CATHODIC PROTECTION TESTING PROCEDURES FOR STI-P3 USTS R051

REVISED JANUARY 2006

S TEEL T ANK INSTITUTE A D IVISION OF STI/SPFA 944 D ONATA C OURT L AKE Z URICH , IL 60047 847/438-8265 F AX : 847/438/8766 www.steeltank.com COPYRIGHT BY S TEEL T ANK INSTITUTE

CATHODIC PROTECTION TESTING PROCEDURES FOR STI-P3 USTS 1.0 1.1 EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS The following equipment is required for the tank testing procedures discussed in this recommended procedure. 2 - Portable copper-copper sulfate reference electrodes (1 is a calibrated reference electrode and is never to be used in the field) 2 - Digital Multimeters capable of measuring DC Volts and DC Amps (minimum 10 megaohm internal resistance). (The second multimeter is required if current requirement testing is performed.) 1 - Portable 12 volt battery or battery from your vehicle 1 - Temporary anode (uncoated steel rebar or pipe, uncoated long screwdriver, etc.) 1 - Nilsson Model 400 Four-Pin Soil Resistivity Meter and pins Enough test wires and connectors to perform all testing REFERENCE ELECTRODE USE, CARE & MAINTENANCE Proper maintenance of the reference electrode is crucial to accurate tank-to-soil potential readings. Be sure that only distilled water is used in the reference electrode, and that it is about two-thirds full of solution. The reference electrode should always have a quantity of undissolved copper sulfate crystals present in the solution to assure that the solution is saturated. The solution should be azure blue and clear since contaminants can make the solution cloudy. If the solution is cloudy, compare the reference cell to a calibrated reference cell. If the difference between the reference cells is more than 10 millivolts, then the cloudy reference cell should be reconditioned. Proper use of the reference electrode is as important as proper maintenance. Reference electrode placement can have varying effects on the accuracy of the tank-to-soil potential reading. Never place the reference cell in frozen soil, soil contaminated by hydrocarbon product, or any area above the tank which is shielded from the anode current, such as a containment sump, etc. Never place the reference cell on top of concrete since this can introduce substantial errors in the measurement. When inserting the reference electrode porous tip in the soil, assure good contact between the soil and the tip by twisting the electrode while inserting. Adding water to dampen the soil at the contact point will help provide good contact.

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The meter connections for a standard commercial volt meter are; the positive (+) lead is connected to the tank, and the negative (-) lead is connected to the reference electrode. These connections will provide a negative reading on the volt meter. Set the meter to the autoscaling DC volts or manually set the meter to 2 volts DC or the next lowest available DC setting above 2 volts. If stable, record the reading. If the readings are not stable, check all of the connections to ensure they are secure. If all connections are good, there may be stray currents in the area affecting the readings. If the reading continues to fluctuate, contact a cathodic protection specialist to determine if stray current is affecting the tank. When conditions at the reference electrode location are suspected of affecting the reading accuracy, see Section 2.2. If necessary, the reference electrode should be relocated or the soil dampened. In some instances it may be necessary to place the reference electrode in native soil outside of the tank excavation. Accurately record both the reading and the location of the reference electrode. TANK TESTING PROCEDURE With a cathodically protected sti-P3 tank, the test methods require tank-to-soil potential measurements with respect to a permanently buried or portable copper/copper sulfate reference electrode placed in contact with the soil over the tank or remote from the tank. A minimum of one local reading and one remote reading should be taken. In addition, tank continuity and tank current requirement tests may be performed to obtain additional information about the cathodic protection system. OVER THE TANK POTENTIAL READINGS Place a portable copper/copper sulfate reference electrode in the soil over the top midpoint (or as near as possible) of the tank. For paved locations, soil can sometimes be found around vapor recovery units, automatic tank gauge riser, or other areas above the tank top. Check the soil for hydrocarbon or other contamination. If there is no contamination in the soil, place the reference cell in the soil, ensuring good contact is made between the soil and the porous tip by twisting the electrode while inserting. Pour water around the reference cell to help provide good electrical contact. Make the appropriate tank connection by either connecting to the wire connected to the tank (PP2) or making a metallic connection to an exposed portion of the tank or by inserting a test lead down through the fill pipe and contacting the tank bottom. Turn on the voltmeter to the 2 volt DC scale. Connect the negative test lead of the voltmeter to the reference cell. Connect the positive test lead of the voltmeter to the tank structure connection. Record the reading on the voltmeter. Where the tank reading is more positive than -850 millivolts, perform the testing in Section 3 and 4.

