A P P E N D I X

petroleum Equipment
Institut Dike Sizing
Calculations

This appendix can be helpful in determining the appropriate size of

a dike containment area for both vertical and horizontal ASTSs.
Usually, AST manufacturers will not offer this service. The following
has been reprinted with permission from the Petroleum Equipment
Institute.

A.1 Volume Calculation. The purpose of the volume calculation is

to determine the adequacy of the diked area enclosing more than one
tank. Where the diked area encloses more than one tank, the volume
the tanks, other than the largest tank, below the top of the dike,
is deducted from the total capacity available to contain a release since
it is unavailable to contain a release.

A.2 Information Available. As a guide to the procedure by which

dike-size calculation is to be made, follow this example. Three tanks

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 APPENIDIXES
339

are to be contained in a dike. One is a

10,000 gallon capacity tank,
nine feet in diameter and 21 feet
long. Two are 6,000 gallon capacity
tanks, eight feet in diameter and 16 feet
long. To allow visual
inspection of all tank surfaces, and to provide space for
other equipment, tanks are to be spaced three feet piping and
apart and three
feet from the toe of the dike. Calculations are
given tor both vertical
and horizontal tanks.

A.3 Required Containment Volume. The minimum containment

volume required is equal to the volume which can be released into
the
diked area from the largest tank. Additional capacity
may be
required for the retention of rainwater or to provide an additional
margin of safety. In this illustration, the additional required capacity
has been established at ten percent.
Formula: Volume of a cylinder V = nrh
where:
TT 3.14
r Radius in feet
h Height in feet
Therefore:
V 3.14 (4.5)* x 21.00 1,335.3 cubic feet
In this case, a manufacturer's tank chart was available which
indicated that the actual capacity is 10,033 gallons. Using a conver
sion factor of 7.48 gallons per cubic foot, the calculated volume is
1,341.3 cubic feet. We have used the more conservative of the rwo
values for our calculations. We also added ten percent to the diked
capacity to accommodate rainwater. We determine that the contain-
ment required (V) is 1,487.4 cubic feet.

V. = 1,341.3 10% =1,475.4 cubic feet

A.4 Vertical Tanks. The shape of the diked area will depend upon
what fits best on the particular site. The rectangular configuration
was selected for our example.
Formula: Rectangular area =A = Lx W
where:
A = Area in square feet inside the tank
L = Length in feet 37'0
W=Width in feet = 15'O
Gross containment area occupied = 37'0 x 150,
or 555.0 square feet
 APTENDIX 333

A.S Unavailable Volume.

The volume
than the tolume of the oceupied by tanks, oth*
release and
largest tank (V), is not available to contain
a must be deducted from the volume of the diked
our exanmple, the two area. lIn
6,000 gallon capacity tanks
diamete. are eight teet n

Formula: Area of the hase of

Theretore:
a
cyinder = A =mr
V.. =
3.14 (4.00) 2 tanks
x
square teet =100.5
The net diked available for containment is 555.0
area
or 454.5 square feet. mnus 100.5,

Calculation of Dike Height.

A.6
The required dike
calculated by dividing the volume height can le
of the largest tank
by the net containment
plus ten pervent
area available, where height of dike wall }
=
V. 1,475.4
A - v . = 355.0-I00.5 = 3.25 feet, or 3'3

Dimensions for containment installation:

Length = 37'0
Width = 15'0
Height = At least 3'3

A.7 Horizontal Tanks. Calculations used todetermnine the capacity

of the diked area and height of dikes, where horizontal tanks are to
be installed, are similar to the calculations for vertical tanks. Again it
IS necessary to determine the capacity of the tanks, other tban the

largest tank, below the height ot the

dike.
The simplest way to do
c o n v e r s i o n chart, is to convert the
this, using the manufacturer's tank
and then to cubic teet, using a
height from inches to gallons, cubic toot. The volunme of a
conversion factor of 7,48 gallons per
from the same intormation
dike for horizontal tanks is computed
provided.

Dimensions. The required contamen

A.8 Horizontal Tank Dike
(1,475.4 cubic teet) since the volume ot the
volume remains the s a m e
allowance a r e unchanged. The tanks in
largest tank and ten percenttwo mches above the dike tloor, and we
this example a r e installed
best suits the property. For this initial
selected the layout that
the volume ot the other tanks below the top ot
calculation, disregard
the dike.
334 APPENDIXES

Formula: Rectangular area = A = Lx W

where:
A = Area in square feet inside the tank
L =
Length in feet = 370
W= Width in feet = 270
Therefore:
A =270 =x 37'0 = 999.00 square feet
1,475 cubic feet
H= feet, or 1'6
999.0square et1.48
A dike wall height of 1'6 will contain the volume of the largest tank
plus ten percent. As previously stated, the tanks are raised two inches
above the dike floor. Therefore, sixteen inches of tank capacity for
the rwo tanks other than the largest tank is below the top of the dike.
This volume must also be contained.

A.9 Unavailable Capacity. Through use of a tank capacity conver-

sion table, wedetermine that this volume in each tank below the top
of the dike is 663 gallons. This means that we must provide for 1,326
gallons additional capacity, or 177.3 cubic feet.
663 gallons x 2 tanks
cubic feet
748 gallons per cubic 177.3
(1,475.4 cubic feet + 177.3 cubic feet)
H= (999.0 square feet)
H 1.65 feet, or 1'8

Dimensions for containment installation:

Length = 37'0
Width 270
Height = At least 1'8 (rounded to the next higher full inch)

A.10 Additional Requirements. Dike walls may be

sloped, compli-
cating the calculation somewhat. Higher dikes require provisions for
entry and firehghting. Distances from dikes to property lines and
buildings can signihcantly affect the layout.