Concrete Storage Tanks – Reasons To Go Square

**Please note Versatile Tanks DO NOT repair water tanks**

For many years the standard shape of storage tanks has been circular. Whether it’s small rainwater containers or huge underground storage vessels, the cylinder design has almost become the default, despite the issues the shape can cause when it comes to access, engineering and versatility of use.

Square or rectangular concrete tanks though are the key to solving all these issues and are fast becoming the favoured shape for both commercial and domestic installations.

Storage of a number of tanks

Square and rectangular tanks are by their very nature of shape, easy to store. They take up less warehouse space than cylindrical ones and are more stable when stacked upon each other. Their modular design is ideal for construction companies that are building new housing developments and need to site the often legally required storm water collection tank with each property.

Use for a wide number of housing developments

Using a box-based design means that they can be used as a standard product across a number of similar projects. One such area is housing developments; square and rectangular storage tanks are easy for architects to site when designing the maximum number of buildings within a set amount of land. As they are already approved by many local authorities, their use can be transposed to new plans and projects safe in the knowledge that they have already passed authority inspection.

Restricted site access

When gaining access to a site in a challenging location; narrow entrance point, overhanging vegetation, a steep incline or if a number of trades already working on site, a circular tank can be problematic to deliver. If large, the shape can overhang the edges of the vehicle being used and it means that specialist and expensive lifting equipment is required. Square tanks however can always be accommodated neatly onto any size truck or articulated vehicle. Their flat base means they are easier and safer to secure for transportation and there’s often more space available, which means more tanks can be delivered in one consignment; thus saving on the time and cost required for repeated trips if cylindrical ones were to be used.

Once on site, quadrilateral shapes are always much more straightforward to install. Their design means that they can be fitted neatly into any difficult to access area and more can be placed alongside each other in a limited space than their circular equivalents; either above or below ground.

Engineered for strength

A square or rectangular concrete tank means that it is much sturdier in relation to being able to bear a weight load on top of it. With many tanks being required for underground storage, being able to safely bury and then add earth, concrete or other heavy materials on top of it means that there needs to be the guarantee that it will not crack or leak due to the pressure of the forces of gravity over it. Cylindrical tanks have different pressure points and it’s not always easy to know that placing it underground and then loading a material on top of it will mean it will hold its shape. When the liquid being stored is perhaps a chemical or other hazardous substance, this is not acceptable as health and safety of the site and the well-being of the employees are paramount.

Seamless design

It’s often not possible to manufacture a cylindrical tank in one seamless piece. They are sometimes produced in rings that are then fused together or simply stacked upon each other. Leaks are more likely, corrosion can take place where they components meet and the strength is compromised.

Square or rectangular concrete tanks with a seamless design mean there are no issues with any of the problems that can beset those of a different shape. Ribbed for even more durability, they can be used underground safely and then heavy forces such as soil and paving slabs placed on top.

Easy to customise

Box-shaped objects are always easy to customise, it’s simply a case of transposing the measurements to increase or decrease the overall volume. This isn’t as straightforward with circular tanks as more thought needs to be given to the overall engineering of the item and how the change in size will affect the tensile strength. With regards to safety, a square tank will always have a base that is stable in relation to the rest of the shape whereas one that is cylindrical could become dangerous if, for example the base is too small in relation to the height – the result for an over ground tank is that it could topple over. This isn’t a scenario that would affect square tanks.

Versatile use

Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of using square and rectangular tanks is the almost endless number of applications they are suitable for. This can include:

When looking for a new concrete tank, the decision is straight forward; square and rectangular will always out-perform and have far more practical uses than cylindrical ones. Safer, less likely to crack or leak and great for even the smallest of installation areas; the future is definitely cube or indeed cuboid-shaped.