Issue Date: November 14, 1997
Revision Date: December 6, 2002

ProTank, Inc.

Fast Test 
(Underfill Test)

NON-VOLUMETRIC TANK TIGHTNESS TEST METHOD (VACUUM)

Certification Leak rate of 0.1 gph with PD = 100% and PFA = 0%.
Leak Threshold A tank system should not be declared tight when the acoustic signal detected is different from the baseline. Baseline is the acoustic signal before tank is evacuated.
Applicability Gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel, fuel oil #4, waste oil. 
Tank Capacity Maximum product volume of 30,000 gallons. 
Tank product level must be between 7 and 86 inches.
Waiting Time None between delivery and testing
Test Period A few minutes to determine background noise and a leak. 
Depends on background noise at the site and on size of leak.
There must be no dispensing or delivery during test.
Test Pressure Vacuum of 0.5 psi beyond the vacuum required to overcome the tank bottom pressure must be maintained in ullage by a vacuum blower. 
Net vacuum applied = 0.5 psi + [inches of product level x the specific gravity of product x 0.036].
Temperature Acoustic signal is independent of product temperature.
Groundwater Depth to groundwater in tank excavation backfill must be determined. 
If groundwater is above the tank bottom, this test system may not be used.
Comments Not evaluated using manifolded tank systems. 
Evaluated using diesel. Tests only portion of tank containing product. 
Ullage portion of tank must be tested with an ullage test method. 
Microphone was 25 feet away from the leak source during evaluation. 
If background noise is too high, test is inconclusive. 
Noise signals are tape recorded (not digitally recorded). 
Vacuum test method may not be effective in some tank excavation backfill (such as clay) because it may plug holes in tank. 
If soil is saturated with product, air or water ingress may not be declared by vacuum test. A well point in tank excavation backfill may help identify presence of this condition.

 

ProTank, Inc.

Evaluator:  Ken Wilcox Associates

Manufacturer’s Previously Listed Contact Information is No Longer Valid.

Tel:  (816) 443-2494

 

Date of Evaluation:  06/25/96

 

 | Home | Vendors: A - F | Vendors: G - M | Vendors: N - S | Vendors: T - Z | Method Index | Glossary |

Appearance on this list is not to be construed as an endorsement by any regulatory agency nor is it any guarantee of the performance of the method or equipment.
Equipment should be installed and operated in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.  For full details, please refer to our expanded "DISCLAIMER" page.