Design & Detailing of Water

Retaining Structures
&
Precast Water Tank Floor
System
ESE Tay Ah Ching
27 Feb 02

Contents
Introduction
Design & Detailing Considerations
Types of Water Tanks, Usages & Design
Guidelines
Erection of Precast Ring Tank
Design of Water Tank
Ultimate Limit State Design CP 65
Serviceability Limit State Design BS 8007
Precast Water Tank Floor System

Water Retaining Structures

Water Retaining Structures

Swimming pool
Basement wall / slab
Retaining Walls
Water Tanks
Wet riser tanks (suction tanks)
Roof tanks

Design & Detailing

Considerations

Design Considerations

Design for Strength according to CP 65

Special considerations for crack control
according to BS8007

Max crack width

Max crack spacing
Min steel content

Detailing Considerations

Detailing follows usual rules for normal

structures.
Bars to be continuous, and sudden changes
in reinforcement ratios to be avoided.
No construction joint below specified highest
water level shall be allowed (for water tanks).
The entire concrete tank below the water level
shall be cast in one operation with partially
hanged internal formwork (for water tanks).
Water-stop to be used where construction
joints are unavoidable. Bars to be
continuous across the joints.

Detailing Considerations

The tank roof and the portion above the water

level shall be cast in second operation.
After passing the water test, the internal
surface of the concrete tank shall be coated
with approved type of cementitious
waterproofing coating before laying of tiles.
For the slab of water tank, ratio of length to
width 7 1.5 and the shorter span of the slab
shall be 3.6m maximum.

Detailing Considerations

The minimum area for main and distribution steel

is 0.35% for walls and slabs for deformed grade
460 reinforcement and 0.64% for plain grade 250
bars.
The maximum spacing of bars shall be 300mm or
the thickness of the section, whichever is the
lesser.
Nominal cover of concrete for reinforcement
should be not less than 40mm.

Detailing Considerations

Cover to links >40mm

Construction Joint

Waterstop

Types of Water Tanks

Types of Water Tanks

CIS

Precast

Rectangular
Circular Tank
Ring Tank

Usage

Roof tanks
Wet riser tanks for fire-fighting (>60m above
GL, 22 sty & above)
Water tanks for domestic supply
Suction tanks (reserve tanks to pump water to
roof tanks)

Suction Tanks
Reserve tank to pump water to roof
tanks
Capacity depends on water demand
for the block:

< 22 stories D no fire-fighting requirement

> 22 stories D fire-fighting requirement

Precast circular tanks or rectangular

in-situ tanks.

Types of Water Tanks

Distribution System
Roof Tanks

Building

Outlets to DUs
(Fire-fighting)

Suction
tank

Pump

(Domestic)

1st storey
from pump

CIS Suction Tanks

Detailing

CIS Suction Tanks

Detailing

Construction of CIS Tanks (Roof)

Construction of CIS Tanks (Roof)

Construction of CIS Tanks (Roof)

1 3 months to
construct the CIS
water tank
Need to improve the site
productivity
Solution To precast
the water tank

Roof Water Tanks

Before 1985, roof tanks were made of stainless
steel or mild steel
RC water tanks were introduced in HDB in 1985
to replace SS & MS water tanks
< 20 sty precast circular water tanks
> 20 sty in-situ rectangular tanks
The precast segmental ring water tanks have
replaced the in-situ RC tanks for domestic use
since Jul 1999.

Precast Water Tanks

Precast Water Tanks

Precast Ring Water Tanks

There are basically two types of components,
the base and the body segments. A few of the
body segments will be stacked on top of each
other to form the height of the tank required.
The maximum height of the tank is 5.13m.

3700
130
1550
3830
1550

600
3520
3640
TYPE A
(3 rings)

3700
130
1550

5130

1300

1550

600
3520
3640
TYPE B (4 rings)

3700
130
1300
2530
1100

3520
3640
TYPE C
(2 rings)

Standardisation
Items

Type A
(3 Rings)

Type B
(4 Rings)

Type C
(2 Rings)

Remarks

1) Sizing
-

Total height
(including 130mm
thick cover)
External diameter
(including 60mm
thick protrusion at
the joints)

3830mm

5130mm

2530mm

3640mm

3640mm

3640mm

Weight of base
(including tiles)
Weight of body
segments (including
tiles)
Weight of cover
Weight of empty
tank
Weight of water tank
filled with water

7t

7t

9.1t

6.2t

6.2t (1550mm)
5.3t (1300mm)

5.3t

3.7t
23.1t

3.7t
28.4t

3.7t
18.1t

48t

65t

33t

Annex 1 and 2

Type C is used in buildings with 21

storeys where no fire fighting water
is required. Type A can also be
used if there is no height constraint.
But total volume of the tank shall be
considered when calculating the
no.of tanks required.

