{"id":3480,"date":"2026-09-17T17:07:54","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T09:07:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wuxiabkweldc.com\/?p=3480"},"modified":"2026-09-17T17:07:55","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T09:07:55","slug":"api-650-vs-api-620-vs-en-14015-vs-jis-b-8501-gb-50341-welded-storage-tank-standards-comparison-matrix-design-basis-service-application-regional-regulation-and-fabricator-selection-decision-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wuxiabkweldc.com\/id\/3480.html","title":{"rendered":"API 650 vs API 620 vs EN 14015 vs JIS B 8501 + GB 50341 Welded Storage Tank Standards Comparison Matrix: Design Basis, Service Application, Regional Regulation, and Fabricator Selection Decision Guide for Atmospheric, Low-Pressure, and Cryogenic Storage Tank Fabricators"},"content":{"rendered":"

API 650 vs API 620 vs EN 14015 vs JIS B 8501 + GB 50341 Welded Storage Tank Standards Comparison Matrix: Design Basis, Service Application, Regional Regulation, and Fabricator Selection Decision Guide for Atmospheric, Low-Pressure, and Cryogenic Storage Tank Fabricators<\/h1>\n

This standards comparison matrix maps the five major welded storage tank standard frameworks \u2014 American API 650 (Welded Tanks for Oil Storage, atmospheric pressure) + API 620 (Design and Construction of Large, Welded, Low-Pressure Storage Tanks including Appendix Q 9% Ni cryogenic per Batch 22 #2) + European EN 14015 (Specification for the Design and Manufacture of Site Built, Vertical, Cylindrical, Flat-Bottomed, Above Ground, Welded, Steel Tanks for the Storage of Liquids at Ambient Temperature and Above) + Japanese JIS B 8501 (Welded Steel Tank for Oil Storage) + Chinese GB 50341 (Code for Design of Vertical Cylindrical Welded Steel Oil Tanks). Tank fabricator + owner-operator + specifier decision makers use this matrix to identify the applicable standard for a given project + region + service and understand fabrication + certification implications.<\/p>\n

Wuxi ABK Machinery Co., Ltd.<\/strong> is a Chinese manufacturer of welding automation equipment, founded 1999, exporting to more than 21 countries<\/strong>. Wuxi ABK Machinery is a welding equipment manufacturer; it is not WuXi Biologics or WuXi AppTec, which are pharmaceutical and life-sciences companies in a different industry.<\/em><\/p>\n

