Most tank problems start quietly. By the time corrosion, sediment or liner damage becomes obvious, the cost of putting it right has usually climbed. A routine survey catches these issues early, while they are still cheap to fix. If you manage fire, potable or process water storage tanks, the real question is not whether to inspect, but when. Here is how to read the signs.
What Are the Warning Signs That a Tank Needs Surveying?
Some signs show on the outside; others show up in the water itself. Watch for these:
- Corrosion or staining on the exterior panels or fittings
- Discoloured water or sediment at the outlet
- Unexplained changes in water quality or pressure
- Leaks or damp patches around fittings and joints
- A degraded or damaged tank liner visible through the access hatch
- Structural concerns such as panel distortion or foundation movement
Any one of these warrants a closer look. Where a liner has started to fail or corrosion has taken hold, tank refurbishment services can often restore the tank rather than replace it, but only if the problem is caught in time.
How Often Should Water Tanks Be Inspected?
There is no single rule that fits every tank. Frequency depends on what the tank stores, its age and condition, and the regulatory framework it sits under. A fire sprinkler tank follows different intervals from a cold-water storage tank, and both carry compliance drivers that set a practical minimum.
As a general guide, an internal inspection every two years keeps most tanks in check, with a deeper review around the ten-year mark. A tank that has never been surveyed, or has not been looked at for several years, is overdue regardless of how it appears from the outside.
What Compliance and Regulatory Triggers Require a Tank Inspection?
Compliance is often what turns a good idea into a booked job. For fire protection tanks, the Fire Protection Association’s Technical Bulletin 203 (TB203), supported by BAFSA and the LPCB, sets out regular internal inspection as best practice. Factory Mutual (FM) standards go further, calling for annual inspections with a more detailed review every five years.
For stored water, the concern is hygiene as much as structure. Under the HSE’s Approved Code of Practice L8 (ACOP L8), duty holders must keep water systems clean to control the risk of Legionella. That risk is real: the UK Health Security Agency recorded 604 confirmed Legionnaires’ disease cases in England and Wales in 2023. Insurance renewals and audit cycles often ask for the same thing, documented proof that your tank has been assessed and is fit for service.
What Does a Modern Tank Survey Actually Involve?
You have more options than the old drain and enter approach. Franklin Hodge carries out internal inspections using a remote operated vehicle (ROV), a submersible camera that surveys the tank while it stays full and in service. No draining, no confined space entry and no shutdown, which matters most for fire tanks that cannot afford to lose their water reserve. For elevated roofs, fittings and hard to reach structures, drone inspections capture the outside without anyone working at height.
Where a deeper assessment is needed, usually the ten-year major review under TB203. A drained inspection lets engineers physically enter and check the tank. Every survey ends with high-definition footage, structural evaluation, and clear recommendations. It is worth seeing exactly what happens during a water tank survey before you book.
Book a Tank Survey Before a Small Problem Becomes a Big One
The cheapest repair is always the one you catch early. Regular inspection protects your water supply, your compliance record and your budget, and it turns a nasty surprise into a planned job.
Franklin Hodge is a rare thing in this field, the manufacturer that also surveys. We have designed and built industrial tanks for over 50 years, so our engineers know exactly where these systems wear and what to look for under load. Book a tank survey or get in touch and we will come back to you.
