Fire Water Tanks
Fire Resistant BAL / BASIX Compliant Water Storage Steel Tanks for Fire-Fighting and Bushfire Protection
What Type of Water Tank for Fire Fighting?
The Fire tanks need to be made from a non-combustible material and have the appropriate firefighting attachment fitted: a 50mm Outlet with a Ball Valve with either the Storz fitting [NSW] or Camlock fitting [Qld], to meet the local council requirements for the BAL Rating on your property.
Water tanks made from metal are extremely durable because they keep their structural integrity during a bushfire. Researchers from the CSIRO and Monash University have conducted extensive testing on the performance of water tanks in bush fires. They found:
Stainless Steel Tanks did not burn or split when fully exposed to fire for over 30 minutes. They became slightly scorched but there was no structural damage and only minor water loss.
Aquaplate (Colorbond) Tanks maintained structural integrity in a fire but when the temperature reached above 65 degrees, the thin plastic lining on the inside of the tank began to delaminate, causing slight water loss.
What Size Water Tank for Fire Fighting?
Depending on your risk or BAL rating, a minimum reserve amount is also set for your property to comply with the regulations. Some common sizes are the 10,000 litre Fire Tanks and the 20,000 litre Fire Tanks.
If you are having a tank larger than the required “Fire Tank reserved amount’ you would need to ensure the outlet supplying water for household / garden needs is positioned higher up the tank, ensuring that the water below this point is reserved specifically for fire-fighting.
BAL Ratings and Water Requirements
- BAL-LOW to BAL-19 (Low to Moderate Risk)
no specific water tank requirements for bushfire protection - BAL-29 (Moderate to High Risk)
dedicated water supply of at least 5,000 litres to 10,000 litres - BAL-40 and BAL-FZ (High to Extreme Risk)
dedicated water supply of at least 10,000 to 20,000 litres
Identifying the Bushfire Attack Level
- Get a step by step tutorial for QLD
- Get a step by step tutorial for NSW
Fire Water Tanks for NSW & QLD
Fire Resistant BAL / BASIX Compliant Materials and Sizes
$2,825.00 – $5,135.00
| Fire Tank Size Options | 10,000L Round, 20,000L Round |
|---|---|
| Material Options | 304 Grade Stainless Steel, Colorbond / AQUAPLATE® |
| State | QLD, NSW |
“The BAL Rating system [Bushfire Attack Level] gives guidelines for properties on Bushfire prone land / areas. By doing an assessment on the property and the surrounding area, a BAL rating is worked out for the property. This BAL rating identifies the risk level, so that specific requirements and be identified to meet your BAL rating. Part of these recommendations can be to have a dedicated fire tank [water stored for the sole purpose of firefighting].
The Fire Tank needs to be in an easily accessible position so in an emergency the “Fire fighters” can connect to the tank. On some properties there are specific regulations for where this tank needs to be positioned, we recommend contacting your certifier / builder or local council for site specific information.
BAL Description of risk
- BAL LOW – Lowest risk from a potential fire.
- BAL 12.5 – Risk is primarily from potential embers during a fire.
- BAL 19 – Moderate risk, particularly from embers and burning debris.
- BAL 29 – High risk, particularly from embers, debris, and heat.
Water Tank Delivery
Select Water Tanks will make sure your new water tank is delivered and positioned correctly on your base. We can also assist and coordinate with a crane operator if required. We use delivery zones to provide an estimate on your delivery costs.
Estimated Water Tank Delivery Fees
What is O Size? Tanks 2.6m high or round tanks with a 3.7m diameter create an oversize load when transported on the road.
| Distance | Standard | O Size |
| 0-50km | $180 | $220 |
For distances further than 50km please calculate your distance from our factory below and contact us for a quote.
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Water Tanks for Bushfire Protection
Proven to Withstand Intense Heat and Safeguard Water Supply
Researchers from the CSIRO and Monash University have conducted extensive testing on the performance of water tanks in bush fires. They found:
Stainless Steel Tanks did not burn or split when fully exposed to fire for over 30 minutes. They became slightly scorched but there was no structural damage and only minor water loss.
For more information see: www.bushfirecrc.com
Aquaplate (Colorbond) Tanks maintained structural integrity in a fire but when the temperature reached above 65 degrees, the thin plastic lining on the inside of the tank began to delaminate, causing slight water loss.
Polyethelene (plastic) Tanks quickly split and collapsed in a fire, emptying themselves and melting down.