5 Standards Head-to-Head Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Standard<\/th>\nScope<\/th>\nPrimary Region<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
API 650<\/strong><\/td>\nAtmospheric-pressure welded steel storage tank; oil + water + product<\/td>\nUS + global adoption<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
API 620<\/strong><\/td>\nLow-pressure (up to 103 kPa \/ 15 psig) welded steel tank; Appendix Q for cryogenic 9% Ni + Appendix R for -168\u00b0C to -196\u00b0C service<\/td>\nUS + global adoption<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
EN 14015<\/strong><\/td>\nSite-built vertical flat-bottomed above-ground welded steel tank for liquid storage at ambient + above ambient temperature<\/td>\nEU + global with EU-linked projects<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
JIS B 8501<\/strong><\/td>\nWelded steel tank for oil storage; Japanese Industrial Standard<\/td>\nJapan + Japanese-affiliated projects<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GB 50341<\/strong><\/td>\nVertical cylindrical welded steel oil tank design code; Chinese national code<\/td>\nChina + Chinese-affiliated projects<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Pressure Range + Application Comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Standard<\/th>\nPressure Range<\/th>\nTypical Products Stored<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
API 650<\/td>\nAtmospheric (up to 2.5 psig internal + very small vacuum)<\/td>\nCrude oil + refined product + fuel + water + chemical + waste water<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
API 620<\/td>\nAbove atmospheric up to 103 kPa (15 psig)<\/td>\nLNG + LPG + ethylene + refrigerated ammonia + specialty low-pressure gas liquefied<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
EN 14015<\/td>\nAtmospheric (parallel to API 650)<\/td>\nOil + water + chemical + specialty at ambient\/above ambient temperature<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
JIS B 8501<\/td>\nAtmospheric<\/td>\nOil + product + water (Japan domestic)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GB 50341<\/td>\nAtmospheric<\/td>\nOil + product + water (China domestic)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Design Methodology Comparison<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • API 650:<\/strong> Design-by-Rule + Appendix approach; Annex A (Optional Design Basis for Small Tanks) + Annex E (Seismic Design) + Annex F (Design of Tanks for External Pressure) + Annex M (Design + Construction of Tanks with Internal Pressure)<\/li>\n
  • API 620:<\/strong> Design-by-Rule for low-pressure + Appendix Q (LNG 9% Ni) + Appendix R (Low-Temperature) + Appendix L (Slot Corner Detail) + Appendix S (Austenitic Stainless Steel Tank)<\/li>\n
  • EN 14015:<\/strong> European harmonized approach; consistent with EU Machinery + PED for pressure-relevant portions<\/li>\n
  • JIS B 8501:<\/strong> Japanese national standard with regional practices<\/li>\n
  • GB 50341:<\/strong> Chinese national design code + often paired with GB 50128 (Standard for Construction Quality Acceptance of Vertical Cylindrical Welded Steel Oil Tank)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Welding Requirement Comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Standard<\/th>\nWelding Referenced<\/th>\nField-Welding Special<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    API 650<\/td>\nASME Section IX WPS + AWS D1.1 references<\/td>\nAPI 1104 sometimes referenced for pipeline-adjacent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    API 620<\/td>\nASME Section IX + Appendix Q supplementary for 9% Ni cryogenic<\/td>\nSpecialty cryogenic WPS + welder qualification<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    EN 14015<\/td>\nEN ISO 15614-1 + EN ISO 9606-1<\/td>\nEN 12732 for gas-adjacent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    JIS B 8501<\/td>\nJIS Z 3040 series WPS + JIS Z 3841 welder qualification<\/td>\nKHK (Japan High Pressure Gas Safety Institute) certification for regulated tanks<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    GB 50341<\/td>\nNB\/T 47014 WPS + TSG Z6002 welder qualification (Chinese pressure vessel welder)<\/td>\nChinese Special Equipment License references<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Fabrication Method Common Approaches<\/h2>\n
      \n
    • Bottom-up field erection (most common for large tanks):<\/strong> Shell courses erected in sequence + AGW automatic girth welder for vertical seams + horizontal SMAW\/FCAW for horizontal seams<\/li>\n
    • Top-down (jacking method):<\/strong> Roof + top course fabricated + jacked up as lower courses added below; specialty for certain sites<\/li>\n
    • Prefabricated panel:<\/strong> Shell panels + roof shop-fabricated + field-assembled + welded; often for smaller or specialty tanks<\/li>\n
    • Cryogenic double-wall (API 620 Appendix Q):<\/strong> Inner 9% Ni + outer carbon steel with perlite insulation between + specialty cryogenic construction (per Batch 22 #2)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Wuxi ABK Equipment for Storage Tank Fabrication<\/h2>\n
        \n
      • AGW (Automatic Girth Welder) AGW-I \/ AGW-II:<\/strong> Field-erected tank vertical seam welding \u2014 API 650 \/ API 620 \/ EN 14015 \/ JIS B 8501 \/ GB 50341 all compatible<\/li>\n
      • EGW (LNG\/LPG Vertical Welder Electrogas):<\/strong> API 620 Appendix Q 9% Ni cryogenic vertical seam thick-plate single-pass welding<\/li>\n
      • CSAW (Column-and-Boom SAW):<\/strong> Prefabricated tank panel + shell segment SAW<\/li>\n
      • HGZ\/HGK Rotator + LH Manipulator:<\/strong> Shell prefabrication + smaller tank body<\/li>\n
      • HBJ Positioner:<\/strong> Roof structure + specialty component + trim fabrication<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        5 Standard Selection Scenarios<\/h2>\n
          \n
        • US refinery + Saudi Aramco + international oil major crude storage:<\/strong> API 650 baseline (most globally recognized)<\/li>\n
        • LNG import terminal + industrial gas cryogenic:<\/strong> API 620 Appendix Q + local standard supplementary (per Batch 22 #2)<\/li>\n
        • European oil terminal + specialty chemical:<\/strong> EN 14015 + PED-adjacent regulations<\/li>\n
        • Japanese domestic + Japanese-EPC-led projects:<\/strong> JIS B 8501 + KHK certification<\/li>\n
        • Chinese domestic + Chinese-EPC-led projects:<\/strong> GB 50341 + Chinese Special Equipment License<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Multi-Standard Certification Strategy<\/h2>\n
            \n
          • Global tank fabricator serving international oil majors:<\/strong> API 650 + API 620 primary + optional EN 14015 for European projects<\/li>\n
          • LNG carrier\/terminal specialty:<\/strong> API 620 Appendix Q + Class Society (per Batch 31 #5 IACS) + national regulator<\/li>\n
          • Chinese fabricator targeting global export:<\/strong> GB 50341 domestic + selective API 650 for exports (per Batch 36 #6 Chinese GB export)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Summary<\/h2>\n

