Fiberglass Tank Repairs Made Simpler

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 587,000 underground storage tanks were being used to contain petroleum and other potentially hazardous materials as of March 2012. These tanks have an expected lifespan of 30 years, but many will only last around 20 years before they start to leak or show other signs of wear and tear  and require fiberglass tank repairs. The EPA began to implement strict regulations on underground storage tanks in 1984, and many of the tanks in use are double-walled to prevent leaks. Unfortunately, not even the most stringent regulations will prevent leaking and other signs of damage completely. Even the sturdiest and most secure water tank liners need to be repaired or replaced eventually, which used to always involve a complicated and costly excavation process. Read more »

Above ground storage tanks are subject to corrosion. The bottoms of these storage tanks are especially vulnerable. Not only do soluble salts and chemicals settle to the bottom of the tank to damage the internal surface, but the external surface can be damaged by salt water, soil and other contaminants. The solution used to be replacing the bottom of the tank, which is expensive and time-consuming. Another option is to make FRP tank liner repairs, coating the tank with a fiberglass reinforced plastic lining (FRP) that is considered a secondary bottom. It’s almost like a tank liner, but it’s sturdy and durable to give you another 10 to 20 years out of your tank. Read more »

Tanks rely on strength: On top of needing to hold in often heavy amounts of material, they also need to withstand corrosion from within and the elements from outside. While other tank materials have their place, fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) tanks and tank linings are a strong, versatile choice. This post goes over why. Read more »

Commercial water tanks are a considerable investment for any company. As a result, manufacturers will use every resource at their disposal to maximize the tanks’ lifespan. In the past years, carbon-steel storage tanks have proved highly prone to corrosion, with leaks developing in about five years. Read more »

Is it Time to Refurbish Your Water Storage Tank Linings?

No commercial operation that relies on water storage tanks should want the disruption and expense of a water tank failure and yet, tanks naturally degrade over time. When a tank problem occurs, and preferably beforehand, call the experts in water storage tank linings and tank lining repairs. It is usually less expensive to repair and extend the life of a tank than to replace it. Read more »

At Picon, we’re always excited to see people in the industries we serve doing good work. That’s why we’re taking a short break from writing about Bay Area tank linings and dedicating this post to highlighting some of the notable news related to Sherwin-Williams’s 2020 Water & Wastewater Impact Award. According to Sherwin-Williams, this award is meant to highlight “excellence in delivering long-term asset protection” in the area of “water and wastewater infrastructure.” Read more »

Most of the time, tank linings are out of sight, out of mind—that is, until something goes wrong. Selecting the right tank lining can prevent mishaps from occurring, though. If you’re wondering how to select the best lining option for your tanks, just keep reading to learn about what to look for. Read more »

Tank Inspection and Lining Gets a Quicker with Sherwin Williams New Product

Exciting news has captured the attention of Bay Area coatings contractors and tank owners alike: Sherwin-Williams has rolled out a new tank lining that offers several advantages, including faster applications and speedy returns to service. Officially known as Nova-Plate 360 tank lining, this technology promises to also provide “unparalleled protection to the interior of steel tanks and vessels,” according to product information from Sherwin Williams.

Faster Applications

As explained in a press release put out by Sherwin-Williams, Nova-Plate 360 makes use of a single-leg application process. This makes applying it simpler, especially compared to linings that require plural-component spraying. The lining also boasts a colored Part B that allows applicators to make sure they achieve the “proper mix before spraying,” which can cut down on errors and rework.

Additionally, the coat’s fast curing time allows tanks to return to service within a 24-hour time period. Another plus is that Nova-Plate 360 has a high film build, eliminating the need for multiple coats in most cases. That alone cuts a step out of the application process. All of these features combine to mean that assets that need to remain operational as much as possible—like a commercial fire water tank—can do so. (Note that plural-component and multiple-coating setups are possible as well, if so desired.)

Tank Benefits

Nova-Plate 360 will smooth the tank inspection process. For example, its optional optically activated pigment technology allows for LED inspection that identifies small but critical problems in linings, including pinholes and holidays. (A holiday is a type of interruption in the tank lining that damages its performance.) Smoother inspections make inspectors more likely to find issues—no matter how small—and identify necessary courses of actions, such as tank leak repair.

Aside from its easy application and maintenance procedures, Nova-Plate 360 offers a high level of protection. For example, it can resist methanol at 77 degrees Fahrenheit and ethanol at 120 degrees. It also holds up in most situations that involve cathodic disbonding. According to Sherwin-Williams, the lining was developed with steel tanks, spools, pipelines, and vessels in mind. All in all, it promises to deliver a great mix of excellent performance and convenience.

Commercial Coatings Contractor Serving The Bay Area in California

Picon FRP, Inc. has served the San Francisco Bay Area for over 30 years with full-service tank inspections, maintenance, coatings and linings as well as sand blasting service at our facility as well as mobile sandblasting. If you need high quality service from trained and experienced professionals we can help. Call 510-232-0065 or contact us today!

Image via Unsplash

One Rincon Hill, San Francisco Firewater Tank Dual Purpose Design

There is a unique feature of the building at One Rincon Hill in the city of San Francisco, which is its Bay Area firewater tank, situated atop the high-rise building. Although it’s not the largest building in that city, One Rincon is definitely the tallest building outside the main business district, and it can easily be seen against the skyline, with its rounded cylindrical top. This building stands nearly 700 feet above San Francisco Bay, and it contains a feature that makes this high-rise tower very unique, the water tank which holds 50,000 gallons. Read more »

There are many factors to consider when choosing a steel  tank for your facility. You need to think about the volume of the tank, what exactly is going to be stored, and whether you can plan coatings or waterproofing to stave off tank leak repair needs. One factor that sometimes gets overlooked by those not in the know is how to waterproof tanks and prevent corrosion. Waterproofing a tank usually involves adding a protective coating to the inside of the tank. Since there isn’t one coating that will protect your tank from absolutely everything, you need to decide what kind of coating you will need. Read more »