by Ed Kammerer
Fiberglass Tank Sumps Can Help Retailers Stay
Ahead of the Regulatory Curve So, you’ve completed your research, performed your due diligence and selected what you think is the best dispensing and underground storage tank equipment and systems for your new retail fueling site, or an upgrade to an existing one. Installation has been completed, the switch has been flipped on and the customers are rolling in. Time to take a deep breath and relax, right? Not so fast. While your equipment and systems were, as required, up to code when they were installed, the regulatory agencies are always working on ways to tweak, revise and improve their regulations. This puts pressure on fuel retailers to constantly stay abreast of any impending regulatory changes and to be aware of how they may affect the regularity status of their operations and what they must do to remain compliant if any changes are required. For example, Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL) recently implemented changes to its regulation regarding “Containment Sumps, Fittings and Accessories for Fuels.” Called the UL-2447 standard, this regulation updates the requirements for sumps, fittings and their accessories regarding “design and technology, regulatory compliance, industry needs” and addresses “scope of use, biofuels, compatibility and functional safety issues with respect to generally expected assembly, use and environmental conditions over the product’s average service life.”
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While your equipment and systems were, as required, up to code when they were installed, the regulatory agencies are always working on ways to tweak, revise and improve their regulations.
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Specifically, UL-2447 lays out a Test Program for fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP), or fiberglass, sumps. These types of sumps are a relatively recent arrival on the scene, created by fuel-site equipment manufacturers who determined that FRP performs better than the more traditional polyethylene (PE) in sump construction. This has led to fiberglass sumps being specified more frequently at retail and commercial fueling sites. In conjunction with this, UL-2447 specifically targets FRP sumps with a series of tests that must be performed by the manufacturer to ensure their viability. These tests include:
u Leak Prevention. The FRP sump’s u Cold-Impact. Samples from retention valves must be able to retain 70% of Type A and B fuels, as opposed to the old standard demanding retention of 50% of Type A and 30% of Type B fuels.
u Fluid Compatibility. Samples of the sump are immersed in Type A and Type B external fluids periods of 30, 90, 180 and 270 days and Type A and B internal fluids for a period of 3 0 days. After these testing periods, the samples must test within a range of flexural strength (50% for Type A fluids and 30% for Type B fluids) as compared to the flexural sump in as-received condition.
u Air-Oven Aging. Samples of the sump are placed in an air-circulating oven at a temperature of 158°F (70°C) for periods of 30, 90 and 180 days. At the completion of these time periods, the sample must have a flexural strength of at least 80% of the flexural strength of the sump in as-received condition.
the bottom and side of the sump are placed in a freezer with a temperature of -20°F (-29°C) for 16 hours. When removed from the freezer, the sample are subjected to an impact from a 1.18-pound steel ball dropped from a height of six feet. Upon impact, the samples must not crack.
u Hydrostatic Load. Sumps with penetration fittings installed are filled to capacity with water for 24 hours. At the completion of that time frame, there can be no leakage.
u Identification. Samples of the sump material are subjected to infrared analysis, differential scanning calorimetry analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, percent ash content and specificgravity determination, with the results kept on file by UL and used as a baseline for follow-up Identification tests.
Realizing the importance of developing FRP sumps that can meet the UL-2447 standard, manufacturers have taken great pains to create products that satisfy UL-2447, with the most critical consideration being the method with which they are manufactured. FMN Magazine
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