5 questions to ask when buying a poly water tank
In a country such as Australia where the dry seasons can be unforgiving at best, investing in reliable, long-term water storage solutions is a sensible idea.
As such, households and businesses across the country have recognised the benefits of installing a polyethylene water tank, which can be a great way to ensure a steady supply of water year-round. Not all plastic water tanks are made equal, however – so what separates a great tank from a good one?
Here's a checklist of five key things to look for when buying a poly water tank.
1. Is it made from C6 polyethylene?
The type of comonomer a plastic tank is made with can affect a range of key structural factors, making it a key point to consider in your purchase.
You should always look for a tank with a hexene (C6) comonomer, as opposed to alternatives such as C4. A C6 tank will offer far superior stress crack resistance and overall impact strength – both crucial factors to a tank's long-term performance.
2. Does it have superior environmental stress crack resistance?
The Environmental Stress Crack Resistance (ESCR) requirement of AS4766 stipulates a required level of physical performance after 500 hours of exposure to an active chemical reagent. Alkatuff® polyethylene for water tanks delivers ESCR performance in excess of 1000 hours under these challenging conditions.
This means that tanks made with Alkatuff® resin, holding both chemicals and water, will last the distance through superior resistance to stress cracking.
3. What is its level of UV resistance?
UV rays, especially those received in a harsh environment such as Australia's, obviously take a toll on plastics over time – so it's important to choose a tank that won't wilt under constant exposure.
The Australian Standard for plastic tanks dictates a minimum UV8 requirement, but why accept the bare minimum? All tanks made of Alkatuff polyethylene deliver a performance level of UV20, giving you more than double the assurance of many other tanks.
4. Does it offer a high level of creep resistance?
Creep is the tendency of a material to deform permanently over time under the influence of mechanical stresses and can be increased by elevated temperature. With its C6 comonomer and superior toughness, tanks made Alkatuff demonstrate excellent creep resistance performance.
AS 4766 Polyethylene Storage Tanks for Water and Chemicals has been designed to ensure water tanks are manufactured to achieve performance around a range of properties including creep resistance – so keep an eye out for this standard when you're looking for your tank.
5. Is it built for Australian conditions?
Lastly, if you're buying a water tank to use in Australia, it makes sense to find one that's built for local conditions.
Tanks made from Alkatuff have been manufactured right here in Australia, meaning the utmost care has been invested into ensuring they can withstand anything this country's unique climate and environment can throw at them.
By Gerald Beckton
