PREPARED

NA
BY PTT PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
CHECKED
BY ONSHORE COMPRESSOR STATION 4
PROJECT
APPROVED
BY
CERTIFIED
NA
(PTT)
REV. DATE REVISED APPROVE DESCRIPTION
NO. BY D
BY
D1 18-Feb-08 NA ISSUED FOR INTERNAL REVIEW
D2 21-Jul-08 NA REVISION ISSUED FOR ITB

SPECIFICATION FOR

DESIGN OF STORAGE TANK FOUNDATIONS

SPC 0804.02-40.10 REV.D2
TOTAL 14 PAGES

AREA CODE OF SITE LOCATION .

GENERAL AREA: 010

PTT PLC. CONTRACT NO. PTT PLC. PROJECT NO.

0804.02
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FOUNDATIONS ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION REV: D2

CONTENTS

SECTION

1.0 SCOPE ....................................................................................................4

2.0 DEFINITIONS ...........................................................................................4

3.0 REFERENCES ...........................................................................................4

4.0 GENERAL ................................................................................................4

5.0 SUBGRADE..............................................................................................5

6.0 TANK ELEVATION ....................................................................................6

7.0 GRANULAR RING BEAMS ..........................................................................6

8.0 CONCRETE RING BEAMS ..........................................................................7

9.0 GRANULAR FILL PADS..............................................................................7

10.0 REINFORCED CONCRETE RAFT FOUNDATIONS ...........................................8

11.0 PILED FOUNDATIONS ...............................................................................8

12.0 BITUMEN SAND SURFACING .....................................................................8

13.0 CATHODIC PROTECTION ..........................................................................9

14.0 ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION ................................................................10

15.0 CONSTRUCTION TOLERANCES................................................................10

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CONTENTS (Cont’d)

SECTION SUBJECT

APPENDIX 1 STORAGE TANK WITH SUITABLE SUBGRADE AT OR NEAR

GRADE LEVEL FOUNDED ON A GRANULAR PAD
FOUNDATION WITH A GRANULAR RING BERM.

APPENDIX 2 STORAGE TANK WITH SUITABLE SUBGRADE AT OR NEAR

GRADE LEVEL FOUNDED ON A GRANULAR FILL PAD WITH A
REINFORCED CONCRETE RING BEAM.

APPENDIX 3 STORAGE TANK WITH SUITABLE SUBRADE AT OR NEAR

GRADE LEVEL FOUNDED ON A REINFORCED CONCRETE
RAFT WITH A REINFORCED CONCRETE RING BEAM.

APPENDIX 4 STORAGE TANK WITH UNSUITABLE SUBGRADE FOUNDED

ON A REINFORCED CONCRETE FOUNDATION AND LOAD
BEARING REINFORCED CONCRETE PILES.
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1.0 SCOPE

This Standard provides general guidance and practice to be followed for the
design of generally occurring foundations for vertical atmospheric storage
tanks.

This standard shall not apply to refrigerated, cryogenic, pressurised or corrosive

chemical storage tanks.

2.0 DEFINITIONS

(Deleted)

3.0 REFERENCES

Design shall conform with the latest revisions of the following Standard and
Codes of Practice at time of Contract Placement:

3.1 Engineering Standards:

SPC-0804.02-40.05 Wind and Earthquake, Loading

SPC-0804.02-40.06 Design
SPC-0804.02-40.01
SPC-0804.02-40.01.01
SPC-0804.02-40.01.02
Loadings for Buildings, Equipment,
Structures and Foundations
Specification for Civil Works
Specification for Precast Concrete Piling
Work
Specification for Cast Institute Concrete
Bored Piling Work

National / International Standards

See SPC 0804.02-40.01 - Specification for Civil Works for applicable

standards relevant to the construction of the storage tanks.

The Standards and Codes of Practices listed shall be used, however National
Standards or Local Authority Codes maybe substituted provided they are no
less stringent and prior approval is obtained from PTT/CONSULTANT.

