Certification |
Leak
rate of 0.1 gph with PD = 100% and PFA = 0%.
Leak rate of 0.005 gph with PD = 97% and PFA = 2.9%.
The US EPA has not set a minimum detectable leak rate for aboveground
storage tank systems at the time of this evaluation. |
Leak Threshold |
A tank
system should not be declared tight when tracer chemical greater than the
background level is detected outside of the tank system. |
Applicability |
Gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel, fuel oil #4, waste oil, crude oil.
|
Tank Capacity |
Not
limited by capacity. |
Waiting Time |
Ranges
from 7 to 30 days after tracer is added to tank without support of on-site
leak simulation.
The waiting period may be adjusted below this range when supported by
on-site leak simulations performed as described below. |
Leak Simulations |
The
release of surrogate tracer into the soil beneath the tank to evaluate the
migration of a tracer and the sensitivity of the test under on-site
sub-surface conditions. Sub-surface conditions throughout the test area must
be at least as favorable as those at the leak simulations location in order
to use the results. This requirement may be satisfied by sampling the soil
beneath the tank, and/or making flow/vacuum measurements from the sampling
probes. |
Tracer Dosage |
Dosage
of tracer is based on tank size, product volume in tank, and frequency and
volume of tank refills according to manufacturer's recommendations. |
Permeability |
Soil
permeability must readily allow tracer movement (greater than 1 Darcy).
The permeability of the soil beneath the tank must be verified by the
detection of a leak simulation tracer in a sample collected at least 13 feet
from the release location. |
Probe |
Typical probe radius during evaluation was 10 to 12 feet.
All tank surfaces must be within the zone of influence of a sampling probe.
Probes must be installed per manufacturer's guidelines.
Probe radius below an AST can be increased beyond the 10 foot limit when
supported by a leak simulation as described above.
|
Groundwater |
Depth
to groundwater must be at least 2 inches below bottom of tank.
Groundwater less than 2 inches below bottom of tank may limit effectiveness
of test method. |
Comments |
Tester
may determine that pre or post testing is needed to establish the background
level of tracer in the soil.
The presence of a layer of water saturated soil, or frozen soil, may inhibit
the effectiveness of the method by impeding the transport of the tracer
labeled product into the unsaturated zone.
The system should be installed and operated in accordance with Praxair
Services, Inc.’s “AST Testing Procedures” document. |