FRP (fiberglass-reinforced plastic) tanks fill a very specific niche in chemical storage: the service is too aggressive for polyethylene (hot acids, strong oxidizers, certain solvents), too corrosive for carbon steel (concentrated HCl, H2SO4, FeCl3, NaOCl), and not economical in stainless (too large, too aggressive for 316L even). At this intersection, FRP is the answer — lighter than steel, immune to corrosion, and customizable in resin chemistry to match the exact service.
The critical decision is resin system. Vinyl ester resin handles the widest range of aggressive chemistries — concentrated acids (sulfuric to 93%, hydrochloric to 37%, nitric to moderate strength), caustics (NaOH to 50%), salt solutions, chlorinated water, and many solvents. Epoxy resin is preferred for alkaline service and water treatment. Isophthalic polyester handles mild-service chemical storage and water applications. Bisphenol-A fumarate is specified for hot caustic, hot acid, and bleach service. Resin selection is matched to chemical, concentration, and service temperature — tabulated in a Chemical Resistance Guide updated against published industry data and field performance.
Dual-laminate construction combines a thermoplastic inner liner (PVC, CPVC, PP, PVDF, ECTFE) with an FRP structural outer shell. The thermoplastic handles direct chemical contact; the FRP provides mechanical strength. This is standard for bromine, hot sodium hypochlorite, concentrated hydrofluoric acid, and other chemistries that exceed even vinyl ester's envelope. Filament-wound construction (continuous roving wound under tension) delivers higher mechanical strength than chopped-strand contact molding — required for pressure vessels (ASME Section X), horizontal tanks on saddles, and large-diameter aboveground storage tanks.
What We Fabricate
Vinyl-Ester FRP Storage Tanks
General-purpose aggressive-service FRP storage, 50-gal to 50,000-gal vertical or horizontal.
Code-stamped filament-wound FRP pressure vessels for regulated service.
Filament-Wound FRP Cylinders
Pre-manufactured FRP cylinders for tank heads, pipe segments, and pressure-vessel shells.
Scrubber Towers & Absorbers
Packed-bed and tray FRP scrubbers for air-quality compliance equipment.
Bleach & Hypochlorite Tanks
Bisphenol-A fumarate or dual-laminate FRP for sodium hypochlorite chemical service.
Water-Treatment FRP Tanks
Municipal and industrial water-treatment storage and process vessels.
Underground FRP Tanks
Buried fiberglass tanks with external corrosion protection for fuel and chemical service.
FRP Pipe Spools
Engineered FRP piping in matching resin system for interconnecting fabrication work.
Horizontal FRP Tanks
Filament-wound horizontal tanks on FRP or steel saddles for transport and bulk storage.
FRP Hoods, Ductwork & Stacks
Corrosion-resistant ventilation and exhaust infrastructure for chemical plants.
Custom Resin Systems
Specialty resin matching for unique chemistries — consult with engineering.
How a Custom Project Works
Requirements capture. Volume, materials of construction, service chemistry, operating temperature and pressure, installation footprint, utility connections, code and finish requirements. We work from a specification sheet you provide or we draft one against your process flow.
Engineering and drawings. Our partner engineering team produces a general-arrangement drawing, bill of materials, weld-map, and code calculation package if applicable. You review and sign off before any steel is cut.
Material procurement. Plate, pipe, fittings, and elastomers are ordered against the approved BOM. Material Test Reports (MTRs) are captured for every heat of stainless or carbon steel used on code work.
Fabrication. Shell courses rolled and seam-welded, heads formed and welded, ports installed per drawing. Sanitary work is TIG-welded with argon purge and ground flush to 32 Ra or better on product-contact surfaces.
Inspection and testing. Radiographic or ultrasonic weld inspection where code requires, hydrostatic pressure test at 1.3x design pressure for code vessels, surface-roughness profilometry on sanitary vessels, passivation to ASTM A967.
Documentation and shipment. MTRs, weld maps, NDE reports, hydro certificates, code stamps, and ASME Form U-1 (if applicable) are bound into a documentation package that travels with the vessel. Shipment via flatbed or step-deck with blocking, bracing, and tarp as specified.
FRP & Fiberglass Tanks — Project Gallery
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is FRP the right answer vs. stainless steel?
FRP wins when the chemistry is too aggressive for even 316L (concentrated hydrochloric, sulfuric, bromine, certain chlorine-bearing solutions) or when a stainless tank's cost escalates past practical for the target volume. Stainless wins in high-temperature service (>200°F continuous), high-pressure service, sanitary applications, and smaller-volume equipment.
What's the service life of an FRP tank?
Properly-specified FRP tanks have documented 30–50 year service lives in aggressive chemical service. Key variables: resin system match to chemistry, installation quality, and environmental exposure (UV, freeze-thaw).
How do I specify the resin system?
Provide the chemical stored, maximum concentration, maximum operating temperature, and whether the service is continuous or intermittent. Our engineering team cross-references against published chemical-resistance data and fabricator field-experience lists to specify the resin system.
Is FRP ASME-rated?
FRP pressure vessels are designed and code-stamped to ASME Section X, Class I (filament-wound) and Class II (contact-molded). Atmospheric storage tanks follow ASTM D3299 and ASTM D4097. RTP-1 from ASME is the governing standard for low-pressure FRP.
Give us your process specs — volume, service chemistry, installation footprint, utility connections, finish requirements. We come back with a full engineering package, firm lead time, and fixed price. No obligation, no sales pressure.
