INFORMATION ABOUT TANK CONTAINERS

The Body: The tank body is usually built from stainless steel, carbon steel or aluminium and has one or more loading openings at the top (manholes), and usually one central discharge opening at the bottom. Safety valves avoid excessive pressure build up inside the tank shell, whilst triple closures (a combination of a foot valve, a product valve and a drip cap) avoid

undesirable leakages of the loadedproduct during transit. Tank containers are usually discharged using ordinary air pressure (average pressure of 2 bar) to push out the loaded product. Products with high flashpoints are discharged using a pump, whilst vapour return lines are used to avoid any air contamination during the loading and discharge process. Many tanks are insulated by a variety of materials to maintain the temperature of the carried product.
The Frame: The function of the frame is to support and protect the tank as well as to facilitate the stowage, securement and handling by standard ISO container recommendations. The standard dimensions are 6,058mm x 2,438mm x 2591mm.
The Manlid: The manlids cover the loading manholes on top of the tank container. Each manlid has 6 tightening clamps with swingbolts. The insulated manlid covers avoid loss of temperature. They also offer space to carry sample bottles, and keep the loading area clean and well protected. Anti slip zones inside the manlid covers increase the operational safety.
The Top Outlet: The top outlet is situated at the rear of the tank and consists of a syphon pipe, a 3 inch plate valve or butterfly valve, a 3 inch BS table ¡®D¡¯ flange and a blanking plate. Top outlet loading/discharge is not commonly used, so to avoid unnecessary aintenance and cleaning, the syphon pipe and valve may be supplied on IMO 1 tanks only when specifically requested.
The bottom discharge valve: The bottom valves are being used to discharge the tank container. The construction of the inner footvalve prevents the tank container from leaking during a severe incident where all external valve segments would have been ripped off. The triple closure system ensures maximum safety during transport and discharge of the tank.
The safety relief valve: The pressure safety valve is a two directional valve that releases the pressure inside the tank container when this exceeds the certified working pressure. It opens in the other direction to let in atmosphere air and pressure in case the tank container undergoes vacuum sucking beyond its certified maximum.
The airline valve: The valve is used for pressuring the tank during discharge (pushes out the loaded product) or testing, and for vapour recovery. It terminates in a 1 1/2¡± BSP male threaded airline connection and screw cap.

Tank container classifications

Class 1 : Explosives
Division 1.1: Substances and articles which have a mass explosion hazard
Division 1.2: Substances and articles which have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard
Division 1.3: Substances and articles which have a fire hazard and either minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both, but not a mass explosion hazard
Division 1.4: Substances and articles which present no significant hazard
Division 1.5: Very insensitive articles which do not have a mass explosion hazard
Class 2: Gases
Division 2.1: Flammable gasses
Division 2.2: Non-flammable, non-toxic gases
Division 2.3: Toxic gases
Class3: Flammable Liquids
Class 4: Flammable Solids; substance liable to spontaneous combusting; substances which, on contact with water, emit flammable gas
Division 4.1: Flammable solids, self-reactive substances and solid desensitised explosives
Division 4.2: Substances liable to spontaneous combustion
Division 4.3: Substances which in contact with water emit flammable gas
Class 5: Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides
Division 5.1: Oxidizing Substances
Division 5.2: Organic Peroxides
Class 6: Toxic and Infectious Substances
Division 6.1: Toxic Substances
Division 6.2: Infectious Substances
Class 7: Radioactive Material
Class 8: Corrosive Substances
Class 9: Miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles
Abbreviations & symbols ( For Tank Containers )
AAR: Association of American Railroads.
ADR: European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road.
ASME: American Society of Mechanical Engineers ( Design Code )
ATP: Agreement on the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs
CCC: Customs Convention on Containers, sometimes to referred to as TIR.
CCS: Lloyd’s Register Container Certification Scheme (this document)
CFR: Code of Federal Regulations ( USA )
CFR49: Regulations for the transportation of Intermodal Portable Tanks issued by United States of America, Department of Transportation.
CSC: Convention for Safe Containers.
DOT: Department of Transportation ( USA )
DNV: Norwegian Government Requirement for Offshore Containers
IMDG: International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code.
IMO: International Maritime Organizations
ISO: International Organization for Standardisation.
LR: Lloyd’s Register, LR is recognized by the National Authorities for design appraisal, certification and registration of containers.
OCTI: Central Office for International Railroad Transport.
RID: International Agreement Concerning the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail.
TC: Transportation Canada ( previously known as CTC )
TIR: Transport of International Route
UN: United Nations.
UIC: International Union of Railways.
US DOT: United States Department of Transportation.
UK DOT: United Kingdom Department of Transportation.