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One Rincon Hill, San Francisco Firewater Tank Dual Purpose Design

There is a unique feature of the building at One Rincon Hill in the city of San Francisco, which is its Bay Area firewater tank, situated atop the high-rise building. Although it’s not the largest building in that city, One Rincon is definitely the tallest building outside the main business district, and it can easily be seen against the skyline, with its rounded cylindrical top. This building stands nearly 700 feet above San Francisco Bay, and it contains a feature that makes this high-rise tower very unique, the water tank which holds 50,000 gallons. Read more »

Removing an old lining on stainless steel require specialty abrasives due to the hardness of stainless steel. It is very critical to measure the surface profile and we do a battery of tests using ASTM and NACE standards to test the profile of the blasted surface before a new tank lining or tank coating is applied.

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Steel Tank Lining Repairs by PICON in Los Gatos, CA

A customer in Los Gatos, CA required tank lining repairs fora Aqua Ammonia tank which was used to store max 19% aqueous ammonia. Chemical storage tank and manway cover before repairs are pictured below.

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California Tank Refurbish Including Tank Repairs and Tank Lining

70,000 gal each x 3 tanks​
Diameter = 14 feet, Length ~ 70 ft ​
Sodium Hypochlorite​
San Francisco Bay Area, CA​ Read more »

A reliable, durable and long-lasting tank coating relies upon expert prep work. Whether your liquid storage tank linings are installed in the field after purchase, or needs a new lining prior to re-purposing the tank, careful preparation is key to protect your equipment investment. The old coating (and/or any initial corrosion) must be removed thoroughly and completely to Near White Cleanliness or White Metal Blast level, to provide a proper surface for the application of new tank linings. With proper interior and exterior tank coatings, plus timely water tank repair and maintenance from your experienced coatings contractor in the Bay Area, your storage tanks (and corrosion resistant tank linings) will provide many years of reliable service for your business. Read more »

Fiber-reinforced composites for tank linings are gaining widespread popularity these days, as more and more people discover their inherent strength, resistance to corrosion, and tolerance of high temperatures. New composites are being developed which increase the already considerable beneficial properties offered by fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP), and similar composites. As a result, these materials are beginning to be used in a number of applications which were once dominated by metals and alloys, especially since the fiber-reinforced tank repair products tend to be considerably less expensive than metals are.

Benefits of FRP Tank Lining Repairs

There is a high demand globally for products which are extremely tough and able to withstand severe weather, as well as providing a great deal of strength. The same applications frequently call for materials which are highly resistant to corrosion, because normal weathering can cause corrosion, and because corrosive materials are being stored, for instance various types of chemicals tanks.

There are also many cases where products are called for which have a tremendous tolerance for high temperatures, because of conditions which they are exposed to. Fiber-reinforced products manage to provide all these characteristics at a very high level, and have already been shown to perform well in applications, such as concrete strengthening and tank liner repairs, where they’ve been used. Perhaps best of all, these highly desirable characteristics can be obtained in products which are far less expensive than the metal-based products which have been most often used, up to this point.

FRP Repairs to infrastructure, linings, and reinforcement

With considerable research and development leading to the creation of some ultra-strong, highly resistant composites such as composite/concrete, a number of bridges have been constructed in the states of Maine, Illinois, and New Jersey which have taken advantage of these new materials. Opportunities have arisen for the fabrication of pre-manufactured stay-in-place (SIP) forms which might formerly have been satisfied by concrete strengthening solutions. The rehabilitation of steel culverts in some areas has been accomplished by the usage of composite liners, which replace culverts degraded by rust, corrosion, and a general weakening of structures.

Another very strong market for fiber-reinforced materials is in the area of ducts, piping, and tanks which contain highly corrosive chemicals and other substances. Although this market has been dominated by metal-based products in the past, fiber-reinforced products are beginning to make inroads into the market, as its effectiveness and relatively cheaper cost becomes more widely recognized. This can be particularly useful in specific applications such as bleach transport, which is currently done largely via railway cars. A very viable alternative is emerging in which high-concentration bleach is shipped via FRP-lined cargo trucks which are safer for the environment, and cause less disruption in cities they pass through.

