Don't make a mistake when you hire your next storage tank. To help we've compiled a list of 10 things you should look out for.
- Quick Release Manways: This might not seem that obvious, but having quick release manways will save you a tremendous amount time. We estimate it could take you up to 80 minutes to open a standard bolted manway - if it's quick release, it will only take one.
- Manway Positions: Check where the manway access points are. If they are only located on the top of the tank and there is no access provided, this could be costly for you. You will need to provide safe access and a scaffold working platform suitable for personnel safety equipment attachments. All of our hire tanks have manways on the ends - eliminating any additional cost.
- Inlet and Outlet Valves: Does the tank have enough inlet and outlet connection points and are they in the correct place. In complex tank configurations, it could be very costly if there aren't enough connection points or if they are in the wrong positions. Have a tank connection plan before you hire.
- Gauging: Guessing how much liquid you have in your hire tank is a risky business. It's all too easy to overfill the tank or run out of product. Something as simple as a visual sight inspection tube can save you a lot of problems. An additional benefit of a visual sight tube will allow you to calculate the current liquid capacity of the tank by using a tank volume calculator or dipping chart.
- Overall Tank Footprint: Will the hire tank physically fit the space you've allocated? And not forgetting any site access restrictions. Check the tanks overall dimensions.
- Transport and Lifting: If you are arranging your own transport for a hire tank, it seems obvious, but make sure you get the right transport for the tank and that all permits (if required) are valid. Always check to see if the tank is supplied with the pre-slung lifting equipment and that its certification is still in date. A typical lifting certification is LOLER 98.
- Liquid Compatibility: Check that what you are going to store in the tank is not going to react with the material it's made of. This will damage the tank and contaminate your liquid - a costly mistake.
- Insurance: Most storage tank hire companies will expect you to be adequately insured to cover the full replacement cost of the hire tank in the unfortunate event of an accident. Your hire tank company will provide you with a replacement value for the tank and on occasion could ask for proof of insurance.
- Traceability: Find out what was stored in the tank before you hire it - if your process is critical, on rare occasions the product previously stored could have residual particles remaining which could contaminate your product. Full traceability of a hire tank will answer any questions you have about the tank and will cover its entire history from the date of manufacture (including build tests, repair history and product storage history).
- Cleanliness: When your hire tank is delivered, it should always arrive visually clean. Visually clean does not mean just the outside. Open a manway, safely look inside and check for any visible remaining contaminants - there shouldn't be any.
We hope you find this list helpful. If you have any questions or would like to know more about hiring a large industrial storage tank, please contact our storage tank advisers on 01502 710100.