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ComparativeAdvantages
ComparetheadvantagesofFTCGRP/FRPPanelwatertanksoverFiberGlassHandLayup,PVC,Steeland
Concretewatertanksin9keyareas:
Durability(#)
WaterQuality(#)
Leakage (#)
Repairs&Maintenance (#)
AdaptabilityofSizeandDesign (#)
PhysicalProperties(#)
CorrosionProperties(#)
Handling&Assembly(#)
InsulationProperties&Characteristics(#)

Durability

Noservicefailuresreportedin25+years.
Hotpressedsheetmouldcompound(SMC)at150Cand100Kgpressurepercm
FTCGRP/
FRPPanel
water
tanks

produceauniformpanelofsolidhomogenousconstruction.
Averageserviceablelifeforpanelsinnormalconditionswithoutmaintenanceis40
years.
Testedforheavyimpact,weather,loads,settlingandearthquakes.
Safetyfactorof8xabovemaximumanticipatedload.
Excellentultraviolet(UV)resistantcharacteristicsandperformance.
Optionofpreinsulatedpanelstoavoidtheriskoffreezing.

Handlayupmanufacturingprocessisunabletodeliverconsistentqualitylaminate
thicknessandisdependantonthelevelofskillsprovidedbylabour.Evenwithskilled
labour,homogenouslaminateisalmostimpossibletoattainwhichleadstoaweak
Fiber

constructedtank.

Glass

Averageserviceablelifeundernormalconditionsis5yearsinvariableclimateswith

HandLay

extremesoftemperaturethiswillbereducedevenfurther.

upwater

RoughsurfacesacceleratedelaminationofthefibersparticularlywhenexposedtoUV

tanks

raysfromsunlight.
Brittleinconstructionthatresultsindamage.
Freezingresultsincracking

Exposuretoweathervariationssuchascold,heatandUVraysonathinlywalledtank,
whichhascontinuouslychangingwaterlevels,causesembrittlementresultingin
crackingandashortlife.
PVCwater
tanks

Fragileandcouldbedamagedbysurroundingnormalactivities.
Duetotheextremelightnessofthetankanormallightstormcouldbreakthe
connectingpipesandblowthetankawaywhenitisempty.
Whenusedonaroofconcreteblockareplacedinthetanktominimisetheriskof
beingblownawaybythewindwhenempty.
Freezingresultsincracking

Exposuretoweathervariationssuchascoldandheataswellasvaryingwaterlevels
Steel

onthetankwallsresultsinexpansionandcontractioncreatingcracksonthelaminated

water

surfaceswhichleadstoashorterlifeduetocorrosion.

tanks

Lackofregularmaintenanceresultsinashortlifeforsteelwatertanks.
Freezingresultsindeformationandpossiblecracking.

Durablewhennosettlementorcrackingoccurs.
Concrete
water
tanks

Concreteishighlyabsorbentofwater.Heatandhumidityabovevariablewaterlevels
inaclosedtankincreaseabsorptionreachingthereinforcedsteelbarscausing
corrosionthatleadstoexpansionandultimatelycrackingoftheconcrete.
Concretehashighthermalconductivity,whichincoldweatherfreezeswaterand
resultsincracking.

WaterQuality

Smoothmirrorsurfaceofthepanelpreventdirtadhesionandbacterial
growth.
Lightprooftopreventalgaegrowth.Lighttransmittanceforpanelsincluding
manholecoveris0,00%.
Thehotpressingmethodforpanelseliminatesstyreneandmakesitanideal
FTCGRP/FRP
Panelwatertanks

productforstoringdrinkingwater.
Tanksarecompletelysealed,manholecoversandairventsarebydesign
dustandinsectproof.

Nometalcomponentsneedtobeincontactwithwater.Reinforcement,bolts
andnutsforassemblyareontheoutside.
Exclusivebasepaneldesignensurescompletefreeflowdrainagethis
eliminatesresidualcontaminatedwaterwithcleaning.

