New industry tank standard offers a quality compliant guarantee on plastic water and chemical storage tanks

The Association of Rotational Moulders of Southern Africa (ARMSA) has announced a new South African industry tank standard for polyethylene chemical and water storage tanks.

The SANS 1731:2017 standard, developed in conjunction with the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), offers a warranty to members of the broader construction, plumbing, architecture and design, landscaping and built industry as well as to home owners that tank manufacturers conform to world best practise.

What it means for the tank user

The SANS 1731:2017 tank standard provides specific criteria in terms of the source of raw material, ultra violet protection, overall weight, wall thickness, light penetration, stress crack resistance and impact strength for a range of different sizes.

The standard ensures that the production methods used to manufacture the tanks comply with best practise requires that traceability is built into the manufacturer’s control systems. This includes an audit check for actual storage volumes vs stated volumes, evaluates the overall appearance of the finished tanks, and certifies the requisite number and type of fittings and the date of manufacture.

Ensuring compliance

Productivity Engineering Services and Consultants (PESC), an independent auditing company appointed by ARMSA, will regularly audit tank manufacturers and issue SANS 1731:2017 certificates to those who comply.

If compliant, PESC will issue a certificate giving independent assurance of a manufacturer’s claim that their products meet the SANS 1731:2017 criteria. Compliant tank manufacturers will be able to market their compliance with the ARMSA/SANS approved sticker on their tanks. They will also be able to use the certificate and sticker in their general marketing programmes.

However, Wayne Wiid, ARMSA Chairperson, provides a word of warning: “Any tank manufacturer can claim to meet the SANS 1731:2017 standard but without formal certification there is no guarantee. We therefore urge all stakeholders and home owners to request the PESC certificate from the manufacturer prior to purchase. It is your guarantee that tanks delivered to sites or homes have been thoroughly tested and certified.”

For more info on the standard or compliant manufacturers contact info@armsa.co.za or the appointed tank standard auditor francois@pescon.co.za