Design of Secondary Containment in Petrochemical Facilities

Sponsored by the Petrochemical Committee of the Energy Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers

Design of Secondary Containment in Petrochemical Facilities addresses the need for a common state of practice for the design of secondary containment and leak detection systems in petrochemical and other industrial facilities. This report attempts to provide some uniformity to the current mix of internal company documents, published criteria, and government safety and environmental requirements.

These guidelines present requirements, recommendations, and special considerations for the following topics:

• Storage tanks
• Loading and unloading areas for tank trucks and railcars
• Transformers and electrical equipment
• Sumps and trenches
• Plant drainage
• Double-containment piping systems
• Leak detection and monitoring systems.

Although this book was originally published in 1997, the recommendations continue to be applicable today. Referenced codes and standards are still in effect, and their most current versions should be consulted.

This report will be useful for structural engineers who are designing industrial facilities, as well as company managers and local building authorities.