VACONODECK is a compact and efficient internal floating roof to be

used in vertical storage tanks.

By using VACONODECK to cover the stored product, evaporation can
be reduced by up to 99 %. This allows an exceptionally short payback
time compared to other vapour reducing technologies.
The system thereby not only ensures a substantial increase in tank
operation profitability but also protects the atmosphere, thus making
an effective contribution towards the elimination of environmental
pollution.

UNIVERSAL APPLICATION

VACONODECK can be installed in new or existing tanks. It is compatible

with almost all known storage products as it is made either of aluminium,
stainless steel or a mixture of both. The low construction guarantees
minimal loss of tank capacity while still allowing personnel to pass
over its entire surface during inspection.
A wide range of seals and accessories is available to suit all possible
requirements.

LOW ERECTION COSTS

The VACONODECK is designed as a modular system which can be easily
erected on site by local crews in compliance with the provided erection
documents – our specialists can supervise the on-site erection world-
wide, if this is required.
No welding is required for any of the VACONODECKs during installation.
Most variants will pass through a standard 24” tank manhole.
Evaporation Loss of a 30 m Tank p.a.
based on MPMS 19.2 formerly API MAINTENANCE FREE
2517 and 2519
Due to its unique design, the VACONODECK is practically maintenance
Barrels free throughout its life cycle.
3500

3000
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
2500
Each VACONODECK is individually designed and tailor-made to fit
2000 the corresponding tank in compliance with national and international
1500 industrial standards, such as API 650 App.H, which are used within
the petroleum and chemical industry.
1000
up to 99% It goes without saying that all the materials used have been carefully
500 reduction selected in accordance with the aspects of quality, duration and
0 compatibility with the products to be stored.
No IFR VACONODECK
VACONO QE² - QUICKNESS AND EFFICIENCY,
QUALITY AND EXCELLENCE

VACONO’s new trademark when it is about exceeding international

market levels and setting new standards in terms of Quick Assembly,
Efficiency in the use of materials, Quality of Installation and Excellence
in operation.

The VACONODECK QE² comes with a range of innovative and unique

features that allow quick installation and most efficient operating
conditions.

QUICK ASSEMBLY AND QUALITY OF INSTALLATION

• Supporting beams perfectly cut to length and angle can be installed

without field trimming

• SS bolts pressed into the supporting beams every 250 mm and

pre-drilled clamp bars can be installed without drilling on site

• Cover sheets perforated on the edges can be rolled over the

supporting structure like a red carpet quickly and safely by
one person

• Extruded circumferential profiles, pre-bent to the required radius

can be installed without adding extra angles etc.

• Framing spacers prefabricated and welded in the workshop do not

need trimming in the field

• All floating compartments are prefabricated and pressure tested

in the workshop

• Quality control in the field is easy as all connections are

prefabricated

• Overall installation time of under 0,5 hrs/m² for AL-P QE²

(> 20 m diameter) is world class and by far leading in the industry

EXCELLENCE IN OPERATION AND EFFICIENCY

IN THE USE OF MATERIALS

• Supporting legs in the structure every approx. 16 m² only and every

3,5 m on the edge deliver best-in-class weight distribution and stability

• The overall deck height is the lowest on the market for Aluminium
pontoon type decks with only 8” (for Aluminium) float diameter that
also ensure an optimal buoyancy distribution

