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Water Tank Capacity Guide

Decca / capacity made clear

Calculate nominal, actual and usable capacity

Compare tank sizes, review usable storage and email your technical sheet. Send Decca your result or enquire with the details you have.

Selection help · Drawing review · Agreed installation support

Decca GRP sectional water tank with modular panels and flat cover
Built around your space. Sized around your needs.

YOUR TANK, STEP BY STEP

Calculate your tank capacity.

Start with what you know. Check your options, then send your result to Decca.

Prefer a hand? Send us your requirements ↗

STEP 1 OF 3

Tell us about your tank.

Choose a range and tell us how you plan to use it.

Tank range
Compare the sectional constructions

Find the arrangement that suits your space and installation access.

IFB

Internally flanged base

Fixings: internal base; external walls.

Consider when: you have a flat, level support and working space around the sides. Low installation profile with no underside fixing corridor.

Internal base work requires an empty tank. Maximum body height: 4 m.

EFB

Externally flanged base

Fixings: external base and walls.

Consider when: raised supports and access underneath are practical. Profiled base panels help drainage towards the agreed drain or sump.

Allow for supports, underside and side access. Maximum body height: 4 m.

IF

Internally flanged walls

Fixings: internal wall joints with separate corner angles; internal or external base.

Consider when: a choice of base arrangement helps the project. Flat support suits an internal base; an external base needs raised support and underside access.

Confirm the base option and corner access with Decca. Maximum body height: 4 m.

TIF

Totally internally flanged

Fixings: internal base and walls.

Consider when: perimeter space is restricted. Suits reviewed near-wall or corner layouts on a flat, level support.

Retain safe top and fittings access. Internal fixing work requires an empty tank. Maximum body height: 3 m.

Body limits exclude supports and inlet chambers. Decca will confirm the support detail, assembly clearances and maintenance access for your layout. Changing construction can change the calculated capacity.

You can send the dimensions or litres you know without selecting a construction or completing a calculation.

Not sure which construction you need? You can send an enquiry at any stage.

STEP 2 OF 3

What do you know already?

Choose the starting point that works for you.

LengthHeightWidth

Dimensions in metres. 1 m = 1,000 mm.

Maximum tank body height: TIF 3 m; other constructions 4 m. Supports and inlet chambers are additional.

Nominal, actual or usable — what is the difference?
Nominal
The volume of the full tank.
Actual
The water held at the operating water level.
Usable / effective
The water available between the upper and lower usable levels. Effective capacity must suit the specified system.

Use the basis in your specification. If you are unsure, ask Decca before choosing a tank.

STEP 3 OF 3

Check your connections.

These settings affect the water you can use. Check them against your drawing, or ask Decca for help.

Inlet, overflow and outlet sizes are in millimetres. The overflow list adjusts to the inlet and chamber arrangement; larger listed sizes remain available.

OTHER SETTINGS IN THIS ESTIMATE

More connection settings

The system designer must confirm the air gap, overflow capacity and suction arrangement.

Overflow sizing

Choose a larger overflow than the inlet. A common starting point is twice the inlet diameter. It must discharge the maximum possible inlet flow under fault conditions, allowing for screens and pipework. Decca and the system designer must confirm the final size and air-gap arrangement.

Water Regs UK guidance · ATCM sizing guidance

Your tank technical sheet

We will email your calculated PDF to you. Once it has been sent, your download will start too.

Your email and tank details will be recorded by Decca to fulfil this request. This does not subscribe you to marketing emails.

Your tank enquiry

Your tank details are included with this enquiry. Add your contact details below. Fields marked * are required.

Share your figures, drawing or known requirements. Decca helps select the tank, reviews the proposed dimensions and connections, and confirms the manufacturing and supply scope. Where installation is included, the quotation will set out the agreed testing, cleaning, disinfection and handover requirements. The responsible designer retains the system-demand and structural design checks.

    Your selected tank and calculated figures appear here automatically. You can correct or add detail before sending.

    One PDF, JPG or PNG, up to 5 MB.

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    02 / Your live capacity breakdown

    Your inputs. Your capacity breakdown.

    See the dimensions, water levels and working behind your litres. These figures update when you change the calculator above.