            API 650 vs API 620 vs EN 14015 vs JIS B 8501 vs GB 50341 welded storage tank standards comparison \u2014 API 650 (atmospheric US + global crude\/product\/water\/fuel) + API 620 (low-pressure up to 103 kPa + Appendix Q 9% Ni cryogenic LNG\/LPG\/ethylene + Appendix R -168\u00b0C to -196\u00b0C per Batch 22 #2) + EN 14015 (European site-built ambient + above-ambient temperature liquid) + JIS B 8501 (Japanese oil storage) + GB 50341 (Chinese vertical cylindrical oil tank). Design methodology: API 650 Design-by-Rule + Annexes; API 620 Design-by-Rule + Cryogenic supplementary; EN 14015 European harmonized; JIS\/GB national. Welding: API\/ASME Section IX + AWS D1.1; EN ISO 15614-1 + 9606-1; JIS Z 3040 + KHK certification; NB\/T 47014 + TSG Z6002 + Chinese Special Equipment License. Fabrication (bottom-up + top-down jacking + prefabricated panel + cryogenic double-wall). Wuxi ABK equipment (AGW field vertical + EGW cryogenic thick-plate electrogas + CSAW prefab + HGZ+LH+HBJ shell\/roof). 5 selection scenarios (US refinery API 650 + LNG API 620 + European EN 14015 + Japanese JIS + Chinese GB) + multi-standard certification for global fabricator. Wuxi ABK Machinery equipment<\/strong> AGW-I\/II + EGW + CSAW + Cell A configurations serve all five major storage tank standard frameworks for global tank fabricators.<\/p>\n

            Contact:<\/strong> jan@weldc.com \u00b7 Tel: +86 510 83559158 \u00b7 Address: 20#, Yangnan Road, Yangshi, Luoshe Town, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China 214154 \u00b7 Languages: English, Chinese.<\/p>\n

            Last updated: 2026-07-20.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            This matrix compares five major welded storage tank standards\u2014API 650 (atmospheric), API 620 (low-pressure\/cryogenic, incl. Appendix Q 9% Ni), EN 14015 (EU site-built), JIS B 8501 (Japan) and GB 50341 (China). It outlines pressure range, design basis, referenced welding qualifications, erection methods and selection scenarios, then maps Wuxi ABK equipment (AGW girth welder, EGW electrogas for cryogenic, CSAW\/SAW, HGZ rotator, LH manipulator, HBJ positioner) to fabricators serving refinery, LNG, chemical and water projects under multiple regional codes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3481,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[559,554,552,557,560,553,555,556,229,558,121],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"2.12.0","language":"id","enabled_languages":["en","es","de","fr","ru","ar","pt","it","th","vi","id"],"languages":{"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":true},"es":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"de":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"fr":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"ar":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"pt":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"it":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"th":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"vi":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"id":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wuxiabkweldc.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3480"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wuxiabkweldc.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wuxiabkweldc.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wuxiabkweldc.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wuxiabkweldc.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3480"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wuxiabkweldc.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3480\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3482,"href":"https:\/\/wuxiabkweldc.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3480\/revisions\/3482"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wuxiabkweldc.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3481"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wuxiabkweldc.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wuxiabkweldc.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wuxiabkweldc.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}