Is your water tank stand safe?

Water tank stands are important for creating water pressure & providing a stable base for water tanks but they must be inspected regularly. This is particularly true of timber tank stands as these are prone to rot and cracking if they are not maintained properly and the design is flawed. The article below elaborates why you should check on your water tank stand now!

Wooden tank stands can rot and become a hazard

Poorly installed or unstable water tanks being filled with the recent rains could become a death trap for home owners or visitors, Archicentre, the building design, inspection and advice service of The Australian Institute of Architects said.

Edward Lukac from Archicentre said, “People often don’t realise the sheer weight involved in storing rainwater which weighs a tonne for every thousand litres. 2500 litre rainwater tanks are common and when full, they weigh 2½ tonnes.”

“It is not unusual to see a large water tank on an old timber tank stand. The deadweight of a full tank of water on a rickety tank stand sitting on softened earth is a recipe for a disaster.”

“Raised water tanks on timber structures require ongoing safety assessments to check for any deterioration of the timber or any sign of the tank starting to lean.”

“A falling tank of water could severely injure or kill a person. It might even endanger the structural integrity of the home if it fell onto the house.”

“In areas where there has been recent floodings or heavy rain, the support for the tank may be weakened because of the rain softened ground.”

Mr Lukac said Archicentre’s property inspectors are continually amazed at some of the dangerous water storage vessels they come across. Some home owners are creating make shift water tanks using wheelie bins or old steel containers, with many being unstable.

“Home buyers should be mindful of poor water tank installation practices and be on the lookout for dodgy workmanship. Water tanks must be properly installed and should only be connected to the stormwater drainage system by a licensed plumber. Home owners should ensure that their tank – or the tank on the property they are buying, has been properly installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommended installation guidelines.”

“Home made tanks or unstable tank stands can be accidents waiting to happen,” Mr Lukac added.

Source: Archicentre

While timber water tank stands are fine if properly designed, erected and maintained, we recommend steel tank stands from a reputable company. JoJo steel water tank stands are designed and manufactured by a registered structural engineer with more than 30 years experience. JoJo tank stands are available for 5000 litre water tanks and 10000 litre water tanks in the following heights: 1.5m, 3m, 4.5m, 6m and 9m. Engineer’s certificates and technical drawings are available for all JoJo steel tank stands. Don’t take a chance, install a JoJo tank stand for peace of mind! Click on the links below to view the other JoJo Tanks products available in South Africa.

JoJo Tanks South Africa offer a wide range of products such as plastic water tanks and chemical tanks to suit every household, business or agricultural need, including silo tanks and silo tank stands as well as other high quality JoJo Tanks products.  See JoJo Tanks’ VERTICAL TANKS, HORIZONTAL TANKS (transporter tanks), STEEL TANK STANDS and OTHER JOJO PRODUCTS and see JoJo Tanks’ NEW 6000 LITRE UNDERGROUND TANKS. Also see our FAQ and WATER TANK PRICES.