Looking to keep your tank lining in good condition? Discover how inspection and maintenance services can work to benefit your business.
Protecting the contents of our industrial storage tanks from the dangers of corrosion and chemical damage is a priority for all business owners.
Tank lining provides this solution with various materials suiting specific requirements. However, failure to inspect and maintain the lining can be a catastrophe for your business.
In this blog post, we provide guidance on inspecting and maintaining tank linings to ensure they remain effective and avoid premature failure.
The Importance of Tank Lining Inspection and Maintenance
Across numerous industries, industrial tanks play an integral role in safely storing and protecting valuable resources such as water, chemicals, and fuel.
Due to the demand for product purity and safety measures, businesses face stringent industry regulations for health and safety alongside other requirements. Tank linings work as a barrier to protect the substances or materials, maintaining the tank’s structural integrity and avoiding environmental hazards.
So, monitoring your tank lining for signs of damage alongside scheduling regular maintenance checks is essential to satisfy regulations and avoid costly disasters.
The Tank Lining Inspection Process
By investing in expert tank lining technicians capable of a professional inspection, you can identify any alarming signs that your tank lining requires repair. One of these signs is corrosion which can present a persistent and costly problem if not discovered quickly.
If an area of the tank lining deteriorates, corrosion may become present. But catching this corrosion early on can lead to prompt repair, preventing further damage, potential leaks, and costly consequences such as the contamination or destruction of your product.
Beyond corrosion, there are compliance and regulations to maintain. In scheduling regular tank lining inspections, you demonstrate a responsibility to upkeep these regulations. If you don’t keep up with these regulations, you could land yourself with an unexpected bill and legal consequences.
Alongside health, safety and other industry regulations, your tank lining must demonstrate it can withstand various conditions, such as weather, chemical or temperature resistance. With a tank lining inspection, you can evaluate whether the lining condition is competent and provides the necessary protection.
A tank lining inspection will involve the following processes:
- Visual examination
- Thickness testing
- Adhesion testing
- Holiday detection
Most inspections will not require interference or destruction to your product. The technician will begin with a general visual examination to check for any signs of cracks, peeling or discolouration.
Technicians can apply ultrasonic or magnetic induction for thickness assessments to see whether the thickness supports the original design specifications.
Adhesion testing evaluates the strength between the line and the substrate, while holiday detection applies electric circuits to detect discontinuities over the linings.
Different industries have specific methods, such as petroleum tanks that require further inspection as linings can interfere with storage tank bottoms and complicate testing.
Similar to industrial tank installation, tank lining inspection has its own guide to inspection, maintenance and repair known as the EEMUA Publication 159. These standards include BS 2654, API 620 and API 650.
After inspection, if any of the above issues arise, the next stage requires investing in professional tank lining maintenance services.
How Often Do Tanks Need to Be Inspected?
As a rule of thumb, industrial storage tanks need to be inspected at least once every five years. Regular inspections should ensure you sustain industry standards and comply with regulations.
Guidance for specific tank lining regulations can be found in the VCA Procedure for Inspection Bodies Testing and Inspection of UK Tanks.
Different Tank Lining Maintenance Services
Just because your industrial storage tank lining shows signs of wear and tear doesn’t mean you must splash out on an expensive tank replacement.
We recommend investing in preventative maintenance programs to help keep your industrial storage tank in tip-top condition. A maintenance schedule can include inspections and cleaning that can catch issues early and avoid costly repairs or relining services in the future.
So, depending on the extent of repairs established from your inspection, the following tank lining maintenance services are available:
Tank Lining Cleaning
Industrial storage tanks naturally require regular cleaning to maximise their integrity. Cleaning tank linings can involve various applications and processes, such as abrasive blasting, high-pressure power washing and chemical cleaning.
The aim of removing any contaminants, corrosion or loose material from the tank’s linings will help ensure your industrial storage tank has a longer lifecycle.
Tank Lining Repair
If technicians find any minor damages on your tank lining, they can perform spot repairs that require removing the damaged area of the lining. After removal, they repair it with the necessary compatible lining with heat and pressure in the concentrated area.
Tank Relining
With more severe cases of tank lining damage, relining services may be necessary. A relining relies on removing the original tank lining completely. Technicians can perform this task quickly without much interference to your business operations.
Recoating Tanks
Like relining, some industrial storage tanks get maintained with recoating services. With this process, technicians spray or paint the relevant material that supports the requirements, such as chemical, temperature and abrasion resistance.
Contact Your Local Tank Lining Inspection and Maintenance Experts
At Franklin Hodge, we provide complete tank lining inspection and maintenance services.
Over the last 50 years, we’ve built our business on high-quality standards delivered consistently across all our services.
So, if you have a storage tank with lining that requires inspection and potential maintenance, get in touch today.