USAF/RAF Base UK — Mission Critical Aviation Fuel Tank Refurbishment
Introduction
UCL Ltd was appointed to refurbish a mission-critical bulk aviation fuel tank at a RAF base in the UK. The existing internal lining had reached the end of its service life, posing a risk of fuel contamination and asset degradation. Works were delivered in accordance with UFGS-09 97 13.17 for JP8 (F-34) fuel storage.
Our Solution
UCL Ltd removed the deteriorated lining and installed a new multi-component fuel-resistant coating system. Surface preparation used robotic magnetic crawlers for shell and soffit areas, automated track blasting for floors, and manual blasting for detailed sections. All steelwork was prepared to ISO 8501-1 Sa 2½ / SSPC SP-10 / NACE No.2 standard, achieving a 75–100 micron profile using expendable mineral abrasive. Surfaces were inspected and cleanliness-tested in accordance with the project ITP under Level 3 NACE supervision, before substrates were coated with a high-performance lining system engineered for long-term immersion in JP8 (F-34) aviation fuel.
Key Benefits
- New lining system with a 20+ year design life
- Protection against corrosion and fuel contamination
- Reduced long-term maintenance liability
- Full compliance with US military specification
- Level 3 NACE-supervised inspection throughout
Conclusion
UCL Ltd delivered a fully compliant fuel tank refurbishment within a live military aviation environment. Through controlled preparation, specialist equipment and in-house NACE inspection expertise, long-term asset integrity was restored, ensuring continued safe storage of mission-critical aviation fuel.
Our services.
The disciplines behind work like this — browse by what you need.
Industrial Coatings
UCL Ltd delivers industrial coatings through Ultimate Coatings, protecting tanks, pipework, concrete and structural steel against corrosion and chemical attack.
Civils & Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical installations and civil engineering works delivered by one accountable contractor, from design to completion.
Concrete Repair & Anti-Carbonation Coatings
UCL Ltd repairs and protects concrete infrastructure showing cracking, spalling or carbonation damage, restoring structural integrity without full replacement.
More case studies.
Other projects from across the UK.
Corrosion Remediation & Refurbishment — Imjin Barracks
Extensive corrosion at 5734 Imjin Barracks' water storage structure required full refurbishment to restore structural integrity and long-term reliability.
Anaerobic Digester Asset Refurbishment
UCL Ltd delivered structural refurbishment and gas-leak sealing of asset-critical, egg-shaped anaerobic gas digesters, securing a projected 50-year design life.
Potable Water Reservoir Joint Remediation — Primrose Hill
A rapid, out-of-hours response to failed bitumen joints at a Primrose Hill clean water reservoir, restoring watertight integrity without disrupting supply.