🛠️ UST Equipment Modernization Spotlight: ATG Upgrades & Battery Maintenance
Keeping underground storage tank (UST) systems in compliance requires more than training and paperwork — it requires reliable equipment that performs when it matters most. At the heart of that system is your Automatic Tank Gauge (ATG).
And yet, too many facilities continue to overlook key aspects of ATG upkeep — either by running on outdated configurations or by ignoring a component as small (and as critical) as the backup battery.
In this modernization spotlight, we focus on two major risk areas that can quickly undermine your compliance — and how to fix them.
⚙️ ATG Configuration: More Than Just a Fuel Monitor
Your ATG isn’t just a fancy dipstick. It’s a core compliance tool that monitors for fuel leaks, logs alarms, tracks delivery volumes, and proves you’ve met regulatory testing requirements. But here’s the catch:
Most ATG systems are installed once… and never touched again.
That means outdated thresholds, inactive sensors, disabled alarms, and logs that may not even be retained. In an era of increasing enforcement, that’s a costly oversight.
What a modernized ATG should do:
✅ Trigger real-time alarms when limits are breached
✅ Accurately distinguish between test results and true alerts
✅ Retain event logs for at least 12 months
✅ Allow for remote visibility and integration with digital monitoring tools
💡 Warning signs your ATG may be out of date:
Still printing test reports manually
Can’t send data remotely
Doesn’t log alarms reliably
Needs to be manually reset during every power outage
A routine review of your ATG settings can prevent compliance gaps before they start — and upgrading to smarter systems ensures you’re not caught off guard during an inspection.
🔋 Battery Maintenance: Small Part, Big Risk
When was the last time your ATG’s backup battery was replaced?
If your answer is “I’m not sure,” that’s a red flag. Because if that battery dies, it doesn’t just affect power — it can wipe your entire configuration.
⚠️ A failed battery often means your ATG loses all stored settings, alarms, sensor types, and tank setup.
If a power failure occurs, your system may reboot with zero data, requiring full reprogramming by a service technician.
That’s not just inconvenient — it’s a direct threat to compliance, especially if the outage coincides with a leak, alarm, or regulatory inspection.
Why this matters:
Your ATG is required to function during a power loss
Lost configurations = lost alarm history, test records, and detection capability
Some states now require proof of battery condition or recent service
ATGs with dead batteries can appear functional — but quietly fail to log anything
✅ We recommend replacing ATG batteries every 2 years, and testing backup capacity annually as part of your preventive maintenance program.
🧰 With PASS Harmonics ATG Connect, You Can:
PASS Harmonics ATG Connect makes it easier than ever to stay on top of equipment maintenance and compliance.
With ATG Connect, you can:
Automatically log battery replacements, ATG tests, and alarm events
Receive reminders and alerts when service is due or if system issues are detected
Remotely access ATG status and confirm compliance before regulators arrive
Keep all documentation organized and inspection-ready
Whether you’re managing a single store or hundreds of facilities across multiple states, ATG Connect helps you stay connected, compliant, and prepared.
⚡ Stay Ahead of Equipment Failures — and Enforcement
UST systems rarely fail all at once. They fail slowly — one neglected alarm, skipped log, or dead battery at a time. And by the time it becomes obvious, it’s usually during a site inspection or after a missed leak event.
Modernizing your equipment doesn’t mean replacing everything — it means paying attention to the parts that matter most.
PASS is here to help you evaluate where your system stands, what’s out of date, and how to bring it back into alignment — with tools that make it easy to manage, document, and defend your compliance.
📞 Need a system checkup or ATG review?
Contact PASS — we’re here to help you stay in control.