4.0 GENERAL

4.1 The design of tank foundations shall be based on the advice and design
parameters given in the Geo-technical Investigation Report(s).

All anticipated settlements and deformations of the foundation shall be

reviewed by specialist civil/structural, Tank/Vessel and Piping Engineers
employed by 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
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FOUNDATIONS ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION REV: D2

piping attachments.

Foundations shown in Appendices 1, 2, 3 and 4 are typical of the foundations

to be used, unless otherwise specified in the Job Specification or recommended
in the Geo-technical Investigation Report(s).

5.0 SUBGRADE

5.1 The subgrade shall be capable of supporting the tank, its attachments and its
maximum weight of contents (under operating conditions) without general
and/or local shear failure or excessive:

Unequal settlement
Centre to edge settlement
Total settlement
Deformation in tank floor

Where the subgrade is capable of supporting the tank and its contents, the soil
shall be thoroughly compacted in accordance with the requirements of
Engineering Standard SPC 0804.02-40.01.04. Soft spots shall be removed
and replaced with compacted fill of granular or other stable material compacted
to the same density as the subgrade.

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 may be considered to improve the subgrade:

Remove the unsuitable subgrade and replace with thoroughly compacted

granular fill material or other stable material.

Deep compaction of the unsuitable subgrade by vibro-flotation or dynamic

consolidation if satisfactorily proved by testing by CONTRACTOR.

Consolidation of the unsuitable subgrade by temporary preloading with or

without providing vertical drains drilled into the subgrade to accelerate the rate
of consolidation

Piling

Rigid raft type foundation

Ground stabilisation utilsing methods other than those noted above.

Other methods such as cement columns may also be acceptable however full
details shall be provided by CONTRACTOR for approval by PTT/CONSULTANT.
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6.0 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.

7.0 GRANULAR RING BEAMS

7.1 Granular ring beams shall be: -

7.1.1 Thoroughly compacted in accordance with Engineering Standard SPC

0804.02–40.01.04 well graded granular material or crushed stone, within the
grading limits shown in Table 1.

PERCENTAGE PASSING
ASTM D422 SIEVE SIZE
(BY WEIGHT)
2“ 50 mm. 100
1½“ 37.5 mm. 100
3/4 20 mm. 75 – 85
3/8 10 mm. 60 – 75
No. 4 4.75 mm. 40 – 60
No. 10 2 mm. 20 – 40
No. 30 0.6 (600µm.) 10 – 20
No. 200 0.075 (75µm.) 1 – 10

TABLE 1

All granular materials shall comply with the requirements of ASTM D448 and
D693.

Compacted in layers not exceeding 200 mm. thickness when uncompacted.

2.0 m. minimum width at the top, symmetrical about tank shell, with sloping
sides of 1 vertical to 1.5 horizontal.

Surfaced with materials as described in Section 9 of this Standard except the

50 mm. sand asphalt surfacing outside the tank shell, shall be applied after the
hydrostatic test.

Total and differential settlements shall be computed by an experienced Geo-

technical Engineer employed by CONTRACTOR. All such settlements shall be
reviewed and agreed with the specialist tank vendors and PTT/CONSULTANT.
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8.0 CONCRETE RING BEAMS

8.1 Concrete ring beams shall be designed and constructed in accordance with ACI
318 M.

Concrete ring beams shall be designed to resist the following simultaneous

conditions:

to span 4.0 m. horizontally unsupported

to resist the surcharge from the tank

to resist pressure from the retained earth

An experienced Geo-technical Engineer employed by CONTRACTOR shall

determine a depth of foundation to reduce the component of settlement due to
lateral flow of soil to an acceptable proportion of total settlement.

Concrete ring beams shall be of adequate width to ensure that the theoretical
unit bearing pressure at the bottom of the ring beam is the same as the
theoretical unit bearing pressure at the centre of the filled tank.

Concrete ring beams shall be of adequate width and depth to accommodate

tank holding down bolts.

