Testing Procedures

Insulation

Lightweight concrete aggregate combined with Portland cement air entraining agent and water produces the ultra lightweight insulating properties capable of withstanding the temperatures produced in a fire incident.

The mix to a specified density is pumped in to the 150mm interstitial cavity which when cured attains the 4 hour SwRi fire rating and multi-hazard approval

the 110% minimum bund capacity is not compromised due to its unique multi-cellular structure

The average bund/secondary containment capacity is in fact in excess of 135% across the capacity range

Supervault (cut away view)

4-HOUR , 2000-DEGREE FIRE TEST

Internal temperature rise was only 165 degrees.

Immediately after the Fire Test the hot tank is exposed to a Hose Stream Test

The same tank is shot with 5 rounds of 150 grain M-2 ball ammunition (2700 feet/sec.) The bullets penetrate the outer containment tank and stop in the insulation.

The same tank is hit with a 12,000 lb.

battering ram traveling at 10 miles per hour.

Finally the tank is exposed to another two hour fire test

with the same pass/fail criteria of the first

FIRE TEST 4 Hours at 2000°F

RESULT: the supervault withstands high intensity fire exposure without damage to tank

AVERAGE TEMP RISE 165 °F AFTER 4hours

HOSE TEST 5mins, 45psi stream through 1-1/8”nozzle

RESULT: the supervault withstands hose

stream impingement without damage to tank

BULLET RESISTANCE: 5 rounds, 150-grain M-2 ammunition, 0.30 caliber

2700 feet/sec

RESULT: the supervault withstands 5 rounds

without damage to primary tank

IMPACT RESISTANCE: 12,000 pounds over 1 sq/ft travelling @ 10mph

RESULT: no collapse or penetration of tank

LEAKAGE TEST: after completing all of the tests a leak test was performed by pressurising the tank to 5psi.

RESULT: supervault was leaktight. This proves the supervault can withstand multiple hazards

ADDITIONAL FIRE TEST: 2nd 2 Hour fire test @ 2000°F

RESULT: No damage to tank

At the Nummi Toyota Plant in Fremont California in December of 1996, a transport tanker truck ignited and exploded. The truck was in the process of pumping gasoline into one of three 6,000 gallon aboveground storage tanks. The fire burned for almost 4 hours, consuming 9,000 gallons of fuel from the tanker truck. Fire officials reported that the gasoline inside the SuperVaults was thermally protected from the intense fire and never reached an unsafe temperature. No injuries resulted in what could have been a disaster. The SuperVaults suffered only cosmetic damage to the exterior.

Real-life incident