Anyone planning to purchase Drinking water storage tanks first thinks about a strong, durable product that gives value for money. Usually, all kinds of tanks, such as PVC, plastic, concrete, and Stainless steel, are available in the market. People still prefer PVC tanks mainly because of their affordable cost for domestic use, but for commercial purposes, Stainless steel tanks are the number one choice.
Benefits of Water Tank Stainless Steel
There are several reasons why Stainless steel water tank is most popular among users. The quality of tanks plays a significant role because it’s not an item purchased frequently. Stainless steel tank usually lasts for a long time because the material of the tank is made from one of the strongest metals. Besides, stainless steel is corrosion resistant; therefore, there is hardly any wear and tear in the tank.
A stainless steel water tank usually looks good on modern buildings, unlike PVC or concrete tanks that look rather ugly and spoil the overall appearance of the building. Moreover, commercial setups often get relocated to a different place and must carry their entire equipment to their new office. Stainless steel tanks are ideal for such occasions because they are easier to handle and transport than PVC or concrete tanks.
The life of PVC or concrete tanks is limited because they often develop cracks and leakages after prolonged use. In such cases, you have no option but to replace them. You won’t face such problems with Stainless steel tanks. Therefore, PVC or a concrete tank proves much costlier in the long run, unlike a Steel tank, which may cost more initially but gives value for money. Stainless steel tanks are undoubtedly the better choice, but you must follow important precautions to keep them in good condition.
What regulations and standards must commercial drinking water storage tanks comply with?
However, before purchasing a good quality Stainless steel storage tanks for your home or office, you should be familiar with the NBCI guidelines for drinking water storage tanks in India. Ideally, you should have the following provisions in the building to install a water storage tank.
- Make suitable arrangements for the constant by taking care of regular maintenance of the main supply line.
- To keep demand at a minimum level on the main supply.
- To be fully prepared for the intermittent supply and maintain enough storage of water for firefighting
- As per the National building code of India, the regulatory body for water storage tanks in India, the water needs to be stored in overhead (OHT) or underground tanks (UGT).
Water storage tanks in India should be manufactured from the following materials.
The most common materials used for manufacturing drinking water storage tanks in India are reinforced concrete, brick masonry, Ferro cement, mild steel, stainless steel, plastic, or Glass reinforced panels (GRP). According to NBCI guidelines, tanks made of stainless steel can be either welded, riveted, or through panel/pressed construction. It can be both galvanized and externally coated with anti-corrosive and weather-resistant paint. Manufacturers are not allowed to use lead-based paint in the tank. They should also not manufacture tanks with a lead lining.
Each water storage tank should be provided with the following fittings:
Manholes
There should be adequate provisions for maintenance holes for easy access and repair. Such maintenance holes should be ideally made of corrosion-resistant materials like cast iron, reinforced cement concrete, steel fiber reinforced concrete, galvanized steel, high-density polyethylene, fiberglass reinforced plastic, or identical materials approved by the local authority. These maintenance holes should have proper locking arrangements to avoid misuse and tampering.
Ladders
Water storage Tanks that are fixed at a height of 90 feet or more should have corrosion-resistant ladders to allow a plumber or the mechanic to reach the bottom of the tank for regular maintenance or repair services.
Pipe for overflow
Each water tank should have an overflow pipe above the ground or the terrace level to warn about overflow. Ideally, the overflow pipe should be bigger than the inlet pipe to allow the normal water flow. If the diameter of the inlet pipe is large, there should be more overflow pipes for easy water flow.
Vent pipes
Water storage tanks with a capacity of 5000 liters or more should have provision for vent pipes to avoid pressure build-up in the tank because it might result in the stoppage of water flow or inward collapse.
Provision for overflow and scour pipe
There should not be any connection of overflow and scour pipe with any outside drain, gully trap, or maintenance hole to prevent backflow and contamination of water. These connections must be discharged over a grating with an air gap of 50 mm. Besides, the overflow and vent pipes should include mosquito-proof brass grating to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes, vermin, and other insects.
Overhead tanks on the top of the building or the terraces should be supported with a proper structure to transfer the combined weight of the tank and water to the structure of the building.
