Several industries in the United States (in fact, the world) share at least one thing in common: their use of above ground storage tanks (AST). AST units store everything from oil and industrial chemicals to liquid fertilizer and water. Some tanks are capable of holding more than 50,000 gallons of materials! These tanks are typically constructed on-site because of their size. Stainless steel tank manufacturers, however, also build many other tanks off-site (which are, needless to say, smaller). Regardless of their size and purpose, these tanks provide storage for the materials we use everyday either directly or indirectly. From buying plastic products to pumping gas in our cars, our everyday lives feature things directed from materials stored in these tanks across the country.
These tanks are strictly regulated by the government as well as by industry regulatory groups such as the American Petroleum Institute (API). These rules and inspections ensure that the materials are safely and efficiently stored for extended periods of time. What are some of these regulations? Well, for example, AST units such as liquid fertilizer tanks have to be built with a secondary containment area capable of holding the entirety of the tank’s contents in case of leaking or spillage. This secondary area must also have a 10% capacity for holding precipitation such as rain and snow.
There are many other rules and inspection guidelines AST unit owners must follow. Most of these rules involve safeguards, especially when the contents inside the tanks are hazardous or corrosive. Liquid fertilizer tanks alone can cause serious damage to its vicinity (immediate or otherwise), which is why they’re heavily regulated and subject to inspection. Regardless, you can’t put a price on safety when dealing with these materials. These regulations, for better or worse, make up the backbone of what could be considered the backbone of many industries.
For more information about AST units, feel free to leave a comment or question at the bottom.
