Liquid Fert tank bunding

[Brisel]

i'm not keen on that bit - i the tap / pipe failed it would result in fert outside the bund surely ?

There are 3 taps inside the bund and a sealing cap on the outlet. The odds of all of them failing accidentally are pretty remote. Even if deliberate, the tank outlets are padlocked.

Your setup could be vandalised if the drain is unscrewed though it would take a while to empty.

You’ve got to be practical and try to cover most eventualities if not all.

 

[Renaultman]

That’s getting expensive. How about a bunded sprayer filling point with the fert tanks next to it? @Martin87 has this setup.

That is also a thought. I am 3 miles outside of a grant area where I could get a full spray shed and filling area FOC

 

[OWP]

I have a submersible pump I put in the sump occasionally to clean it out. I thought about putting a drain valve in but thought if a malicious spill occurred it would also be broken, negating the wall in the first place.

Yes, priming a centrifugal pump is a pain when the tanks run low but with planning and a rinse tank filled with water or fert to help prime the pump it’s doable.
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Just been trawling through all the threads on bunding fertiliser tanks and like the look of your set-up @Brisel . How do you get on with the 3" pipework set-up you've got? Do you have any trouble with the number of joins in the system? And I guess the easy question, would you do it the same way if doing it again? I was thinking whether to use a 3" hosetail T rather than joins but you might suggest otherwise.

Should say I'm putting in two 30m3 tanks next to each other, 1 asap and another later in the year. Wanting to put in 3" pipework to reduce lorry delivery time and reduce down to 2" from the valve on the bund wall for the short length to the sprayer.

TIA.

 

[Brisel]

We chose couplings because it is easier to hook up. Screw fittings would seal better but tightening it up whilst keeping it square is tricky. It’s not leaky and parts can be replaced quickly. The sprayer has 3” plumbing so it made sense to stay at that size all the way upstream. The tanker drivers seem happy enough too though most of them use 2” plumbing. I had heard of bigger pumps blowing the internal tank elbows off, so 3” seemed sensible.

 

[Adeptandy]

What does the bund capacity have to be ? Is it like fuel @110% as it looks like the bunds pictured wouldn't hold the capacity of the tanks, but probably an optical illusion

 

[Brisel]

110% of the largest tank. Don’t forget the displacement of the tank itself when designing it.

 

[Adeptandy]

Interesting, would have thought it would be 110% of total stored in this day n age of over specifying everything

 

[fieldfarmer]

110% of the largest tank. Don’t forget the displacement of the tank itself when designing it.

Good thinking, just dug the site yesterday for my tank, area of bung big enough for 2 tanks but volume only big enough for one, will have to add the displacement of the second furture tank. Cheers.

 

[OWP]

Thanks @Brisel that makes sense, also forgot to ask - when you get a delivery does the tanker pump through your pipework or connect direct to the tank?

 

[Brisel]

Thanks @Brisel that makes sense, also forgot to ask - when you get a delivery does the tanker pump through your pipework or connect direct to the tank?

The tanker drivers much prefer to connect to the port on the bund wall. They still have to go into the bund to operate the tank valves though.

 

[OWP]

 

[BackwardsFarmin]

We fill these tanks for a well known fertiliser company.
Majority being 30m3 plastic single skin.
It's not a legal requirement to bund, however will likely become one.
Any new tanks now are risk assessed with location etc and environmental factors, some are bunded, some are not.
Most likely place of leak would be the valve, if you're not going to bund it would be wise to fit two separate valves inline, for if one fails.
Also ensure there's a good fitting end cap.
Some valves are lockable but the locks aren't that robust, so many have fabricated stainless steel 'guards' that slip over and can be padlocked.
Steel tanks I would avoid, they won't last forever and you'll only have problems with your sprayer filters choking with rust.
Pipe sizes with 2" i can move around 500-600lpm and with 3" around 100lpm. This changes reduces with the greater number of bends/elbows.

 

[ewald]

I was told yesterday that non-bunded tanks will be a critical failure point in a farm assurance inspection from next year.
Can anyone confirm this?
(It is probably the kick I need to get it done - been meaning to for long enough)

 

[Brisel]

What do the current RT standards say? Last year it was only recommended.

This is page 11 of the current RT standards book available here.

The much debated proposals are only vague here

Liquid fertiliser must be "secure" which from what I've seen elsewhere in the search for the answer to your question is ok if tanks are purpose built and the outlets are lockable as above. Whether those standards are going to be raised is another matter. I'd certainly bund any new tank sites.

 

[Renaultman]

What do the current RT standards say? Last year it was only recommended.

View attachment 938915
This is page 11 of the current RT standards book available here.

The much debated proposals are only vague here

Liquid fertiliser must be "secure" which from what I've seen elsewhere in the search for the answer to your question is ok if tanks are purpose built and the outlets are lockable as above. Whether those standards are going to be raised is another matter. I'd certainly bund any new tank sites.

On my video walk around the other day she wanted to see the lock on the fert tank.

 

[RAF]

I thought about using concrete Lego blocks sealed when putting in place . Although omex said that wasn’t good enough, I would think they be stronger than breeze blocks