Minimum emission The VACONODECK is a light-weight compact internal floating deck made of high-quality aluminium, stainless steel or from a combination of the two materials, to be used inside a fixed roof tank for the storage of volatile hydrocarbons. The system is designed as a pontoon construction floating on the stored product and functions as a gas barrier thereby reducing vapour losses by 95%. The system thereby not only ensures a substantial increase in tank operation profitability but also protects the atmosphere thereby making an effective contribution towards the elimination of environmental pollution.

Very short "Payback" time Each VACONODECK is individually designed and tailor-made to fit the corresponding tank in compliance with the national and international industrial standards, such as API 650 App. H, TRbF 120 or BS 2654 App. E, which are observed within the petroleum and chemical industries. The VACONODECK owes its perfect fit in part to its customised, extruded peripheral profile that guarantees a constant distance of 190 mm between the floating deck and the internal wall of the tank. This increases the efficiency of the sealing systems which have been especially developed for the VACONODECK to seal off the annular space. The application of light-weight sealing materials permits the minimisation of evaporative loss. It goes without saying that all the materials used have been carefully selected in accordance with the aspects of quality, duration and compatibility with the products to be stored.

Maximum tank capacity
The use of 8" diameter ( 10" diameter for stainless steel or stainless steel / aluminium VACONODECKS ) with a maximum length of 5600 mm, each individually tested under pressure in the workshop, guarantees an equal displacement of buoyancy under the entire area of the VACONODECK. A 100% reserve buoyancy being warranted for, should an individual float fail during operation no significant reduction in buoyancy will occur.

Further the application of 8" floats together with the special prefabricated peripheral profiles ensures for a low construction thereby guaranteeing minimal loss of tank capacity. If a tank is taken out of operation for inspection maintenance and/or repair, an optimum in the number of deck supports provides for a uniform distribution of the specific weight and further guarantees for its passability by personnel over its entire surface.

Long service life In addition to high rigidity and stability warranted through its design and construction, the long service life of the floating cover is further ensured through the excellent corrosion resistance exhibited by the materials selected. A unique feature of the VACONODECK is the use of "cladded" deck sheets. These sheets are coated on both sides with a special aluminium alloy containing zinc which prevents the perforation of the panel by localised pitting. This form of corrosion can occur as a result of an electrolytic reaction of the water condensate in connection with rust particles falling from the roof and walls of the tank onto the floating deck. The unique VACONODECK construction is practically maintenance-free due to the unique design.

Simple erection The VACONODECK is designed as a modular system which can be easily erected on site by local crews on compliance with the provided erection documents - our specialists can supervise the on-site erection worldwide, if this is required. All components, especially the floats, profiles and clamp bars as well as the metal sheets are prefabricated in Rheinfelden, ensuring simple, rapid and economical erection and also the high quality of this unique system.