A sectional water tank is installed by bolting standard panels together on a concrete base prepared on site, then testing the tank; no welding is needed and the panels fit through narrow doorways. A GRP tank first gets a galvanized steel skid, and every panel joint is sealed with PVC foam tape. For GRP tanks the catalogue calls for a base with at least 180 kg/cm² compressive strength, and every tank type needs 500 mm clearance to walls, columns and the ceiling.
Contents
- Where can a sectional water tank be installed?
- Site survey: room size, ceiling height and access width
- Tank base requirements: concrete base and steel skid
- Installation clearances around the tank
- GRP tank installation, step by step
- Sealing the panel joints
- Pipe connections and site testing
- Installation by Aquasan's own teams
- Frequently Asked Questions
Where can a sectional water tank be installed?
Aquasan sectional tanks can go indoors, on a rooftop or outdoors (catalogue p. 23).
- Indoors: ceiling height, columns and the access door are the usual limits; GRP tanks can be built in L and U shapes and around columns (catalogue p. 9).
- Rooftop: each metre of water depth puts roughly 1 t/m² on the footprint (1 m³ of water ≈ 1 tonne), plus the tank, skid and base; have a structural engineer check the roof.
- Outdoors: the catalogue highlights GRP for outdoor use: the panels are UV resistant and opaque, so no algae forms inside (catalogue pp. 4, 5). The tank is designed to withstand 60 m/s wind even when empty, and its roof carries a 200 kgf/m² snow load (catalogue p. 12). Panels insulated with 25 mm polyurethane foam suit extreme climates.
For drinking water we recommend GRP or stainless steel; see our GRP vs stainless vs galvanized comparison.
Site survey: room size, ceiling height and access width
The details we ask for in a quote are also the installation team's starting data: capacity, tank type, room width, length and ceiling height, access width, location, intended use and insulation (catalogue p. 23).
Narrow access: every Aquasan tank is built from standard panels bolted together on site, so it can be carried through narrow doorways and assembled in place (catalogue p. 4). GRP panels measure 1,000 × 1,000 mm; galvanized and stainless steel panels 1,080 × 1,080 mm.
Ceiling height: allow for the base and skid height, the tank height and 500 mm of top clearance (catalogue p. 9). A 3 m GRP tank needs at least 3.5 m of free height above the skid.
Tank base requirements: concrete base and steel skid
Aquasan tanks sit on a steel support grid on a concrete base built on site to suit the tank (catalogue pp. 9, 10). For GRP tanks the catalogue sets two requirements: a compressive strength of at least 180 kg/cm² (about 17.7 N/mm²) and no more than 20 mm of levelling mortar (catalogue p. 13), so the concrete itself should be cast flat and level.
The catalogue's example drawing shows parallel concrete beams 400 mm wide and 500 mm high, spaced 1,000 mm apart (catalogue p. 9); actual dimensions are set per tank.
The skid is made of hot-dip galvanized main and cross beams, bolted together with no welding (catalogue pp. 10, 13). Sections get heavier as the tank gets taller:
| Tank height | Main beam | Cross beam |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 m | L 75 × 75 × 6 mm | U 75 × 40 × 3 mm |
| 2.5–4 m | U 125 × 65 × 6.5 × 8 mm | U 75 × 40 × 6 mm |
| 4.5–5 m | U 150 × 75 × 8 × 10 mm | U 100 × 50 × 6 mm |
The table covers GRP tanks; profiles are recalculated for site conditions (catalogue p. 13). The catalogue gives no separate skid table or base strength for steel tanks, which are also drawn on a concrete base (catalogue p. 16); their base is detailed per project.
Installation clearances around the tank
Leave 500 mm between the tank and any wall, column or ceiling for assembly and maintenance, for GRP and steel tanks alike (catalogue pp. 8, 9, 16).
| Clearance | GRP tank | Galvanized and stainless tank |
|---|---|---|
| Wall / column | 500 mm | At least 500 mm |
| Ceiling | 500 mm | At least 500 mm |
A 4 × 3 m GRP tank in a room walled on all sides therefore needs at least 5 × 4 m. Separate tanks need a 1 m gap between them, so one partitioned tank for drinking and fire water holds more: 16 tonnes versus 12 in two separate tanks on the same area (catalogue p. 13).
GRP tank installation, step by step
A GRP tank is made of panels, internal stays, galvanized supports and fittings, all bolted together on site; every panel joint gets sealing tape and is clamped with bolts and nuts (catalogue p. 10). The usual order, which the installation team adapts to each project:
- Base check: dimensions, level and mortar thickness.
- Steel skid: main and cross beams set out and bolted.
- Floor: convex floor panels on the skid, with the drain panel at the lowest point (catalogue p. 11).
- Walls: 1,000 × 1,000 mm panels course by course; heights such as 2.5 m finish with 1,000 × 500 mm half panels (catalogue pp. 8, 11).
