap-patch

29

Shell Patch - Minimum radius of a shell flush-patch

Shell Calcs When calculating tmin for shell LTA, minimum distance
away from a rivet where E is always 1.0
Bottom Patch - Minimum size of bottom lap-patch that does NOT
cross a bottom seam
Bottom Patch - Minimum distance between a bottom lap-patch and the
shell for patches that do NOT extend to the shell
Reconstruction - If reusing shell plates, min distance to cut from
existing shell welds (if plates are not deseamed)
RT - Minimum diagnostic length of a RT for vertical or horizontal
welds
Weld Qualification - Minimum length of RT when qualifying a welder
with RT using a coupon or 1st production weld
Weld Qualification - Minimum length of RT when qualifying a welding
operator with RT of a test coupon
Shell Patch Minimum distance to overlap a shell weld when using a
lap-patch

30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38

Corrosion Area to dig when checking for soil-to-air corrosion

39

NDE Distance of eye-to-part to count as a Visual Exam

40

Vacuum Box - Typical size of a vacuum box

41

Shell Patch - Minimum dimension of a shell flush-patch

Bottoms - Minimum dimension that a 3-lap joint can be from: other 3laps, the shell, or annular plate joints
Bottom Patch - Minimum dimension of bottom lap-patch that crosses a
bottom seam

42
43
44

Foundations - Suggested height above grade for new tank bottoms

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Data Sheets
Answer

Dimensions (continued)
Shell Patch - When adding a shell flush-patch that extends to a
horizontal shell weld, minimum distance to cut the horizontal weld
past the new vertical welds
Shell Patch - Dimension of a shell flush-patch that is considered
either a major repair or alteration
Definition - Dimension of a shell vertical weld if repaired or replaced
is considered a major repair or alteration

45
46
47
48

Bottom Patch Max width of bottom patch in the critical zone

49

Bottoms - Minimum radial width of annular plate (distance between

shell and nearest bottom fillet weld)

50

NDE Max distance of eye-to-part to count as a Visual Exam

Hot Tap - Minimum height of liquid above new nozzle during the hot
tap operation
Weld Qualification - Minimum length of RT when qualifying a welding
operator with RT of first production weld
NDE - Length of sweep board used when checking for banding or
peaking

51
52
53
54

Welds - Maximum distance between welder ID stamps on a tank weld

Shell Patch - Maximum size of shell lap-patch (vertical & horizontal
dimensions)
Settlement - Maximum distance between tank settlement survey
points across the inside of the tank

55
56
57

Roofs Maximum shunt spacing on floating roof

Settlement - Maximum distance between tank settlement survey
points around the outside diameter of the tank
NDE - Maximum distance between RTs in horizontal welds when
welding to existing shell plates

58
59
60

CP Typical tank size for Galvanic CP systems

61

Shell Calcs - Tank diameter when variable point design method should
always be used to calc shell minimum thickness

62

Shell Minimum offset between vertical welds in adjacent courses

63

Bottoms Minimum size of bottom welds

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Data Sheets
Line Sizes

Answer

Repad - Nozzle size that never requires a repad

Repairs On existing tank, new nozzle must use insert plate if shell is
over thick and shell material does not meet current MDMT
requirements
RT - Maximum pipe size when using a RT elliptical shot (double-wall
technique, double-wall view)
Hot Tap - Maximum nozzle size that can be hot tapped when course
thickness is > and shell has unknown toughness
Definition - When adding a new nozzle, nozzle size to be considered a
major alteration

2
3
4
5

Percentages

Answer

RT Film Density - Limits of weld as compared to the IQI (range)

AI Amount of time inspector must be involved in inspection activities

- required to maintain API 653 certification
RT Reconstruction - % to of weld intersections (new welds to old
welds) to be RTd
Maximum relative humidity when performing abrasive blasting for tank
bottom linings

2
3
4
5

Maximum relative humidity when installing tank bottom linings

% to RT when installing a new insert plate with a nozzle into an

existing shell plate

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Data Sheets
Temperatures

Answer
1

Reconstruction - Base metal temp where welding is not allowed

Reconstruction - Base metal temp when hand-warm pre-heat is

required

Linings - Minimum temp when performing abrasive blasting

Linings - Minimum temp when installing tank bottom linings

Corrosion The corrosion rate of steel tank bottoms may double with
this rise in temperature
UT Calibration - Calibration Block must be within what temperature of
the part to be examined

