Fuel Terminal
Platform Engineering
Aluminum access platform structural engineering for a Gulf Coast fuel terminal — 186 mph wind design, Risk Category IV, and PE-sealed drawings for permitting.
Engineered to survive hurricane-force winds
Grey Engineering Enterprises provided structural engineering and PE sealing for aluminum access platforms at a Gulf Coast fuel terminal. The project included a tank access platform and a truck loading platform — both designed to the 2024/2026 Florida Building Code with Risk Category IV wind loading.
Risk Category IV applies to facilities that are critical to public safety and must remain operational during and after a major storm event. This classification drives the design wind speed to Vult = 186 mph — well above the standard residential or commercial threshold — and requires a 100 PSF uniform live load on all platform surfaces.
The aluminum-on-steel construction required a dissimilar metal isolation check to prevent galvanic corrosion at the platform attachment points. Anchor bolt and tie-down design was reviewed to ensure the platforms remain secured under the full hurricane wind load envelope.
Request a Platform Engineering QuoteFull structural package, PE-sealed for permitting
Aluminum Platform Structural Review
Structural engineering review of aluminum access platforms on carbon steel tanks — including tank access platform and truck loading platform. Member sizing, connection design, and grating loads verified against the 2024/2026 Florida Building Code.
High-Wind Load Analysis
Wind load analysis per ASCE 7 with Vult = 186 mph, Risk Category IV, Exposure Category C. Platform components designed to resist the full factored wind load envelope — critical for coastal Gulf Coast installations subject to hurricane-force winds.
Live Load & Code Compliance
Platform designed for 100 PSF uniform live load — the Risk Category IV requirement for critical facilities. Compliance verified against 2024/2026 Florida Building Code and AISC structural standards for aluminum construction.
Dissimilar Metal Isolation
Dissimilar metal isolation check for aluminum platform clips bearing on carbon steel tank shells — galvanic corrosion risk evaluated and isolation requirements specified to prevent accelerated corrosion at the aluminum-to-steel interface.
Anchor Bolt & Tie-Down Design
Anchor bolt and tie-down design review for platform attachment to tank structure — uplift and shear loads calculated under the full wind load case, with anchor bolt patterns specified to resist the governing load combination.
PE Sealing & Permitting
All structural calculations, drawings, and code compliance documentation reviewed and sealed by a licensed Professional Engineer. Package issued for building permit submission and owner record.
Risk Category IV wind design
Risk Category IV structures are those whose failure would pose a direct threat to public health and safety, or that are essential to emergency response operations. For a fuel terminal in a coastal Gulf Coast location, this classification is mandatory — and it drives every structural design decision.
The 186 mph ultimate design wind speed (Vult) is derived from ASCE 7 wind maps for the project location and risk category. Wind loads are calculated for the platform structure, grating, handrails, and equipment — then combined with gravity loads in the governing LRFD load combinations to size every member and connection.
The 48-inch wide safety-serrated aluminum grating steps were specified for their high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance in the marine Gulf Coast environment — while the serrated surface provides slip resistance for personnel working in wet conditions.