Water tanks are built for all sorts of reasons, such as for storing potable water for communities, irrigation for agricultural purposes, water or other liquids for use in industrial applications, and for firefighting purposes. Each application means that water tanks aren’t all the same, and they’re engineered for a purpose, but fire water tanks are particularly unique because of their importance.

What makes these water tanks different from the rest, and what should you know about fire water tanks?

Why are Fire Water Tanks Different?

Fire water tanks have one specific purpose, and that is to deliver an immediate supply of water at a moment’s notice through dedicated outlets such as hydrants, sprinklers, or fire hoses for the purpose of fighting fire. Whether it’s a small fire or a large conflagration, the urgency of the matter is serious indeed, and these tanks must be engineered and designed to be reliable when needed.

All fire water tanks in Brisbane & Sydney are built for this specific purpose, whereas other water tanks may have less urgency and may be used for multiple other applications. 

Much Stricter Compliance Standards

Due to their importance for safety, all fire water tanks are held to a much higher standard than non-emergency water tanks. In Australia, fire water tanks are subject to compliance with AS2304 and AS1851 and adhere to guidelines such as the Australian Fire Engineering Guidelines.

Consequently, the design of fire water tanks is subject to many more constraints than other tanks. This could include things like the minimum capacity of water at any given time, having multiple outlets, construction materials, placement of the tank, and so on.

Water Must Be Readily Available

Of course, all water tanks should be able to provide water on demand for whatever their application may be. In industrial settings, water tanks with delayed flow might interrupt operations – bad, yes, but nowhere near as urgent as a fire breaking out.

For fire water tanks, reliability is essential. Water must be available at a sufficient flow rate exactly when it is needed and without delay. The tank must have outlets that allow access to fittings such as firefighting hoses, pumps, nozzles, hydrant outlets, and regulators to ensure that flow is always consistent but never excessive.

Placement of Fire Water Tanks

Ordinary water tanks can and often are placed where it’s most convenient for their application, such as nearby pipework or industrial applications requiring water or another liquid.

For fire water tanks, your choices may be much more limited. The tank should be located near enough to pipes and outlets that can deliver adequate flow, so distance from outlets may be a big constraint on where the tank can be placed.

These sorts of tanks are often not needed in municipal settings where water may already be available, but they are quite common in rural settings as well as in urban settings such as factories and residential and/or commercial complexes for emergency sprinklers, for example.

Fire Water Tanks Have Different Design Requirements

Fire water tanks aren’t necessarily more complex than other types of tanks, but they are designed with a different set of priorities in mind. Their role in emergency systems means they must meet higher reliability and compliance benchmarks, and often require specific design features not found in general-purpose storage, such as larger suction or outlets.

If you’re planning or upgrading fire protection systems, it’s important to ensure your water storage solution is designed for that application.

Tank Vision

Consult Tank Vision for fire water tanks and more.