Fire Fighting Water Tanks

Firefighting Water Tanks

In many parts of Australia during the summer season and when the weather conditions are extremely hot, we have all been accustomed to threat of bush fires. If flare ups, embers in the air and run-away fires are not contained immediately, it becomes difficult to control outbreaks and to keep outbreaks under control. This can result in loss of property and tragically human life.

This is one reason why homeowners who are in bush fire prone regions are required by law, to have a water supply dedicated for the sole purpose of suppressing fire. If you have an available supply of water on your property, this can mean, the difference between saving and losing your life and property

What are Fire Fighting Water Tanks ?

Water retention tanks for firefighting are considered as the best storage of water for this purpose.  Water should be stored in concrete underground tanks. It is important to make sure that the tank capacity is kept full, so there will always be water available for fire emergency situations.

You can store water for firefighting separately in a water tank. The water should be reserved specifically for fighting fires only. This should be over and above the tanks used for domestic requirements of the household. However, if you want to store the water together along with water for domestic purposes in one tank, this may be possible, provided the system meets certain criteria, and designed accordingly.

The water tanks can be installed above or below ground and the material used in their production should be non-combustible, like concrete. When purchasing a firefighting water tank, remember that underground concrete tanks are the best option, as they are incapable of igniting and burning, when subjected to intense heat. They are inexpensive; as well as can collect storm water run-off.

Rain Cycle water storage tanks meet all the requirements necessary for a firefighting tank. Best of all the tanks are manufactured right here in Australia.

Fire Fighting Tank Plumbing and Fitting

If your home or property is located in a bush fire prone area and you are thinking of installing a water tank for fire suppression, there are a few things to consider, such as the associated pipes and fittings.

A water storage tank that holds both firefighting and the domestic use allocations should be fitted with two separate outlets – one for firefighting and the other for domestic water purposes.  The two outlets should be at different levels, with the water allocated for firefighting positioned at the lower portion of the tank.

water storage tank

The water tank for firefighting has a draw off outlet. It should be fitted with a suitable hose connection, to allow fire fighters to attach their hoses easily to your tank. This type of fitting differs from one state to another. For example, in NSW, what is required and being used is a 65mm STORZ outlet. In other states, the outlet is fitted with a CFA (County Fire Authority) approved round male coupling, complete with piping and valves running to the water tank from the outlet.

The usual problem with different hose connections is that fire fighters couldn’t get easy access to the water supply tank because couplings vary from one region to another, there is a mismatch; wherein the fire fighters find connecting their hose to the tank, the standpipe and the sprinkler system difficult. With Storz fitting, this won’t happen, as the fitting is universal. Rain Cycle tanks are fitted with Storz connections, so that the fire brigade won’t encounter problems connecting their hoses to your tank.

Pumps for Fire Fighting Tanks

Firefighting Water Storage Tank

As in other systems of suppressing fire, fittings like pumps should have a backup, in case the main pump encounters a malfunction. The main pump is run by electricity, a backup pump that is also run by electricity and a second back up pump that is run by petrol or diesel is the best solution. When there is fire, it is common that electricity is often cut off, so there should be a backup pump that can operate separately from the electricity grid. These individual pumps have the same capacity – each one is capable of pumping the amount of water required during a bush fire.

Pressure sensors control these pumps. When a hydrant is opened by a fire fighter or when the sprinkler system comes on, water will flow out of the fire hydrant or the sprinkler. When this happens, the pressure drops. As soon as the pressure sensors detect this drop in pressure, the fire pumps will be switched on. When it needs to be switched off, a firefighter will do it at the pump manually.  This code of practice is international, designed to prevent the pumps from going off, due to a malfunction in the control system.

The water supply intended for fighting fires should be in an area with easy access, so that they can connect to the tank in a hurry. If it is positioned at the side of the home that is prone to fire, extra practical measures should be put in place, to protect and shield the fire fighters and the water pumps that will deliver water from the tank to the site of the fire.

Therefore, firefighting water tanks are worth the investment. These products are essential, especially if you are living in a bush fire susceptible area. During a fire event, you have everything to protect and save – yourself, your loved ones and your valuable property. Installing a water storage tank that contains sufficient volume of water to suppress any fire that will occur, will make sure you are prepared for any forthcoming emergency.

If you need firefighting water tanks, check out our diverse range of Rain Cycle tanks. We are a well-known name in the industry and our concrete tanks are custom built in Australia. We use only concrete as the material is noncombustible. Depending on your requirements, we can deliver tank sizes from 20,000 up to 200,000 liters. We also have smaller size tanks for a small property.

Just give us a call, or contact us through our website and one of our staff will be happy to provide you with the necessary information.

How much will it cost?

Our pricing can be tailored for your individual projects based on your needs and budget .
Costs can vary depending on the size, accessories, finish and strength of the tank, so call the team at Raincycle for more information.

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