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Tank Solutions – FuelTruchek® hydrostatic leak monitoring
How the leak monitoring on our double-wall fibreglass underground tanks works, what it gives the site owner, and how it compares with the vacuum monitoring on Glasteel® II.
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Have drawings or a full spec? Use the detailed quote form, or call NSW +61 2 4964 8270 or WA +61 8 9434 1707.
How Truchek® works
A double-wall tank has a primary wall that holds the fuel and a secondary wall around it. With Truchek®, the interstitial space between those walls is filled at the factory with a calcium chloride brine, which puts a small hydrostatic pressure on both walls.
A fibreglass reservoir is mounted on top of the tank and is open to the interstitial space. It holds the brine to a set level. An electronic probe in the reservoir sounds an audible and visual alarm on the control panel if the level falls or rises 75mm from that set level. Between the two alarm points there is room for the brine to move as the tank warms and cools with incoming fuel, so normal temperature changes don’t trip it.
If either wall leaks, brine drains out of the reservoir. A leak in the inner wall lets brine into the tank, where water-finding paste shows it at the tank bottom. A leak in the outer wall lets brine out into the backfill, and no water shows in the tank. Either way the outer wall keeps fuel away from groundwater while the leak is found.
A 100mm riser pipe runs from the reservoir up to a street box at ground level, so the owner can also dip the brine level by hand. That gives a manual tank tightness check alongside the electronic monitoring.
Why choose hydrostatic monitoring
Secondary containment holds a leak. Monitoring tells you it happened. Truchek® does the second job on our fibreglass tanks.
Continuous leak detection
The probe watches the brine level 24/7 and covers both walls, in wet or dry ground.
A check you can see
A riser from the reservoir to a street box lets you dip the brine level by hand, a manual tank tightness check alongside the electronic alarm.
Meets EPA requirements
Truchek® hydrostatic monitoring meets EPA leak-detection requirements. Your state EPA sets the rules for each site.
Paired with 360° containment
On double-wall FRP the outer wall completely surrounds the primary wall, protecting groundwater if the primary wall ever leaks.
No corrosion to manage
Fibreglass doesn’t rust, inside or out, so there is no cathodic protection to maintain. See fibreglass (FRP) tanks.
Multi-compartment tanks
Double-wall FRP tanks come with 1 to 4 separate compartments, with integral double internal walls between them.
Truchek® or Glasteel® II vacuum monitoring
Both monitor the interstitial space of a double-wall underground tank. The method follows the tank you choose.
| Feature | Truchek® hydrostatic | Glasteel® II vacuum gauge |
|---|---|---|
| Tank | Double-wall FRP, fibreglass inside and out | Glasteel® II, welded steel inside an FRP outer wall |
| Interstitial space | Filled with brine at the factory | Put under vacuum at the factory |
| What you check | Brine reservoir on top of the tank, with an alarm panel and a riser for dipstick checks | Factory-fitted vacuum gauge |
| How it detects a leak | The brine level falls or rises 75mm and the probe raises an audible and visual alarm | A break in the inner or outer wall causes a loss of vacuum, which shows on the gauge |
| Capacity | 2,000–150,000L | See the Glasteel® II page |
When Glasteel® II suits better
Choose Glasteel® II when you want a welded steel tank to carry the structural load, for example high-head filling where deep burial is required, or pumping in and out in generator applications. See how Glasteel® II works.
When monitoring isn’t needed
Where secondary containment isn’t needed, such as water or some AdBlue installs, a single-wall FRP tank is lighter and quicker to install. It has no interstitial space to monitor.
System details
| Monitoring liquid | Calcium chloride brine, up to 30%, which stops it freezing. Filled at the factory on tanks up to 80,000L and on site for larger tanks. |
|---|---|
| Reservoir | Fibreglass, mounted on top of the tank. 53L on 2,000–70,000L tanks and 151L on 80,000–110,000L tanks. |
| Alarm points | The brine level falls or rises 75mm from the level set at filling. |
| Control panel | Shows system normal, system fault and leak alarm, with a test switch. Alarms are audible and visual, and the panel shows which tank is in alarm when it monitors more than one. |
| Probe | Intrinsically safe, and works up to 150m from the control panel. A second probe can be fitted in the pump manway riser to detect liquid there. |
| Manual check | A 100mm riser pipe from the reservoir to a street box, for dipping the brine level. |
From our hydrostatic monitoring guide specification and Truchek® data sheet.
Standards and EPA rules
| EPA | Truchek® hydrostatic monitoring meets EPA leak-detection requirements. Your state EPA sets the rules for each site. |
|---|---|
| AS 4897 | The design, installation and operation of underground petroleum storage systems, including secondary containment. Double-wall FRP tanks get a third-party tank test after installation to AS 4897, using USEPA methods. |
| UL 1316 | Glass-fibre-reinforced plastic underground storage tanks for petroleum products. Our double-wall FRP tanks are manufactured to meet or exceed it. |
| AS 1940 | Underground tank venting must comply with Section 5.4. See our AS 1940 guide. |
General information only, not legal advice. Your state EPA and site engineer set what applies to your site.
Tanks with interstitial monitoring
Each product page has sizes, construction details, installation guides and a quote form.
Double-wall fibreglass fuel tanks
Double-wall FRP tank with 360-degree secondary containment.
Service station fuel tanks
Double-wall FRP underground fuel tanks for new service stations, upgrades and replacements, with full 360-degree secondary containment.
Glasteel® II underground fuel tanks
A welded mild steel tank with an FRP outer layer that provides secondary containment, leak protection and corrosion resistance.
Calculators and quizzes on leaks
Free to use, with a PDF report and a quote request filled in from your answers. All calculators and quizzes
Common questions
Can’t see yours? Call NSW +61 2 4964 8270 or WA +61 8 9434 1707.