IBC totes revisited- A guide to retesting of IBC totes

While preparing for this next entry, I came across a very interesting article that made me stop and think about YOU and how you are going to absorb the following information. Will it be just another lame post about what we have to offer, who we are, or perhaps the old hit and miss approach of throwing something on the wall to see if it sticks?

We are all so overexposed to junk Email, spam, and unsolicited requests. So I stopped for a second to think about how important it is for me to feel like you have gained something from this entry, to walk away with information that is actually useful and valuable to YOU, and available anytime at no cost to you whatsoever. (This is the reason for this blog by the way).

“ We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”

So, in me telling you that we have several IBC totes available for sale here in Houston, considered ‘overstock’ equipment, and for which we can make you a good deal; …….just doesn’t resonate well with me.  Instead, let me give you a bit more.  Follow me:

1)  What is an IBC tote? An IBC tote is a common term used in the industry to describe an Intermediate Bulk Container. Whether handling bulk liquids, viscous products or dry flowables, IBC totes or portable bulk containers can meet transportation and handling requirements for corrosives, flammables, food and beverages, custom chemicals, lubricants,  pharmaceuticals, in a safe and cost effective way. The most common sizes are 350 and 550 gallon capacity.

2.) Do you have a need for IBC totes? If you find yourself interested in purchasing IBC totes, you will need to answer a few basic questions:.  1) Will this equipment be used  for a  hazardous or flammable product?, 2) what size works best ?, 3) Do you require Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel , new or used, and finally 4) Quantity of IBC totes required.

3.) IBC totes offered carry the following designation:

DOT UN31A permits the shipment of flammable and combustible liquids authorized by Title 49 CFR.

Allowable modes of transportation: motor vehicle, rail freight, cargo vessel, or air freight. NMFC Item 41032, Sub 1, Class 125. (per DOT)

Those are basics, as most of you already know and understand.  Following on that note, have you come across the situation when you need to re-test these IBC totes?  I get lot of questions on re-certification.  For those of you who may be looking to see what it takes, how to do it, and where to begin; we have put together a manual to give you point by point instruction when the time comes to re-certify your IBC totes.  Why do you need to this?  Per DOT regulations, these totes must be maintained within a current inspection period of every 2 1/2 years.

So, when you find it’s time to re-certify your IBC totes, perhaps you have purchased totes from us in the past, or hopefully you are in the market to purchase a few, feel free to email me andyd(at)tank service(dot)com to request a copy of the “Guide to Retesting of Intermediate Bulk Containers”.

As always, feel free to ask any questions, and post them here so that we can all gain from each other.

Intermediate Bulk Container- How do you fit them in a 20ft box container?

There was an interesting question that popped up on my email and I thought I would share it with all of you. Concerning the fitment of these totes inside a 20Ft container, the only way to get them to fit (we are discussing 550 gall IBC totes)is to stagger them.

The next consideration is weight.  If you are planning to ship a container full of totes (empty) then you can fit approximately 10 units.  Now, if you are shipping them full, my suggestion is to do the numbers and double check the max weight allowed to make sure you do not exceed it.

You can see pictures from the original post here

Below is a quick sketch illustrating the set up

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Storage Tank Installation Services – Houston API, UL-142, UL-2085, Poly.

I get phone calls very frequently about needing to either remove and relocate an existing tank or to help to set up a new tank system. We are pleased to announce that we are now offering these new services. So, if you need a tank relocated or have a new set up pending, call us to discuss your immediate need.

In the pictures following we have outfitted these turn key systems with pumps, electronics, back up system, and much more.

Services include:
Concrete services
Electrical Services
Plumbing and piping services
Accessories (pumps, telemetry, cabinet style dispensers, specialty valves, card readers and much more)

Intermediate Bulk Container -IBC Totes

IBC’s seem to be a commodity these days, but if you are looking for same day pick up in Houston, we stock used 304 stainless steel 550 gallon IBC totes and some 350 gallon IBC totes in our La Porte Terminal.
For your convenience, we also have a surplus amount of “unused” 350 gallon IBC totes on the ground and ready to move.

Last, these IBC totes can be fitted with tracking devices, heating elements, insulation jackets, and other accessories…. Are you looking for a turn-key package? Don’t hesitate to request information on our line of pumps, filters, hoses, and nozzles.

Application for IBC containers: Chemicals/petrochemicals, waste disposal/recycling, food industry, paints/lacquers, plant construction, Biodiesel, and much more.

These Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC totes) have the following specifications:
1. DOT UN31A (new builds) permits the shipment of flammable and combustible liquids authorized by Title 49 CFR.
2. Per DOT, allowable modes of transportation: motor vehicle, rail freight, cargo vessel, or air freight.

Call for availability and specifications…

IBC tote 350 gallon

Intermediate Bulk Container 550 gal

Intermediate Bulk Container 350 gal

Intermediate Bulk Container 350 gal manway lid

Intermediate Bulk Container 350 gal (New)

Picture of IBC tote bottom valve

April 2009 Earth Day- Water Tanks

April was another successful time in celebrating earth day, bringing to light the many little things that we can all do to cooperate and help our planet.  There are two companies that I want to recognize for taking the initiative to become environmentally friendly.

The first one:

Sandra Graves from National Chassis debuted her “green” page on her chassis site. Click here to visit her site and read the quick little interview about the small steps being taken to become more conscious about our planet.

Our Aussie friends Kingston Water Tanks are a responsible and environmentally friendly company, located in Melbourne, Australia.  They stock over 2000 water tanks on 15 major brands. Check out their site here

I must applaud our Aussie friends once again, for the initiative to ban plastic bags beginning in 2009.

