Selecting the right water storage tank is not just about capacity. The wrong tank type for your application can mean premature corrosion, failed compliance audits, costly foundation rework, and operational downtime. At Videx Storage Tanks, we manufacture four core tank systems — each designed for specific duties, site conditions and operational requirements.

This guide breaks down when to specify each Videx tank type, what certifications to demand and how to avoid the expensive mistakes we see on sites every week.

1. Sectional Steel Tanks: The Scalable Workhorse

Best for: Municipal supply, industrial process water, fire protection, agricultural irrigation and any application requiring capacity above 1000 liters.

Videx sectional steel tanks are constructed from hot-dip galvanized (HDG) steel panels bolted together on-site. The modular 1.22 m panel system allows virtually unlimited size configuration — from 1.8 kL to over 10 million liters. Because the tank is assembled at its final location, transport constraints disappear, and site access becomes far less critical.

Key advantages:

  • Infinitely expandable — add panels later as demand grows

  • Earthquake-resistant design — bolted panel construction flexes under seismic load

  • Factory-coated options — (HDG) hot-dip galvanized, powder-coated colors

  • Rapid installation — on-site assembly without heavy lifting equipment

  • SANS 10329:2020 certified — full compliance with South African National Standards

Specify sectional steel when: You need large-volume storage, the site may expand in future, or you are storing raw water, fire water or process water where direct steel contact is acceptable.

2. Circular Steel Tanks with Internal Bladder: The Corruption Eliminator

Best for: Potable drinking water, rainwater harvesting, commercial buildings and any application where water quality and tank longevity are non-negotiable.

The Videx circular tank range features a unique design exclusive to our product line: an internal food-grade PVC bladder that completely isolates stored liquid from the tank shell. Water never touches steel. The bladder — plasticized and coated on a polyester woven fabric — expands and contracts with the liquid volume, while the external steel shell provides structural rigidity and wind resistance.

Key advantages:

  • Zero corrosion risk — liquid and steel never meet.

  • Extended lifespan — the tank shell lasts decades because it is never wetted.

  • Food-grade certification — bladder material complies with AS/NZS 4020 for drinking water contact.

  • Wind-resistant stiffeners — radial and vertical stiffeners engineered for high-velocity wind zones

  • Minimal footprint — vertical design maximizes capacity per square meter

Specify circular with bladder when: You are storing potable water, water quality compliance is critical, or you want the longest possible operational life from a single reservoir.

4. Elevated Water Towers: Gravity-Fed Reliability

Best for: Rural municipal supply, mining camp distribution, agricultural irrigation networks and any site requiring pressurized water delivery without pumps.

Videx elevated water towers combine a Videx tank (sectional or circular) with a fully engineered support structure. The tower height creates hydrostatic pressure, delivering water to distribution networks by gravity alone — eliminating the need for continuous pump operation.

Key advantages:

  • Gravity-fed pressure — no pump running costs during distribution

  • Off-grid capable — pair with solar pumping for full independence.

  • Professionally engineered — full wind load and structural analysis included

  • Lightning-protected — earthing and surge protection integrated

  • Custom heights — engineered to the specific pressure requirement

Specify elevated tower when: Distribution requires pressure without continuous pumping, the network is remote, or grid electricity is unreliable.

The Certifications That Actually Matter

Before you commit to any tank manufacturer, verify these credentials. Videx Storage Tanks carries:

Certification What It Means for You SANS 10329:2020The tank meets South African National Standards for pressed steel sectional rectangular tanks SANS 121 / ISO 1461Hot-dip galvanizing meets international quality standards for coating thickness and adhesion ASIB Approved Fire protection tanks are certified for automated sprinkler systems in South Africa ISO 9001Quality management system is independently audited and certified SAPCS Approved supplier to the South African plumbing industry WISA Member Affiliation with the Water Institute of South Africa, demonstrating industry commitment AS/NZS 4020 Materials certified safe for drinking water contact.

If a manufacturer cannot produce current certification documentation for the specific standard your project requires, walk away. Non-certified tanks may be cheaper upfront, but they cost exponentially more in replacement, compliance failure and liability.

Foundation Reality Check

One of the most common and expensive mistakes we encounter is inadequate foundation preparation. Videx Tanks provides complete civil design packages including foundation schedules, but these only work if the site is prepared correctly.

Critical foundation considerations:

  • Level base — sectional tanks require a flat, level concrete slab or properly compacted modular foundation.

  • Load-bearing capacity — calculate total weight of full tank plus dynamic wind loads

  • Drainage — prevent water pooling around base plates, which accelerates galvanized coating degradation

  • Access — ensure installation crews can reach the site with panels, bolts and sealing materials

Videx offers three foundation approaches: modular galvanized footing structures for rapid deployment, permanent reinforced concrete slabs for long-term installations, and temporary or pre-cast options for applications. Videx will recommend the correct approach based on your site geotech report and intended duty life.

Get It Right the First Time

Choosing the wrong tank type costs more than just the tank. It costs downtime, compliance headaches, accelerated replacement and — in fire protection applications — catastrophic liability. Videx Tanks has manufactured and installed over 500 projects across South Africa and Africa because we engineer the right solution for the actual conditions, not just the cheapest quote.

Send us your requirements, and we will specify the correct tank:

  • Storage capacity needed

  • Liquid type (potable, raw, fire, process, chemical, diesel)

  • Site footprint and access constraints

  • Wind zone classification

  • Foundation conditions

  • Pressure requirements (gravity-fed or pumped)

Our in-house engineering team returns a tailored specification, GA drawings and quotation — obligation-free.

Ready to spec your tank? Contact our engineering team for a tailored specification and quotation — obligation-free.

Videx Storage Tanks is a division of Videx Wire Products (Pty) Ltd. From our Germiston manufacturing facility, we employ over 350 people and process approximately 3,000 tonnes of steel per month. We are the only ASIB-approved manufacturer in our category with fully integrated in-house engineering, manufacturing and installation capabilities.