SPCC Plan - Calculation Guidance

The following example compares two different design criteria: one based on the volume of the tank and
one based on precipitation.

Scenario:

A 20,000-gallon horizontal tank is placed within an engineered secondary containment structure, such as
a concrete dike. The tank is 35 feet long by 10 feet in diameter. The secondary containment area
provides a 5-foot buffer on all sides (i.e. dike dimensions are 45 feet x 20 feet).

20,000
20 ft gallons Height: ?

45 ft
Given the dike footprint, we want to determine the wall height necessary to provide sufficient freeboard
for precipitation, based on (1) the tank storage capacity (2) actual precipitation data. Several storm
events in the recent past caused precipitation in amounts between 3.6 and 4.0 inches at this location,
although greater amounts have also been reported in the past.
Note: The factor for converting cubic feet to gallons is 7.48 gallons/ft3

1. Calculation of secondary containment capacity, based on a design criterion of 110%***

of tank storage capacity:

Containment surface area = 45 ft x 20 ft = 900 ft2

Tank volume, based on 100% of tank capacity = 20,000 gallons
Tank volume, in cubic feet = 20,000 gallons / 7.48 gallons/ft3 = 2,674 ft3
Wall height that would contain the tank’s volume = 2,674 ft3/ 900 ft2 = 2.97 ft

Containment capacity with freeboard, based on 110% of tank capacity = 22,000 gallons
Containment capacity, in cubic feet = 22,000 gallons / 7.48 gallons/ft3 = 2,941 ft3
Wall height equivalent to 110% of storage capacity = 2,941 ft3 / 900 ft2 = 3.27 feet
Height of freeboard = 3.27 ft - 2.97 ft = 0.3 ft = 3.6 inches

Therefore, a dike design based on a criterion of 110% of tank capacity provides a dike wall height
of 3.27 feet.

2. Calculation of secondary containment capacity, based on rainfall*** criterion:

After a review of historical precipitation data for the vicinity of the facility, it was determined that a
4.5 inch rain event is the most reasonable design criterion for this diked area.

Containment surface area = 45 ft x 20 ft = 900 ft2

Tank volume, based on 100% of tank capacity = 20,000 gallons
Tank volume, in cubic feet = 20,000 gallons / 7.48 gallons/ft3 = 2,674 ft3
Wall height that would contain the tank’s volume = 2,674 ft3 / 900 ft2 = 2.97 ft

The height of the dike would need to be 3.35 feet (2.97 ft + 4.5 in).

4.5 inches / 12 inches = .375 ft + 2.97 ft = 3.35 ft

Therefore, a dike design based on a 4.5 inch rain event provides a dike wall height of 3.35, or 0.9
inch higher than calculated using the 110% criterion.
 SPCC Plan - Calculation Guidance (continued)
Sample secondary containment calculations for multiple tanks in a containment area.

Scenario:

A 60 ft x 36 ft concrete dike surrounds one 20,000-gallon horizontal tank (10 ft diameter and 35 ft
length) and two 10,000-gallon vertical tanks (each 10 ft diameter and 15 ft height). The dike walls are
18 inches (1.5 feet) tall. The SPCC Plan states that secondary containment is designed to hold 112% of
the volume of the largest container.
2 @ 10,000 gallons
1.5 ft
20,000
gallons
36 ft

60 ft

Note: The volume displaced by a cylindrical vertical tank is the tank volume within the containment
structure and is equal to the tank footprint multiplied by height of the concrete dike. The tank footprint
is equal to ∏D2/4, where D is the tank diameter.

1. Calculate total dike capacity:

Total capacity of the concrete dike

= length x width x height = 60 ft x 36 ft x 1.5 ft = 3,240 ft3 = 24,235 gallons

2. Calculate net dike capacity, considering displacement from other tanks within the dike:

The total capacity of the concrete dike is reduced by the volume “displaced” by other tanks inside
the containment structure. The displacement is:
= number of tanks x footprint x height of dike wall
= 2 x ∏ (10 ft)2/4 x 1.5 ft = 235.6 ft3 = 1,762 gallons

