Polypropylene Tanks

Polypropylene Tanks For Fire Trucks

Fire trucks cannot do their jobs without water. Of course, fire trucks carry hoses to pump water from municipal fire hydrants. But carrying a supply of water on the truck is critical in case fire hydrants are inaccessible or nonexistent, as with wildland fires, or the hoses cannot connect.

Fire trucks also need to carry foam tanks for situations in which water alone is insufficient to put out the fire — situations such as vehicle fires and other fires caused by flammable liquids. Polypropylene tanks provide a sturdy, effective way to carry significant stores of both water and foam without weighing down or overbalancing the truck.

Polypropylene tanks can carry a few gallons to a few thousand gallons. Their versatility and customizability make them invaluable pieces of equipment on many fire trucks, especially tanker trucks and pumper trucks.

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Types of Polypropylene Tanks and Their Uses

Polypropylene tanks for fire trucks come in several types:

• Rectangle tanks: Rectangle tanks for fire trucks are extremely popular. They incorporate leakproof extrusion welding, so they’re durable and secure. They are typically used with tanker trucks and pumper trucks, but they are also useful on brush or wildland trucks for fighting wildfires. Because they have a simple rectangular prism design without many odd corners or notches, one of their main benefits is the large volume of water they can hold in a relatively small space.
• T-tanks: The T-tank, along with the rectangle tank, is one of the most popular models of fire truck tanks. It is shaped like a T so that hoses and other equipment can fit into the notches of the T shape. This shape also lends itself well to incorporating a ladder tunnel. T-tanks offer the additional benefit of a lower center of gravity than many other types of tanks, so they allow for a better-balanced fire truck. They also make use of leakproof extrusion welding for rugged durability. T-tanks are typically used with tanker trucks and pumper trucks.
• Elliptical tanks: The rounded shape of an elliptical tank provides even more carrying capacity per unit of surface area. But elliptical tanks fit less squarely and snugly into the truck, so packing other equipment around them can be a more challenging task. These tanks are typically used with tanker trucks.
• Skid tanks: Skid tanks provide a variety of compartment options for storing equipment like hose racks, toolboxes and even chainsaws on top of them. The increased complexity of their shape reduces the volume of liquid they can hold, but the tradeoff may be worth it in certain scenarios where an extensive supply of equipment is crucial.
• Pumper tanks: Pumper tanks allow for pumping water onto a fire. They are typically used on pumper trucks, which have a self-contained pump. These pumper trucks generally carry more equipment and less water than tanker trucks and are easier to drive.
• Tanker tanks: Tanker trucks typically carry more water than pumper trucks and compensate by carrying less equipment. So the tanks on these trucks are enormous. Tanker tanks are designed to hold incredible volumes of water, up to several thousand pounds, and with one gallon of water weighing more than eight pounds, many tanks are holding tens of thousands of pounds of water. These tanks are designed to be sturdy to resist leaks and hold up durably under the immense weight they carry.

Many polypropylene fire truck tanks are custom-built because more and more fire trucks incorporate custom fire apparatus as well. So many water tanks bristle with corners and notches so they can accommodate the extra gear the firefighters must carry in their trucks. Some even feature ladder tunnels where fire ladders can be stored.

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Polypropylene Tanks for Utility Use

ESD polypropylene tanks offer a custom solution for many utility needs. ESD Poly manufactures tanks that can store chemicals, fertilizers, and other common materials needed on the job. Polypropylene tanks also provide a secure container for transport and storage of corrosive chemicals. ESD Poly can also provide custom-designed tanks for any need.
The lightweight design and anti-corrosive properties of polypropylene tanks make for the perfect solution to any storage need. The ESD Poly Team can also create custom tanks that improve efficiency and convenience. Tanks can be fit to pickup truck beds or to utility trucks for storage. Call the ESD Poly Team today to learn more about the different available options for polypropylene tanks.

Why Is Polypropylene Used For Fire Truck Tanks

Firetruck tanks can contain one of several different materials — polypropylene, fiberglass, steel and stainless steel. But polypropylene, a strong, lightweight plastic, offers several distinct advantages.

• Corrosion resistance: Polypropylene is not a metal, so it resists corrosion exceptionally well.
• Light weight: Polypropylene is much lighter than steel — and significantly lighter than fiberglass as well. So trucks carrying polypropylene tanks rather than metal tanks save money because the lighter weight causes them to consume less fuel. A lighter truck is also much easier to handle on the road. For these reasons, polypropylene tanks are exceptionally beneficial on different types of fire trucks.
• Leakproof extrusion welding: One benefit of fiberglass tanks over polypropylene tanks is that they are molded into one complete piece, so they have no seams where water can leak out. But polypropylene’s extrusion welding offers leakproof seams that can hold in huge volumes of water. Extrusion welding is a type of welding used to shape and build thermoplastic structures, such as polypropylene tanks. It uses a welding apparatus that has a nozzle for hot air and an extruder to push malleable material — such as the thermoplastic — into place. With high-quality materials and craftsmanship, leakage shouldn’t be an issue.
• High impact resistant material: Any damage to a poly tank can be very localized at an impact zone thus helping maintain the integrity of the tank overall.  This attribute can keep repair to a minimum in both time and material.

How The Tanks Are Manufactured

Polypropylene tanks are made from polypropylene sheet material. The manufacture of polypropylene tanks must strike a balance between prioritizing space in the truck — which would require making the tanks smaller — and prioritizing the tank’s volume capacity, which would require making the tanks bigger. For wildland fire trucks, manufacturers must also use stiffer plastic or incorporate spring mounts to make the tanks more rugged and able to stand up to a wildfire-fighting environment.

Polypropylene tank manufacturing uses the following tools:

• CNC and CAD: Polypropylene tank manufacturers use computer numerical control (CNC) and computer-assisted drawing (CAD) machines. These two technologies allow engineers and fabricators to be precise, detailed and rigorous in creating the tanks. CAD helps engineers develop minutely detailed product plans, and CNC uses coded instructions to manufacture and even 3D-print materials to precise specifications.
• Baffle construction: Most tank manufacturers use baffle designs for security reasons. When a fire truck is driving with a partially empty tank, it’s dangerous for the water to slosh around. The excessive motion of thousands of gallons of water could easily throw the truck off balance and compromise its braking and handling. It could also cause the truck to roll over. A baffle system helps solve this problem. The long, flat baffles attach to the sides of the tank to prevent sloshing and keep both tank and truck stable.
• Extrusion welding: The polypropylene sheet material is extrusion-welded together to form a light, sturdy, leakproof tank.
• NFPA Standards: All ESD Poly Tanks are fabricated to the latest NFPA standards.

Contact ESD Poly to Manufacture Polypropylene Tanks for Fire Trucks

ESD Poly is the industry leader for rugged and dependable custom fire truck tanks. ESD Poly manufactures high-quality, long-lasting poly fire truck tanks. All ESD Poly tanks are built in-house, and come with full-service capabilities to meet the needs of the fire industry. Every firefighting operation is different, which is why ESD Poly offers a variety of options for custom fire apparatus to meet different needs.

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