The long hot days of summer are when process plants are planning for their fall shutdowns. It doesn’t matter whether the equipment is product-critical or safety critical, some degree of pre-planning is crucial to an efficient shutdown and successful start up.

Tanks and their accessories aren’t always first on the list when you’re planning your shutdown but it’s important to know what replacements or upgrades need to be undertaken. Lead time alone can be a killer: Did you know some critical equipment can have a lead time as long as 20 weeks? Yikes! That’s a surprise you don’t want to find out during your fall shutdown.

Shutdowns are an excellent time to ensure your facility is up to the latest safety and environmental standards. For example, did you know the latest (7th) edition of the API 2000 code has more stringent vacuum in-breathing standards than previous editions? This could result in older vents not being properly sized and can also affect BGR’s (Blanket Gas Regulator) if they were sized to offset vacuum calculations. Knowing this ahead of time allows you to plan for any necessary equipment modification.

A Cross T.O.P. (Tank Optimization Program) audit, conducted by one of our technical experts, can help ensure you’re correctly planning to meet the latest codes.  We look at all aspects of your tank assembly, providing a comprehensive deep dive into the safety, maintenance, and operation of all your tanks. When the review is complete, you’ll get a consolidated, hard copy report with a summary, recommendations and your tank data. All of the information about your facility’s tanks will be at your fingertips.

Learn more about our tank optimization program and how Cross can help your operation with an upcoming shutdown.