|
Ag Chem - Frequently
Asked Questions
- How old is my mini bulk tank?
- How many years will my mini bulks last?
- Are there indicators when a mini bulk is aging
and should be taken out of service?
- What do I need to do to re-certify my mini bulk
to be compliance with current U.S. Department of Transportation
requirements?
- Do I need to re-certify my mini bulk even if I
am not using it to transport hazardous materials regulated by the U.S.
Department of Transportation?
- How can I properly dispose of a mini bulk that I
no longer can use?
- How can I repair a mini bulk that has developed a
leak?
- How high can I stack mini bulks when they are full?
- How can I determine if my HM181 approved mini bulk
is suitable to use with a specific chemical that I have stored in
bulk?
1. How old is my mini bulk tank?
Every Snyder mini bulk container has a permanent serial number either
etched or molded into the tank, usually near the top of the tank, often
next the G.E.M. cap. The first two numbers are the year it was molded,
E.I. - 02 x x x x x, means this tank was made in 2002.
top
2. How many years will my mini bulks last?
The useful life of a mini bulk, like any equipment built to be re-used,
depends on the conditions of service. Extreme heat (200 F +), chemical
incompatibility, physical abuse or long term exposure to sunlight (ultra
violent light) are the four worst conditions that will shorten the life of
your mini bulk. Examples of chemical incompatibility would be storing
strong solvent-based chemicals in a mini bulk that has not been
fluorinated. Physical abuse such as pushing a full tank off the back of a
truck to the ground. Generally speaking, if the chemicals are compatible
with the mini bulk and normal care is taken a mini bulk used with
agricultural chemicals should last 5 - 7 years. Snyder Industries has sold
several thousand mini bulk tanks, starting in 1987, some of which are in
still in service today. Make sure you are in compliance with any local or
federal regulations regarding this issue such as the new EPA regulations
associated with FIFRA.
top
3. Are there indicators when a mini bulk is
aging and should be taken out of service?
Plastic indicates it is being to "age" with surface stress
cracks. A stress crack looks like a cross hatch surface cracking pattern
and generally occurs near the top of a tank where it has been exposed to
the most sunlight.
top
4. What do I need to do to re-certify my mini
bulk to be compliance with current U.S. Department of Transportation
requirements?
Only those mini bulks with HM181 markings (DOT approved for the transport
of hazardous materials) need to be re-certified. This process is simple
and falls just two categories - intermediate bulk and non-bulk containers.
Non-bulk is defined as "any container with a capacity of 119 gallons
or less". Intermediate bulk is defined as "any container with a
capacity of more than 120 gallons but not greater than 660 gallons".
A retest pressure test of 3 p.s.i. must be conducted to re-certify your
HM181 marked mini bulk. For non-bulk containers this test must be done
before each refill. For intermediate bulk containers the retest pressure
test must be done every 30 months, beginning 30 months after the date of
manufacture. Specifics for the test and required record keeping can be
found in 49CFR. Paragraphs for non-bulk are:173.28, 173.29 and 178.503.
Intermediate bulk retest specifics can be found in paragraphs: 178.700,
178.702, 178.703, 178.04 and 180.352.
top
5. Do I need to re-certify my mini bulk even if I am not using it to
transport hazardous materials regulated by the
U.S. Department of Transportation?
Yes, if a mini bulk is HM181 marked you must retest and maintain records
as prescribed in 49CFR.
top
6. How can I properly dispose of a mini bulk that
I no longer can use?
The polyethylene used to mold Snyder mini bulks is a good source of energy
and is used by such places as, co-generation facilities or cement kilns.
Tri-Rinse, a St. Louis company, (314-647-8338) can arrange to properly
dispose of any mini bulks you want to destroy of properly. Reuse of the
plastic to make other plastic parts is not practical because of potential
chemical contamination and the cost to reprocess versus the cost of virgin
polyethylene.
top
7. How can I repair a mini bulk that has developed
a leak?
Base pallets or pump protectors that are molded separately and attached to
the mini bulk tank can be replaced by you. If the mini bulk tank has been
damaged, you should not attempt to repair and reuse the tank. Any repair
to polyethylene is weaker than the original construction of the tank.
top
8. How high can I stack mini bulks when they are
full?
All HM181 marked mini bulks have as a part of the marking this
information. The first number after Lincoln, NE is the "stack test
weight", in kilograms, that Snyder Industries successfully tested
multiple number of that mini bulk. The second number, which follows the
stack test weight is the "maximum container gross mass weight",
in kilograms. To convert kilograms to gallons multiply the kilogram number
by 2.2046. Caution: Even though Snyder Industries may have successfully
passed a full container test at a high stack test weight, we recommend not
stacking full tanks any higher than 3 total, (2 full on top of the bottom
container).
top
9. How can I determine if my HM181 approved mini
bulk is suitable to use with a specific chemical that I have stored in
bulk?
Check with the supplier of the agricultural chemical or with Snyder
Industries.
top
|