Given the fact that FRP-based products have already proven to provide superior performance, even under some very stressful conditions, and that they are cheaper to use than metal-based products, it seems apparent that the future for FRP-based products is rosy indeed. Further research and development will undoubtedly discover even more capable products, and as these are put to use, a powerful new alternative to metal-based products will gain greater acceptance.

Concrete is one of the most versatile building materials in existence, and it is one of the most widely used of all construction materials, especially in applications such as concrete water tanks. However, the one drawback to using concrete might be that it is subject to degradation and cracking, and there are many forces which can contribute to that cracking. Read more »

Many people don’t think about their water tank repairs schedule until something goes wrong. However, there are steps you can take to head off inconvenient, costly water tank malfunctions. Read more »

FRP Repairs and Fabrication Make Residential Power More Reliable

Utility poles have not changed a whole lot over the years in the United States. They are still primarily made from wood, which makes them sustainable and easy to manufacture. They aren’t perfect, however. As reliable as a wooden utility pole can be, it is still made from a substance that breaks down over time and is vulnerable to the elements. Standard electrical poles will sustain damage when they reach the end of their 30-year lifespan and need to be replaced. Maintaining and replacing utility poles is a significant job.

While wooden utility poles are still the norm throughout the United States, there are other options that have proven to be much more useful and reliable, chief among them is fiberglass-reinforced plastic, or FRP. Using fiberglass repairs like FRP wraps and even utility poles fabricated with fiber reinforced plastic can improve reliability and reduce repair frequency and cost.

What is FRP?

Fiberglass-reinforced plastic is a composite material made from a polymer that is reinforced with fibers, think carbon fiber. FRP was first used in utility poles in Maui in the 1960s, but it didn’t become widely used until relatively recently when modern manufacturing technology enabled lower cost FRP utility pole construction and improved techniques for FRP repairs in the field.

What are the Advantages of FRP Over Wooden Utility Poles

The biggest advantage that FRP has over wood is its durability and longevity. While wooden utility poles generally have a lifespan of 30 years, FRP poles and FRP wraps can last as long as 80 years before they need to be replaced. Wooden utility poles are also vulnerable to rot as well as birds and insects that bore into them, something that cannot be said for an FRP pole. FRP is also becoming much cheaper to manufacture, and the poles themselves can be installed quickly and easily. FRP may not have the sustainability of wood, but it really is the next best thing. With time, the FRP manufacturing process will become easy enough that FRP utility poles could become more convenient and cost effective than wood.

If the process of replacing a wooden utility pole with an FRP pole seems like too much unnecessary work, you might be happy to learn that fiberglass repairs using FRP wraps can be used to repair or protect wooden utility poles and provide similar benefits of an FRP pole by protecting the wood pole with a coating of fiber reinforced plastic, particularly around compromised areas of the poles. FRP wraps are easier to manufacture than an entire pole, and they can be used to extend the life of an existing wooden pole by installing an FRP wrap in the field as needed or as a preventative measure.

FRP Repairs and FRP Wraps May Give Way to Full FRP Utility Poles

Even though wooden utility poles still vastly outnumber FRP poles, FRP might still represent the future of our country’s energy grid. As FRP becomes easier and more cost-effective to manufacture, we will almost certainly begin seeing more of it in our utility poles in the future. Picon FRP is a local FRP expert serving California and Nevada, if your aging infrastructure needs inspection, repairs, or replacement we can help provide solutions for you including FRP wraps, industrial coatings, tank linings, trailer linings, and much more. Contact us online or by phone at 510-232-0065

Insulated Storage Tank Linings Need Regular Inspection and Maintenance

API 653 standards for insulated tank repairs and inspections have been in place since the 1990s after storage tank failures may have contributed to environmental damage. These standards have made many storage tanks and tank linings safer and more efficient, but keeping up with API 653 standards can make repairs and inspections much more expensive. There is obviously a good reason for these standards, and ignoring them to save time and money is far more disastrous. If you have a facility that relies on insulated storage tanks, here are some of the best practices if you want to keep them in good condition and up to the proper standards. Read more »