For pro/commercial welders

[chevy2]

Some jobs are best backing,
I often get asked to do what is always described as a "small" welding job on a car or motorcycle fuel tank,
i mention the danger,
They disagree,
I then say ok i'll do it if you stand a foot away from the tank while i weld it,
Silence....

Same with this one, mention all the explosion risks and then ask the client to stand there while you weld it...

 

[God mode restorations]

As said by the guys here .just be careful mate and use every safty method you can put in place..even the simplest mistakes on these kind of places can result in very unpleasant injury or death.

 

[chevy2]

Exactly,
Price it to factor in all of the safety factors,
If the answer is no then walk.

 

[addjunkie]

Another way suggest they empty, clean and gas free the tank, then pop round and weld it for them!

 

[WALM]

From an HSE perspective. Presumably even without using heat, or tools that can spark. You still have risk of static from clothing, as mentioned before... mobile phones. Even if an air drill slips and catches a piece of frame it could spark. (Unlikely) but I know HSE Don't recognise "unlikely".

I like the 25% management fee idea. Anyone want to have a go???

Maybe clean and gas free, although sadly I don't think they would be able to stop residents from using the facilities.

 

[wookie]

although sadly I don't think they would be able to stop residents from using the facilities.

That's the easiest one to solve, insist upon and enforce a full evacuation of all residents whose properties are connected to the tank in question!

After all you only have one life, why risk it just to save someone else a few quid ? your profit on the job will be the same regardless how much more they have to spend so you can do the job safely.

If the client doesn't like your proposal/price then sit back and let someone else do the job and hope you don't hear about it going wrong on the local news.

 

[WALM]

Yep you're not wrong. evacuate.

Time to price the most expensive four M10 bolts anyone has ever fitted!

 

[brightspark]

easy answer. just back heal the job. I no longer want challenges ive had 45 years worth of crap and just choose what jobs takes my fancy with the least hassle and paperwork .

 

[reb78]

Couldnt you make something that would simply hook over the outside with a long section that you drive into the ground outside of the tank wall? The prssure of the lid when up would force the peice down so it shouldnt come out of the ground. No drilling or welding needed then.

Not sure I've described it well, but imagine a J shape upside down, where the long bit of the J is driven into the earth and the curve (squared off so it hooks neatly over the edge) of the J hooks over the wall of the tank and has the bolt that attaches to the arm on it?

 

[dannyp]

difficult to know whats involved without seeing everything involved but

ths job looks to involve lots of poo, and potentialy fans, in any job involving poo and fans there is potential for one to hit the other. also sounds like to much paperwork hasstel for what the job actualy is

 

[normspanners]

HEHE

 

[WALM]

Told them it would be a couple of £k for four bolts so they are going to look for someone that deals with septic tanks regularly.

 

[Kent]

I have a new (better) plan.
Get someone else to quote, then add 25% management fee.
Get them to do the work.

It would be on your insurance if subbed to a like trade remember

 

[Kent]

Don't take anything on that could kill or seriously injure you and or end up costing you money.

 

[bigegg]

I have a new (better) plan.
Get someone else to quote, then add 25% management fee.
Get them to do the work.

It would be on your insurance if subbed to a like trade remember

Basically then:
Dont touch it with a ten foot barge pole.
Don't touch it with someone else's ten foot barge pole.

 

[Revs1972]

Get these boys in to do the job. Very cheap

 

[Kent]

Basically then:
Dont touch it with a ten foot barge pole.
Don't touch it with someone else's ten foot barge pole.

Yep! And don't make any recommendations either

 

[Crater Creator]

Haven't done a septic tank but I deal with hotwork in crude cargo tanks every day, the risks are similar.

Scaffold or similar to stop any chance of falling in
Pump out tank if possible. Possibly refill with water?
Force-ventilate for at least 24 hours and during work
Test atmosphere for flammables, H2S and O2 at all levels in tank with a triple meter as . Should be ZERO methane, anything else is a no-no. 5ppm H2S maximum, 20% O2. Gasmeter measuring confined space exhaust during work. You should not need to wear a mask except for the galvy fumes. If you need to wear a mask due to gas the area is not fit for welding in.
Then weld/drill
Standby man/firewatcher also a good idea, as it the fixed tether/lanyard if there's any chance of falling.

Alternatively, without all that hassle, you would probably be OK air-drilling with coolant if you had a gas meter local to the drill and it was reading 0% LEL

It won't be cheap.

Also - this is just my opinion.

 

[addjunkie]

Haven't done a septic tank but I deal with hotwork in crude cargo tanks every day, the risks are similar.

Scaffold or similar to stop any chance of falling in
Pump out tank if possible. Possibly refill with water?
Force-ventilate for at least 24 hours and during work
Test atmosphere for flammables, H2S and O2 at all levels in tank with a triple meter as . Should be ZERO methane, anything else is a no-no. 5ppm H2S maximum, 20% O2. Gasmeter measuring confined space exhaust during work. You should not need to wear a mask except for the galvy fumes. If you need to wear a mask due to gas the area is not fit for welding in.
Then weld/drill
Standby man/firewatcher also a good idea, as it the fixed tether/lanyard if there's any chance of falling.

Alternatively, without all that hassle, you would probably be OK air-drilling with coolant if you had a gas meter local to the drill and it was reading 0% LEL

It won't be cheap.

Also - this is just my opinion.

You and I have live in the same world. But with tank entry normally they are water washed, then, IG purged, prior to air purging. And the forced air purge would be on while your in there. Also some kind of rescue plan and a team of trained people to carry it out.

A septic tank is a bit different, easy enough to pump out, wash out, but stopping influx while your there not so easy. No valves or spec plates to swing.

This is one of those jobs, that if your having to ask, your not the right man for the job. Thats not meant to be insulting, just a reality.

 

[Crater Creator]

You and I have live in the same world. But with tank entry normally they are water washed, then, IG purged, prior to air purging. And the forced air purge would be on while your in there. Also some kind of rescue plan and a team of trained people to carry it out.

A septic tank is a bit different, easy enough to pump out, wash out, but stopping influx while your there not so easy. No valves or spec plates to swing.

This is one of those jobs, that if your having to ask, your not the right man for the job. Thats not meant to be insulting, just a reality.

Yeah agree but in this case the "inflow" won't have created much in the way of methane, it's once it festers in the tank for a while it creates gas.
The way I read the OPs question he wasn't planning actually going into the tank, just didn't want it going boom (or boom-sploosh) while he was perched on top of it....
Sounds like a horrible job all the same.