Standing tall: Does your storage tank measure up to these load factors?
Have you considered how wind, seismic activity, and roof weight affect your bulk storage tank or silo? Any one of these can lead to the structure's premature failure, whether the tank is bolted, factory-welded, or field-welded. By carefully considering these and other commonly overlooked load factors at the design stage, you can ensure the tank stands up to your expectations. This article describes the load factors you need to think about when specifying your tank and then explains how to work with the tank manufacturer to design the tank.
Bolted, factory-welded, and field-welded bulk storage tanks or silos are typically expected to last 20 to 30 years. When a tank fails sooner than this, it can be because any of several load factors were overlooked during specification or manufacturing.