What is a fire tank?
A fire tank is a large water storage tank specifically for fire fighting. The fire consultants for industries design the water in a pressurised state is ready for use in any fire incident as per statutory requirements. The fire tank is often the main component in a fire risk management system. The water storage tank or fire tank ensures a source of supply with a capacity as provided in the guidelines of fire regulations. Typically, two equal-sized inter-connected compartments store water for firefighting. This twin tank system ensures an uninterrupted water supply during a fire incident and maintenance and cleaning of the tank. The fire tank must have manholes for inspection, repairs, insertion of suction hose etc.
Types of tank
- Gravity Tank
- Suction Tank
- Break Tank
- Pressure Tank
- Bladder Tank
How to Calculate the Firefighting Water Tank Capacity?
Calculating the capacity of the water tank depends on the quantity of water necessary for fire suppression. The capacity of the water tank should ensure sufficient water is available to suppress fires, minimising property damage. Some factors that fire design consultants must consider are:
- Property size: The size of the property is a factor in calculating the tank size.
- Occupancy: The number of people occupying a space is essential to working out the water capacity
- Fire Risk: A fire risk assessment is essential to work out the potential hazards
- Local Regulations: The fire design consultants for industries must design the size and capacity of the water tank as per the regulations.
- Water requirement: The regulations provide guidelines for the water flow rate.
- Duration of Fire Suppression: The fire design consultants assess the risk, considering expected fire duration, response time, fire growth rate, and availability of external water sources.
What is a Firefighting Water Tank Vent?
A pipe or opening at the top of a fire water storage tank facilitates air passage as the tank fills with water. This vent also ensures proper water flow when the fire pump is activated. This vent has a cross-section area equal to half the area of the discharge pipe or fill pipe, whichever is more.
Sizing of discharge pipe: The hydraulic demand of the system is a major factor in designing the size of the discharge pipe.
Firefighting Water Tank Overflow: The overflow pipe must have more capacity than the fill connection. The overflow inlet shall be at the high waterline mark or the top capacity line.
Conclusion:
Calculating the capacity of water to ensure an adequate supply is essential. Fire design consultants follow the guidelines of the Fire regulations to work out the tank capacity.
