weld spacing, 650

[inspector653]

I am having trouble find an answer to a question i have. we have a new tank being built in our plant to api 650, i would like to know where or if 650 covers weld spacing between the floor joints and the verts in the 1st shell course. i can find the info in 653 but not 650. i have a new tank with verts sitting on floor seems.

Thanks

 

[IFRs]

There is no requirement for weld spacing between these welds in API-650. Similarly, API-653 has no required weld spacing here as long as the existing material meets API-653. The required API-653 spacing only kicks in if you do not know that the existing shell material meets toughness requirements.