When handling chemicals in industrial settings, selecting the right chemical top loading arm is essential for safety and operational efficiency. These specialized systems provide a reliable connection between storage tanks and transportation vehicles, such as trucks and railcars, which helps streamline all loading and unloading operations.
When choosing which chemical top loading arm is right for your job, there are a couple of things you should consider. Let’s break it down.
- Material Compatibility: Stainless Steel versus Carbon Steel
First, make sure that the loading arm’s materials are compatible with the chemicals being handled since chemicals can be corrosive or reactive. By selecting the right material, you can ensure that your loading arm stays safe and in good working condition for longer.
Most loading arms are available in carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Typically, stainless steel is the best choice for handling most chemicals due to its corrosion resistance. For chemicals that aren’t highly corrosive, try cost-effective carbon steel.
- Loading Connection: Tight versus Splash
Next, decide what type of loading connection you need. There are two main types: tight loading and splash loading.
As the name suggests, tight loading forms a tight, sealed connection. This helps prevent chemical vapours or fumes from escaping, which is important when working with hazardous or volatile chemicals. However, a tight loading connection offers no flexibility.
Splash loading, on the other hand, is an open and flexible connection. This type of loading is faster and less expensive than tight loading. However, since the connection is less sealed, splash loading may cause exposure to fumes. As such, this connection should be used for less hazardous chemicals.
When ordering your top loading arm from Northern Platforms, make sure to specify which type of connection you’ll need so that we can ensure our product is 100% compatible with your existing system.
- Reach Capabilities: Variable versus Fixed
The reach of your loading arm is another important consideration. Do you need flexibility to connect to different-sized vehicles or containers? Or will you consistently be loading and unloading chemicals from the same type of vessel? This will determine if you need a variable or fixed reach loading arm.
A variable reach top loading arm is highly adjustable and flexible, meaning that you can adapt your loading operations to handle a variety of tanker sizes. Unsupported and supported boom are two popular styles of variable top loading arms.
On the other hand, fixed reach arms are usually set to a specific height and length. This kind of top loading arm is simple, reliable, and best used for loading operations that are standardized across all vehicles.
Your Canadian Source for Loading Arms
At Northern Platforms, we pride ourselves on making Canadian worksites safer and more efficient. Based in Alberta, we can be onsite within days to deliver your order. Plus, we have over 20 years of industry experience, meaning that we are here to help you with all your specific needs.
Interested? Contact us today and let our team walk you through our options for a chemical top loading arm. Plus, you can explore our catalogue for all our safety solutions.