FRP(Fibreglass Reinforced Polyester, also known as , or Glass Reinforced Polyester) is a modern Composite Material for construction.
A typical storage tank made of FRP/GRP has an Inlet, an Outlet, a Drain, and Overflow, Air Vent and a Manhole with Access Cover (600mm Dia.). There are other features included in the tank like the External Ladder on the outside allow for easy access to the roof and Internal Ladder for access into the tank. The Sectional Water Tank must be designed to withstand the load of a person standing on the roof. Sloped bottoms allow for easier draining. Level Indicator allows reading of the water level in the tank.
GRP Tanks fall under regulation of several groups. Singapore Standard SS 245:2014 Specification for Glass-Fibre Reinforced Polyester Sectional Water Tanks. Malaysian Standard MS 1390:2010 for Glass-Fibre Reinforced Polyester Panels and Panel Water Tanks-Specification (FIRST REVISION). British Standard BS EN 13280:2001 Specification for Glass-Fibre Reinforced Cisterns of one-piece and sectional construction, for the storage, above ground, of cold water. Water Regulations Advisory Scheme, UK. Material Approval is granted to materials which have satisfied the requirements of BS 6920:2014 Parts 1 and 2, together with Part 3 for hot water usage, “Suitability of non-metallic products for use in contact with water intended for human consumption with regard to their effect on the quality of water.”
The reasons for wide acceptance of reinforced plastics by industries include: - Broad corrosion resistance - Good mechanical properties - Availability of design criteria to ensure product reliability Products produced by HOT PRESSED (SMC) SHEET MOULDING COMPOUND method are used worldwide in a multiplicity of structural and engineering applications. These range from aircraft wings where structural integrity is paramount to ship hulls where a combination of strength and water tightness is fundamental. The HOT PRESSED (SMC) SHEET MOULDING COMPOUND method is employed to produce FRP/GRP panels for use as components in sectional water tanks in order to ensure dimensional accuracy and consistent mechanical properties.
