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Double Wall Storage Tanks

Protank Double Wall Tanks

A double wall tank is a tank-within-a-tank with a primary storage container enclosed by an integrated outer shell. They are also known as dual wall tanks, double walled tanks, tank-in-a-tank systems, integrally contained tanks, dual containment tanks, and secondary containment storage tanks. The outer shell functions as a built-in secondary containment unit that catches leaks should the inner tank fail and prevent a release from reaching workfloors, soil, or a drain. Choosing a double wall tank depends on the storage contents, which influences product resin type and specific gravity rating, and applicable codes, standards or legal requirements: SPCC, RCRA, fire code, insurer, or company policy, as each can set a different containment target. If these two are understood, the rest is tank-to-application configuration such as fittings, monitoring, and accessory components.

Tell us your chemical, concentration, temperature, and volume, and we can help match the resin, SG, and containment unit with a freight quote to your site.

 

How to Choose a Double Walled Plastic Tank

1. Resin & SG Selection

Double wall tanks are available in linear HDPE (HDLPE) or crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE), in specific gravity ratings of 1.5 and 1.9, depending on the tank line and material. The tank rating must be matched to the density of the storage fluid, at minimum, (a 1.9 SG rated tank can handle roughly 15.8 lb/gal liquids). Resin choice is application-specific: XLPE offers higher environmental stress-crack and impact resistance, in general; HDLPE is weldable and can be modified to accommodate custom fittings. 

For aggressive oxidizers, there are chemical-specific resin packages, including proprietary sodium hypochlorite (resin #880059), often UV-opaque to slow degradation, and sulfuric acid (resin #880046) formulations.

2. Containment Requirements by Rule

Secondary containment applies to more than one rule. Oil is governed by SPCC (40 CFR 112); hazardous waste tank systems by RCRA (40 CFR 264/265.193); hazardous materials generally by the IFC/IBC and your state fire code; and insurers or company EHS policy may establish its own rules. Each rule may set a different required containment volume and freeboard.

A satisfactory tank product depends on the liquid type and properties, total volume, site parameters, and often the approval of an engineer or local governing body. A dual wall tank provides structural secondary containment in one unit, supporting compliance, and a PE can confirm it meets your company-specific obligation. These tanks are used to achieve compliance; they are not a guarantee of compliance on their own.

3. Primary Volume & Footprint

Double wall storage tank capacities run 35 to 12,500 gallons. When choosing a tank, size on working volume, not nominal capacity. A double wall tank’s rated capacity is the primary vessel. Any necessary freeboard, overflow margin, and level sensor dead band must be accounted for here. Standard bulkhead outlets are installed 6 to 9” above the base, which will leave non-usable liquid below the outlet as heel. 

The benefit of a double walled tank over a single wall tank placed in a separate concrete dike is total consumed footprint: the containment is built-in, so a single product system can potentially be specified over having to engineer and pour a basin around a tank.

4. Draw Configuration, Fittings, Accessories, and Freight

Double wall tanks can be configured with drains, fill lines, draw pipes, U-vent assemblies, OSHA rated ladders, tie-down systems, seismic restraints, level indicators, manways, and interstitial leak detectors. 

For discharge, the double wall design requires a bottom outlet to pass through both walls using a through-containment fitting or a top draw line. Sidewall bulkheads cannot be added the same way they are on single wall tanks. Decide draw configuration before you order. 

Always use flexible fittings as inner and outer walls expand and flex independently under hydrostatic load and thermal changes. Rigid piping tied to a through-containment fitting can shear pipes or crack nozzles, and will typically void a tank warranty. 

Double wall tanks ship heavier and larger per gallon than single walled equivalents, and may require a different freight class and handling during offload.

5. DWC vs. Captor Style Tanks

DWC series dual wall tanks come in 35–1,500 gallons and are ideal for mini-bulk and day tanks; sizes ≤ 250 gallons are better suited for clearing doorways. Forklift channels are present on 275, 360, and 500 gallon models. Double walled Captor tanks range from 550–12,500 gallons and are ideal for bulk and tanker-fed uses. They feature a U.F.O. fitting, 18” standard manway up to 24”, and add-on options for OSHA ladders, tie-down lugs, sensors, level indicators, fill/draw lines, and vent assemblies.