    Waiting for valid calculator inputs.

    Edit calculator inputs ↑

    Choose your tank construction and enter valid dimensions and connections in the calculator to see your breakdown.

    03 / The details that change the litres

    Connections change usable storage.

    Outlet elevation, required submergence and pump-protection settings determine the lower usable level. A different fitting arrangement may change the result within the same tank.

    Usable waterDead waterLower usable levelFreeboard

    Straight outlet

    The outlet and required water cover above it set the usable limit.

    Usable waterDead waterLower usable levelFreeboard

    Downturn elbow

    A downward-facing intake can change the intake position and required submergence.

    Usable waterDead waterLower usable levelFreeboard

    Vortex inhibitor

    An engineered anti-vortex arrangement can change the required water cover.

    These drawings explain arrangements only. They do not prescribe fitting dimensions or guarantee a particular bottom allowance.

    Top water level & freeboard

    FreeboardUsable waterDead waterTank topTop waterlevelLower usablelevelTank base

    Freeboard is the airspace above the water line to the underside of the cover. It is different from the air gap at a mains-water inlet.

    Raised inlet chambers

    Stored waterRaised inletchamberInlet valveTank coverTop waterlevelTank base

    A chamber houses the inlet valve above the main cover and can allow a higher top water level. Check total height and valve access; it does not give every tank a fixed extra capacity.

    Your early-warning selection

    For one-piece and two-piece tanks, the early-warning connection starts at 20 mm. You can select None in Connections; the calculation, enquiry and technical sheet follow your selection.

    Decca must confirm the final warning and overflow arrangement for your tank and application.

    Read the Water Regs UK guidance →

    04 / Make the tank work in the space

    Capacity is only part of the fit.

    Allow room around the tank

    Tank lengthTank footprintExternal dimensionsAccess spaceAllow for installation and maintenanceTank width

    Check installation and maintenance access, external flanges, insulation, supports, headroom and the route into the building. Required clearances depend on the construction.

    TIF: access size is not water volume

    Clear access between flangesWater occupies panel facesInternal flangeSimplified plan view

    Water can occupy the panel faces beyond internal flanges. Do not use the clear-access dimensions alone to calculate capacity. Decca checks the selected construction and internal geometry.

    Divided tanks: specify each side

    Compartment ACompartment BState required litresState required litresSpecify total storage and each compartment

    Give the total capacity and required capacity in each compartment. The system designer must confirm the storage needed during cleaning or maintenance.

    Choose the construction with Decca

    Delivery route and installation access can be as important as litres.

    One-pieceTwo-pieceSectional IFB / EFB / IF / TIF

    Use the construction selector in your enquiry to tell us what you have in mind. We will review the requirement against suitable tank options, access and available dimensions.

    Explore sectional tanks →

    05 / Quick answers

    A little more detail, when you need it.

    Which capacity should I ask for?

    Use the basis stated by the system designer or specification: nominal, actual, actual usable or effective. If you are unsure, select “Not sure” in the calculator and include the specification in your enquiry.

    Are the calculator dimensions internal or external?

    Enter sectional planning dimensions in metres. The calculator adjusts them for the selected construction and shows the internal water-retaining and external tank sizes. DP internal sizes are approximate. Space mode deducts your entered installation allowances before checking the available tank size.

    Does a 12,000 litre tank give me 12,000 litres to use?

    Not necessarily. The worked example holds 12,000 litres brim-full, 10,800 litres to its assumed top water level and 9,000 litres between its assumed usable limits. Your levels may be different.

    Can I use this to size my building’s water demand?

    This tool converts dimensions and specified water levels into geometric volumes. The system designer establishes demand, reserve and the required storage for the application.

    Can an inlet chamber increase the capacity?

    It can allow a higher top water level by housing the inlet valve above the main cover. The achievable level depends on the inlet, overflow and warning arrangements. Allow for chamber height and service access.

    What should I send for a quotation?

    Send required litres and capacity basis, water duty, available footprint and headroom, access restrictions, preferred construction, compartments and known connection or operating-level requirements. The button below carries your calculator inputs into the enquiry.

    Explore water tank applications →

    Ready to continue? Return to your calculation or ask Decca to review your requirement.

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