22-22 WATER TANKS FOR PRIVATE FIRE PROTECTION

9.6.2.3 A vortex-plate assembly, as shown in Figure B. l (f), l l.5 Protection of Buried Tanks.
shall be bolted to the combination inlet/outlet fitting.
1 1.5.l Tanks shall be designed to resist the pressure of earth
9.6.2.3.1 The vortex-plate assembly, in addition to conu·olling against them.
vortex flow, shall serve as a guard so that it is possible to pump
1 1 .5.2 Tanks shall meet local building code requirements for
the calculated water capacity out of the tank at a high rate of
resisting earthquake damage .
flow.
l l .5.3 Tanks shall be installed in accordance with the manu­
9.6.2.4* An overflow shall be provided and shall be sized for
facturer's insu·uctions and 1 1 .5.4 through 1 1 .5.13.
the filling rate or shall be sized 2 in. (51 mm) larger tl1an the
fill line. 1 1 .5.4 Bedding and backfill shall be noncorrosive inert mate­
rial, of a type recommended by the tank manufacture1� such as
9.6.3 Water-Level Gauge. The tank shall be provided with a
crushed stone or pea gravel that is properly compacted.
water-level gauge that consists of a sight glass that is construc­
ted of clear acrylic tubing of 2% in. (60 mm) outside diameter. 1 1 .5.5 Tanks shall be set on t11e minimum depth of bedding,
as recommended by tlle tank manufacturer, that extends 1 ft
9.6.3.1 vVhere subject to freezing, the water gauge assembly
(0.3 m) beyond the end and sides of the tank.
shall be installed in the heated pump house.
1 1 .5.6 Tanks shall be located completely below the frost line
Concrete Gravity Tanks and Suction Tanks
to protect against freezing.
Chapter IO
l l .5.7 V\'here tanks are buried below railroad tracks, the mini­
10.1 General. The design, materials, and consu·uction of mtun depth of cover shall be 4 ft ( 1 .2 m ) .
concrete tanks shall conform to ACI 318 and ACI 350, with
\vater considered as a live load. 1 1 .5.8 V\'here the tanks are not subjected to traffic, tanks shall
be covered with not less than 12 in. (305 mm) of compacted
I0.2 Prestressed Tanks. Prestressed concrete water tanks shall backfill and topped with up to 18 in. (457 mm) of compacted
conform to Av\IWA D l l O or AvVvVA D l l5. backfill or with not less than 12 in. (305 mm) of compacted
backfill, on top of which shall be placed a slab of reinforced
10.3 Standard Capacities. This chapter provides requirements
for reinforced concrete tanks of 10,000 gal to 500,000 gal
concrete not less than 4 in. (100 mm) thick.

(37.85 m3 to 1892.50 m3) and prestressed concrete tanks of 1 1 .5.9 V\'here tanks are, or are likely to be, subjected to traffic,
10,000 gal to 1 ,000,000 gal (37.85 m3 to 3785.00 m3) net they shall be protected from vehicles passing over them by at
capacity. least 36 in. (914 mm) of backfill, or 1 8 in. (457 mm) of
compacted backfill, of a type recommended by the tank manu­
10.3.1 Tanks of larger capacities shall be permitted. facttu·er, plus either 6 in. (152 mm) of reinforced concrete or
10.4 Earthquake Load. Concrete tanks shall meet the require­ 9 in. (229 mm) of asphaltic concrete or greater where specified
ments for resisting eartllquake damage by complying with the by the tank manufacnirer.
earthquake provisions ofACI 350. 11.5.10 V\There asphaltic or reinforced concrete paving is used
I0.4.I Earthquake requirements for presu·essed concrete as part of the protection, it shall extend at least 12 in.
tanks shall comply with tlle earthquake provisions of AVVWA (305 mm) horizontally beyond the outline of the tank i.n all
D l l O or AvVvVA D l l5, as applicable. directions.

