Standic

With the construction of a new terminal in Antwerp, tank storage company Standic is making great strides. The new terminal offers a potential total capacity of 230,000 cubic metres. A big leap forward for the Dordrecht-based company that doubles its total storage capacity. Unique Lights has provided the right solutions for all terminal lighting components. And there are quite a few of them. From explosion-proof to office lighting.

As part of the Hemetha Group, Standic specialises in chemicals, biofuels and lubricants. At the terminal in Dordrecht alone, Standic accommodates 230,500 cubic metres of chemicals, biodiesels, base oils and lubricants. With more than 160 tanks ranging in size from 156 m³ to 6,600 m³, the company offers solutions to a variety of storage issues. So bespoke solutions, a mindset that perfectly reflects Unique Lights’ working methods and expertise.

Explosion-proof lighting and ATEX.

With the expansion from Dordrecht to Antwerp, the company is not only growing in capacity. This port city also offers an opportunity for further development in the international market for specialised chemicals. However, such hazardous storage also results in unique lighting requirements for the terminal. Most important: explosion-proof lighting according to ATEX directives.
The ATEX directives are two European directives that organisations in the EU that work with flammable gases and explosive materials must comply with. Due to these stringent requirements, projects in the offshore oil and gas industry always present unique challenges. Lighting faces extreme conditions, for example in locations where there is a risk of explosion, and access is difficult and problematic. So too in the case of Standic, where the LED lighting not only had to be explosion-proof, sustainable and efficient, but where the size and location of the project placed demands on the many different components of the overall project.
From office to road lighting

“You usually have between 10 and 12 typicals at a single tank terminal,” said Project Manager Corné Muis. From road lighting to sump lighting to on-site office lighting – all these different components, or typicals, have their own set of requirements. “Besides explosion safety, there are also the NEN standards you have to comply with. Of course, there’s the close proximity to shipping, too. Water quickly forms one big reflective mirror, which you should also take into account with your LED lighting. Such a process involves dealing with so many aspects simultaneously.”
Thinking about the future

It is precisely because of the many different aspects of such a project that the advisory role Unique Lights takes at the beginning of the project is so important. Examples, standards and documents go back and forth to determine the best solution. Not only do the various components of a project have to be factored in, but sustainability also plays an important role. After all, that is a key factor in the transition to LED lighting. “You contribute to the project, but you also definitely contribute to the future.”