2 September 2024

Management and maintenance of diesel tanks

Approved underground diesel tanks for refueling vehicles or for use with generators and heating crucial role in the industrial and domestic sectors, ensuring safe and efficient storage of fuels.

To maintain the safety, efficiency and prolong the useful life of the tanks, however, it is essential to implement a rigorous periodic maintenance plan.

Cleaning and inspections

The first form of maintenance is regular cleaning and inspection of the tanks. Over time, in fact, various sediments and impurities such as mud and water that accumulate in the tank can not only compromise the quality of the fuel, but also the very structure of the tanks and delivery pipes. This undermines the overall efficiency of the system, and represents a significant risk in terms of the environment and the safety of people and operators.

The cleaning process must be carried out at least once a year, and only by qualified and authorized professionals, who have the specific equipment to remove sediment without compromising the integrity of the tank. Along with cleaning, it is also essential to carry out a detailed inspection of the tanks to identify any signs of corrosion or structural damage that may require immediate repairs, and which only an expert technician can easily recognize.

Checking safety valves

Checking the tank valves, especially the safety and vent valves, should also be regular, and carried out at least annually. These interventions not only avoid an increase in pressure and the risk of the tank exploding, but also ensure a regular flow of fuel within the system.

Together with checks on the tightness and mechanical functioning of the valves, the checks certify their physical integrity, and are expressly provided for by the fire prevention regulations, and therefore mandatory (like those on the fire extinguishers present in the tank area, which should instead be checked every 6 months ).

Fuel level monitoring

Finally, monitoring the fuel level is essential to detect leaks or abnormal variations. There are several technologies available that can monitor fuel levels such as level sensors and remote monitoring systems. These guarantee not only an accurate reading of the volumes, but can be connected to visual indicators or alarm systems (for immediate warning in the event of anomalies), which thanks to digital technologies ensure precise control even on tanks located in difficult to access places .

In the event of significant variations and sudden drops in fuel, it will then be necessary to intervene immediately with extraordinary maintenance and repairs, especially in the case of underground diesel and petrol tanks.

What if the tanks can no longer be repaired?

When a tank becomes obsolete or damaged beyond the point of repair, it must be disposed of in accordance with environmental regulations.

The process must be managed by qualified experts and companies specialized in the treatment of special and hazardous waste, who will carry out a series of operations to ensure that the residual fuel is safely removed, and the tank disposed of without risk of environmental contamination. Before starting the reclamation and disposal operations of the tank, it may be necessary to notify the municipality of residence and the ARPA to which it belongs, while at the end of the procedures, the company specialized in waste disposal will issue a certification of completion of the reclamation.

And for the new diesel tank, you can then turn to Di Camillo: for over 60 years, Di Camillo has specialized in the creation of approved tanks and cisterns for fuel and diesel. We offer our customers complete shipping services for tanks and cisterns throughout Italy (and throughout the world), as well as technical assistance and qualified maintenance, and rental of fixed and mobile tanks and tanks for short periods throughout the national territory.