Concrete ring beams shall be designed to control cracking appropriate to the

prevailing exposure conditions.

9.0 GRANULAR FILL PADS

9.1 Granular fill pads shall be constructed of inert granular or other stable material
approved by PTT/CONSULTANT.

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 D4254.

Any granular materials that fall outside the suitability of the relative density
tests noted in the above ASTM Standards shall be well compacted.

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

CONTRACTOR shall determine in-place density in accordance with one or more

methods given by ASTM D1556, D2167, D2922 and D2937.

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
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shall be sprayed with asphalt and a 50 mm. thick layer of bitumen sand mix
shall then be applied 3extending 300 mm. beyond the tank shell.

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

10.0 REINFORCED CONCRETE RAFT FOUNDATIONS

10.1 Reinforced concrete raft foundations shall be designed and constructed in

accordance with Engineering Standard SPC 0804.02-40.01.01 and ACI 318 M.

11.0 PILED FOUNDATIONS

11.1 Pile foundations shall be designed and constructed in accordance with

Engineering Standards SPC 0804.02-40.01.01 & SPC 0804.02-40.01.02.

11.2 The concrete pad shall be designed to span between the piles assuming no pile
failure and investigated for the case assuming differential settlement of
individual piles. Specialist Geo-technical engineering advice shall be taken in
assessing the amount of differential settlements of piles.

12.0 BITUMEN SAND SURFACING

12.1 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.

The Bitumen-sand mix shall be such as for the bitumen to just wet the sand.

A suitable bitumen-sand can be produced by hot-mixing in the following

proportions by mass:

9 ± 0.5% (m/m) non-toxic cut back bitumen (i.e. fluxed with kerosine and not
creosote*);

10 ± 1.0% (m/m) filler: either limestone dust passing a sieve of nominal

aperture size 75 µm complying with ordinary Portland cement;

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.
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13.0 CATHODIC PROTECTION

When cathodic protection of the tank bottom is adopted, consideration shall be

given to the compatibility of the foundation surfacing material in contact with
the tank floor. CONTRACTOR shall fully evaluate the need for any cathodic
protection and provide a fully detailed evaluation report for review and approval
by PTT/CONSULTANT.

The following considerations shall apply: -

13.1 General

Review the flexural and settlement characteristics of the tank and foundation.

Review the need for protective coatings to underside of tank bottom.

Consider the aggressive nature of the soil and support foundations together
with ground water quality and levels.

13.2 Structure Preparation

The tank foundation mound should as far as possible be constructed so that it

will distribute protection current uniformly to the whole of the underside of the
tank. This means that the use of rubble, rock fill etc., should be avoided and
the mound should consist of fine-grained and well compacted material, to a
minimum depth of 150 mm.

Where individual plates (for tank bottom fabrication) are lapped or welded
ensure there is electrical continuity across all joints.

Provide bonding between individual tanks where a group of tanks require

cathodic protection.

Provide isolation joints in all pipelines and fittings connected to tanks if there is
a need to confine the protection current.

Earthing electrodes connected to the tank should be of zinc, stainless or

galvanised steel.

13.3 Application of Cathodic Protection

Current density figures of the order of 10mA/m2 are normally required for
uncoated tank bottoms resting on bitumen-sand carpets and, owing to the large
areas involved, impressed current shall be used preferred. Sacrificial anodes
may, however, may be used for small isolated tanks on soil with low resistivity
subject to PTT/CONSULTANT approval.

A system of buried or submerged electrodes connected to the positive terminal

of an independent direct current shall be arranged symmetrically around a tank
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FOUNDATIONS ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION REV: D2

or group of tanks. Dependent upon the space available, the groundbeds should
be located not less than one tank diameter from the tank periphery to provide
optimum current distribution over the tank bottom.

13.4 Particular Considerations

Structure/soil potentials vary across the underside of a cathodically protected

tank bottom so that rim potentials usually need to be more negative than –0.85
B in order to ensure that this protection potential is attained at the centre.

