The American Petroleum Institute (API) cannot provide consulting advice on specific engineering problems or on the general understanding of its documents. Answers to these types of questions should be sought with the assistance of a consultant or engineering company familiar with the requirements of the standard.
In addition, API does not approve, recommend, or endorse any proprietary or specific design; nor does it limit the method of design or form of construction that might be used to conform to an API Standard.
Due to limited committee resources, API cannot respond to questions seeking the rationale for requirements in its documents. These requirements are based upon consideration of technical data and the judgment and skill of experienced engineering and technical personnel representing both users and manufacturers who serve on the standards-writing committees.
API Standards are not intended to cover applications in areas subject to regulations more stringent than the specifications in a specific Standard. When an API Standard is specified, it should be followed insofar as it does not conflict with local requirements. The purchaser is responsible for specifying any applicable jurisdictional requirements.
Examples below are of technical questions to which API does NOT respond:
Example #1: Request for consulting on specific engineering problem.
Please clarify: Is it acceptable to specify Internal Design Pressure as +75 mm of Water Column and vacuum as -25 mm of water column for API 650 Floating Roof Tanks meeting all requirements of Appendix "C".
Example #2: Request for consulting on specific engineering problem and general understanding of the standard.
We are in the process of repairing a defective (corroded) spiral stairway of a fuel tank by means of cold weld (bolts and nuts) connection on repaired portion. Is this method acceptable to the API standards since we cannot conduct electric welding because the fuel tank is at 60% filled up?
Example #3: Request referred to local authority having regulatory jurisdiction.
I live in London and recently a gas station had one of its underground tanks cleaned. Next day our property next to it was full of petrol fumes. The contractors who cleaned it attended the scene and advised that the 'vent' must have been shut and fumes had permeated the soil and into our property. Do you have any advice how I should pursue this?