5
6
7

Vacuum Box - Standard temperature range for VB exam

PT - Standard temperature range for a PT exam

Impact Test - Design metal temperature that requires weld procedure
used for vertical welds to be impacted tested
Brittle - Tank metal temperature where brittle fracture is NOT a
concern
Bottom Lap Patches - Metal temp where lap-patches are NOT allowed
in critical zone on SS tank
Intervals - If tank product solidify below this temperature, the code
maximum interval rules do not apply

9
10
11
12
13

Preheat - Approximate temp of a required hand-warm pre-heat

Corrosion - Temperature when high strength caustic causes serious
corrosion in CS and 300 SS
Preheat - Required pre-heat temperature for shell welds over 1.5
thick during Reconstruction
Bottom Lap Patches - Metal temperature where lap-patches are NOT
allowed in the critical zone on CS tanks

14
15
16
17

Temperature Range for API 650 App M

Corrosion - Most aggressive temperature range for CUI. Range for
API 575 and API 571
Preheat - Minimum pre-heat temperature, when pre-heat is
substituted for PWHT

18
19
20

Maximum temperature for UT readings

21

PWHT Temperature

22

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Data Sheets
Thicknesses

Answer
1

Linings - Thickness of a thin film lining

Bottom - Minimum allowed bottom plate thickness when there is a
Reinforced Liner that is > 0.050 thick
Bottom - Minimum allowed bottom plate thickness when there is a
means to Detect and Contain a leak

2
3
4

Roofs - Minimum allowed average thickness of corroded roof plate

Shell - Minimum arbitrary shell thickness (used when calculated
minimum thickness is below this number)
Bottom - Minimum allowed thickness of bottom plate at toe of the
external shell-to-bottom fillet weld
Bottom - Minimum allowed bottom plate thickness away from critical
zone or an annular plate
Bottom - Minimum allowed plate thickness in critical zone that can
be repaired by weld-buildup

5
6
7
8
9

Roof Rim - Minimum allowed roof rim thickness

10

Roof - Minimum thickness of new roof plate (cone & floating)

11

Roof Rim - Minimum thickness of new roof rim

12

Bottom - Normal minimum thickness of new bottom plate

13

Bottom Patch - Maximum thickness of lap-patch in critical zone

14

Brittle - Thickness when brittle fracture is NOT a concern

15

Shell Patch Max shell thickness when lap-patches are allowed

16

Shell Patch Maximum patch thickness for a shell lap-patch

Weld Qualification When can UT be used in lieu of RT to Qualify a
Welder/Welding Operator
NDE - When welding existing shell plate. Thickness that requires
100% examination by RT and MT or PT.
NDE - Plate thickness which requires 100% of verticals weld to be
radiographed
Reconstruction - Shell plate thickness that requires all welds to be
preheated to at least 200 oF.

17
18
19
20
21

Shell Pits - Minimum remaining thickness allowed below a pit

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Data Sheets
Time Intervals

Answer
1

Vacuum Box - Minimum duration of each vacuum-testing exam

NDE - Minimum time an examiner should be in a darkened area prior
to using a black light for MT & PT exams
NDE - Final interpretation of a PT exam after application of developer
(time range)
Testing - Minimum time to let oil to penetrate when performing a
diesel oil test of shell-to-bottom weld
Testing - Minimum duration for a tank hydrotest to be held at full
height

2
3
4
5
6

NDE - Max Calibrating Interval - Permanent magnet MT Yoke

Intervals - Maximum Interval - Routine In-Service inspection

CP - Maximum Interval - Routine check of CP impressed current

sources

NDE - Max Calibrating Interval - RT densitometer

Reconstruction - Maximum allowed age of last thickness readings,
used to design a reconstructed tank
Weld Qualification Maximum Time - Welder or operator maintains
qualifications for a welding process without using that process

10
11
12

NDE - Max Calibrating Interval - Electromagnetic MT Yoke

13

CP - Maximum Interval - Detailed check of CP impressed current

facilities

14

CP - Maximum Interval - CP surveys (field potential measurements)

15

NDE - Minimum Time - To keep RTs acquired during tank repairs and
reconstructions

16

Vac Box Max Test Interval - Jaeger 2 eye test for VB oper

17

NDE Max Test Interval - Jaeger 2 eye test for PT/ MT tech

18

AI Time period between API AI recertification

19

Intervals - Maximum Interval - UT readings of a tank shell when the

corrosion rate is unknown

20

Intervals - Maximum Interval - External Inspection

21

AI Time period between API AI on-line recertification

22

Intervals - Maximum Interval - Initial Internal Inspection (without

RBI or other special situations)

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Data Sheets
Answer
23

Time Intervals (continued)

