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• Fireguard
• Standard ASTs

FiREGUaRD™

The new generation of fire-rated aboveground storage tank

Dramatic developments in tank design during the past decade has seen the emergence of a fire-rated (insulated) aboveground storage tank (AST) for the storage and dispensing of petrol (class 1) and other products with a flash point below 38° Celsius - the Fireguard™ AST.

Fireguard™'s innovative technology is patented by the Steel Tank Institute of America (STI) and is only available to STI members. Forgeweld, a proud member of STI, is the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of Fireguard™ in the Southern Hemisphere.

Superior Technology

Fireguard™ technology far outstrips that of concrete-encased ASTs. Fireguard™'s exterior steel wall provides superior weatherability and low-cost maintenance. Unlike concrete, cracking and spalling will never be a problem. Fireguard™'s unique thermal insulating material is super lightweight - 75% lighter than concrete, it reduces shipping, installation and relocation costs. Unlike conventional concrete-encased ASTs, which require elaborate and expensive on-site testing procedures, Fireguard™'s secondary containment can be tightness tested on-site using economical testing procedures. Fireguard™ tanks accommodate every site requirements, offering significantly more size options than most competitive brands, as well as cylindrical or rectangular design, compartmentalised configurations, concrete pad designs for sites in Seismic Zone 4 and tank supports manufactured in accordance with STI's UL Listings. Forgeweld Fireguard™ ASTs are completely compatible with the storage of all blends of oxygenated fuels, including methanol.

Environmental Security

Fireguard™ ASTs consist of a steel primary containment tank contained within a steel secondary tank. An unique, lightweight monolithic insulation material, consisting of perlite, cement, water and STI Ingredient B, is placed into the interstice between the primary (inner) and secondary (outer) tanks. This insulation material minimises heat transfer from the outer tank to the inner tank, thereby reducing the risk of an environmental disaster or loss of human life in the event of a pool fire. The porous construction of the insulating material allows for the effective and economical testing and monitoring of the interstice for leakage from the primary tank.

Both the primary and secondary tanks are equipped with emergency vents, an important safety feature. During a fire, the temperature of the product stored within a tank will rise, resulting in vaporisation. Vaporisation, in turn, causes the pressure within the tank to rise, potentially causing that tank to explode. In the unlikely event of a breach between the primary and secondary tanks, pressure relief can be provided to the interstice through these emergency vents, significantly lowering the potential for an explosion to occur.

International Accreditation

Fireguard™ has been fully tested by the United States standards authority Underwriters Laboratory in accordance with UL 2085 and has two listings:

• Insulated Secondary Containment Aboveground Storage Tank for Flammable Liquids - Fire-resistant Type

• Insulated Secondary Containment Aboveground Storage Tank for Flammable Liquids - Protected Type

The UL 2085 label provides proof that the Fireguard™ AST has been evaluated for emergency venting capabilities, a four-hour fire test and an interstitial communication test. Underwriters Laboratory regularly carries out audits of our facilities to ensure our quality control and workmanship. In addition, STI has an international quality control programme which conducts random and unannounced inspections of our facilities and products to ensure that our Fireguard™ ASTs are up to standard.

South African National Standard (SANS) 10131:2004 allows the use and installation of fire-rated insulated tanks such as Forgeweld Fireguard™ Tanks in South Africa.

Forgeweld Fireguard™ ASTs are fitted with top manholes and fittings and bosses to accommodate filling, dipping and suction outlets. Units can be provided with an access ladder or platform and can be incorporated into a container assembly. The primary and secondary tanks of Forgeweld Fireguard™ ASTs are manufactured from South African carbon steel plate complying with South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) Grade 300WA (43A of the applicable British Code). The external surface of Forgeweld Fireguard™ ASTs is usually white epoxy but this can be modified according to specific customer orders.

Incomparable Safety

Petroleum fuel is one of Earth's most precious resources. Petrol and other chemical products are the sorts of targets which may come under threat of terrorist attack in our post-911world. Fireguard™ Tank technology has proven safety features:

• FOUR HOUR FIRE RATING - Fireguard™'s  primary tank has a tested ability to maintain an internal temperature below a specified limit for four hours, reducing the risk of an explosion during a fire.

• BALLISTICS PROTECTION - Fireguard™'s tank system has a tested ability to prevent penetration of bullets into the primary tank, thereby rendering it ballistics resistant

• IMPACT PROTECTION - Fireguard™'s tank system has a tested ability to prevent leakage of the primary tank if impacted by a vehicle, lessening the risk of a spillage.

• HOSE STREAM RESISTANT - Fireguard™'s tank system has a tested ability to prevent leakage of the primary tank or damage to the insulation material when impacted with a stream of water (a fire hose) for two and a half minutes, making the storage of flammable liquids safer.

Fireguard™ your Fuel

We encourage all our customers to read the applicable codes - the protection of property, people and environment is everyone's responsibility. Copies are available from Standards South Africa or see www.stansa.co.za.