【2025 Safety Design】Key points for the safety design and layout of tank areas
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This post was last edited by zhoudingshengs on 2025-6-9 06:36. In the production and storage processes, the tank area serves as the core location for storing liquids (or gases) of categories A, B, and C; therefore, its safe design is of utmost importance. A rational layout of tank areas and proper allocation of facilities are not only crucial for the safety of production operations, but also play a key role in ensuring the safety of the surrounding environment as well as the lives and property of people. The following will detail the key aspects of tank farm design in accordance with relevant regulatory requirements. (The following response is for reference only. ）
I. Site selection and overall layout of the tank area: The tank area should be located on the edge of the plant (workshop) area, and in the side wind or downwind direction of areas where open flames or sparks are present. This can effectively reduce the threat posed by sources of fire to the tank area and decrease the likelihood of accidents. At the same time, the loading and unloading stations need to be located near roads (or railways); this facilitates the transportation and distribution of materials while ensuring safety, and it also provides sufficient space for the future development of the enterprise, enabling subsequent expansion and facility upgrades.
II. Tank Layout: Storage tanks for Class A, B, and C liquids should be installed outdoors, arranged in rows or groups according to the type of material and the volume stored. A group of storage tanks should not exceed two rows, which facilitates daily inspection and maintenance. In the event of an accident, it also helps to limit the scope of its impact, thereby creating favorable conditions for emergency response.
III. Installation of fire dikes and separation dikes: Fire dikes must be installed around the storage tanks, and separation dikes should be set up according to the type of material stored. The determination of the effective volume within the fire dike and separation dike should take into account both the size and number of storage tanks. Generally, the volume of the embankment surrounding a single storage tank should be slightly larger than the tank’s own volume. For multiple tanks, this volume can be reduced to some extent after taking appropriate measures, but it must not be less than the volume of the largest tank or half of the total volume of all tanks, and approval from the fire department is required.
The embankment height is generally 1–2.2 m, with the actual height being 0.2 m higher than the calculated height. The installation of fire dikes and separation dikes is intended to prevent the leakage of liquid from storage tanks from spreading everywhere, to contain the leaked liquid within a certain area, to stop the fire from spreading further, and to reduce fire-related losses.
IV. Fire access routes and facilities Fire access routes and fire-fighting facilities should be provided around the tank storage area. Fire exits must remain unobstructed so that fire trucks can reach the accident scene quickly in emergency situations. Fire protection facilities must ensure that firefighting operations can be carried out promptly and effectively in the event of a fire, providing strong support for controlling the blaze, ensuring the evacuation of people, and facilitating rescue efforts.
V. Drainage system: Drainage ditches should be installed on the inside of the fire dike or separation dike, sloping toward the collection point. Valves should be installed on the drainage pipes leading from the collection points for control, so that the wastewater can be directed to the appropriate wastewater treatment systems depending on its nature. This prevents sewage from leaking and contaminating the surrounding environment, while also avoiding the accumulation of flammable liquids in the drainage system, which could lead to secondary accidents.
VI. Pump layout: Pumps used for transporting all incoming and outgoing materials should not be located within fire dikes or separation dikes.
VII. Buffer tanks and intermediate storage tanks: The buffer tanks and intermediate storage tanks required for production operations should not be used for storing large quantities of liquids of categories A, B, and C. Buffer tanks and intermediate storage tanks primarily serve to store materials temporarily and stabilize the production process; the principle of maintaining low inventory levels and rapid turnover should be followed to ensure the safety and stability of the production process.
VIII. Static Grounding and Lightning Protection Facilities In accordance with the requirements of explosion-proof regulations, the tank area shall be equipped with static grounding and lightning protection facilities.
IX. Explosion-proof safety distance: The explosion-proof safety distance between liquid storage tanks and gas storage tanks of categories A, B, and C, as well as electrical equipment, shall strictly comply with the relevant provisions in the \"Code for Design of Electrical Installations in Explosive Atmospheres\" (GB 50058—2014).