- Corners: galvanized corner profiles and external bracing (catalogue p. 10).
- Internal stays: stay rods tie opposite walls and balance water pressure; brackets fix them to the joints (catalogue p. 10).
- Roof: roof support, opaque roof panels, manhole cover and air vent (catalogue pp. 10, 11).
- Ladders and flanges: external galvanized and internal ladders; inlet, outlet, overflow and drain flanges (catalogue p. 10).
Galvanized and stainless steel tanks are bolted together the same way from 1,080 × 1,080 mm panels, up to 4,320 mm high (catalogue pp. 4, 16); see our sectional tank sizes guide.
Sealing the panel joints
GRP panel joints are sealed with a special PVC foam tape and clamped by the bolts (catalogue pp. 10, 12). The tape stays flexible and adhesive at low temperatures and recovers 96% of its thickness 24 hours after compression (catalogue p. 12).
| Joint | Tape width |
|---|---|
| Standard joint | 50 mm |
| Corner joint | 120 mm |
| Roof joint | 30 mm |
The convex floor helps too: water pressure pushes the floor panels down and compresses the flange joints, whereas a flat floor forces the joints open over time (catalogue p. 11).
Pipe connections and site testing
Inlet, outlet, overflow and drain connections are flanged or threaded; the GRP section of the catalogue gives these standard sizes by tank capacity (catalogue p. 13):
| Capacity | Inlet | Outlet | Overflow | Drain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–10 m³ | DN 25 | DN 50 | DN 50 | DN 25 |
| 11–20 m³ | DN 40 | DN 50 | DN 50 | DN 40 |
| 21–50 m³ | DN 50 | DN 65 | DN 65 | DN 40 |
| 51–100 m³ | DN 65 | DN 80 | DN 80 | DN 50 |
| 101–200 m³ | DN 80 | DN 100 | DN 100 | DN 50 |
| 201–500 m³ | DN 100 | DN 125 | DN 125 | DN 80 |
| 501 m³ and above | DN 125 | DN 150 | DN 150 | DN 80 |
Support the pipework separately so it puts no load on the tank (catalogue p. 13). Our booster sets and pumps can be supplied with the tank (catalogue p. 22).
Our teams assemble and test every tank on site (catalogue p. 18). The catalogue sets no test procedure; as general practice the tank is filled with water and the joints and pipe connections are watched for leaks, with the duration agreed with the installation team. The 1% wall deflection after 48 hours full is a GRP design limit, not a test period (catalogue p. 12). Clean and disinfect a drinking water tank before use; see our drinking water tank guide for drainage, cleaning and maintenance.
Installation by Aquasan's own teams
Our own expert teams install Aquasan tanks across Turkey and abroad, turnkey from survey to commissioning (catalogue p. 18). Tanks are made at our own plant in Malatya 1st Organized Industrial Zone (catalogue p. 2). After handover we keep spare parts in stock, respond promptly to leaks and offer periodic maintenance. The product warranty is 2 years (catalogue pp. 3, 18); see completed work on our Projects page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a sectional water tank go through a narrow doorway?
Yes. It arrives as panels (1,000 × 1,000 mm GRP or 1,080 × 1,080 mm steel) and is bolted together on site (catalogue p. 4). Give us the door or opening width when you request a quote (catalogue p. 23).
What are the base requirements for a GRP water tank?
The catalogue specifies a concrete base with at least 180 kg/cm² (about 17.7 N/mm²) compressive strength and no more than 20 mm of levelling mortar (catalogue p. 13). A hot-dip galvanized steel skid, sized to the tank height, sits on top of it. The catalogue's example base uses concrete beams 400 mm wide and 500 mm high, spaced 1,000 mm apart (catalogue pp. 9, 13).
Can a GRP tank be installed on a roof?
Yes, a rooftop is one of the standard installation locations (catalogue p. 23). Allow about 1 t/m² of load for every metre of water depth, plus the weight of the tank, skid and base, and have a structural engineer check the roof. GRP suits exposed roofs: the panels are UV resistant and opaque, so no algae grows inside (catalogue p. 5).
Is welding needed on site?
No. On a GRP tank the panels, internal stays, galvanized supports and steel skid are all bolted together on site, so no welding is needed (catalogue pp. 10, 13). Galvanized and stainless steel tanks are bolted from 1,080 × 1,080 mm panels in the same way, and individual panels can be replaced if needed (catalogue pp. 4, 14). Our own teams carry out the installation and site test (catalogue p. 18).
How long does sectional tank installation take?
It depends on tank size, whether the concrete base is ready and how easy site access is; the catalogue gives no fixed installation time. Having the base finished before the team arrives and a clear route for carrying in the panels both help. Send your project address and required delivery date with your quote request and we will plan the schedule with you (catalogue p. 23).
Get a quote for your project
Share the required capacity (m³), application and location; our engineers will reply with a recommended panel type, size and material.