If two tanks in a common diked area have total capacity of 550,000 gallons, what is the minimum required capacity of the intermediate dikes to hold the group?

If two tanks in a common diked area have total capacity of 550,000 gallons, what is the minimum required capacity of the intermediate dikes to hold the group?

• A. 50,000
• B. 60,000
• C. 55,000
• D. 70,000

Answer: (C)

When multiple tanks share a common diked area, the interior (intermediate) dikes must be large enough to contain a spill within that area and prevent it from escaping the compartment. The standard rule used here is that the capacity of the intermediate dikes should be at least 10% of the total capacity of the tanks in the diked group. In this case, the two tanks total 550,000 gallons. Ten percent of 550,000 is 55,000 gallons, so the minimum required capacity of the intermediate dikes is 55,000 gallons. The other options do not equal 10% of the total, so they don’t meet this requirement.

When multiple tanks share a common diked area, the interior (intermediate) dikes must be large enough to contain a spill within that area and prevent it from escaping the compartment. The standard rule used here is that the capacity of the intermediate dikes should be at least 10% of the total capacity of the tanks in the diked group.

In this case, the two tanks total 550,000 gallons. Ten percent of 550,000 is 55,000 gallons, so the minimum required capacity of the intermediate dikes is 55,000 gallons. The other options do not equal 10% of the total, so they don’t meet this requirement.