Pipeline operators must now use the latest safety standards for large storage tanks

The US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has confirmed that pipeline operators must use an updated industry standard for designing and building large, low-pressure storage tanks. This means new tanks will need to meet more current safety specifications.

Industry standards are often voluntary, but when a regulator like PHMSA incorporates them into law, they become mandatory. This change means that any company building or modifying these types of storage tanks for pipelines must now follow the latest safety guidelines, which can affect design costs and construction timelines. It shifts the baseline for what counts as safe operation.