Supplied Air AST Cleaning – Confined Space Entry & Corrosive Chemical Removal

In 2026, CTIS was contracted to perform a supplied air cleaning of an aboveground storage tank (AST) at a private industrial facility in Virginia. The AST had no existing manway and was located inside a confined space, creating a confined space within a confined space that required careful planning and strict safety controls.

The CTIS team’s scope of work included a horizontal breach of the AST using pneumatic cutting tools and non-sparking hand tools, removal of the remaining chemical, and entry and cleaning of the tank interior. Because the product was a high pH, ammonia-containing corrosive, all AST entrants wore supplied air respirators, with full face respirators for the attendant and support personnel. Mechanical ventilation was required inside and outside the AST, continuous air monitoring was maintained throughout both spaces, special care was taken to protect Life Safety cables and equipment from contact, and entrants went through extensive decontamination on exit.

The goal of the project was to make the inside atmosphere of the AST safe for a Certified Tank Inspector to enter and inspect the tank. This project highlights CTIS’s expertise in confined space entry, hazardous chemical removal, and industrial tank cleaning, delivering safe and compliant field services in demanding environments.

Project Snapshot

Sector: Private / Industrial
Location: Virginia
Project Year: 2026
Contract Value: $40,000