ABOUT $300 million a year is spent on coating storage tank bottoms, said Mike Reynolds, coatings service manager at Corrpro in Delcambre, Louisiana. Added to that is the cost of downtime when the storage tanks are out of service.
“We all know that 75% to 80% of coating failures come from poor surface preparation,” he said at the Independent Liquid Terminals Association meeting June 11-14 in Houston, Texas. “We absolutely understand why coatings fail.”
Reynolds made the remarks while discussing coating standards that can insure long life for the lining. A good tank coating should last 15 to 20 years, he said.
He recommended the use of the proper product for a particular tank, correct mixing and thinning of product, and correct application. He emphasized that correct application is best obtained by the use of appropriate equipment by experts.
The surface should be prepared so that it is free of contaminants. Coating should be checked for shelf life and assurance that it has been properly stored. Finally, documentation should be made of the mix and the method of application.