Undoubtedly, the biggest priority when it comes to the installation and maintenance of a fire protection tank is ensuring reliable access to water when it is needed.
Fire protection tanks typically feed sprinkler systems and fire-fighting equipment, minimising the impact of fire damage on a commercial or residential building. While this is an integral system that requires regular testing, we believe that changes need to be made to mitigate the vast amounts of water wasted through regular fire system checks.
One of the roles of a well-designed and constructed fire water tank is to minimise wastage through the prevention of leaks, alongside the rollout of more sustainable and controlled system checks. The reality of fire protection systems is that in the UK alone, around four billion litres of clean water are wasted every year, simply through safety tests and checks.
Our fire protection tanks are built to store water safely and facilitate regular inspections for optimal efficiency without adding to the vast levels of water wasted every year. Keep reading for more on these tanks, how they work, and the kinds of clients we support.
Why Water Efficiency Matters
It is incredibly important that fire protection tanks are tested regularly to ensure that they are in good working order and that the water can be accessed in an emergency, as and when required. This goes without saying.
However, countless industries and organisations are still using systems that are outdated and that simply waste hundreds of litres of water in every test.
Water efficiency has become all the more important when we consider the role that we play in maximising our natural resources. Global water shortages are becoming exacerbated by climate change and global warming, with the preservation of water crucial in safeguarding our future – not just through the continued provision of drinking water but also in supporting industry and systems that depend on water to function.
Emergency services, for example, the prevention and action against fire, is just one system that relies on water – but it’s a critical one. This is where our fire protection tanks come in.
How Fire Protection Tanks Improve Efficiency
Fire protection tanks are designed to store water to ensure it is accessible in an emergency, low-maintenance, and easy to test on a regular basis.
Much of this comes from the design of the tanks and their construction:
- Tanks are made from either corrosion-resistant marine-alloy of aluminium or a high-grade galvanised steel
- A tailor-made internal lining ensures that prolonged water storage does not impact the stability of the tank’s build or corrode the material
What’s more, bespoke designs and layouts ensure that clients can access the water storage solution they need, dependent on the space available. While large outdoor commercial sites often have plenty of space, smaller commercial, domestic and residential properties that require sprinkler systems are often tight on space – something that we counteract with small tanks that are specially designed and are ideal for fitting within confined spaces.
Best Practices for Water-Efficient Fire Protection Tanks
Of course, water efficiency is not exclusively reliant on the storage solution and the build of the tank. It also depends on the client’s approach to regular maintenance and inspections.
A big part of this means reusing and recycling the water used for testing each tank and its fire protection system, rather than allowing it to be wasted. The integration of a pitched aluminium cover collects any standing water from adverse UK weather conditions, bolstering the water store with typical British rainfall while keeping the water inside the tank safe from external pollutants.
Finally, you will notice that the very best tanks on the market are built with integrated ladders to support safety checks and inspections by trained professionals. These ladders facilitate safe access in an emergency as well as for inspection purposes, with users able to check levels in the tank and address any access issues before the tank is needed in an emergency.
To find out more about fire protection tanks and how Franklin Hodge constructs each tank with the client’s individual needs in mind, get in touch with our team directly. We can offer a custom quote based on the space and requirement, alongside advice on how to maximise your access to fire sprinklers and fire-fighting systems as needed.