RBI - Maximum Interval - RBI reassessments
Intervals - Maximum Interval - UT readings of a tank shell when the
corrosion rate is known
Intervals - Maximum Interval - Internal Inspection when the
corrosion rate is known (without RBI assessment)

24
25
26

Linings - Typical life of a properly applied tank lining

27

NDE - Max Calibrating Interval - Check the light intensity of a black

light used in a MT or PT exam

Pressures

Answer
1

Scope - Maximum internal pressure for tanks in API 650 & 653

Vacuum Box - Normal vacuum required when vacuum testing

Pressure Test - Pressure used when air testing the shell-to-bottom

weld

Pressure Test - Pressure used when air testing a repad

Scope - Maximum internal pressure for tanks in API 620

Slopes

Answer
1

Minimum slope of normal tank bottom

Minimum slope of cone roof tank (for water runoff)

Maximum roof slope on tanks > 50 diameter (if roof is considered to

be fragible)

Maximum taper (steepest slope) allowed for an insert plate

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API 653 Certification

Data Sheets
Answer

Miscellaneous Numbers
Roofs - Maximum amount of primary seal that can be removed for
repair while tank is still in service
NDE - Minimum number of RTs required on a circular shell
replacement plate

1
2
3

FFS Current joint efficiency E in API 650

FFS Joint Efficiency E Calculating tmin for an LTA, when LTA is
away from rivets by > 6
FFS Joint Efficiency E Calculating tmin for an LTA, when LTA is
away from weld by greater of: 1 or 2t
Reconstruction - Number of sets of center punch marks located on
top and bottom edges of each shell piece

4
5
6
7

Weld Qualification - Number of tension tests to qualify a WPS

Weld Qualification - Number of bend tests to qualify a welder or
welding operator in welding positions 1G-4G
NDE - Minimum # of exposures to RT 360o of a weld using a doublewall technique, double-wall view (elliptical shot)
NDE - RT film Density Range - allowed for the weld & IQI when using
a gamma ray source
NDE - Minimum # of exposures to RT 360o of a weld using a doublewall technique, single-wall view
Impact Test - Number of test bars required in each set of impact
test specimens
NDE - When using a shim under a hole-type IQI, the number of sides
of the IQI that must be seen in the RT image
Hot Tap - Minimum number of UT readings around the circumference
of a new hot tapped nozzle

8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

Weld Qualification - Number of bend tests to qualify a WPS

Weld Qualification - Number of bend tests required to qualify a
welder in welding positions 5G & 6G
FFS - Corrosion Averaging in a Shell LTA - Minimum # of UT readings
to take on each designated vertical line.
NDE - Minimum number of RTs required on a square or rectangular
shell replacement plate
Settlement - Minimum number of settlement points around
circumference

16
17
18
19
20
21
22

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Data Sheets

Answer

Miscellaneous Other

Reconstructed Maximum allowed out-of-plumbness

Corrosion pH level that causes corrosion to increase

Corrosion Chloride level where pitting on steel begins

NDE - Weight used to check magnetic strength of an AC yoke

Grounding - Maximum electrical resistance permitted from tank to

earth

NDE Min angle of eye-to-part to count as a Visual Exam

NDE - Weight used to check magnetic strength of a DC yoke

NDE - Minimum light intensity when performing non-fluorescent MT

or PT exams

Vacuum Box - Minimum light intensity when performing vacuum testing

10

NDE - Minimum black light intensity when performing fluorescent MT

or PT exams

11

Brittle Shell stress when brittle fracture is NOT a concern

12

NDE - Hole size that must be visible in RT when using a hole-type IQI

13

Weld Qualification - Maximum allowed thickness on a WPS based on

the plate thickness (T) of a PQR test coupon

14

Weld Qualification The all-position test coupon

15

NDE - Lead letter used during RT to check for backscatter radiation

16

NDE - Lead letter used during RT to indicate a film-side IQI

17

NDE - Lead letter used during RT to indicate a repaired weld

18

Repairs Material where pre-heat can be substituted for a required

PWHT

19

Repairs Materials where control deposition welding can be

substituted for a required PWHT

20

Hot Taps Nozzle thickness for hot tapped nozzles

MSTS

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Data Sheets
Miscellaneous Other (continued)
21

Repairs Welding processes that can be used when substituting

Preheat or Controlled Deposition welding for a required PWHT

22

Corrosion In a corrosion cell, the part that corrodes

23

Corrosion In a corrosion cell, the part that doesnt corrode

24

Linings Minimum surface prep prior to applying lining

25

Weld Qualification Rejectable in RT when qualifying a welder

26

MSTS

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