Standardisation
2) Min clear height from
soffit of water tank to
lowest point of main roof

2300mm

2300mm

2300mm

3) Min
clearance
between tank & tank and
tank & wall

900mm

900mm

900mm

Annex 4

4) Min
clearance
between
piping
connection & main water
tank suporting beam and
/or
secondary
cross
beams

100mm

100mm

100mm

Annex 4

5
Range of Storey
heights of building

21-30

22-30

21

Beyond 30 storeys, this tank could

be used subject to discussion
between ARCH, SE and ME due to
different requirement for fire fighting
water.

3.7 ton
each

Standardisation

370

6.2 ton

6.2 ton

370

5.3 ton
Vol for
DU =
15.7m3

370

Vol for
DU =
14.06m3

1350
850

Vol for
fire
fighting
= 9.2m3

100
TYPE C

Vol for DU
= 22.3m3

9.1 ton

Vol for
fire
fighting =
13.4m3

100
TYPE A

7 ton each

100
TYPE B

Standardisation

Design Guidelines

Concrete water tanks shall preferably rest directly

on column, whenever possible.
For case where it is not possible to place the
water tanks directly on columns, deep and broad
transfer beams shall be designed to carry the
water tank loads to the nearest supports.
No roof shall be provided over the precast
concrete water tanks.
A working platform shall be provided at one side
of the water tank, where there is a cat-ladder.

Design Guidelines

There must be sufficient clearance (>1500mm)

for the pipings at the underside of the beam (to
highlight to Architect early if there is a need to
change the level of the water tank floor).
The sanitary pipe position shall be fixed as
shown in the construction manual.

Section Through Tank

Typical Water Tank Layout

slab

slab

slab

Booster
pump room

slab

slab

100mm
100mm

900mm

slab

2100mm

900mm

Erection of Precast Ring Tank

Erection of Precast Ring Tank

Installation of base tank

Erection of Precast Ring Tank

Placing of 1T10 around groove

Erection of Precast Ring Tank

1T10 and waterprooing strip in place

Erection of Precast Ring Tank

Vertical T20 bars to

provide lateral restraint

Installation 2nd ring segment

Erection of Precast Ring Tank

Installation of 3rd & 4th ring segments

Erection of Precast Ring Tank

Erection of Precast Ring Tank

Installation of tank cover

Erection of Precast Ring Tank

Preparation of non-shrink grout for grouting groove

Erection of Precast Ring Tank

Pressure grouting of groove

Erection of Precast Ring Tank

Oozing out of grout indicates complete grouting

Erection of Precast Ring Tank

All grout outlet holes shall be plugged

Design of Water Tanks

Design Methods

Design Of Water Tanks

Ultimate limit state (ULS) CP65
Serviceability limit state (SLS) BS8007

Ultimate Limit State Design (CP 65)

1.4 DL + 1.4 Water Load

Partial Safety Factor

1.0DL + 1.4Water Load

f = 1.4 for load combinations (1) & (2) 1.2 (DL+Water Load+ WL)
f = 1.2 for load combinations (3)

Bending

k = M / fcu*b*d2
Z = d(0.5+(0.25 k/0.9)1/2) < 0.95d
As = M / 0.87fy*z

Shear

Wall

v = V / b*d < vc

Tension

Ft = kR* * h * r
As > Ft / 0.87fy

Base slab

* For design of circular tanks, coefficient for bending

moment, shear force & tensile force refer to BS 5337.

Serviceability Limit State Design

(BS 8007)

Partial Safety Factor

f = 1.0 for all load combinations (1), (2) & (3)

Triangular Stress Block

Plane sections remain plane after bending

Stresses in the steel and concrete are proportional to
the strains
The concrete is cracked up to the neutral axis, and
no tensile stress exists in the concrete below it

Serviceability Limit State Design

Cracks cannot be avoided in RC structures

Limit crack widths

Allowable steel stresses (deformed bars)

0.2 mm for severe or very severe exposure

0.1 mm for critical aesthetic appearance
100 N/mm2 for design crack width of 0.1mm
130 N/mm2 for design crack width of 0.2mm

Crack width calculation

Minimum reinforcement
Spacing of reinforcement
Check reinforcement provided against BS 8007

Serviceability Limit State Design

b

cc

f cc
F cc

x
d

2x/3

Neutral
Axis

As

F st
st

Section

Strain

Stress
Ac

For equilibrium of forces :

2= A d- A x
F cc = F
0.5bx
st
e
s
e
s

0.5bxf2
0.5bx
E c = f cc/ cc ; E s = f st/ st
st = (d-x)
Moment
of resistance
:
cc/x
e = E s/E c
A c = bx