• Optionally, Cladded Cover sheets can be used if the VACONODECK QE²

is used in tanks with fixed steel roofs to avoid spot corrosion of rust
particles falling from the steel roof and mixing with condensed water
on the surface of the VACONODECK QE²
OVERVIEW OF DESIGN FEATURES OF THE VACONODECK:
1. Choice of Materials:
• Aluminium (AL) for most storage products such as Gasoline or light
crude
• Hybrid (MIX) for products with aggressive liquid phase or high
water content (Alcohols, Bio Fuels). All wetted parts are made from
Stainless Steel (PE Element optional)
• Stainless Steel (SS) for aggressive media (aromatics, chemicals)
2. Floater Design:
• Pontoon (P) for best cost/benefit ratio
• Full Contact (FC) for best efficiency and performance
3. Prefabrication and Efficiency of Use:
• Standard fabrication under QC systems according to industry standard
• QE² for Quick assembly, Quality of Installation, Efficiency in the
use of materials and Excellence in operation
4. Deck Skin:
• Standard AL mill finish 3003 grade for AL Decks
• CLAD: Cladded Skin to prevent spot corrosion from rust particles
falling off the steel roof (if applicable) and the tank wall

THE RESULT ARE 9 VARIANTS OF THE VACONODECK:

VACONODECK AL-P: VACONO’s standard AL Deck that
meets all relevant industry standards
VACONODECK AL-P QE²: VACONO’s best selling AL Deck with
market leading installation time and
unbeatable use efficiency
VACONODECK AL-P QE² CLAD: AL-P QE² for tanks with steel roofs to
ensure a lifelong resistance to rust
particles from the roof
VACONODECK AL-FC: VACONO’s Full Contact AL Deck is the
most cost efficient in the market from
European production
VACONODECK MIX-P: VACONO’s standard Mix type Deck that
meets all relevant industry standards
VACONODECK MIX-P QE²: VACONO’s best selling Mix Deck with
market leading installation time and
unbeatable use efficiency
VACONODECK MIX-P QE² CLAD: MIX-P QE² for tank with steel roofs to
ensure a lifelong resistance to rust
particles from the roof
VACONODECK SS-P QE²: VACONO’s stainless steel Pontoon
Deck for cost efficient covering of
aggressive storage media
VACONODECK SS-FC QE² HD: Top of the line when it comes to
product compatibility, efficiency and
Heavy Duty Service. No more excuses
not using a VACONODECK.

VACONODECK Variants Emission Reduction

Compatibility with stored Product
Cost/m² installed

AL-P AL-P AL-P AL-FC MIX-P MIX-P MIX-P SS-P SS-FC Carbon
QE2 QE2 QE2 QE2 QE2 QE2 HD Steel
CLAD CLAD
 VACONODECK SEALS AND ACCESSORIES
• VACONOSEAL PE / DOUBLE PE
The most popular wiper seal for gasoline storage made from
a closed cell polyethylene material
VACONOSEAL PE VACONOSEAL
DOUBLE PE • VACONOSEAL T / DOUBLE T
A teflon wrapped PU wiper seal with high corrosion resistance

• VACONOSEAL RTS
A spring type light weight seal made from teflon

• VACONOSEAL CSH
A mechanical shoe seal for rough environments and the
VACONODECK SS-FE QE². Is available with PE secondary seal.

VACONOSEAL RTS Valve Manhole ACCESSORIES for VACONODECK

Combination
In addition to basic features such as antirotation or antistatic systems
the VACONODECK can be equipped with a large variety of accessories;
the most common are described below.
• Adjustable Legs: Allows manual adjustment of the IFR from a
safe erection and inspection level to a lower operating level
maximizing the usable tank volume.
• Hanging System: Allows the deck to be hung from the tank for
interim storage of an incompatible product or for tank cleaning
operations. Available in stainless or galvanized steel.
Adjustable leg Pipe negotiation • Pipe Negotiations: Allows effective and safe penetration of columns,
pipes and ladders of all sizes, through the VACONODECK .
• Gauging Funnels: Allows safe manual gauging as well as
sampling of the product from the tank roof through the IFR
keeping vapour losses to a minimum at the same time.
• Valve Manhole Combination: Functions not only as a manhole to
ease entry onto the IFR from the tank floor but also as a vacuum
breaker in that it opens before the IFR supports touch the tank floor.
• Pressure Vents: Fitted on the IFR in the vicinity of the inlet pipe/
diffuser, designed to pop up should a large volume of gas or air
enter the tank thereby avoiding possible damage to the IFR itself.
Gauging funnel Anti rotation • Vacuum Breakers: Ensuring that the VACONODECK is not harmed
when product is let out of the tank.

