Is Fiberglass Better Than Steel, Aluminum and Concrete?

Comparing 3 Different Types of Custom Storage Tanks – Steel, Aluminum and Concrete – to Fiberglass

Storage tanks come in a lot of different sizes, shapes, and materials. Whether you’re looking for a new system or you simply want to learn how different custom water storage tanks stack up, you’ve come to the right place. This article compares steel, concrete, and aluminum as materials to our fiberglass models.

Aluminum Tanks

Aluminum is the third most common chemical element on Earth, after oxygen and silicon. It is no surprise then that this material is often used to create storage tanks. However, this common element has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease when used for drinking water tanks. Moreover, aluminum tanks can corrode after just a few years.

Concrete Tanks

Concrete water storage tanks are manufactured by either a molded or plastered process. Tanks made of this material are often used in underground installations for commercial use. And while concrete is generally strong and long-lasting, it is very heavy making installation and transportation cumbersome for owners. Moreover, concrete is highly subject to cracking. This means that concrete tanks can be difficult, not to mention expensive, to maintain and service.

Steel Tanks

The best thing that can be said about steel tanks is that they do have a long lifespan. However, steel is heavy and subject to rust. This is why galvanization is commonly used to give it some resistance to corrosion and rust. Also, zinc can leak into the contents that are being stored in a steel tank. Finally, steel tanks are usually more expensive than other storage solutions.

Fiberglass Tanks

Fiberglass tanks are more durable than concrete tanks and are not subject to corrosion and rust like steel and aluminum tanks are respectively. Additionally, fiberglass is relatively light compared to steel and concrete yet it has a relatively strong strength-weight ratio. This is one thing that makes the material a great fuel containment solution, for example.

Considering the many benefits associated with the purchase, installation, maintenance, and durability of fiberglass tanks they are a much more profitable solution, especially for systems of medium to large capacity. If you have any questions about our custom fiberglass storage tanks, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Nationwide Tank and Pipe team. We can meet your waste water tank and chemical tank needs. We also make containment vessels for agricultural grain and malts.