Roughsurfacesencouragebacterialgrowth.
Dirtwilladheretotheinsidewallscausingodorsandcontamination.
Lighttransmissionthroughtankwallswillencouragealgaegrowth.
FiberGlassHand

Poorproductionmethodsandrawmaterialscausematerialdegradationthat

Layupwatertanks

contaminateswater.
Styreneemissioncauseshealthandenvironmentaldamage.
Bottomslopewillnotallowcompletedrainageofhosepressurewaterwith
chemicalsusedforcleaningresultingincontaminationofincomingwater.

Lighttransmittancethroughtankmanholecoverwillencouragealgaegrowth.
PVCwatertanks

Dustandpollutedairthroughmanholecovercorridorcontaminatesthewater.
Bottomslopewillnotallowcompletedrainageofhosepressurewaterwith
chemicalsusedforcleaningresultingincontaminationofincomingwater.

Corrosioncausesdangeroustoxinsindrinkingwater.
Residualchloridescauseschlorinegaswhenwaterpoursintotankthrough
Steelwatertanks

inlet,thisdegradesbothmetalandwaterquality.
Bottomslopewillnotallowcompletedrainageofhosepressurewaterwith
chemicalsusedforcleaningresultingincontaminationofincomingwater.

Roughsurfacecollectsdirtandbacteria.
Lightpenetrationfrommanholeresultsinalgaegrowth.
Manholegapsandcorridorsencouragebreedingofinsectsandaccumulation
Concretewater
tanks

ofdust.
Baselinecracksresultinwatercontamination.
Flatbottomwillnotallowcompletedrainageofhosepressurewaterwith
chemicalsresultingincontaminationofincomingwater.
Chlorinecausesdegradationofthetanksurfacethatprovidesroomfor
bacteriagrowth.

Leakage

Exclusivedesignofconvexbottompanelswithflexiblerubbersealantismost
effectiveagainstriskofleakage.

FTCGRP/FRP

Modularpanelwithlowthermalcoefficientandflexiblerubbersealantensures

Panelwatertanks

aleakfreedesign.
Accessiblefromallsidesincludingbottomforeasyvisualinspection.

FiberGlassHand
Layupwater
tanks

Puttyusedaswatersealantmaterialisnormallyofpoorqualityandcancause
leakage.
Breakageoccurseasilyduetononuniformsurfacesandshortlife.

Fragilematerialthatcouldeasilybebrokenbynormalworkrelatedactivity.
PVCwatertanks

UVdegradesthematerialandistheneasilybroken.
Freezingbreaksthematerial.

Weakpointsatweldedjointsleadtoleakageproblemswithweldedtanks.
Boltedsteeltanksaresusceptibletohighexpansionandcontractiondueto
Steelwatertanks

thermalproperties,whichwillovertimeaffectsealantcausingleakage.
Ifcorrosionisnotcorrectedregularlyitwilleventuallycauseleakage.
Freezingwillresultisleaksatthejoints.

Settlementandcrackingresultsinleakage.
Baselineleakageisdifficulttodetectresultinginseriousdamageandcollapse
Concretewater
tanks

ofthetank.
Poorlysealedandmaintainedtankswillabsorbwater,whichwillcorrodethe
steelreinforcementinsideconcretecausingcracksduetoexpansionand
leakage.
Freezingcausescrackingthatwillresultinleaks.

Repairs&Maintenance

Repairandmaintenancecanbedoneexternallywithoutinterruptingsupply.
Irreparableaccidentaldamagewillbesolvedbyreplacingdamagedpanel,
FTCGRP/FRP
Panelwatertanks

withbasichandtools.
Partitioninsidetankallowscontinuouswatersupplyduringmaintenance
Maintenancelimitedtooutsidebolttightening/andinternalhosewater
pressurewashdownwithoutchemicals.
Completewaterdrainagebydesign.

Skilledworkersarerequiredtorepairandcleanthetankwhichtakesalong
time..

FiberGlassHand

Qualityofwaterlostbyintroducingnewfiberglasswithmuchresinand

Layupwater

styrene.

tanks

Necessarytoemptyentiretank,interruptingwatersupply.
Patchesgiveunevensurface,causingbacteriaandalgaeaccumulation.
Tanksdonotdraincompletelyaftercleaning.

PVCwatertanks

Tankmustbereplacedifbrokenordamaged,asitisnotfeasibletorepairit.
Tanksnormallydonotdraincompletelyaftercleaning.