The net dike capacity (i.e. the volume that would be available in the event of a failure of the largest
tank within the dike) is:
= Total volume - tank displacement = 24,235 - 1,762 = 22,473 gallons = 3,004 ft3

3. Calculate the amount of available freeboard provided by the dike, given the net dike
capacity:

The available freeboard volume is:

= Net dike capacity - volume of largest tank within the dike
= 22,473 - 20,000 = 2,473 gallons = 331 ft3

This is equivalent, expressed in terms of the capacity of the largest tank, to:
= Net dike capacity / volume of largest tank within the dike
= 22,473 / 20,000 = 112%

This available freeboard volume provides a freeboard height:

= Available freeboard volume / dike surface area
= 331 ft3 / (60 ft x 36 ft) = 0.15 ft ≈ 1.8 in

Therefore, this dike provides sufficient freeboard for 1.8 inches of precipitation.
 SPCC Plan - Calculation Guidance (continued)
The following guidance is offered as assistance in calculating the volume in gallons of capacity for
earthen berms used for secondary containment structures.

1. Calculate total berm capacity:

Total capacity of the berm

= length (top of berm) x width (top of berm) x height (at lowest point)
Top of berm: 60 ft x 36 ft x 1.5 ft = 3,240 ft3 = 24,235 gallons (top)
Bottom of berm: 54 ft x 30 ft x 1.5 ft = 2,430 ft3 = 18,176 gallons (bottom)

To determine average capacity: 24,235 + 18,176 divided by 2 = 21,205 gallons

2. Calculate net dike capacity, considering displacement from other tanks within the berm:

Refer to and follow the instructions provided earlier in this guidance document.

3. Calculate the amount of available freeboard provided, given the net berm capacity:

Refer to and follow the instructions provided earlier in this guidance document.
 Conversions
1” = .083’
2” = .167’
SPCC Plan - Calculation Guidance (continued) 3” = .25’
4” = .333’
The following guidance is offered as assistance in calculating the volume in gallons of 5” = .417’
6” = .5’
capacity for secondary containment structures and tanks.
7” = .583’
8” = .667’
Volume Formulas and Examples: 9” = .75’
10” = .833’
11” = .917’
Floor capacity: Length x Width x Height x 7.48 = Gallons of capacity
12” = 1’
Example: 20’ x 12’ x 2’ x 7.48 = 3,590 gallons

Tank capacity (round): .7854 x Diameter x Diameter x Height x 7.48 = Gallons of capacity
Example: .7854 x 6’ x 6’ x 12’ x 7.48 = 2,537 gallons

Tank capacity (cone): .252 x Diameter x Diameter x Height x 7.48 = Gallons of capacity
Example: .252 x 8’ x 8’ x 2’ x 7.48 = 241 gallons

Sloped Floor: (Pyramid) .333 x Length x Width x Height x 7.48 = Gallons capacity
Example: .333 x 30’ x 16’ x 6” x 7.48 = 597 gallons

Sloped Floor: (Trough) .333 x Length x Width x Height x 7.48 = Gallons capacity
Example: .5 x 30’ x 16’ x 6” x 7.48 = 897 gallons

*** Additional Considerations for Sufficient Freeboard

EPA recognizes that a “110 percent of storage tank capacity” rule of thumb may be a potentially
acceptable design criterion in many situations, and that aboveground storage tank regulations in many
states require that secondary containment be sized to contain at least 110 percent of the volume of the
largest tank. However, in some areas, 110 percent of storage tank capacity may not provide enough
volume to contain precipitation from storm events. Some states require that facilities consider storm
events when designing secondary containment structures, and in certain cases these requirements
translate to more stringent sizing criteria than the 110 percent rule of thumb. Other important factors
may be considered in determining necessary secondary containment capacity. According to practices
recommended by industry groups such as the American Petroleum Institute (API), these factors include:

• Local precipitation conditions (rainfall and/or snowfall)

• Height of the existing dike wall
• Size of container
• Safety considerations
• Frequency of dike drainage and inspection

Local precipitation data is available from the National Weather Service at:

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/oh/hdsc/currentpf.htm#N2
 SPCC Plan - Calculation Worksheet

Revised: September 15, 2011 mySPCC Guidance. Photocopy this form or download from the website.