| Concrete Dikes |
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Concrete Dikes... Not only is the first cost of concrete competitive, but also the unique concrete advantages of low maintenance, safety, long service life, and quality appearance make concrete dikes and above-ground storage the best option for your fuel storage problems.
Visual Inspection: Nobody plans to have a spill or a leak of fuel that results in a contamination of the environment, but it happens. With an above-ground facility, visual inspections of the tanks, piping, and fittings is easily achieved. You never need to wonder whether or not the expensive monitoring equipment is working. You can see where potential problems are and correct them before they cost you time and money. Low Maintenance: Concrete has a proven record for low maintenance, regardless of its application. Proper design and construction will create a dike that is virtually maintenance-free. In addition, an above-ground installation will allow the scheduling of cost-effective preventive maintenance on the tanks, piping, and fittings. Code Compliance: Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont currently allow above-ground storage of fuels and chemicals through a varied process of permitting and fire-code waivers. Nationwide there is a move towards federal and/or state regulations of above-ground storage of fuels. The best available information indicates that all above-ground facilities will have to meet performance criteria with regard to their ability to contain a spill. Concrete dikes will meet all existing performance criteria and will likely become the material of preference for secondary containment. Safety: protecting the environment and personnel are of primary importance in considering potential solutions to your fuel storage problems. The low permeability of concrete combined with a fuel-resistant sealer-hardener applied to the floor and walls make a concrete dike the safest of all possible options. Should a spill occur in such an installation, the reliable concrete dike will make clean-up easy and less costly. Also, no contamination of water supplies or valuable natural resources will occur. The acceptable performance of a concrete dike is dependent on proper design and construction. Compliance with structural design codes and good concreting practice is imperative to assure a successful secondary containment structure.
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Eliminates Insurance: Current EPA regulations require that all underground fuel storage installations carry liability insurance against potential spills. An above-ground facility is free from this costly annual expense. 
In an effort to provide guidance in the design of concrete dikes, the membership of the Northern New England Concrete Promotion Association (NNECPA) has developed typical details for single and multiple tank installations. These drawings are available, at a low cost, to anyone interested in learning more about the proper design and construction of concrete dikes. 