PLEASE CONTACT US AT

www.vacono.com

GERMAN QUALITY WORLDWIDE

VACONODome – Aluminium geodesic dome roof is used to cover
storage tanks of any diameter in the petroleum industry. It is usually
used in refineries and tank farms, where both the storage product
and the structural tank components must be protected from
atmospheric and environmental influences.

VACONODome combines ecological aspects with economic benefits

as it prevents the contamination of the storage product by e.g.
rainwater, sand and other foreign matters, and reduces evaporation
loss caused by wind or direct exposure to sunlight.

This is what makes the VACONODome so interesting:

SELF-SUPPORTING ALUMINIUM DOME ROOF

VACONODome is designed as a self-supporting dome roof whereby
only its outer edge is connected to the tank shell around the outer
rim. Central struts, which would have to pass through erected
floating roofs or decks and which would diminish the efficiency of
these systems, are no longer required. This advanced constructional
design results in an important reduction of evaporation loss.

INTELLIGENT LIGHT-WEIGHT CONSTRUCTION

The weight of a VACONODome (approx. 60 m diameter) is only 10-15%
of a comparable, self-supporting steel roof. The system therefore
offers a cost-optimised solution by saving the weight of the tank cover
and is also suitable for the retrofitting of existing floating roof tanks,
which are designed to function without a steel roof. The storage
product is thus completely protected from contamination by rainwater
as a malfunctioning of the floating roof drainage system is eliminated.
For new tanks, the light weight of the VACONODome allows savings
in expenditure for the foundations as well as the tank shell.

Use the know-how of our experienced engineers during the planning

stage for new or already existing tanks even when in operation.

Cost overview

600.000 Material Costs (E) Weight (to) 600

500.000 500
Material Costs

400.000 Weight 400

300.000 300
Steel

200.000 200

100.000 Aluminium 100

0 0
10 20 30 40 50 60
Diameter (m)
CORROSION RESISTANCE AND LOW MAINTENANCE

All structural components of the VACONODome are fabricated from

highly-tensile aluminium alloys and possess excellent corrosion-
resistant features, especially in an aggressive humid or saline
atmosphere. An additional protective coating is not required, even
after decades of operation, as our aluminium constructions are
designed to last as long as the tanks they are built on. This has been
confirmed in the course of numerous tests in cooperation with
internationally accepted research institutes of the aluminium industry.
These features are derived from our track record covering more than
100 years of aluminium production and processing as well as the
continuous further development of the single structural components.

THE VACONO DOUBLE I-BEAM: A GLOBAL PIONEER

As early as 1999 Vacono developed the Double I-beam and introduced

it as a pioneer in the industry. The Vacono Double I-beam has up to
50 times higher torsional stiffness than a conventional H-beam and
removes all possibilities of failures through Euler buckling. Today the
Double I-beam has become an industry standard. Vacono continues
to develop the advanced design even further to optimize the weight to
strength ratio and to implement the latest developments in advanced
mechanical engineering.

COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

The VACONODome is designed and fabricated in compliance with the

national and international industrial standards using materials as
referenced in the Aluminium Association‘s 2010 Aluminium Design
Manual and then erected on site.

Great significance is paid to the American API 650 App. G standard

recommended for the petroleum industry or chemical industry which
is accepted in most countries all over the world. Moreover the latest
European standards (Eurocode DIN EN 1990, 1991, 1999) as well as
other industrial standards such as IBC 2012 or AWWA D108 are of
course complied within the scope of the structural calculations.

