Rubber Storage Tank Linings: Maintenance Inspection Tips

Blair Rubber Co.’s quality tank linings can provide up to 20 years of service when properly installed and maintained. Get the most from your tank lining by following our published protocols for inspection and maintenance.

Basic maintenance tips include loading only the intended commodity for the specific lining and following Blair’s flange bolt-up procedure and torque specifications to avoid damage to the flange face lining.

We encourage you to speak with an experienced Blair representative to obtain the best lining recommendation for your service. However you can check out our slide rule app to find potential candidates for your service conditions.

Once the installation is complete, you will want to follow these guidelines for optimum long-term success:

Inspect Regularly

To increase the longevity of your rubber lining, frequent inspections can aid in determining the performance of the lining and will help determine if maintenance or process adjustments are required. During inspection, there are a few things to consider. First, you want to map any suspicious areas. Having a detailed description of the inspection will help with later inspections to determine if any changes have occurred in the ensuing time.

During your next inspection, compare the results with the previous one. Have blisters suddenly appeared? Has a seam begun to open up or have cracks begun to show? These are all things to note and action may need to be taken sooner rather than later.

Keep Adequate, Specific Charts

The most important factor to remember about your inspections is to make them as accurate as possible. Writing down just a little bit of information is not going to give you the full picture. Create a rubber lining inspection chart – or reach out to Blair for an example – and document your findings the same way each time. This will standardize the process ensuring every employee documents the same information, in a like manner.

Properly Repair Lining When Needed

In the event that maintenance is required, be sure to follow the correct procedures. For instance, a fill in and cover up repair method should consist of two layers of rubber. Having the double layer will compensate for uncured-to-cured rubber bonding.

Here is something else to consider: While it is possible to add multiple patches to your rubber lining, this will not always yield the best results when areas to be repaired are in close proximity to one another. Instead, Blair Rubber Co. recommends that you cover up multiple areas in need of repair with one large patch. One patch will have a nicer appearance than multiple patches, will be easier to inspect, and will likely consist of less seaming area.

Want to learn more about repair techniques and maintenance? Consider attending one of our Tank Lining Seminars. Blair hosts a day-long training event twice each year to better educate our applicators. The session includes ample time for questions and open discussion. On-site seminars are available as well. Learn more today!