Needsfrequentmaintenanceduetocorrosion.
Maintenanceisoftendonewithpaint,whichcontainstoxicchemicals.
Steelwatertanks

Heavilycorrodedsectionsmayneedtobecutoutandreplacedwhichisa
costlyandtimeconsumingexercisewithlonginterruptedwatersupplyperiods.
Maintenanceresultsininterruptionofwatersupply.

Causesinterruptionofwatersupply.
Steelreinforcementissubjecttocorrosionanddeteriorationfromwater
contactduetocracks.
Concretewater
tanks

Roughandunevensurfacesrequirehosewaterpressureforwashdownwith
chemicalstokillbacteriaandcleandirtysurfaces.
Flatbottomwillnotallowcompletedrainageofhosepressurewaterwith
chemical,resultingincontaminationofincomingwater.
Costlytomaintain.
Repairisonlyatemporarysolutiontoleakageproblems.

AdaptabilityofSizeandDesign

Flexiblesizesandshapesbydesigncouldrangefrom1mto
10,000m.
FTCGRP/FRPPanelwater
tanks

Caneasilybeextendedatanytimeasstoragerequirement
increase.
Canberelocatedeasilyfromonelocationtoanotherseveral
times.
Limitedto4.00mtinheight

Flexibleinsizeandshapedependantonvolume.
FiberGlassHandLayup

Cannotbeusedforlargesizetanks.

watertanks

Largersizesimpracticaltorelocateduetoonepiecedesign.
Cannotbeextended.

Predeterminedsizes.Sizelimitationintheproductionmoulding
process.
Notsuitableforlargetanks.

PVCwatertanks

Cannotbeextended.
Impracticaltorelocateduetoonepiecedesign.

Flexiblesizeandshapebydesigncouldrangefrom1mtomore
than10,000m.
Steelwatertanks

Heightcangoupto12mt.
Cannotbemovedfromonelocationtoanother.
Cannotbeextendedinsizeorvolume.

Flexibleinsizeandshape.
Concretewatertanks

Unabletoincreasesizeorvolume.
Notrelocatable.

PhysicalProperties

Exceptionalpanelstrengthincompression,tension,torsion(Rigidity)
FTCGRP/FRP
Panelwater
tanks

Panelsindividuallydesignedforoptimalperformancewithasafetyfactorof8.
Designedandtestedtowithstand100yearsanticipatednaturalconditionsin
Japan.
LonglifeUVprotection.
Lowthermalconductivity.

Limitedinstrengthcompression,tension,torsion(rigidity)
Designedforlowwaterpressurewithasafetyfactorof2.5around.
FiberGlassHand

Shortlifespan.

Layupwater

NoUVprotection.

tanks

Manufacturingprocessdoesnotcurestyreneemissions.
Uneventhickness.
Highthermalconductivity.

Limitedinstrengthcompression,tension,torsion(rigidity)
Designedforlowwaterpressurewiththeminimumwallthicknessrequiredto
PVCwatertanks

holdthiscapacityofwaterwithalowersafetyfactorthanFiberGlassHandLay
uptanks.
UVprotectionislimitedduetothewallthickness.

Highthermalconductivityalsoduetowallthickness.

Thermalconductivityofsteelisveryhigh(240timesmorethanGRP),heating
uptankandwaterandmakinghandling,installing,andrepairdifficult.
Steelwater
tanks

Weightofsteelcallsformoreextensiveandcostlysupportstructures.
Susceptibletocorrosionandhighmaintenance.
Expansionandcontractionduetothermalpropertieswillweakenjointsover
time.

Lowseismictolerances.
Concretewater
tanks

Longlifeexpectancyinabsenceofcracks.
FlexibleinDesign.
Longerlifeintemperateweatherconditions.
Highthermalconductivity.

CorrosionProperties

FTCGRP/FRP
Panelwater

Notapplicable(Nosteelindirectcontactwithwater).

tanks
FiberGlass
HandLayup

Notsusceptibletocorrosion.

watertanks

PVCwatertanks

Notsusceptibletocorrosion.

Highlysusceptibletocorrosioncausingfrequentandcostlymaintenance.
Steelwater

Materialsusedtorectifycorrosionmaybetoxic.

tanks

Anyprocesstoprotectthesteelfromcorrosioniseasilyscratchedasaresultof
accidentsduringhandlingandassemblywhichinturncausecorrosion.