FABRICATION AND UNIQUE FEATURES

The VACONODome structure is entirely CNC fabricated with minimal

tolerances. Also, the Double I-beams increase the accuracy during
fabrication and installation.
All gaskets are extruded EPDM, which is extremely UV and Ozone
resistant and temperature stable.
SLIDING SUPPORTS FOR EXISTING TANKS

The horizontal thrust from the Dome is taken on by the internal

aluminium tension ring. As a consequence, virtually no radial forces
act on the tank wall. The tank can be left untouched in most cases. The
slide shoe design is therefore most suitable for existing tanks where
the retrofit operation is time critical. It can often be fitted to the tank
using “cold work” only, as all connections to the tank can be bolted.

FIXED SUPPORTS: UNBEATABLE FOR NEW TANKS

For new tanks or for large diameter tanks, Vacono has developed
a fixed support design utilizing an external steel landing ring able to
compensate the tank out-of-roundness above the usually acceptable
tolerances. The steel ring fully absorbs the horizontal thrust from the
Dome and can be included in the initial tank design in a cost efficient
way. The resulting lighter design of the VACONODome reduces its
material cost by approx. 10 % vs. the slide shoe design.

VACONO QE²

VACONO’s new trademark when it is about exceeding international

market levels and setting new standards in terms of Quick Assembly,
Efficiency in the use of materials, Quality of Installation and Excellence
in operation.

The VACONODome QE² is the state of the art brother of VACONO’s

established and internationally accepted light weight aluminium
geodesic dome.

QUICKNESS & EFFICIENCY

Through research and manufacturing excellence, it has been possible

to extend the maximum width of triangular cover sheets from 2,74 m
(108”) to up to 4 m (157”) by means of shop-welding the API required
1,2mm (0,02”) coversheets under full workshop quality control
The piece count of triangular sheets, supporting beams and gusset
connections can be reduced significantly.
As a consequence, the net installation time in the field can be reduced
by as much as 30 %, setting a new standard in the market.

QUALITY & EXCELLENCE

The total seam length (clamping bars) can also be reduced by up to

over 10 % and therefore increase the long term water tightness of the
VACONODome QE² in a way beyond usual market level.
Another positive side effect is the reduction of materials by up to
10 %, thus reducing the Sales price by as much (depends on individual
geometry).
 ACCESSORIES
The VACONODome can be equipped with different and sophisticated
accessories to ensure an optimal functioning of the entire tank
Round Walkway with
Counterflashing 2 Handrails construction.
For example, Vacono’s unique round counterflashing reduces the
overhang of the Dome significantly to around 6 inches especially on
smaller diameter Domes e.g. if walkways have to be kept clear.
The Walkway from the perimeter to the apex of the Dome can be
built in various widths and designs.
Skylights allow for natural light in the tank when performing
maintenance work.
Pipe negotiation devices are available in all diameters and different
designs.
Polycarbonate Negotiation
Skylight Device VARIOUS INSTALLATION OPTIONS
The VACONODome is installed from the center outwards, eliminating
expensive scaffolding and not requiring flat surfaces. No field fit is
necessary for structural elements.
Installation can be done adjacent to the tank and craned in position.
Alternatively, in new tanks of large diameter the VACONODome
is usually built on the tank bottom and lifted up with manual or
pneumatic grip hoists.
In existing tanks and due to its low weight, the VACONODome can be
built on the EFR in low or even in high position, thus eliminating the
Erection on EFR Erection adjacent
to tank need for cranes or grip hoists.
Sometimes the Dome is installed on the first course of the tank while
the other courses are built underneath and the tank is jacked up. This
provides a closed and protected working space free of rain and wind,
especially under adverse climatic conditions.

LOW ERECTION COST

As a consequence of the simple but well-developed design, the
VACONODome aluminium construction can be erected very quickly
by local crews, without the demand for specially trained personnel.
Lifting with Lifting with crane
grip hoists Our specialists usually supervise the on-site erection worldwide, to
ensure Vacono’s usual level of quality.

PLEASE CONTACT US AT

www.vacono.com

GERMAN QUALITY WORLDWIDE