The construction of a new building is a huge undertaking for any company, but when you’re dealing with chemicals, there are additional industrial and governmental requirements that need to be met. That’s how it was for Air Liquide, one of the world’s leaders in gases for industry, health and the environment.
The company was in the process of constructing a new building for semiconductor bulk chemical processing systems and making sure all the bases were covered. In order to ensure Air Liquide had the correct equipment and fall prevention for offloading and storing their products, the building contractor referred them to Carbis, the world's leading fall prevention specialist, with many years of experience in constructing loading terminals and fluid-handling safety.
Says Paul Lies, lead project manager, Air Liquide, “We needed a way to offload chemicals from the trucks outside the building to the tanks inside. We got Carbis involved early in the process.”
The sales representative from Carbis took the information to the engineers who did an excellent job designing and constructing platforms to meet Air Liquide’s needs. The representative was successful in proving to Air Liquide that Carbis is more than just cages and gangways: The engineers can solve most any issue regarding building requirements and structural needs.
Carbis engineers came up with a plan to solve the issue of safe product transport by constructing a platform outside that measured 96 feet by 15 feet by 10 inches and had two gangways that reached the center line, which was over 11 feet. Inside, six platforms were constructed to hold the company’s equipment. The average size of these indoor platforms measured 9 feet 4 inches by 12 feet by 12 feet (H).
Three additional decks were added inside to hold equipment that would allow the truck drivers to offload corrosive materials, such as acids and solvents, using a hose that would reach from the truck and attach to a clean coupling inside the building to suction the product from the truck and into a storage tank. These storage tanks sit over pits that serve as spill containment in case there is ever a leak or spill. The platform sits flush with the pit, so the equipment is easily accessible at all times.
And how did all these platforms work for Air Liquide? “Everything’s good and is working smoothly. It took about a year from start to finish for the building and all the necessary equipment.”
It’s all worth it now since the offloading of product is flowing efficiently with no headaches. Most of all, the customer is happy, and workers are able to perform their job requirements both safely and correctly.
For more information, please visit www.carbis.net.