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A reading of -850 millivolts, or more negative, with respect to a copper/copper sulfate reference electrode is considered verification of adequate cathodic protection. PERMANENT REFERENCE CELL READINGS If a PP4 monitoring system is being used, then turn on the voltmeter to the 2 volt DC scale. Touch the negative test lead of the voltmeter to the contact for the reference cell, which is in the center of the PP4 test station marked with a C. Touch the positive test lead of the voltmeter to the tank structure connection contact, which is the numbered contact marked with either 1, 2, 3, or 4. Accurately record the reading on the voltmeter. The tank reading should be more negative than -850 millivolts. If the reading is more positive than -850 millivolts, perform the testing in Sections 4 and 5. REMOTE POTENTIAL READINGS Place the reference cell in soil, approximately 30 feet or more away from the tank. Try to place the reference cell in a place where there will be no metallic structures in between the tank and the reference cell. Connect the negative lead of the voltmeter to the reference cell. Connect the positive test lead of the voltmeter to the tank structure connection. Turn on the voltmeter to the 2 volt DC scale. Record the reading on the voltmeter. The tank reading should be more negative than -850 millivolts. If the reading is more positive than -850 millivolts, perform the testing in Sections 3 and 4. ELECTRICAL ISOLATION TESTING In order to adequately cathodically protect the sti-P3 tanks, it is important that the tank be electrically isolated from metallic objects such as riser pipes, conduit, submersible pumps, leak detection equipment and any metallic piping. If a tank is not electrically isolated, this may be the cause for low cathodic protection measurements. To check that there is no electrical circuit from the tank to the piping and other underground metallic structures, a continuity test must be performed. There are two recommended tests. One test method is the Fixed Cell/Moving Ground test, as detailed in section 4.3. The other test is the Point to Point test, as detailed in section 4.4. Place the reference electrode in a location remote to the tank excavation. This location shall be at least 30 feet away. Obtain a tank-to-soil potential reading for the tank using the procedure in Section 2. Do not move the reference electrode from the selected position until the conclusion of this test procedure. Disconnect the meter lead from the tank structure connection. Touch the positive (+) meter lead to all metallic objects that could possibly have continuity to the tank. These would include riser pipes, conduit, submersible pumps, leak detection equipment, electrical ground, and any metallic piping.

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Record the number obtained on the voltmeter. If the difference between the tank reading and this structures reading is within 10 millivolts, this structure is likely continuous to the tank. Readings within 0-3 millivolts are definitely continuous with the tank. Turn off any impressed current cathodic protection systems in the vicinity of the tank being tested. Using the voltmeter, connect one test lead from the COM terminal to the tank. Connect the other voltmeter test lead from the Volts/Ohm terminal to any other metal object that you wish to determine if it continuous with the tank, such as the submersible pump, conduit, fill pipe, leak detection equipment, etc. Record the number obtained on the voltmeter. Readings of 0, 1 or 2 millivolts indicate that the structure is continuous with the tank. TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES For further troubleshooting procedures, see the current Steel Tank Institutes R972, Recommended Practice for the Addition of Supplemental Anodes to stiP3 USTs.

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DISCLAIMER
Although the inform ation in this pam phlet is believed accurate and reliable, STI m akes no warranties, express or im plied, including NO IMPLIED W ARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, as to any of the ideas, inform ation or guidance in this Procedure. This is not a how-to book for non-experts. STI warns that the types of work described herein should be left to trained professionals. Federal, state and m unicipal laws, regulations and ordinances should be consulted. STI shall not be liable in the event of any conflict between this Procedure and such laws, regulations and ordinances. In no event, whether as a result of breach of warranty, breach of contract, negligence or otherwise, shall STI be liable for any loss or dam age, including without lim itation, any special, incidental, indirect or consequential dam age resulting from the use of or reliance on this Procedure. This Procedure m ay be revised or withdrawn at any tim e without prior notice. This Procedure does not necessarily address all of the applicable heath and safety risks and precautions with respect to particular m aterials, conditions or procedures. Inform ation concerning safety and health risks and precautions should be obtained from the applicable procedures, regulations, suppliers of m aterials or m aterial safety data sheets.

CP T ESTIN G P RO C ED U RES R051

J AN U AR Y 2006