The Crucial Importance of Leak Detection for Storage Tanks

Among the busy day-to-day operations at your site, a leak in your storage tank may be the least of your worries. However the results of a leak can have catastrophic consequences, causing not only the loss of valuable product but also potential harm to nearby civilians, soil, wildlife and aquatic life.

Plus, if your site is closed and unattended for hours or days, it may be too late before personnel notice the leak. This is why a good leak detection system is crucial for any facility which uses storage tanks. Whether you use above or below ground tanks, read on to find out how leak detection measures can benefit you.

What Causes Storage Tank Leaks?

The main causes of leaks are:

• Corrosion and material degradation - This occurs with predominantly metal tanks when over time due to the stored material, weather and natural moisture, the material will corrode and compromise the tank’s structure causing leaks.

• Bad weather and natural disasters - Heavy rains, flooding, lightning, high winds and earthquakes can all impact storage tanks, increasing the risks of damage.

• Inefficient maintenance - A lack of regular maintenance, scheduled inspections and necessary repairs will deteriorate the tank quicker and cause a higher likelihood of a leak.

• Overfilling – Overfilling a tank beyond its capacity can lead to structural damage resulting in leaks.

2 out of 4 of these causes are unpreventable, showing that a leak can be an unexpected and unavoidable event. For this reason, one of the best ways to combat leaks is to catch them as soon as possible.

How To Minimise the Impact of a Leak

As previously mentioned, the key to avoiding costly product loss and harm to life is time. By catching a leak immediately, your team can take quick action and reduce risks. This is where leak detection systems come in, as they can be implemented to immediately alert you of when a suspected leak is occurring.

Common leak detection methods include automatic tank gauging, interstitial monitoring and vapour sensors. Of these methods, automatic tank gauging offers multiple benefits alongside leak detection such as greater inventory control, heightened data management and remote monitoring making it a cost-effective choice.

Protect Your Site with FuelGuard

If the thought of a leak at your site is a growing concern, we can help you avoid the risks of an unnoticed leak with our remote cloud monitoring equipment designed exclusively for storage tanks.

In the event of a suspected loss of product, FuelGuard raises an alarm and will notify users immediately with an alert sent to their mobile device. This means that whatever time of day, you can act fast before the leak turns into a much bigger problem for your business.

FuelGuard is perfect for all storage tanks, whether you store chemicals, fuel, non-hazardous liquids and much more. Speak to our team today and we can arrange a free demo to show you how our systems can help you.