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Deflection Plates

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edward
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63 views3 pages

Deflection Plates

Uploaded by

edward
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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UST Deflection and Striker Plates

Past and Present


Sullivan (Sully) D. Curran P.E., Former Executive Director

I. Introduction

“Deflection” plates per Underwriters Laboratories UL 1316 Glass-fiber-Reinforced Plastic


Underground Storage Tanks for Petroleum Products and “striker” plates per UL 58 Steel
Underground Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquids are the two most commonly
used terms for reinforcing or wear plates installed on the bottom of an underground storage
tank (UST) directly below the openings located on the top of the tank. The steel plate
protects the bottom tank shell from repeated contact with the gauge stick when it is lowered
through the tank opening during manual tank gauging. Often the gauge stick is dropped
into the tank from the ground level, which, for a 12-foot diameter tank, can be some 18
feet above grade.

Manual tank gauging has become more frequent due to increased regulatory emphasis
on following proper inventory control and tank truck delivery procedures. Manual stick
gauging is performed before and after each delivery, for daily liquid level measurements
and, where automatic tank gauges (ATG) are installed, for periodic confirmation that the
ATG is performing properly.

II. Deflection Plate Location History

A. Fiberglass USTs
a. 1973-1977: Although UL 1316 was not revised to require a deflection plate under
each opening or one opening that is so marked until 1983, fiberglass tank
manufacturers made deflection plates an available option starting in 1973. In 1977,
one deflection plate was standard and the tank user selected which fill opening would
be so marked. However, tank users experienced field installation changes when the
fill pipe location was relocated to the center or the opposite end of the UST.

b. 1979–1983: As early as 1979, certain fiberglass users specified deflection plates


under two openings. By 1983, manufacturers were installing such plates under all
three common openings (i.e., both ends and center) because conditions were not the
same for each user.

c. 1986: By 1986, all fiberglass tanks were manufactured with deflection plates under
all openings.

B. Steel USTs
a. UL 1746: External Corrosion Protection Systems for Steel Underground Storage
Tanks, addresses three types of steel tanks, namely factory-installed galvanic-type
cathodic protected, fiberglass-clad and HDPE jacketed steel tanks. In each case, the
UL 1746 tanks are fabricated using UL 58 tanks, thus the UL 58 striker plate
Fiberglass Tank & Pipe Ins tute Page 1 of 3
requirements apply. It should be noted that Steel Tank Institute (STI) construction
specifications sti-P3 and ACT-100 are more stringent than UL 58 or UL 1746. For
example, the May 1, 1987, STI sti-P3 Specification required striker plates under each
opening for tank diameters 64 inches and larger. Further, the STI ACT-100 External
Corrosion Protection of FRP Composite Steel Underground Storage Tanks required
striker plates under all openings.

b. UL 58: Steel Underground Storage Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquids
post-1990 galvanic-type, fiberglass clad and jacketed steel tanks manufactured only
to the UL 58 standard may contain one striker plate for the tank gauge opening. If
there was an installation change or a later change in the opening used for gauging, a
striker plate may be absent under the opening actually used for gauging.

III. Deflection Plate Specifications

A. UL 1316: While UL 1316 specifies 0.053-inch thick deflection plates a minimum of 9-


inches wide and one square foot in area, fiberglass manufacturers use nominal 12 to 10-
gauge (i.e., 0.105 - 0.1196 inch thick) plates that are 12 x 12 inches under each single
opening. Also, although UL 1316 does not address man ways, fiberglass tank deflection
plates are 12 x 24 inches for 22-inch diameter man ways and 12 x 36 inches for 36-inch
man ways.
B. UL 58: UL 58 first addressed steel tank striker plates in August 1990 and specified a
minimum 0.240-inch steel striker plate(s) 9-inches wide and one-square foot in area
with the exception that if a fill pipe is used that extends at least 3/4 of the tank diameter
into the tank, the area of the striker plate may be reduced to 64 square inches. Later,
on December 13 1996, UL 58 was revised, eliminating the exception and reducing the
minimum striker plate width to 8-inches and 64 square inches in area.

IV. Deflection Plate Installation

A. UL 1316: UL 1316 does not address plate installation. Manufacturers form the plate to
fit the curvature of the tank where the plate is completely encapsulated using fiberglass
and resin extending at least three inches beyond the outline of the plate. The resulting
thickness of the plate and lay-up averages from a nominal 0.200 to 0.3125 inches and
calibration charts are compensated for the deflection plate and lay-up thickness.
B. UL 58: UL 58 does not address plate installation. The sti-P3 specification requires 8-inch
x 8-inch x 1/4-inch minimum size plates. The striker plates may be flat or rolled to
conform to the internal surface of the tank and the specification states that the effect of
a flat striker plate located in the bottom of small diameter tanks must be considered.
Similar requirements are contained in the ACT-100 standard, but there is an additional
requirement that installed flat or rolled striker plates leave a minimum 1/4-inch gap
between the striker plate and the tank shell. ACT-100 also specifies that striker plates
greater than 12 inches in width shall be rolled.

V. Deflection Plate Determination

Often, the presence of a deflection plate under a tank opening may be checked in the
field by feeling the raised plate using a heavy-duty magnet suspended from the top of the
tank on a cord (for fiberglass tanks) or a gauge stick (for steel tanks). While a fiberglass
tank deflection plate and lay-up may be more difficult to “feel”, the relatively sharp edges of

Fiberglass Tank & Pipe Institute Page 2 of 3


a typical 1/4- inch flat steel tank striker plate can be felt. Finally, if there is any doubt,
petroleum equipment suppliers’ market non-intrusive retrofit metal plates that are inserted
into the fill pipe for fiberglass tanks, but they should not be used in contact with steel tank
bottoms.

VI. Summary

A. Fiberglass Tanks: Fiberglass tanks manufactured after 1986 (i.e., 27 years ago) should
have deflection plates under all openings and many manufactured after 1983 should as well.
USTs manufactured after 1979 should have deflection plates under the openings as
specified by the user. For the most part, USTs purchased by major oil companies since 1973
should have at least one deflection plate.

B. Steel Tanks: While larger STI sti-P3 tanks manufactured after May 1987 should have
striker plates under all openings, it was not until August 1990 when UL 58 and 1746 tanks
were required to install either one or multiple striker plates and the one striker plate was to
be so marked for the installer.

Rev. July 30, 2013

Fiberglass Tank & Pipe Institute Page 3 of 3

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