Reduce Risk, Increase Profits, and Stay Safe
What is SB 900?
In 2021, the Texas Legislature unanimously passed SB 900 which goes into effect on September 1, 2023. All tanks 21,000 gallons (500 barrels) or larger that contain a product that can impact ground water are covered. It is estimated to affect 36,000 tanks in the State of Texas. While the details have not yet been all worked out, the main parts of SB 900 are:
- You must follow API 653 regarding inspection and repairing tanks
- You must follow API 2350 to stop overfills
- If the tank contains a flammable product, you must comply with NFPA 30
According to the American Petroleum Institute (API), API Standard 2350, 5th Edition, Overfill Prevention for Storage Tanks in Petroleum Facilities helps owners and operators of oil storage tanks implement a comprehensive overfill prevention system which ensures that oil and other petroleum products are safely transferred to storage tanks. The new edition increases efforts on reaction times to alarms and emphasis on prevention programs, management systems, and more.
Why is SB 900 going into effect?
Why is SB 900 going into effect?
For every 3,300 transfers, an overfill occurs (and these stats are based on Industry surveys). Chemical tanks have not been regulated and this became very noticeable when Hurricane Harvey made landfall in 2017. Many tanks started failing and it immediately raised safety concerns that something needed to be done. As a result, SB 900 was created to prevent future tank overfills and create a safe environment for all.
Not only does API 2350 keep operations safe, but it also increases efficiency and profitability since more materials are able to be added and properly monitored. Instead of filling the tank to half-way in hopes that it won't overflow. You can now fill to maximum capacity in safely and preciously knowing the fill cutoff. Not only does API 2350 keep companies compliant, it also increases profit and the bottom line.
Who will be affected?
All facilities of chemical and petroleum refineries, fuel distribution terminals, oil and pipeline companies, chemical distributors and terminals, chemical plants and any tank operation where there is a risk of overfilling tanks. The new SB 900 law will go into effect September 2023 and will start in Texas, and then is expected to branch out to other states from there.
Do you need to implement API 2350?
The API 2350 uses a risk assessment system to determine how large of a risk your operation is at. We've worked in collaboration with the API 2350 chairman to develop a risk analysis tool to determine your score.
How to Implement API 2350?
To meet regulations and best practices, Hawk Measurement, in collaboration with PST, provides industry leading solutions that are specifically designed to comply with API 2350. According to Earl Crochet, chairman of the 5th edition of 2350, "PST's Alarm-ID is the only sensor in the world that you can install from the outside of the tank without draining, cutting, or cleaning the tank." Not only does the Alarm-ID easily install to the outside of the tanks, but it is also the only truly independent tank alarm that is self-powered. If the electric goes down, you can still operate safety without the worry of any tank overflows.
