In today’s time, every big building, factory, apartment and commercial project needs a fire fighting water tank. Whenever a fire breaks out, water should be available immediately so that damage can be prevented. For this reason, it has been made mandatory by the government and fire safety rules that tanks should be installed everywhere according to the fire fighting water tank requirements. In this blog we will know in detail:
- What is a fire fighting water tank?
- Why is it needed?
- What are the fire fighting water tank requirements?
- How to calculate fire fighting water tank capacity?
Easy way to find out the correct capacity.
What is a Fire Fighting Water Tank?
A fire fighting water tank is a storage tank in which water is stored only for fire safety. It is installed in homes, apartments, offices, factories, warehouses and shopping malls. This water is used only to extinguish fire. The size of the tank depends on the size of that building and fire safety standards.
Also Read : How to Store Grains for Long Time
Fire Fighting Water Tank Requirements
Fire fighting water tank requirements are different for every building or project. It mainly depends on these things:
- Size of the building – what is the height and number of floors.
- Occupancy Type – what is being used in the building? (Residential, Commercial, Industrial).
- Risk Factor – There is more risk in factories and industrial areas.
- Fire Safety Codes – Rules of the local municipal corporation and fire department.
- Availability of water – is water easily available in the area or not.
Fire fighting water tank calculation is done after looking at all these things.
Why Fire Fighting Water Tanks is Important?
- Immediate availability of water – In case of fire, it is most important to get water immediately.
- Preventing major damage – By getting water on time, a major accident can be prevented.
- Legal compliance – It is important for every building to have a tank according to the fire fighting system.
- Confidence of safety – This gives confidence of safety to the people living and working in the building.
How to Calculate Fire Fighting Water Tank Capacity?
There are some steps to calculate the tank capacity:
- Understand the use of the building (Building Type)
Residential Building – Water requirement will be less.
Commercial Building (Mall, Office, Hotel) – Water requirement will be more.
Industrial Area – Here maximum storage is required for fire safety. - Decide the Risk Category
Low Risk (Home and small offices)
Medium Risk (School, Hospital, Hotel)
High Risk (Factory, Industry, Warehouse) - Use Standard Formula
Usually fire fighting water tank calculation is done like this:
Capacity = Fire Demand × Duration
Where –
Fire Demand = Water requirement in one minute (in liters)
Duration = How long continuous water supply is required (in minutes/hour) - Example Calculation
Suppose for a commercial building the fire department has told that:
Water is required at the rate of 1000 liters/minute
Supply should be available for at least 2 hours
Then the calculation will be:
1000 liters × 120 minutes = 1,20,000 liters
That is, the fire fighting water tank capacity for this building should be 1,20,000 liters.
Fire Fighting Water Tank Capacity – Standard Guidelines
- Residential Building – 50,000 litres to 1,00,000 litres
- Commercial Building – 1,00,000 litres to 2,00,000 litres
- Industrial Building – 2,00,000 litres to 5,00,000 litres or more
These are only general standards. The actual capacity is always determined according to the fire fighting water tank requirements and local regulations.
Things to keep in mind in Fire Fighting Water Tank Calculation.
- Pump Capacity – The capacity of the pump that draws water from the tank should also be kept in mind.
- Hydrant & Sprinkler System – There can be different calculations for both.
- Overhead & Underground Tank – Sometimes tanks have to be kept at both places.
- Emergency Refill Source – Arrangement to fill the tank immediately when it gets empty.
Benefits of Proper Fire Fighting Water Tank Capacity
- Safety ensured – Having a tank of the right capacity helps to control any accident immediately.
- Compliance to rules – Government and fire department guidelines are met.
- Long-term investment – Once a tank of the right capacity is installed, it remains safe for many years.
- Reduces panic – People in the building feel safe.
Conclusion
Now you must have understood how important and easy it is to calculate fire fighting water tank capacity. To calculate the right capacity, you should keep in mind the size of the building, usage, risk factor and rules of the fire department.
Fire fighting water tank requirements are different for every building.
Determine the capacity only after doing the right fire fighting water tank calculation.
Be it residential, commercial or industrial – a reliable and adequate capacity fire fighting water tank is a must.
Uplex Infra Project Pvt. Ltd. provides you with the best quality fire fighting water tanks. Our tanks are robust, durable and designed in strict compliance with fire safety regulations.