Guide to chemical tanks

We’ve been manufacturing bulk liquid storage tanks for over 30 years and are proud to manufacture one of the UK’s most extensive portfolios of tanks. Designing and building custom rotomoulded plastic chemical tanks is a Tuffa speciality and a challenge our Technical Team relish.

Our guide to chemical tanks is here to give you an idea of your chemical storage options so you can understand the process of getting the right tank for your needs.

What are the chemical storage regulations?

The range of chemicals and their properties are vast, meaning there can be no universal regulations dictating how they can be stored – this depends upon the specific chemical being stored. The individual Material Safety Data Sheet should contain details on best practices for storing a particular chemical, and a suitable risk assessment should always be conducted. While no universal regulations govern all chemicals, the chemical classification may come under multiple existing regulations, such as:

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH)
• Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR)
• Oil Storage Regulations
• Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH)

Do chemical tanks need to be bunded?

If a chemical leak risks harming the environment or people, then bulk storage tanks should always have Secondary Containment able to contain at least 110% of the primary tank’s contents. This can be integrally bunded (a tank within a tank) or a single skin tank with an open bund – often a concrete construction with a coating able to withstand the liquid being stored. As a low-capacity mobile storage container, IBCs are usually used and often do not require a bund.

Can a chemical tank be installed inside?

Usually, chemical tanks can be located inside a building. An appropriate risk assessment should be considered, including safety measures such as a secondary containment may be required. Check your Material Safety Data Sheet for details.

What tanks are available?

Tuffa manufacture a range of plastic bunded tanks suitable to store a variety of chemicals, from 1350 litres to 15000 litres in capacity. Select a model below or visit our chemicals tanks page for more information on the range of chemical tanks available.

What manufacturing standards do we follow?

• Material Safety Data Sheets
• Regional environmental regulations
• UKCA/CE marked
• ISO9001
• ISO14001
• Machinery Directive
• Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR)

What is the process of customising a chemical tank for a client?

We offer a unique and collaborative approach to designing and manufacturing custom chemical storage solutions. By providing project management, design, modelling and manufacturing in-house, we can build a system bespoke to the site requirements while avoiding points of failure or design errors. In brief, building our systems works like this:

• Enquiry raised by customer and specialist project manager assigned.
• The first is a call to discuss the requirements, including capacity, safety equipment and design, and specific equipment, such as heating, gauges, pump, fill points, insulation, suction and more.
• Check MSDS to ensure all tank materials and ancillary equipment are suitable for media.
• The second call is to finalise the required specification.
• Then an initial quote is provided, and the third call is to discuss the quote.
• Our in-house team then design detailed drawings based on customer requirements.
• The fourth call is to discuss the tank drawing, and if any adjustments are required, then a further quote will be raised to reflect the changes.
• Once payment is made, then the tank goes into production.
• The final product goes under quality control and testing.
• Delivery is made with offloading if required.
• We then make a final call to check in once the tank has been installed.

What do we consider in the design process?

• Polymer type
• Polymer shot weight
• Wetted material compatibility
• Temperatures
• Environmental hazards
• H&S concerns during use
• Logistics
• Specification for application

What types of ancillary equipment can be fitted to our tanks?

• Tank alarms
• Inlets/outlets
• Manifolds
• Pumps
• Agitators
• Dosing systems
• Insulation
• Fan heaters
• Immersion heaters
• Trace heaters
• Level gauges
• Process control systems

What are the advantages of chemical tanks?

Chemical tanks are frequently used for industrial and manufacturing processes where large volumes of liquids must be stored safely and when automated fluid transfer is beneficial. Unlike IBCs, chemical tanks are custom-made to suit the application.
Often complex pipework systems are required for safe fluid transfer at the optimum flow rate and pressure for processes such as neutralising, diluting and mixing. For these processes, stationary chemical tanks are typically required.

The bulk capacity of chemical tanks improves efficiency and gives the user more buying power. Purchasing liquid products in bulk is invariably more cost-effective and minimises the expense of deliveries or collection of waste liquids. Stationary tanks are also more environmentally friendly when compared to IBCs which are more prone to leaks, spills and misuse.

Why choose Tuffa’s chemical storage tanks?

We are a UK chemical tank manufacturer with over 30 years of design and manufacturing experience. We build bespoke chemical storage systems for various applications and clients. The benefits of working with us include the following:

• Highly experienced technical team and plastic workshop
• Bespoke design and manufacturing services in-house
• A dedicated project manager is assigned to each tank
• Integrally bunded and compliant
• High-quality, corrosion-resistant and UV-stabilised polyethylene
• A 10-year warranty and 20-year minimum design life
• Premium ancillary equipment
• Rotomoulded tanks provide cost-effective storage with quick lead times
• Proven reputation and results

How is temperature-controlled chemical storage achieved?

Chemicals with precise temperature parameters that must be stored often require temperature control, particularly when stored outside or in countries with extreme weather conditions. When liquids reach temperatures outside these parameters, the liquid quality can degrade, and the viscosity can change, prohibiting liquid transfer. Frozen liquids also risk cracking the tank wall and causing leaks.

How do I know if I need temperature-controlled storage?
As part of our due diligence, our Technical Sales team will check the tank’s MSDS and proposed storage conditions. We can provide various heating solutions and insulation suited to the application. Immersion heaters (which act like a kettle or aquarium heater) sit within the tank, directly heating the stored liquid. We can also fit trace heating coils within the bund to control the temperature around the primary tank without direct heat contact with the chemical. The chemical’s temperature is then monitored and controlled using a local or remote temperature controller.

How can I dispose of industrial chemical waste?

Chemical waste is often a by-product of industrial and manufacturing processes. Due to the risk of harm to public health and the environment, it’s essential to establish a waste management system in line with Hazardous Waste Regulations. Businesses storing waste chemicals in large volumes typically use a waste disposal company to collect the hazardous chemicals. These specialists will process the waste safely and, where possible, recycle the chemicals. The waste disposal company will often require a classification code to ensure correct disposal and recycling.

We hope that you found this guide useful but if you still require further advice or a quotation please submit an enquiry or give us a call on 01889 567700.