Internal and External Tank Containment Coatings

Use BCI’s exclusive, patented T.R.A.P.S. (Patent No. 7874764) for overfill protection in existing and new tanks. It ensures the containment area will hold the desired amount or greater to meet FDEPA requirements of five minutes maximum pumping capacity. The system includes continuous monitoring of a containment area for hydrocarbons, notification to personnel should a hydrocarbon be detected, and valve closure to activate at desired rate with instantaneous closing of containment valve.

 

System Highlights

• Chemical and portable water systems available
• Capabilities range from sulfuric acid to leachate water and fuels
• Potable water approved (NSF 61)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Release Annular Protection System (T.R.A.P.S.) Provides FDEPA-Compliant Overfill Protection

Use BCI’s exclusive, patented T.R.A.P.S. (Patent No. 7874764) for overfill protection in existing and new tanks. It ensures the containment area will hold the desired amount or greater to meet FDEPA requirements of five minutes maximum pumping capacity. The system includes continuous monitoring of a containment area for hydrocarbons, notification to personnel should a hydrocarbon be detected, and valve closure to activate at desired rate with instantaneous closing of containment valve.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

System Highlights

• Continuous monitoring for hydrocarbon detection, if detected system will notify terminal personnel immediately with both visual and audio alerts. Valve closure will start at desired rate with closing of containment valve.
• Flexible, custom design options (including email, cell phone or other desired means for notification). Various interfaces compatible with most PLC’s.
• Durable containment system, impervious coating. No VOCs, rapid cure times.
• High design flexibility, can be modified to fit almost any layout or tank configuration.
• Install around existing tanks with or without existing ring walls. Successfully installed in conjunction with new double bottom installations and around existing tanks with tight piping areas, or any custom requirement needed.
• Applied over a variety of substrates including soil, asphalt, concrete, steel, and others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Multiple Industry Impact

Industries that store or use fuel or other chemicals in large quantities must ensure that their containment tanks comply with safety regulations such as the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

This includes having a backup or secondary fuel containment system to ensure that any discharge from a tank will not escape onto walls, floor or other part of the environment before a successful cleanup. An impervious, chemically compatible containment coating can prevent such spills.

Why is Secondary Containment Important?

If a tank or other primary containment system fails, secondary containment provides an additional line of defense. A chemical leak or spill in the workplace or job site can place employees at risk. Other types of spills can damage the surrounding environment, such as a waterway, leading to expensive cleanup costs or fines and possibly making it unusable for commercial or recreational purposes.

Generally, the more hazardous chemicals being stored require higher levels of secondary containment protection.

What is a Secondary Containment System?

Secondary containment systems are designed to provide a barrier between the tank and the environment to prevent leaks or spills from escaping. Some systems are liquid-tight structures made to hold a release until clean-up. Others are engineered means for directing a spill away from water or other sensitive environment to a temporary diversion area.

Secondary containment tanks can supplement the primary bulk storage tanks and are also known as spill containment tanks, open top containment tanks, containment basins or containment trays.

Many effective secondary containment systems leave space between the barrier and the tank to provide a way to monitor for leaks and notify the operator as needed. Monitors can be as simple as dipsticks that measure the liquid product at the lowest containment point, or as complex as automated systems that continuously check for liquid or gaseous leaks. Interstitial monitors can also detect a loss of tank vacuum or change in the level of the liquid, which can be signs of a breach in the tank. 

What are the Requirements for Secondary Containment?

The EPA presents requirements for secondary containment in its hazardous waste storage regulation 40 CFR 264.175. This requires that a secondary containment system be impervious, free of gaps or cracks and compatible with the material being stored. It must have either a sloped design or a means for quick removal of leaking or spilled material. 

In addition, the system must have capacity to contain at least 10 percent of the total volume of the primary container or 100 percent of the volume of the largest container, whichever is larger. The system must either prevent precipitation or run-on from entering or have capacity to contain it during heavy rainfall or equivalent conditions.

Material leaked or spilled into the secondary containment area must be removed as quickly as possible to avoid overflow and potential environmental contamination. 

Tanks and their containment systems must be regularly inspected for signs of leakage, damage and deterioration.

Industrial Tank Coatings for Interiors and Exteriors

Protective coatings offer a cost-effective means to prevent industrial tank interiors or exteriors from leaking. The best tank coatings can be applied over substrates such as concrete, steel and more to offer impervious containment with rapid cure times and no VOCs. 

Industrial tank coatings can be specified for corrosion protection and adhesion while proving resistant to fatigue and exposure to water.

Internal coatings separate the tank substrate from the product being stored to prevent chemical attack. External coatings protect the tank from environmental damage such as inclement weather conditions or corrosion from contact with the soil.

NSF/ANSI 61, a standard for water system components, includes specifications for protective barrier materials such as coatings, paints, and cements. The standard identifies protective coatings that can be used with tanks as well as pipe, fittings, valves and pumps, and describes the required thickness, number of coats, cure time and temperature for the coatings. Coatings in compliance with NSF 61 can be used with potable water supplies.

A storage tank secondary containment system that combines an impervious spray coating with interstitial monitoring and overfill protection can be the most effective way to safeguard against industrial chemical leaks and spills.