6. Used Oil Containment Tanks

Used oil tanks are designed to meet 40 CFR 279.22 requirements for waste oil, not chemical containment. They feature a safety yellow secondary tank with a black primary tank, a 2” top draw quick connect for hauler pump-out, a hinged lockable manway, and a debris strainer or sink. Total containment volume provided spans 110–115% ( WOS) or 110% (WOV). Browse our full selection of used oil tanks.

Double Wall Tank Specs

Common Double Wall Tank Sizes
Capacity Diameter × Height S.G. Rep. Part Common use case
35 gal 22″ × 36″ 1.9 DWS35 Small volume day tanks; clears standard doorway
120 gal 34″ × 51″ 1.9 DWS120 Chemical feed room; mini-bulk dosing
275 gal 47″ × 63″ 1.9 DWS275 Forklift and pallet jack accessible; onsite tote replacement
500 gal 53″ × 81″ 1.9 DWS500 Commercial dosing; volume floor for ASTM D1998 primary tank
1,000 gal 81″ × 69″ 1.9 DWS1000 Low profile bulk tank for height constrained sites
1,500 gal 93″ × 76″ 1.9 DWS1500 High capacity day tank
2,500 gal 102″ × 122″ 1.9 DWS2500 Mid volume bulk storage with built-in containment
5,000 gal 102″ × 216″ 1.5, 1.9 DWS5000 Full tanker truck delivery; flatbed freight
12,500 gal 142″ × 274″ 1.5, 1.9 DWS12500 Maximum single unit bulk containment

Representative sizes. Dimensions, SG ratings, and mold features vary by model and manufacturing plant; request the drawing per FOB origin.

 

Dual Wall Polyethylene Resins & Compliance Standards

Resin

HDLPE: linear high density polyethylene, Type II under ASTM D1998, is a weldable, repairable thermoplastic. Fittings can be added or relocated in the field, custom configurations are possible, and the material generally has a lower cost compared to XLPE. It’s the right choice when chemical and temperature conditions don’t demand crosslinked’s improved stress-crack resistance. HDLPE is the resin used when NSF/ANSI 61 potable water service is required.

XLPE: crosslinked polyethylene, Type I under D1998, forms chemical bonds between polymer chains during molding to become a thermoset plastic. The material cannot be welded, remelted, or reprocessed, so added fittings must be mechanical rather than welded. In performance, XLPE resists slow crack growth and environmental stress cracking better, holds higher impact strength, improved low temperature tolerance, and tends to fail locally rather than propagating.

Those properties matter for working conditions that can cause stress cracking in poly tanks: sustained hoop stress near the base, aggressive oxidizers, elevated or cycling temperature, and surfactant exposure.

Specific gravity

Double wall tanks come in 1.5 and 1.9 specific gravity ratings. Specific gravity measures a fluid’s density relative to water, (water = 1.0, so a 1.7 SG liquid is 1.7 times the density of water). A tank’s SG rating states the fluid weight the wall thickness and structural design are engineered to carry; 1.5 SG corresponds to roughly 12.5 lb/gal, 1.9 SG to about 15.8 lb/gal.

Match or exceed the tank’s specific gravity to the fluid being stored. Confirm chemical, concentration, activity, and temperature compatibility together as full application suitability and tank structural derating changes with temperature. Tank specific gravity does not indicate compatibility with the fluid creating the weight. A 1.9 SG rated tank is structurally engineered for dense liquids, but whether the liquid attacks the resin, fittings, or gaskets at working concentration and temperature is a separate evaluation.

Service Temperature

Polyethylene’s structural rating is established at 73°F and derates as temperature rises. Chemical compatibility derates with temperature also. ASTM D1998 caps continuous service below 150°F for Type I (XLPE) and below 140°F for Type II (HDLPE). Both resins are recommended up to around 100°F for heated, chemical compatible service; applications above should undergo a compatibility and full system review.

