Saturday, December 12, 2015

Tank Farm Dismantling

New York and New Jersey have a fair amount of tank farms serving pharmaceutical, food and beverage, industrial manufacturing and petrochemical industries. Dismantling a tank farm is not typically a complex undertaking, but requires an experienced dismantling contractor to properly identify safety and environmental hazards as well as asset recovery opportunities. R Baker has been involved in dozens of tank farm dismantling projects over the past several years.

One recent dismantling project in New Jersey required mechanical, electrical, and structural dismantling of several tank farms. Erected in the early 80s, the farms mainly consisted of elevated stainless steel tanks ranging from 500 to 10,000 gallons covered by a steel-framed Butler-style roof system. Most of the piping was stainless steel, with some plastic piping, and there were several sets of pumps for product transfer between tanks and delivery trucks. Connection points to the tanks, pumps, and other accessories were either stainless steel weld or tri-clover clamp. There was an extensive grounding system for all tanks, pumps, and piping, along with several grounding bars for static connection of drums. All of the lighting and power for pumps and outlets for portable pumps were explosion-proof due to a hazardous environment Class I, Division 1, groups C and D classification.

Dismantlement of the tank farm entailed unbolting and cutting of all piping, pumps, tanks, and electrical systems after they were cleaned and identified as safe for lockout tag out. Salvageable pumps and fittings carefully removed for reuse at another facility. After all of the mechanical electrical and structural parts and pieces were removed, R. Baker & Son dismantled the parapet wall that surrounds the tank farms. Concrete floor trench drains and holding tank were removed from the ground. The concrete was tested for any contaminants and carefully cut and removed in square blocks. Clean backfill and stone replaced the concrete floor and trench to make the area reusable again.

R. Baker & Son - Industrial Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
732-222-3553
http://rbaker.com/dismantling-contractors.php