Get to Know Our Family of Best-in-Class Products
Specifying an aboveground fuel storage tank means choosing small components that each carry a big job. These include the valve that stops an overfill, the vent that protects the tank shell, and the solenoid that guards the supply line. We’ve spent more than a century building these parts in Kansas City. Here’s how the pieces fit together on a real tank.
The OPV Gen X, Our Flagship Overfill Valve
The Gen X is our headline overfill prevention valve because it makes installation dramatically simpler. It goes in without tools, hardware, or field adjustments, and a single person can handle the job. As the flagship pressure-fill valve in the line, it installs through a 4-inch SCH 40 pipe nipple or on top of a spill container, then connects to 2-inch fill piping or 3-inch pipe via reducer.
Like every overfill prevention valve we build, the Gen X is mechanical and fail-safe. A float drives it, so it needs no electrical power and no operator input to restrict and then stop fuel flow as the tank nears capacity.
Overfill Prevention Valves for Every Tank Profile
The Gen X anchors a broader family of overfill prevention valves, each tuned for a different tank profile. The 1228 GenSet OPV is engineered for the restricted-height genset tanks that backup-power sites depend on, with 2 x 2” and 2 x 4” configurations, pressure delivery at a minimum 5 PSI, retrofit capability for existing tanks, and a U.S. patent behind it.
When verification matters, the 1228 Testable OPV lets an operator activate the float to a shut-off position before or during a fill. Its test mechanism uses a 305-grade stainless steel wire rope meeting MIL specifications, with a breaking strength over 360 pounds, and it works in direct or remote fill installations. For high-volume sites, our 4 x 6” AST OPV delivers the highest flow in the family at over 500 GPM at 40 PSI.
Why an Emergency Vent Protects the Whole Tank
An emergency vent keeps tank pressure from becoming a structural problem. If a tank is exposed to fire or a sudden pressure event, the vent opens to release the buildup before it can damage the shell. Every overfill valve and gauge on the tank depends on that shell staying intact, which is why we treat the emergency vent as core safety equipment on every tank we spec.
Our emergency vents cover the range of tank sizes and flow needs you run into in the field. The UL Listed Emergency Pressure Relief Vent (365) uses a heavy-duty cast iron top with a machined base and a Buna N “O” ring for a vapor-resistant seal, flowing 43,770 SCFH at 2.5 PSI. For higher flow, the Aluminum High Flow AST Emergency Vents (366) are spring-loaded for tight, zero-vapor-release sealing and low-profile for restricted-space installs.
More Venting Options as Tanks Scale Up
When tanks get larger, the venting has to keep pace. The Emergency Vent Flanged, Bolt-On (370) drops the pipe nipple from the install, with a hole pattern that conforms to ANSI B16.5 and a machined base and top sealed by a Buna-N O-ring. It moves air well, with 324,426 SCFH at 2.5 PSI on the 8-inch and 483,340 SCFH on the 10-inch, both with screens. Choosing the right emergency vent for fuel tanks comes down to tank size, required flow, and how the vent mounts. We’re always glad to help match an emergency vent for fuel tanks to the exact tank you’re specifying.
The Solenoid Valve That Guards the Supply Line
Overfill protection handles the fill side, but the supply side has its own safeguard. Our 800 Solenoid Valve is a heavy-duty, two-way, normally closed, direct-lift valve with female threaded NPT connections. When the pump energizes, it fully opens with zero pressure to operate, and its main role on an aboveground tank is anti-siphon control, keeping fuel from siphoning out through the supply line when the pump is off. A piston assembly gives it higher flow and longer service life than diaphragm valves.
One Source for the Whole Tank
The advantage of building all of this under one roof is that the components are designed for the same tank. The overfill valve, the emergency vent, the solenoid, and the alarm come from a single manufacturer that has been refining fuel-handling equipment since 1913.
Explore the full Clay & Bailey storage tank lineup, or reach our engineering team to talk through a tank you’re specifying. Call (800) 821-6583, send us a message online, or email sales@claybailey.com today.