ASTM D1998 on Double Wall Tanks

Primary, vertical cylindrical tanks of 500 gallons or more are designed to meet or exceed ASTM D1998, the specification for one piece rotomolded polyethylene upright storage tanks in atmospheric service (Type I XLPE and Type II HDLPE). On a double wall tank, the primary inner tank is the vessel built to D1998. It holds the product and carries the resin, SG, and temperature ratings. The outer tank is a containment vessel, molded with heavier walls to absorb the hydrostatic surge and shock load of inventory release. It is not a second storage tank and cannot be used as spare capacity.

ASTM D1998 does not apply to the smaller day tank sizes or to non-cylindrical containment units. ASTM D1998 does not cover external, imposed loads like seismic or wind that are covered by local building codes and an engineer.

Secondary Containment Capacity

The outer shell is engineered to hold a defined percentage of the primary tank’s contents, commonly to bring the full containment capacity to at least 110% of the volume rating. This is a build specification, not a compliance certification. Whether a double wall tank satisfies SPCC, RCRA, or fire code obligations depends on the fluid, volume, jurisdiction, and professional sign-off. One practical advantage: because double wall tanks are fully enclosed, precipitation never enters the containment. This eliminates the concerns with open dikes that have to be sized with added freeboard for storm events and then pumped out after rainfall.

Features → applications

Integrated secondary containment (tank-in-a-tank)
Does the job of a dike or basin in a single unit. EHS teams commonly choose these tanks to shrink their onsite containment footprint. The outer tank is molded with heavier walls than the primary tank to handle the shock of sudden inventory release and hold the volume afterward.
De-risk: we inform on the product; your engineer confirms sufficiency.
Fully enclosed outer wall
Keeps rain, snow, and debris out to protect product purity and keep containment unit from stormwater fill.
For: outdoor installs, water or wastewater chemical feed, anywhere open basins would collect precipitation or debris.
Interstitial (annular) space + leak detection
The gap between walls can be monitored visually or with a leak detection sensor to catch a primary wall failure before anything can reach the environment. Captor models can be fitted with 2” or 3” PVC sight glass assemblies.
For: regulated storage that requires early, rapid detection.
Through-containment fitting / draw design
Bottom outlets pass through both walls via a purpose built fitting; top draw is an alternative. Snyder’s Unified Fitting Outlet, 2”, 3”, and 4” with 6” only on the largest Captor tanks, ordered with an EPDM or Viton (FKM) gasket. Generic substitute parts can void the manufacturer’s warranty.
De-risk: decide plumbing before order.
Vented or non-vented manway
Vented manway is standard; non-vented is recommended where chemical fumes need to be routed away from the tank area.
 
Vent sizing (bulk sizes)
These are atmospheric tanks and cannot be pressurized. Venting must be present to limit pressure or vacuum to a maximum of ½ inch water column (0.018 PSI). A vent sized for pump filling can be dangerously undersized for pneumatic offloading, potentially resulting in pressurization and rupture. High rate pump discharge can create a vacuum that collapses the wall inward.
De-risk: Required vent size varies by tank, fill method, and flow rate. Insufficient venting voids warranty. Verify vent sizing against your unloading method before use.
Flat bottom stationary design and pad requirements.
Dual wall tanks are free standing but need full, continuous, level support across the entire base on a smooth, load rated surface free of voids, high spots, or debris.
De-risk: confirm pad level, load rating, and full contact before setting. Indoor installations require structural review on floor loading; a 6,500 gallon tank with a 1.9 SG liquid weighs over 100,000 lbs when fully filled.
SG rating up to 1.9
Specifies the chemical weight the tank can carry.
For: dense and concentrated solutions.

