EEMUA 225 Inspection
Inspection and integrity assessment of thermoplastic and GRP tanks and vessels to EEMUA 225, screening for the failure modes that steel-focused programmes are not built to find.
About EEMUA 225 inspection
EEMUA 225 is the industry guidance for above-ground thermoplastic and GRP tanks and vessels. It covers their whole life, from specification through installation, inspection, maintenance and repair, and sets the framework we work to when assessing plastic and composite assets.
Plastic and composite assets fail in different ways from steel, and they are often overlooked in steel-focused programmes. A tank that would pass a visual walk-round can be well into environmental stress cracking, UV degradation, chemical attack, delamination or fatigue without any obvious sign at the surface. We inspect specifically for these mechanisms and assess what they mean for continued safe operation.
Reports are clear and practical, so owners know the condition of the asset, the mechanisms at work and what action is needed and why.
Inspection scope
An EEMUA 225 assessment combines close inspection of the material with the measurements and testing that reveal how a plastic or composite asset is really behaving.
- Close visual inspection of the shell, joints and fittings
- Screening for environmental stress cracking and crazing
- Assessment of UV degradation and surface embrittlement
- Assessment of chemical attack and swelling against the stored product
- Delamination and disbondment checks on GRP laminates
- Ultrasonic thickness measurement of walls and floors
- Hardness testing to gauge cure state and material condition
- Spark (holiday) testing of linings and welds
- Fatigue and fitness-for-service assessment
Why inspect plastics to EEMUA 225
Different from steel
Plastic and composite assets fail by mechanisms that steel acceptance criteria do not describe.
Easily overlooked
In a steel-focused programme these assets are often walked past, so deterioration goes unrecorded.
Damage hides at the surface
Stress cracking, UV degradation and delamination can be well advanced before there is any obvious sign.
Guidance across the whole life
EEMUA 225 covers specification, installation, inspection, maintenance and repair, so findings sit in a recognised framework.
Reporting and recommendations
Every EEMUA 225 assessment produces a clear report rather than a raw data sheet. We set out the findings, the degradation mechanisms identified and the condition of the asset, with recommendations prioritised by risk.
Reports are written by the inspector who carried out the work, so the judgement and recommendations reflect first-hand knowledge of the asset. Where a defect is found, we set out what it means for continued service and the options for monitoring, repair or replacement.
A note on regulatory context
EEMUA 225 is guidance rather than a statutory requirement. Following it, however, helps operators demonstrate that thermoplastic and GRP assets are being managed to a recognised standard, which supports wider duties under PUWER, DSEAR and the Health and Safety at Work Act. Under PUWER, any work equipment that can deteriorate and give rise to a risk must be maintained in a safe condition and, where appropriate, inspected by a competent person. Plastic and composite assets are not exempt from that duty simply because they fall outside a steel inspection code.
Related inspection services
Have thermoplastic or GRP assets to assess?
Speak with our inspection team about EEMUA 225 inspection, integrity assessment and inspection planning.