Maintenance of storage tanks

Large storage tanks can be difficult and costly to inspect and maintain. Direct visual internal inspection requires the tank be emptied and cleaned - time-consuming and expensive, and wasteful of resources if the tank is found to be sound. EEMUA’s awareness of the problem has led to the development of strategies aimed at minimising the time equipment is out of use, whilst taking risk and consequence of failure into account.

Achievements to date

EEMUA has developed a suite of publications offering guidance not only on inspection and maintenance, but also on design aspects (including mounded storage) and safe demolition of storage tanks. The extensively revised and expanded 3rd edition of the inspection and maintenance publication (No 159) includes guidance on the application of risk based inspection and reliability-centred maintenance techniques.

To promote the application of the guidance offered in Publication 159, EEMUA runs TankAssessor, tank integrity assessor one week training courses. These courses are offered at the Introductory Level 1 and Advanced Level 2, with successful candidates being awarded a Certificate of Competency. The courses are aimed at engineers, to enable them to make informed decisions on maintenance requirements and inspection frequencies.

These successful courses are now offered in Dutch, in co-operation with a technical university in the Netherlands.

EEMUA’s current agenda on storage tanks

The higher level course is being actively promoted, and holders of competency certificates are now being required to take periodic refresher courses to maintain the validity of their certificates.

EEMUA is also planning to update other publications comprised in the storage tank suite, and through these publications and training initiatives continues to promote good practice for safe and effective tank maintenance.

Join us

To participate in EEMUA’s storage-related Technical Committees, or to become involved in other ways in the Association’s current agenda on storage tanks, write to .