 

Double Wall Tank Applications

Applications by Use Case
Use case Typical fluids What drives selection
Chemical storage & feed (industrial, municipal) Sodium hypochlorite, sodium hydroxide, sulfuric acid, ferric chloride, polymers Resin and SG matched to fluid and concentration; chemical-specific resin for certain oxidizers; fitting and gasket compatibility; containment driver (IFC / state / insurer)
Municipal & industrial water treatment Sodium hypochlorite, caustic, fluoride, coagulants, pH adjustment Resin selection for oxidizers; feed pump connections and flexible transitions; interstitial monitoring; containment capacity documentation
Regulated chemical storage Liquids with mandatory secondary containment Containment capacity of tank; interstitial leak detection; documentation for oversight; obligation (SPCC / RCRA 264.193 / IFC)
Agricultural & bulk deicing liquids Liquid fertilizer, UAN, brine, calcium chloride, urea solutions Tank SG to solution density (1.9 for dense brines); outdoor UV exposure; seasonal fill and draw cycles; freeze plan and heat trace when applicable
Waste & used oil collection (fleet, automotive): WO / ODW models Used motor oil, waste oil Facility requirements under 40 CFR 279.22; SPCC 40 CFR 112 when volumes trigger it; lockable manway and debris strainer; containment volume
Industrial process, day tanks & neutralization Process chemicals, dilution, pH adjustment Working volume vs rated capacity (freeboard, heel, sensor dead band); fitting and gasket package; service temperature and exothermic mixing spikes
Wastewater & effluent holding Industrial effluent, neutralization, equalization Capacity sized to surge and draw rate; agitation or mixing load evaluation; poly or coated steel
Oil, gas & industrial process Produced water, process chemicals, injection feed Resin and SG fluid match; site seismic and wind restraint requirements; freight and offload planning for remote sites

Representative of common service, not an endorsement of compatibility for any specific fluid or application.

 

Logistics & freight

Double wall tanks ship fully assembled from our warehouse network either LTL or flatbed depending on size. They are heavier and larger per gallon of storage than a single wall tank of the same capacity, which affects freight class and handling. Plan for liftgate or forklift offload on larger units and confirm site access. We quote freight to your delivery point and flag offload requirements up front to eliminate surprises at receipt. Honest lead times by size on request.

Talk to a specialist about your chemical and containment requirement.If you know your liquid or chemical profile and jurisdiction requirements, we can help match the resin, SG, containment, and freight specifics.
Request a Custom Quote

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Double Wall Tanks

Yes, a doubled wall polyethylene tank provides engineered secondary containment in a single unit. The outer shell is built to capture a leak from the primary tank should it fail. Whether it satisfies specific regulatory obligations (SPCC under 40 CFR 112, RCRA under 40 CFR 264.193, or your state fire code) depends on the fluid, total volume, inspection routine, release response, and the sign off by an engineer or the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). We can tell you what a given tank provides; compliance confirmation is your responsibility.

A double wall tank is built as two integral shells: an inner primary tank that holds the liquid, and an outer containment shell surrounding it. The gap between them, the interstitial, or annular, space, stays empty in normal service. If the primary wall fails, the liquid is captured in that space instead of reaching the floor or ground, and a leak detection sensor or sight glass is used to monitor the interstitial space for failure.

The outer containment shell is engineered to hold a percentage of the primary tank’s volume to bring total capacity up to 110% or more. The extra volume afforded by the secondary tank depends on the model: Captor tanks run 115-120%; used oil tanks run 110%; The Chem-Tainer DC series states compliance with the same capacity requirement without publishing a percentage: ask us for the figure on the specific model.

It depends on the chemical, its concentration, and temperature. XLPE offers higher stress crack and impact resistance; HDLPE is weldable and customizable. For oxidizers like sodium hypochlorite the choice is application specific and even different tank manufacturers disagree. Dedicated chemical resin packages exist such as HDLPE #880046 for sulfuric acid and HDLPE #880059 for sodium hypochlorite (bleach).

Double wall tanks range from 35 to 12,500 gallons. Specific gravity ratings of 1.5 and 1.9 are standard on the DCT and Captor models, with other ratings available on request. DWC series tanks do not have a published SG rating, so confirm suitability with us before choosing it for a dense fluid. Always match the SG rating to the density of the fluid to be stored; a 1.9 SG tank handles roughly 15.8 lb/gal, against water’s 8.34.

