The Client

We were contacted by the facilities manager for an oil export company regarding problems with a small fibreglass water tank at their Edinburgh office. This bolted sectional panel water tank was located in the roof cavity and was leaking from the panel joints.

Challenges

Over time, several attempts to repair the leaks failed. The latest repair appeared to have used a chalky type of well-known commercial flexible joint sealant. Unfortunately, this sealant is not suitable for submerged conditions, which is why the leaks recurred.

Locating all the leaks was no easy task, and all the work had to be completed within a single weekend. This was because the tank supplied water to the office toilets.

Solution

We arrived on site late on Friday afternoon as the tank was being drained. As the last of the water drained away, we set up our equipment, and our confined space-trained team entered the tank to remove any remaining traces of water. They also cleaned and dried the tank in preparation for the repair work planned for the following day.

On Saturday morning, we removed the old flexible caulk joint filler. We then abraded the joints and surrounding areas. We brushed and vacuumed the tank, ready to apply our joint repair system.

Our water tank joint repair system consists of several different layers of resin and a woven fibreglass reinforcement bandage. Our flexible, impervious 2-pack resin-based joint repair system has been specifically developed for leaking joints, such as those found in this water tank. All joints were suitably treated. and on Sunday morning, we applied a final coat.

The Results

The final coat took just three hours to cure. We refilled the tank and tested the integrity of the new system. It was returned to service and ready for use on Monday morning.

Our strong yet flexible system provides a cost-effective way to extend the life of existing tanks. With regular maintenance, this fibreglass water tank will last fifteen years or more.