I0.5 Wall Treatments. Concrete tank \valls shall be made 1 1.5.ll Tanks shall be safeguarded against movement when
impermeable by means of an impervious membrane or coating exposed to high grouncl\vater or flood\vater by anchoring with
that is applied to the interior surface of the tank to prevent visi· non-metallic straps to a bottom hold-clown pad or cleaclman
ble leakage or seepage through the tank wall. anchors with fittings built up or protected to prevent corrosion
failure over the life of the tank or by securing by other equiva­
10.5. I Tank designs that are not subject to such leakage shall lent means using recognized engineering standards.
not be required to be made impermeable.
11.5.12 The depth of cover shall be measured from the top of
the tank to the finished grade , and due consideration shall be
Chapter I I Fiberglass-Reinforced Plastic Tanks given to future or final grade and the nature of the soil.

I I. I General. Fiberglass-reinforced plastic tanks shall be 1 1 .5.13 Maximum burial depths, measured from tl1e top of
permitted to be used for fire protection systems when installed the tank, are established by underground tank manufacturers
in accordance with this standard. and independent testing laboratories. Maximum burial depth
shall be specified by the tank manufacturer and shall be
I 1.2* Application. Fiberglass-reinforced plastic tanks shall be marked on the tank.
permitted only for storage of\vater at atmospheric pressure.
11.6 Protection of Abovegro und Tanks.
I 1.3* Tank Specification. Fiberglass-reinforced plastic tanks
shall meet the requirements of A\A/WA Dl20 or AWWA D l 2 1 . l l .6.1 Tanks shall meet local building code requirements for
resisting earthquake damage .
11.4 Monolithic Tanks. Monolithic tanks shall be tested for
leakage by the manufacturer prior to shipment. 1 1 .6.2 Tanks shall be installed in accordance with the manu­
facturer's instructions and 1 1 .6.3 through 1 1 .6.5.
11.4.1 Tanks that are assembled on site shall be tested for
leakage by the manufacturer.

2023 Edition
 TANK AND TO\l\TER FOUNDATIONS IN THE GROUND 22-23

11.6.3 Fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) tanks located inside dation. V\fhere a starter ring that is installed in accordance with
a building shall be protected by automatic sp1·inklers in accord­ AV'·lWA D103 is embedded in a concrete slab floor, the sand
ance with ordinary hazard Group 2 occupancies. cushion and cane fiber joint filler shall not be required.

1 1.6.3.1 Where the hazard is greater than OH2, protection 12.2.1.4 Embankment-supported coated fabric suction tank
shall be in accordance with NFPA 13. foundations shall comply with Section 9.4.

