Remote Inspection & Cleaning for Critical Fire Water Storage
Fire water storage is part of a life-safety system and needs to remain capable of performing when required. Valmar provides internal visual inspection, sediment assessment and cleaning options for suitable fire water tanks.
Inspection and cleaning planned around the fire system
Work on a fire water tank is planned around the relevant fire-system and building-maintenance requirements, so the inspection record is useful to the people who maintain and certify the system as well as to the asset owner. The starting point is the same as for every asset we look at: an ROV inspection to establish what is actually inside the tank before anything is drained or cleaned.
Scope can include
- ROV internal visual inspection
- Sediment and debris assessment
- Inspection of visible tank floor and wall condition
- Observation of accessible suction arrangements, inlets, outlets, screens and internal components
- Robotic cleaning where the tank and system configuration make this suitable
- Drain-down and conventional cleaning options where required
- Before-and-after video and photographic records
- Condition observations for maintenance planning
Standards and maintenance context
Depending on the installation, relevant requirements may include NZS 4541:2020 Automatic fire sprinkler systems, NZS 4510:2022 Fire hydrant systems, the building's compliance schedule and Building Warrant of Fitness inspection/maintenance procedures, approved design documentation, and manufacturer operation, maintenance and warranty requirements.
These requirements can relate to the continued availability and performance of the overall fire-water system, including water supply, storage and associated components. The exact inspection and maintenance procedures are installation-specific.
Valmar tank inspection and cleaning is a supporting maintenance service. It does not replace required fire-system testing, IQP inspection, Form 12A certification, sprinkler system certification or specialist fire engineering assessment where those are required.
When a drain-down is the right answer
Not every tank suits a remote clean. Where the configuration, the sediment or the system arrangement make it the better option, we carry out a conventional drain-down and manual clean instead, with the same inspection record before and after. Either way the decision is made from what the inspection found, and the tank's return to service is planned with the people responsible for the fire system.
Ring 027 313 0280 or send us an enquiry with the tank size, the system it supplies and who maintains it, and we will scope the inspection. See also Standards & Compliance.
Inside a drained steel tank during a conventional clean - the pump on the sediment-covered floor, the ladder up to the hatch.
Fire Water Tank Questions
Can you certify that a fire water tank is compliant?
Our service provides inspection, cleaning and supporting records within the agreed scope. Statutory certification, IQP sign-off and specialist engineering or fire-system certification remain with the relevant qualified or responsible parties.
Does the tank have to be drained to inspect it?
Usually not for the inspection itself. An ROV can inspect the floor, walls, suction arrangements and internal components with the tank full, which is the point - you find out what is inside before deciding whether a drain-down is needed at all.
What do I get at the end?
Inspection video, photographs, sediment and visible-condition observations, cleaning records where cleaning was done, and practical maintenance recommendations - records that can sit alongside the building's compliance schedule and the fire-system contractor's own testing.
Other Services
Remote inspection and cleaning for drinking water, wastewater, fire water and industrial water assets across New Zealand. Every job starts with an inspection, so the method is chosen from what is actually inside the asset.
Drinking Water - VAC Boss
Potable-water ROV inspection and robotic sediment removal, with asset-specific hygiene, disinfection and water-quality controls. Read more
Wastewater - Sludge Boss
Remote inspection and sludge removal for wastewater tanks, ponds, lagoons, wet wells and treatment assets. Read more
ROV Inspection & Condition Assessment
High-definition video, photographic records and observations of submerged components, sediment and visible defects. Read more
Industrial Water Infrastructure
Remote inspection and cleaning for process water, raw water, settling tanks and difficult-to-access submerged assets. Read moreNeed to know what is happening inside your tank or reservoir?
Start with an inspection. We can help establish the condition of the asset and recommend a practical next step based on what is actually found. Tell us what the asset is, roughly where it is and what you need to know, and we will come back to you.
027 313 0280- marcus@valmar.co.nz
- Based in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty - working across New Zealand
- Drinking water, wastewater, fire water and industrial water assets
Helpful to have on hand: the asset type and approximate size, depth, access arrangement, floor or liner type, and whether it can stay in service. If you do not know yet, that is fine - the inspection is how we find out.