When making decisions about your service station, knowing what is going on beneath the surface matters. Whether your station has been operating for years, or has recently opened for business, you’re likely to have questions about the condition and maintenance of your underground fuel tanks.
To answer these questions, we reached out to Peter Hale, the General Manager of TRL Engineering. Since 1998, TRL Engineering has been a global supplier of services to the Petroleum Industry, providing fuel storage and delivery solutions to both the biggest and smallest facilities in the industry. Be it busy retail service stations, or international airports, TRL Engineering has serviced them all. From tank lining, to fuel system design and construction, TRL has the skills and expertise to navigate even the most nuanced systems.
With such a comprehensive background and wealth of knowledge, Peter was able to give great insight on the lifespan of underground fuel tanks, and what to look out for when your tank’s lifespan may be nearing its end.
What is the expected lifespan of an underground fuel tank?
The lifespan of each tank may vary slightly, however the anticipated lifespan for steel fuel tanks is between 20-30 years. As a tank ages past 30 years, it becomes only a question of time before that tank will begin to leak. In fact, it is not a matter of if the tank will leak, but simply a matter of when, as all steel tanks placed underground will deteriorate over time.
It’s important, then, to know the age and condition of your tank. What are some of the signs a petrol station operator will notice if their underground tanks are nearing the end of their lifespan?
When tanks leak, they will lose fuel into the ground which should be notable. Aside from this, petrol station operators may notice that they begin to have water ingress issues with fuel contamination, and/or notable blocking of the filters.
What responsibilities does a petrol station operator have with regards to the integrity of their underground tanks?
Petrol station operators and owners are jointly responsible to ensure that the integrity of their tanks is maintained. Operators must be able to prove that their tanks are not leaking. This is done with 2 to 3 yearly tank integrity tests performed by a tank testing company.
If a tank is found to be leaking, creating contamination of the subsoil, then both the operator and the owner would be subject to a substantial fine by their local council or EPA.