On new construction, reference electrodes shall be installed at representative

point across the foundation mound. These shall be such that they will remain
in good condition for along time.

If such reference electrodes have not been installed an arbitrary value of rim
potential has to be adopted. Potentials in the range –1.10 V to –1.20 V
(copper/copper sulphate reference electrode) have been found to be
satisfactory.

Tanks that remain empty for long periods are unlikely to be fully protected
because while the tank is empty the bottom moves out of contact with the
foundation.

14.0 ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION

In addition to the foregoing types of tank foundations the following items will
need to be incorporated into the design: -

Leak detection system to tank bottom. This shall comprise of a high density
polyethylene membrane (HDPE) at least 2 mm. thick and a collection
sump/drain. The membrane shall ideally have factory fabricated/sealed seam
joints which shall be 100% tested by vacuum box methods. Any joints shall be
repaired and re-tested by vacuum box methods. Any joints shall be repaired
and re-tested prior to transporting to site.

Prevention of ground contamination.

Permeable membrane/geotextile to protect formation level.

15.0 CONSTRUCTION TOLERANCES

Construction tolerances shall be such that the difference in level of the tank
foundation between any two points 10 m. apart around the periphery of the
tank shall not be greater than ± 6 mm. and the envelope of peripheral surface
levels shall lie within 12 mm. above to 12 mm. below the design levels. Closer
tolerances 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.
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APPENDIX 1

STORAGE TANK WITH SUITABLE SUBGRADE AT OR NEAR GRADE LEVEL FOUNDED

ON A GRANULAR FILL PAD FOUNDATION WITH A GRANULAR RING BEAM

KEY:- 1. Thoroughly compacted graded granular material or crushed stone (Refer

Table 1).
2. Thoroughly compacted fill of granular or other stable inert material.
3. 100 mm. thick crushed stone or gravel graded 10 mm. to 20 mm. with
voids filled with chips and quarry dust.
4. Sprayed asphalt skim coat.
5. 50 mm. thick bitumen sand surfacing extending to 300 mm. outside tank
shell.
6. Surfacing to berm as Item 5 but applied after completion of Hydrostatic
Test.
7. In consultation with the Geo-technical Engineer a permeable
membrane/geotextile may be used to protect the subgrade formation level.
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APPENDIX 2

STORAGE TANK WITH SUITABLE SUBGRADE AT OR NEAR GRADE LEVEL FOUNDED

ON GRANULAR FILL PAD FOUNDATION WITH REINFORCED CONCRETE RING BEAM

KEY:- 1. Thoroughly compacted fill of granular or other stable inert material.

2. 100 mm. thick crushed stone or gravel graded 10 mm. to 20 mm. with
voids filled with chips and quarry dust.
3. Sprayed asphalt skim coat.
4. 50 mm. thick bitumen sand surfacing.
5. In consultation with the Geo-technical Engineer a permeable
membrane/geotextile may be used to protect the subgrade formation level.
6. Consideration shall be given to siting the tank shell central over the ring
beam particularly in the case of a tank with a floating roof.
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FOUNDATIONS ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION REV: D2

APPENDIX 3

STORAGE TANK WITH SUITABLE SUBGRADE AT OR NEAR GRADE LEVEL FOUNDED

ON A REINFORCED CONCRETE RAFT WITH A REINFORCED CONCRETE RING BEAM

Note: 1. Consideration shall be given to siting the tank shell central over the ring
beam particularly in the case of a tank with a floating roof.

2. Expansion joint may be omitted in the case of smaller diameter tanks in

favour of a maintenance free joint.
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FOUNDATIONS ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION REV: D2

APPENDIX 4

STORAGE TANK WITH UNSUITABLE SUBGRADE AT OR NEAR GFRADE LEVEL

FOUNDED ON A REINFORCED CONCRETE FOUNDATION AND LOAD BEARING
REINFORCED CONCRETE PILES