Types of water StoRage Tanks

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October 20, 2022

OVERVIEW of water storage tank types

At Tricel, we offer a wide variety of types of water storage tanks, each designed to meet diverse capacity and application requirements. Our tanks can be assembled to store anywhere from 1,000 litres to over 4 million litres of water, making them suitable for everything from small commercial projects to large-scale industrial or municipal installations.

We provide sectional, one-piece, and custom-engineered tank solutions, all built with durability and compliance in mind. Depending on your project needs, internal partitions and a range of ancillary items—such as access ladders, guardrails, and insulation—are available upon request.

Our experienced sales team is on hand to help you identify the most suitable type of water storage tank for your application. Get in touch today to discuss your requirements and discover the high-quality solutions Tricel can offer.

General Water storage Tank Installation

STANDARD TANK

This tank is complete with internally flanged base, externally flanged side walls. All under water stays are stainless steel and all external bolts are galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461:1999. Stainless steel bolts are also available.

HEAVY DUTY COVER

Suitable for indoor and outdoor use, and for the storage of foul water. These tanks have internally flanged lid panels, similar to those used in the base.

HEAVY DUTY COVER AND FINISHED TO FORMAT 30

Suitable for indoor and outdoor use and for the storage of drinking water, as defined in our specification, Tricel (Killarney) Unlimited Company Format 30 on page eight.

Important to Note

To comply with current legislation, all types of water storage tanks that store water potentially intended for drinking must be adequately protected. These tanks must meet the standards outlined in the relevant water bylaws to ensure water quality and safety.

According to ISO Standards for Water Storage Tanks (ISO 67834) and BS EN 806, any cold water tap not directly connected to the mains—yet likely to be used for drinking—must be supplied exclusively from tanks that are properly protected. In instances where drinking water has been stored in an inadequately protected tank, a water analysis should be carried out. Following that, suitable protection measures must be implemented.

For tanks exceeding 1,000 litres (220 gallons), it’s recommended they be divided or supported by standby tanks. This setup facilitates easier access during maintenance and repairs. Additionally, these tanks should feature a washout pipe or drain-out tap, which must discharge above an external gully to prevent backflow contamination and unnecessary water waste.

Proper insulation is also a key consideration. The insulation material used should remain structurally intact when in contact with water. Commonly compliant materials include phenolic and polyurethane closed-cell foams. Where pipe cut-outs are made through insulated panels, bezels should be installed. These not only shield exposed insulation but also prevent moisture, insects, and vermin from penetrating—thereby maintaining both hygiene and the long-term integrity of the insulation.

Additional Information

Types of Bolts

Standard tanks come complete with bolts galvanised to BS EN ISO 1461:1999, we recommend that consultants specify stainless steel grade 316 S16 bolts under water and on the lid.

Ball valve housing

The enclosed chamber containing an access hatch above the level of the cover, permitting the level control mechanism to be mounted at a higher level than would otherwise be possible. The overflow(s) must be placed on the tank sidewall and not on the Ball Valve Housing, water must be kept below the tank roof level. This is only necessary where very large ball valves are used.

Dividers

In any situation where there is only one water storage tank in a building and the capacity is greater than 1,000 litres (220 gallons), BS EN 806 states “to avoid interruption of the water supply when carrying out repairs or maintenance, the cistern shall be provided with compartments or standby cistern”. Where drinking water is being stored, two separate tanks are recommended as it is difficult to detect cross-contamination from one side of a division wall to another.

Ladders

Where the tank depth is 1m or greater, internal and external ladders should be specified. If the tank is on a raised platform then ladders may be required on tanks lower than this height. Where the tank is 2m or more from the top of the tank to the finished floor level external ladders should be fitted with safety cages and comply to BS 4211:2002+A1:2008.

Guardrail: A guardrail should be fitted enclosing all access points to the tank roof, where a tank is 2m or more from the top of the tank to the finished floor level. Additional safety guards may be required for ladders depending on their location. A risk assessment should be carried out by the end users to determine if this is required.

Condensation trays

They should be used in any instance where condensation drips from pipework or from the tank as it could cause nuisance damage or render floors wet and slippery.

Reverse base tanks

(Externally flanged base) These types of tanks allow the tank to be totally drained down, as the base is flat, they also allow access to all the bolts from the outside of the tank. 600 mm clearance is required underneath the tank for access to the base bolts.