Insulated Storage Tank Linings Need Regular Inspection and Maintenance

API 653 standards for insulated tank repairs and inspections have been in place since the 1990s after storage tank failures may have contributed to environmental damage. These standards have made many storage tanks and tank linings safer and more efficient, but keeping up with API 653 standards can make repairs and inspections much more expensive. There is obviously a good reason for these standards, and ignoring them to save time and money is far more disastrous. If you have a facility that relies on insulated storage tanks, here are some of the best practices if you want to keep them in good condition and up to the proper standards. Read more »

What Makes FRP a Good Choice for Concrete Strengthening

Individually, carbon fibers are five times stronger than steel, and when those carbon fibers are impregnated with an epoxy resin, it forms a composite which makes anything it sticks to, considerably stronger. This obviously has some tremendous commercial applications, including tank leak repairs, concrete strengthening, water tank repairs in the Bay Area, and a great many construction applications. Anything in need of a low-weight, high-strength material to reinforce its natural qualities would benefit from having the CFRP composite applied to it. Here are some of the benefits of using CFRP for commercial purposes. Read more »

FRP, which stands for fiber-reinforced polymer systems, are lightweight and strong reinforcements. To create an FRP, it is necessary to blend a polymer material with e-glass fibers or a type of combining carbon. The most typical industries to use FRP to date include aerospace, automotive, and civil. That is because these industries rely on a higher than normal strength-to-weight rigidity and ratios. 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 »

Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Proves an Effective Concrete Strengthening Solution

What is FRP?

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) systems have proved worthwhile in the strengthening of damaged concrete structures. They are also used for masonry structures that are scheduled for upgrading as well as for water tank repair. They were initially used in the automotive and civil industries to offer rigidity in a number of applications. FRPs are a blend of E-glass or carbon fibers and a polymer material. The reinforcement offers high-strength even though they are lightweight. Read more »

Municipal and commercial water storage tanks represent a big investment for your company or city, so it makes sense to maximize tank lifecycles and get the best possible ROI. Steel water tanks are inevitably subject to corrosion over time, but with the right tank lining repairs you can avoid costly water tank replacement and full tank bottom replacements. Read more »

On-site storage tank repairs can be tricky under the best of circumstances, but they can be particularly difficult when you take confined spaces into account. OSHA has recently put safety rules and regulation regarding confined spaces into effect, but working to repair tank liners or otherwise address important issues from inside a storage tank is still a dangerous prospect. The Chemical Safety Board has stated that there have been over 60 fatalities since 1990 that were caused by fires and explosions from hot work activities in tanks, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has reported 160 fatalities associated with working in confined spaces since 1982. Read more »