Both provide secondary containment, but they differ in footprint, cost, and ongoing operational burden. A double wall tank is a single self-contained unit that occupies about the same floor area of a single tank, ships and installs as one piece, and provides fully enclosed containment so precipitation never enters. A separate basin costs less initially for the tank itself, can potentially hold multiple tanks in one containment area, and leaves the primary storage tank fully visible for inspection, but it requires more floor space, has to be engineered and built separately, sized with added freeboard for storm events, and needs pumping out after rainfall. Water that accumulates in an open containment area may itself become a regulated waste stream that can turn regular rainfall events into disposal costs. The right choice depends on the site, the number of tanks, inspection practices, and ongoing maintenance capability.

No, the outer tank is a containment vessel designed for release capture, not usable capacity. It’s molded with heavier walls than the primary specifically to absorb the hydrostatic surge and shock load of a sudden, full release of inventory from the inner tank, not to hold product in normal service. Using it as storage eliminates the containment function and leaves you without secondary containment protection. When sizing a tank for an application, work from the primary tank’s rated capacity only.

Yes, but it has to pass through both walls with a specialized through-containment fitting. Ordinary sidewall bulkhead fittings cannot be added as they can on a single-wall tank. Top draw assemblies can be installed as an alternative. Decide draw configuration before ordering.

No, not without flexible connectors or expansion joints. Like all materials, the polyethylene that double wall tanks are made from expands and contracts with temperature changes, and hydrostatic load as the tank is filled and discharged causes hoop expansion. On double wall tanks, there is an additional variable: the inner and outer shells each flex independently as the primary tank carries the load and and the secondary tank is exposed to ambient conditions. These variations must be accounted for. Rigid piping bolted directly to a through-containment fitting concentrates and transfers that movement, (plus pipe and liquid weight), into the fitting and the tank wall. This can shear the fitting or initiate stress cracking at the penetration. On double wall tanks, a sheared penetration can compromise both vessels at once.

Always transition through a flexible connector or expansion joint at every tank penetration. Support piping independently from the tank. Rigid connections without flexible transitions can void the tank warranty.

Whether additional tank structural supports are needed depends on the jurisdiction, regional conditions, and storage contents, not the tank. Seismic and wind loads, (as well as mixer-agitation force), are externally imposed loads outside ASTM D1998 specification, meaning support for these loads must be engineered and added separately from the tank. Your engineer and the local building department can determine whether your site or application requires it based on the seismic design category (regional earthquake risk), site class (soil conditions), occupancy category (critical-to-non-critical facility), and wind exposure. Tall outdoor tanks can require wind restraint even outside seismic zones.

Yes, dedicated double wall waste oil tanks are available (part series: WO and ODW). Used oil storage carries its own regulatory considerations: used-oil management rules 40 CFR 279.22 and, for oil, SPCC.

 

Related Products

 