Concretewater
tanks

Handling&Assembly

Waterabsorptioninpoorlyoruntreatedconcretetanksishighcausing
corrosiontotheinternalsteelreinforcementthatinturncausesexpansion
crackstotheconcrete.

Lowestoverallskillleveloflabourrequirement.Forassemblylabourcanbedone
bythelocalcommunity.
Lowmanhourlabourrequirement.e.g.(5x5x2m=50m)Thistankrequires
FTCGRP/FRP

11manhoursforassembly

Panelwater

Minimumassemblyequipmentrequirement,usingbasichandtools.

tanks

Panelislightweightandeasytohandle.Uniformqualityendproduct.
Minimumvolumeandlightweighttotransport,e.g.Pallet2m=400kgtobuilda
tankof9m,transportvolumesdecreaseproportionatelypermastankvolumes
increaseinsize.

FiberGlass

Difficulttotransportandplaceduetoitsonepiecedesign.

HandLayup

Verydifficulttoplaceontheroofsofbuildingswithouttheuseoflifting

watertanks

equipment.
Costlyduetothefactthatvolumeisbeingtransported.

Largersizesdifficulttotransportandplaceduetoitsonepiecedesign.
PVCwater

Verydifficulttoplaceontheroofsofbuildingswithouttheuseoflifting

tanks

equipment.
Costlyduetothefactthatvolumeisbeingtransported.

Specialequipmentrequiredforliftingheavyplatesthatweighthreetimesthatof
Steelwater

aGRPpanel.

tanks

Highskillleveloflabourisrequiredaswellashightotalmanhoursforassembly.
Specialtoolsandequipmentrequiredforassembly.

Longtimeandskillleveloflabourandequipmentneededtocompletetank
construction.
Concretewater

Buildingtanksinurbanareasinvolvesconstructionrequiringthetransportationof

tanks

largequantitiesofmaterials,equipmentandmanpower.
Buildingtanksinremoteareasrequirespecialutilitiesthatarenotalwaysreadily
availableaswellastherequirementsrelatedtoregularurbanconstructionsites.

InsulationProperties&Characteristics

FTCGRP/FRP
Panelwater
tanks

Insulatedpaneloptionavailableforextremeweatherconditions(hotorcold).
Excellentforindustrialpurposeswherechilledwaterisrequiredinvolume.
NoninsulatedPanelshave240timeslessthermalconductivitythanmetal,
ensuringstabletemperatures.

Acceptablethermalconductivitypropertiesinnormalweatherconditions,in
climateswhereextremesoftemperaturearethenormthewaterdeliveredwillbe
FiberGlass
HandLayup
watertanks

hotinsummerandcoldinwinterwhichprovestobeuncomfortableand
inconvenienttotheuser.
Difficulttoaddinsulationmaterialduetodesigns.
Causesbigvariationsinwatertemperatureovera24hourcycleaffectingwater
quality

Difficulttoaddinsulationmaterialduetodesigns.
Highthermalconductivity.
PVCwater
tanks

Difficulttoaddinsulationmaterialsduetodesigns.
Causesbigvariationsinwatertemperatureovera24hourcycleaffectingwater
quality.
Watertemperaturewillbeaboveambienttemperaturesinsummerandbelow
ambientinwinter.

Thermalconductivityofsteelisveryhigh(37Kcal/M.Hr.C.),heatinguptankand
waterandmakinghandling,installing,andrepairdifficult.
Steelwater

Causesbigvariationsinwatertemperatureovera24hourcycleaffectingwater

tanks

quality.
Watertemperaturewillbeaboveambienttemperaturesinsummerandbelow
ambientinwinter.

Concretewater
tanks

Acceptablethermalpropertiesintemperateweatherconditions.

Brochure
DownloadyourFTCbrochurehere(../resources/FTCCatalogue.pdf)

Contact
+61(08)83747600
info@dematec.com.au(mailto:info@dematec.com.au?subject=DematecWater
WebsiteEnquiry)

9/5StephenStreet,MelrosePark,SouthAustralia5039

Pagelastupdated:16/02/2015
2014DematecGroup