Technical Information
Foundations & Connections
Foundations
The design and construction of the tank supports and foundations are critical and should only be undertaken and supervised by competent professionals.
Ground level Tanks – In pressed steel tanks with internal bracing the side wall pressure applied by the water is converted to downward forces in the tank side walls. Maximum loads which can be considerable occur around the perimeter of the tank. Ground level tanks are commonly supported on reinforced concrete dwarf walls fitted with steel capping strips. The purpose of the capping strip is to spread the load over the full width of the support wall and to provide a level platform on which to erect the tank.
For practical reasons concrete cannot be cast with sufficient accuracy of level. The capping strips should be grouted in place before installation of the tank starts. Recommended tolerance level is +-2mm. Care should be taken to ensure that foundation walls are parallel and square to each other. They must protrude beyond the edge of the tank by a recommended distance of 150mm. The tapered top section of the wall assists in providing access for tools to fasten the tank panel flange bolts.