Name Diameter Height Size S.G. Part
35 Gallon Double Wall Tank 24" 35" 24 Ø
35 H
DWC35
35 Gallon Double Wall Tank 22" 36" 22 Ø
36 H
1.9 DWS35
50 Gallon Double Wall Tank 26.5" 38" 26.5 Ø
38 H
DWC50
60 Gallon Double Wall Tank 26" 41" 26 Ø
41 H
1.9 DWS60
65 Gallon Double Wall Tank 28" 37" 28 Ø
37 H
DWC65
100 Gallon Plastic Waste Oil Tank 35" 41" 35 Ø
41 H
WOC100
100 Gallon Double Wall Tank 35" 39" 35 Ø
39 H
DWC100
120 Gallon Double Wall Tank 34" 51" 34 Ø
51 H
1.9 DWS120
120 Gallon Double Wall Tank 33" 45" 33 Ø
45 H
DWC120
120 Gallon Plastic Waste Oil Tank 33" 51" 33 Ø
51 H
1.9 WOS120
150 Gallon Plastic Waste Oil Tank 34" 49" 34 Ø
49 H
WOC150
150 Gallon Double Wall Tank 34" 62" 34 Ø
62 H
1.9 DWS150
150 Gallon Plastic Waste Oil Tank 34" 62" 34 Ø
62 H
1.9 WOS150
150 Gallon Double Wall Tank 34" 48" 34 Ø
48 H
DWC150
200 Gallon Plastic Waste Oil Tank 41" 53" 41 Ø
53 H
WOC200
200 Gallon Double Wall Tank 41" 52" 41 Ø
52 H
DWC200
250 Gallon Double Wall Tank 34" 83" 34 Ø
83 H
1.9 DWS250
275 Gallon Double Wall Tank 47" 63" 47 Ø
63 H
1.9 DWS275
275 Gallon Plastic Waste Oil Tank 47" 63" 47 Ø
63 H
1.9 WOS275
300 Gallon Plastic Waste Oil Tank 57" 45" 57 Ø
45 H
1.9 ODW0300
350 Gallon Double Wall Tank 52" 56" 52 Ø
56 H
DWC350
360 Gallon Double Wall Tank 53" 63" 53 Ø
63 H
1.9 DWS360
360 Gallon Plastic Waste Oil Tank 53" 63" 53 Ø
63 H
1.9 WOS360
385 Gallon Plastic Waste Oil Tank 64" 40" 64 Ø
40 H
WOC385
405 Gallon Double Wall Tank 48" 73" 48 Ø
73 H
1.9 DWS405
405 Gallon Plastic Waste Oil Tank 48" 73" 48 Ø
73 H
1.9 WOS405
500 Gallon Double Wall Tank 59" 71" 59 Ø
71 H
DWC500
500 Gallon Plastic Waste Oil Tank 57" 69" 57 Ø
69 H
1.9 ODW0500
500 Gallon Plastic Waste Oil Tank 53" 81" 53 Ø
81 H
1.9 WOS500
500 Gallon Double Wall Tank 53" 81" 53 Ø
81 H
1.9 DWS500
550 Gallon Double Wall Tank 76" 65" 76 Ø
65 H
1.9 DWS550
750 Gallon Plastic Waste Oil Tank 73" 67" 73 Ø
67 H
1.9 WOS750
750 Gallon Double Wall Tank 73" 67" 73 Ø
67 H
1.9 DWS750
1000 Gallon Plastic Waste Oil Tank 81" 69" 81 Ø
69 H
1.9 WOS1000
1000 Gallon Double Wall Tank 81" 69" 81 Ø
69 H
1.9 DWS1000
1000 Gallon Double Wall Tank 74" 85" 74 Ø
85 H
DWC1000
1100 Gallon Double Wall Tank 76" 104" 76 Ø
104 H
1.9 DWS1100
1500 Gallon Double Wall Tank 93" 76" 93 Ø
76 H
1.9 DWS1500
1550 Gallon Double Wall Tank 76" 136" 76 Ø
136 H
1.9 DWS1550
2000 Gallon Double Wall Tank 102" 103" 102 Ø
103 H
1.9 DWS2000
2500 Gallon Double Wall Tank 102" 122" 102 Ø
122 H
1.9 DWS2500
3000 Gallon Double Wall Tank 102" 142" 102 Ø
142 H
DWS3000
3500 Gallon Double Wall Tank 102" 158" 102 Ø
158 H
DWS3500
4000 Gallon Double Wall Tank 102" 178" 102 Ø
178 H
DWS4000
4500 Gallon Double Wall Tank 102" 197" 102 Ø
197 H
DWS4500
5000 Gallon Double Wall Tank 102" 216" 102 Ø
216 H
DWS5000
5500 Gallon Double Wall Tank 120" 172" 120 Ø
172 H
DWS5500
6500 Gallon Double Wall Tank 120" 199" 120 Ø
199 H
DWS6500
8700 Gallon Double Wall Tank 142" 197" 142 Ø
197 H
DWS8700
10000 Gallon Double Wall Tank 142" 226" 142 Ø
226 H
DWS10000
12500 Gallon Double Wall Tank 142" 274" 142 Ø
274 H
DWS12500