+=AeAsfsstx
cc

- eA sd = 0

x = {- eA s +/- [( eA s) 2 + 2b eA sd] 1/2}/b

d-x
0.5bxE = A E (d-x) /x
c

cc

cc

A (x/2) = A (d-x)
Mc= F ccz = Fe stzs
M = 0.5bxf cc(d-x/3) = A sf st(d-x/3)

eA s

Transformed Section

Crack Width Calculation - Flexural

Maximum surface crack
width at any point, w max =

3a cr m
1 + 2(a cr - c min)/(h-x)

a cr = the distance from the point considered to a point of zero concrete strain
(surface of the nearest longitudinal bar)
m = the average concrete strain,
allowing for the stiffening effect of the concrete in the tension zone
c min = the minimum cover to the tension steel
h = the overall depth of the member
x = the neutral axis depth
m=1-2
1 = the apparent strain
For a limiting design surface crack width of 0.2 mm,
b t(h-x)(a`-x)
2=
3E sA s(d-x)
For a limiting design surface crack width of 0.1 mm,
1.5b t(h-x)(a`-x)
2=
3E sA s(d-x)

Due to stiffening effect

of the concrete

b t = the width of the section at the centroid of the tension steel

a` = the distance from the compression face to the point considered

Crack Width Calculation - flexural

x
a`
h

a cr

c min
bt
m=1-2
1 = the apparent strain
For a limiting design surface crack width of 0.2 mm,
b t(h-x)(a`-x)
2=
3E sA s(d-x)
For a limiting design surface crack width of 0.1 mm,
1.5b t(h-x)(a`-x)
2=
3E sA s(d-x)
b t = the width of the section at the centroid of the tension steel
a` = the distance from the compression face to the point considered

Crack Width Calculation - flexural

Maximum surface crack
width at any point, w max =

3a cr m

1 + 2(a cr - c min)/(h-x)

x
a`
h

m=1-2

a`
h

a cr

1 = the apparent strain

c
m min
< 0 indicates that the section is uncracked
a cr
c min

am

bt

c min

bt
w max = 3a m m
w min = 3c min m

For a limiting design surface crack width of 0.2 mm at the soffit,

2
b tb(h-x)(a`-x)
t(h-x)
2,h2 = Maximum crack width occurs at
Constant
midwayvalue
between the bars
3E
3E ssA
A ss(d-x)
(d-x)

Minimum crack width occurs immediately below the bar

Crack Width Calculation - Tension

Maximum surface crack width, w max = 3a cr m
a cr = the distance from the point considered to a point of zero concrete strain
(surface of the nearest longitudinal bar)
m = the average concrete strain,
allowing for the stiffening effect of the concrete in the tension zone
=1-2
1 = the apparent strain = F t/(E sA s)
For a limiting design surface crack width of 0.2 mm,
2=

2b th
3E sA s

For a limiting design surface crack width of 0.1 mm,

2=

b th
E sA s

Ft

h = the overall depth of the member

b t = the width of the section at the centroid of the tension steel
m < 0 indicates that the section is uncracked

Ft

Crack Control (Immature conc.)

Due to effects of :

Drying shrinkage
Thermal contraction

Minimum reinforcement for crack distribution

Critical steel ratio, crit = 0.0035

prov >= crit where prov = As/Ac

Crack Control (Immature conc.)

Crack spacing
smax = (fct/fb)(/2prov)

fct/fb = 1.6/2.4 = 0.67

fct - the tensile strength of the concrete
fb - the average bond strength between concrete
and steel
- the size of the reinforcing bar
Spacing of reinforcement
Bar spacing not exceed 300mm or thickness of the
section, whichever is the lesser
For welded fabric reinforcement, bar spacing not exceed
1.5 times the thickness of the section

Check Reinforcement Provided Bending & Tensile Force (SLS)

Allowable steel stresses

2
fy = 100 N/mm for 0.1mm crack width
2
fy = 130 N/mm for 0.2mm crack width
Moment of resistance
M = Fstz = Asfst(d-x/3)
fst = M/[As(d-x/3)]
Tensile force due to hydrostatic loading
fst = Ft/As

References

Reinforced Concrete Design

W. H. Mosley & J. H. Bungey
Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete
F. K. Kong & R. H. Evans
Reinforced Concrete Design to BS 8110
A. H. Allen
Design of Concrete Structures for Retaining Aqueous
Liquids
R. Cheng
Design of Liquid-Retaining Concrete Structures
R. D. Anchor

Precast Water Tank Floor

System

Precast Water Tank Floor System

Precast all elements above the main roof

With effect from 15 Apr 1999
Precast components
Water tank beam
Pilot project - Sembawang N5 C4 & C5
Tender date - 26 Sep 1997
Water tank floor slab
70 mm thk non-prestressed plank
Not for booster pump room floor

Precast Water Tank Floor System

Column stump
For normal precast water tanks
Splice sleeve connection
1500 mm length
PCF1 (300x400) - 4T25 (s)
PCF2 (300x500/600) - 4T25 (s)
PCF3 (200x600) - 3T28 (s)
PCF4 (300x500/600) - 3T28 (s)

Precast Water Tank Floor System

Screen wall
Pilot project - Sengkang N3 C13
Design Instruction Sheet :
DR/P-SW1/311
100 mm thk wall
150x300 stump at both ends of the wall
2T16 splice sleeves

Precast Water Tank Floor System

Precast Water Tank Floor

Precast Water Tank Floor

Precast Water Tank Floor