Secondary Containment
Lined Tank Bottom
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Fuel Storage Facilities
Lining Systems for Secondary Containment
Almost 20 years ago, Clark Gunness and Alan Lippincott, current associates of Gaussan Protective Membranes (PM) began engineering lining systems for fuel storage containment, most notably the Strategic Air Command main base in Goose Bay, Labrador and the DEW line bases in the Arctic.
They designed and monitored almost 4 million square feet of lining in these projects, including the secondary containment under tank bottoms replacing the ones which had rusted out and leaked 20,000,000 liters of jet fuel into the groundwater. Since that time, they have tested diverse liners at many tank farms and have designed and constructed the linings at facilities in the Northeast U.S. and Canada, amounting to millions of square feet. 
Goose Bay CFB, Labrador, Canada
Stable, flood-resistant roadways must be planned in large facilities - Because of previous problems with soil and groundwater contamination, most states require secondary containment in new storage facilities and in existing facilities which are being upgraded. Fluctuations in oil prices and the advent of new biofuels has revived interest in large fuel storage and dispensing depots. Gaussan is in a position to apply its considerable expertise to the design and implementation of secure lined systems for these installations.
Adequate Containment No Longer an Option
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Installation Makes a Critical Difference
For secondary containment design to be effective, all elements of a large capacity storage facility must be integrated into the liner system in order for containment to be reliable over the life of the installation. In a typical tank farm, the types and numbers of elements with varying conditions are numerous, including but not limited to:
- • The tanks themselves
- • Tank support structures
- • Pumping equipment
- • Pump pads
- • Roadways
- • Walkways
- • High and Low Traffic areas
- • Trenches
- • Test wells
- • Ladder ways
- • Pipelines
- • Pipeline support structures
- • Pipe penetrations at 90° to level
- • Pipe penetrations through sloped areas requiring elliptical boots
- • Electrical conduit penetrations
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Boots of all types and shapes are required to securely tie these elements and more, into the main liner. Installing secondary con¬tainment on an existing facility presents unique challenges. In many cases, elements such as pumps are inaccessible and the liner must be clamped to the pump pad to create a seal. Creating a system that will be reliable over time requires careful design for each individual element or group of conditions.
Gaussan PM pays close attention to all elements and conditions throughout the entire facility. Careful measure¬ments are taken to create a comprehensive set of shop drawings detailing how each individual element will be treated. Any liner that requires prefabrication is cut to fit and delivered ready to install in a certifiable secondary containment system. 
All penetrations through the liner must be properly sealed
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Careful Planning Minimizes Costs
As in most construction projects, weather is frequently a determining factor in project timing and completion. Delays due to weather can be costly for a number of reasons. Gaussan PM's planning of liner installation can help minimize costs by getting the subgrade covered and protected by the liner as quickly as possible. Protecting the subgrade with the liner when it is ready minimizes the amount of grading re-work that is required in event of foul weather. Gaussan PM carefully coordinates the installation of the liner with the project's earth work contractor and its experienced installation crew can rapidly install thousands of square feet of liner that is properly planned and prefabricated.
Walkway through a lined area -
Safety is a Real Concern
Years of experience has shown that care must be taken when utilizing synthetic lining materials, especially for foot traffic. Due to the risk of falling on a slippery surface, Gaussan P.M. always recommends designated walkways which are treated to be non-slip, especially in winter weather conditions. These can be made from stone or prefabricated non-slip panels, or, best, from grating elevated above the lined surface.
Adequate Containment No Longer an Option
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Designs for new and existing storage facilities
Gaussan PM provides sound, well planned designs for existing and new facilities. We have experience with all materials and methods for secondary containment and we understand that one design or material does not fit all conditions. Tanks with or without concrete ring walls can be sealed directly to the lining system. Each structure and condition, and every attachment area is considered individually and treated carefully during design and fabrication, well before the lining system is ever delivered to the site.