We do not think about what the impact plastic bags have on our wild life & oceans. Video here

South Australia To Ban Plastic Bags Beginning In 2009.
Read more here

Thanks for reading!
-Andy

Portable tank- humor

We have been getting the following email requests from some one that apparently has a lot of time on their hands.  I must say that a lot of thought has been put into the creation process and it is actually pretty funny.  So, I decided to place it here so that you all can read it.

Note to writer:  It was funny at first, but I am getting enough now so please stop.

“Please quote the following, a portable 1,375,000 gallon salt water shark tank with filter. The M.A.P. (mobile aqua pod ) Would require the following: Seamless front glass with rounded corners for optimum viewing 12′ thickness 55′ x 10′ x10′ High-performance ultra-bright lighting Surface-skimming system- Zeon water Tension g4 Mechanical hydrostatic diatom filter We will supply all the tubing required as well as the colored gravel. If you have any questions please call. If you have already quoted this job please disregard. Please send quote and lead times. Regards, Tad Pohl”

OPTIMISM—If you are willing to look really, really hard.

OPTIMISM—If you are willing to look really, really hard.

This past weekend I downloaded Time Magazine to my Kindle and found a very unusual article. I say unusual because the author puts a positive spin on what is going on in these tough economic times. I have completely stopped watching media coverage because, well, I am burned out of all the negativity being tossed around.  Justin Fox , the author, writes four positive points that we can all learn from.

1. The stock market is no longer overpriced.. The Dows’s descent below 7,000 for the first time was greeted with much wailing on Wall Street and the media. That is understanding, the market’s fall reflects a growing consensus that the current recession will be nasty and long. In addition, if you own stocks, you cannot sell them for nearly as much as you could previously. But the recent fall in stock prices also means that are now, by just about every possible measure, fairly priced or downright cheap. It does not mean prices won’t go even lower. It does mean there is no longer a huge, unsustainable overhang of overvaluation weighing on the market and the economy. House prices may not have reached this point yet, but they are getting there. The great turn of the millennium asset bubble has finally deflated. This is going to teach us that buying and selling houses and financial instruments do not bring lasting prosperity. What brings prosperity is work.

2. Consumers are adjusting to the new economic reality and fast. The simplest explanation of what led to this financial mess is that too many American consumers spent more than they earned. That is ending in dramatic fashion: consumer spending dropped in the fourth quarter at the fastest rate in 29 years. After skidding along near zero from 2005 through 2007, the savings rate hit 5% in January, the highest since 1995. This rapid retrenchment is the main reason we sank so quickly into a deep recession. But as long as the consumer pullback doesn’t spiral into an economic shutdown, it is a healthy medium and long term development. For the long term, as long as spending remains moderate, the US economy will be on a much more sustainable path.

3. Reinvention and change are what the US is all about. The financial and real estate sectors got too fat in the 2000’s. They are shrinking rapidly, and our economy needs to find new drivers of growth and prosperity. That is not going to be easy, but it certainly helps that switching gears is something of a national specialty. We Americans are willing to move thousands of miles from home, to change careers, to strike out on our own, if that is what it takes to get by. This is far less true in most other countries in the developed world. This isn’t just because we are an adaptable lot; it has much to do with the inherent advantages of having the dollar as the world’s reserve currency.

4. The Government is on the case. Don’t laugh. The Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve and the White House and Congress really are all working to fix this mess. They are making lots of mistakes. They are doing some things too quickly and many things too slowly. A political climate increasingly hostile to bailouts is tying their hands. But the recession to the current crisis has been infinitely smarter and more forceful than that of the early years of the Great Depression.

These four points may all be exercises in finding silver linings in a really bad time, but I believe that faith will pull us through. Let’s not forget that it is exactly when the news is most discouraging and most gloomy that recoveries begin.  Please do share your comments.

AD

IT issues- a quick update

Good morning folks, our main websites are still down due unexpected IT issues but currently working to get us back on line.  Email is up and running now for your convenience.  Thank you for your patience.

A.

andyd @ tankservice . com

Tank Service Inc migrates to a new host

Starting today, you may find it difficulty accessing our websites or emailing us. We apologize for any inconvenience as we migrate over to our new hosting space. Feel free to call us at +1- 713- 665- 3001 with any questions. Thank you for your patience ,and we look forwar to being 100% operational by this weekend.

Andy

UL 142 skid storage tanks vs standard skid storage tanks

This next entry will try to explain the differences between a standard skid tank and a UL-142 tank.

Before you ask me, I cannot make copies of the Ul-142 code, it is copyrighted and it is too long to display.  Each copy is designated to the fabricator with its own serial number.  You can purchase the book directly from Underwriters Laboratory yourself.

When looking at the differences, we simply follow the UL recommendation.  There are parameters in how you weld, how you do the overlapping, how you secure the ports and fittings on the tank, and how far the ends stick out.  I am over simplifying in this example, but it is just a matter of following procedures within the code.  Last, you will also find a name plate with the manufacturer’s name, serial number, and UL label in ‘gold’.  

As far as accessories, these tanks come with a 1x-standard vent, 1x-emergency vent, fill cap as you can see in the pictures.  When you request, double wall UL 142 tanks, then 2x- emergency vents will be included. 

I get asked about inventory quite a bit, so to answer this questions.  We normally stock single and double wall Ul 142 tanks up to 3000 gallons.  Anything above that, will be built in accordance to your needs.

Take a look at the pictures and email me under the “contact us” tab with any questions or requests.

-Andy