At Jotun, we have five decades of experience in supporting customers with selecting the correct tank coating. We have collated six of the most important points you should consider below.

1. Know your tank’s properties and prepare accordingly

What is your tank made of? Is it carbon steel? If so, it will likely need a lining to protect both the tank and the contents. If it is stainless steel a lining may not be necessary.

Once you decide you are lining your tank, preparation is critical to ensure it is applied properly. Quality application means the tank lining remains in good condition as long as possible, increasing periods between maintenance.

Blasting and cleaning will likely be required and humidity control is essential for a quality finish. Dehumidification (DH) equipment is often a good idea because it creates a suitable atmosphere for blasting, vacuuming and coating. Where DH equipment isn’t used it’s important to control humidity and ensure good ventilation through other means.

2. What will be stored in the tank?

Will it be acidic products? Or amine-based liquids? Either of these can affect the tank lining, as can non-acidic materials like crude oil and hydrocarbon-based fuels. It is important to choose a lining that will protect the contents as well as the tank, if not, there is a high risk of contamination of the stored product.

Jotun has extensive chemical resistance lists for our tank linings, identifying a wide range of stored chemicals, along with storage temperatures and concentrations.

3. What temperatures will the tank have to handle?

Different products need to be stored at different temperatures. Crude oil or palm oil, for instance, normally need to be stored at temperatures of 60ºC or higher to ensure that the stored product remains liquid and can be pumped out of the tank. When storing these products in a lined tank, it is essential that the lining used can withstand the stored product at the required temperature.

Jotun’s Tankguard Plus, a novolac epoxy tank coating, has very good resistance to high-temperature products including most sour crude oils and a wide range of chemicals and solvents.

4. Future-proofing your tank

A range of products and chemicals will likely be stored in your tank over its lifetime. To help with maintenance and ensure it remains operational, think about lining it with a coating that can deal with different products – now and in the years ahead.

A lining that can cope with the most extreme use will give you the most out of your tank. While the initial investment might be a little higher, not having to re-coat your tanks should your storage needs change might save you a lot in the long run. Making an evaluation as to likely production changes in the future will help to obtain the best protection for your needs and to get your tank up and running again as quickly as possible.

5. How often will the tank be inspected?

For regular inspections, a lining with a good finish, that is easy to clean and able to withstand tasks such as degassing for tanks holding crude oil is recommended. Where regular inspections are not required, your lining has to provide the right level of protection to give you the trust it doesn’t need to be regularly checked.

6. How quickly can the tank be returned to service?

This is a key consideration for maintenance managers. Time is money and your tank needs to be back up and running as quickly as possible during any shutdown, whether planned or unplanned. Even if you have spare tanks on your facility, this still means reduced flexibility and potentially operating at a lower capacity than necessary.

Products such as Tankguard SF, which allows wet-on-wet application, can help. Tankguard SF’s film thickness versatility means it can easily be applied in a two-coat wet-on-wet system, with a 20-30 minute gap before the next coat can be applied which means you get a safe, sound and solid solution.

Support throughout your project

Choosing the right tank lining is an important and complex business. So is choosing a coating provider that can support you before, during and after the job. At Jotun, we do more than sell you the lining. Our rigorous product testing, experience in tank linings and list of satisfied customers mean you can be confident you will get the highest levels of support from us at every stage of your project.