A fire fighting water tank is a separate storage of water installed to provide sprinklers and hoses with water during a fire emergency. These tanks make the sprinkler system available even if the fire department is unable to access it or a municipal water supply is unavailable. They also provide a consistent and inexhaustible supply of water in the case of an event that requires extended water use.
These field erected tanks are designed to meet NFPA 22 standards. They are typically built of corrugated steel and surrounded by an in-ground protective structure to prevent ground movement during a fire or earthquake. These tanks are usually used for temporary fire suppression until permanent mains or other sources of water can be established. They can also be used in the interim to supplement existing water supplies, or at sites where a fire protection system is required but no permanent infrastructure is available.
Fire water tanks come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and capacities. Some are above ground and can be equipped with a wall hydrant or Fire Department connection (FDC). Others are underground and can only be accessed by a pump. The type and size of fire water tank you choose should be based on the number of days the fire suppression system will need to operate during a fire incident and the fire flow rate required.
Fire fighting tanks that are dual-use for residential and fire protection purposes need to be outfitted with a special valve system that ensures that the plumbing pipes for residential use are kept at an elevation above the level needed for fire services. This can be accomplished by installing a vertical turbine or a pump mounted below the fire service water line. Ideally, this will be located at a point above the minimum sizing requirement specified in the NFPA 22 standard. In addition to these precautions, all tanks need regular inspections. These include ensuring that the exterior surface and coating is not corroded, leaking, or damaged. The area around the tank and occupied buildings should be free of combustible storage, trash, brush, and other materials that could pose a fire exposure hazard. fire fighting water tank