1 1.6.4 Horizontal fiberglass-reinforced plastic tanks that are 12.2.2 For ring\vall foundations, a minimum 10 in. (254 mm)
greater than 4 ft ( 1 .2 m) in diameter and are positioned 1 8 in. wide reinforced concrete ring \vall that extends below the frost
( 457 mm) 01· greater above finished floor shall be protected in line and at least 1.0 ft (0.30 m) below finished grade shall be
accordance with the obstruction rules ofNFPA 13. placed directly beneath the tank shell where tanks are suppor­
ted on a cushion of sand, on crushed stone, or granular bases.
11.6.5 Fiberglass tanks installed outdoors shall be protected
from freezing and mechanical and UV damage. 12.2.2.l The ring shall project at least 6 in. (152 mm) to a
maximum of 12 in. (300 mm) above the surrounding grade
1 1 . 7 Tanlc Connections.
and shall be reinforced against temperature and shrinkage and
1 1 . 7.1 Tanks shall have a vent that extends above the ground shall be reinforced to resist the lateral pressme of the confined
to prevent against pressurization of the tank during filling and fill with its surcharge.
creation of a vacuum during use. Tank venting systems shall be
12.2.2.2 The minimum reinforcement shall conform to Chap­
provided with a minimum 2.0 in. (50 mm) nominal inside
ter 14, Section 14.3 of ACI 318.
diameter.
12.2.2.3 The tops of ring\vall foundations shall be level within
1 1 . 7.2* For underground tanks, water level monitoring
±Ys in. (±3.2 mm) in one plate length [approximately 34 ft
required by 14.1.8 shall be capable of being read above
(10.4 m) ] , and no two points on the \\/all shall differ by more
ground.
than ±Y.i in. (±6.4 mm).
1 1 . 7.3* Tanks shall have an accessible method of filling the
12.2.2.4 In lieu of a concrete foundation, self�anchored steel
tank above ground.
suction tanks shall be permitted to be supported on granular
1 1 . 7.4* Tanks that are used as cisterns for providing fire flow berms, with or without steel retainer rings, in accordance with
to fire department apparatus shall have a dry hydrant assembly AV1TWA DlOO or AV\IV\fA Dl03, as applicable.
with threads acceptable to the authority havingjurisdiction.
12.2.3 \l\lhere soil does not provide direct support for the tank
11.7.5 Tanks used as cisterns for providing fire flow to fire without excessive settlement, shallow foundation construction
department apparatus shall be located such that the lowest shall not be adequate, and a proper foundation shall be
\vater in the tank used for fire protection is not more than 1 5 ft designed by a foundation engineer.
(4.6 m) below the grade where the fire department apparatus
12.3 Foundation Piers for Elevated Tanks.
will site to extract water from the tank.
12.3.1 The tops of foundation piers shall be level, shall be at

Chapter 1 2 Tanlc and Tow

least 6 in. ( 1 52 mm) above grade, and shall be located at the
er Foundations in the Ground
correct elevations.

12.1 Concrete Specifications. Concrete foundations and foot­ 12.3.2 The bottom of foundations shall be located below the
ings shall be built of concrete with a specified compressive frost line m at least 4 ft ( 1 . 2 m) below grade, whichever is
strength of not less than 3000 psi (20.69 MPa). Design, materi­ greater.
als, and construction shall conform to ACI 318, with \vater
considered as a live load. 12.3.3 Pier foundations shall be of any suitable shape and
shall be of either plain or reinforced concrete.
12.2 Suction Tanlc Foundations.
12.3.3.l V\lhere the pier foundation supports a tower, the
12.2.1 Except as allowed by 12.2.2.4, suction tanks shall be set center of gravity of the pier shall lie in the continued center of
on a concrete slab foundation or a concrete ringwall founda­ the gravity line of the tower column, or it shall be designed for
tion with a cushion of sand, compacted crushed stone, or gran­ d1e eccentricity.
ular base.
12.3.3.2 The top surface shall extend at least 3 in. (76 mm)
12.2. 1 . 1 When a suction tank is set on a concrete ringwall beyond the bearing plates on all sides and shall be chamfered
foundation with a cushion of sand, at least 3 in. (76.2 mm) of at the edge.
clean, dry sand, laid on the compacted grade, shall be provided
at the finished tank grade and shall slope up toward the center 12.4 Ancho rage.
of the tank at the rate o f l in. in 10 ft (25.4 mm in 3 m ) . 12.4.1 The weight of the piers shall be sufficient to resist the
12.2.1.2 For suction tanks set on concrete foundations, the maximum net uplift that occurs when the tank is empty and
junction of the tank bottom and the top of the concrete foun­ wind loads are on the structure , as specified in previous
dation shall be tightly sealed to prevent water from entering sections.
the base. 12.4.1.1 The wind shall be considered to be blowing from any
12.2.1.3 For tanks supported on concrete slab foundations, a direction.
sand cushion at least 1 in. (25.4 mm) thick 01· a Y:i in. 12.4.1.2 The weight of earth located vertically above the base
(12.7 mm) cane fiber joint filler d1at complies with ASTM of the pier shall be permitted to be included.
D 1751 shall be provided between the flat bottom and the foun-

2023 Edition