The difference between a vapor recovery quotation that lands and one that drifts is usually the site survey behind it. Paper answers produce paper problems; a walk through the actual station turns assumptions into measurements and surprises into line items.
The Physical Walk
The survey starts with geometry: tank count and venting arrangement, vent line routes and lengths, the space available for a unit and its clearances, power supply location and capacity. Photographs accompany measurements, because the engineer sizing the system sees the station through them later. Obstructions that limit pipe routing get recorded now, not discovered during installation.
Operating Data That Sizes the System
Equipment follows workload, so the survey collects it: monthly throughput, unload frequency and typical delivery size, seasonal peaks and the fuels in service. Two stations with identical tanks can need different equipment if one takes two deliveries a day and the other two a week. Historical data beats estimates; where records are thin, the survey notes that too.
Existing Vapor Hardware
Stage I balance arrangements, dispenser vapor paths and any existing recovery equipment get inspected for condition and integration points. What exists either joins the new system, gets upgraded or gets replaced, and which of the three applies to each component belongs in the quotation’s assumptions, written plainly.
What the Owner Should Have Ready
Site drawings, throughput records, electrical single-line information if available, and a point of contact authorized to answer questions during the design phase. The survey report and the owner’s data together become the basis of the quotation, so gaps on either side surface before the price, not after the award.
| Survey item | Data captured | Influence on quote |
|---|---|---|
| Geometry | Vents, routes, space, power | Piping and installation scope |
| Operations | Throughput, unload pattern | Equipment sizing |
| Existing hardware | Condition, integration points | Reuse vs replace lines |
| Documentation | Drawings, records, contact | Design phase speed |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a site survey take?
A few hours for a typical station, longer for multi-tank sites with complex venting; the report follows within days.
Can a survey be skipped for a small station?
The scale shrinks but the questions do not; compact sites still need geometry and throughput confirmed.
Who should attend from the station side?
Someone who knows the operating data and someone who can speak for the site’s plans for the next several years.
Does VOHON conduct site surveys?
Yes. VOHON surveys stations and builds quotations on measured data; arrange a visit through lixiang@vohon.cn.