Polypropylene The Best Material for Fire Service Tanks There are many different types of organic compounds designed by chemists loosely known as "Plastics". Each of these have specific performance characteristics which make them ideally suited to certain applications and end use. Polypropylene and copolymers of polypropylene have been used for over 20 years in the fire service to store and transport water. The particular combination of cost, performance and workability makes it the material of choice for most O.E.M. body builders when building fire trucks that need to carry water. Note the term "Poly" is an abbreviation for several polymers and comes from a Greek word meaning "many" because many molecules are joined together like a chain to form the internal backbone of the polymer giving it strength and flexibility. U.S. Tanker combined our extensive knowledge of tenders and tankers with the leading Polypropylene tank manufacturer to design, engineer and fabricate the best polypropylene tank available to the fire service as a Tanker Pumper. Safety: U.S. Tanker is aware that safety is of prime importance to firefighters responding to a scene with a heavy load of water in a Tanker. Both our Elliptical and Wetside tanks are designed with a combination of transverse and longitudinal baffles that far exceed NFPA recommendations (NFPA 1901- Para 17- 1) and compartmentalize the water so it does not slosh dangerously in the tank as the truck travels to the scene. Strength: The term strength as applied to material means different things to different people and indeed can be accurately and scientifically measured a number of different ways. People often quote selected criteria just to support their own position. The key is that Polypropylene has a blend of flexibility, tensile strength and impact strength that makes it ideally suited to manufacture tanks for carrying water in bulk on fire tanker trucks. Appearance: Polypropylene can be fabricated to have a smooth gloss surface that can be painted or left the original color. It is a matter of individual preference whether the Elliptical Tank is better looking wrapped in stainless steel or painted to match the rest of the truck. The Wetside tanks are painted to match the overall job color and give a high gloss finish. Expansion: Polypropylene like all polymers, does expand and contract more than metals. This characteristic is planned for in the engineering and does not pose a problem in the changing environments that fire apparatus is subjected to. Summary: The material of construction used for The Patriot's elliptical tank and the Heritage Wetside tank is a copolymer of Polypropylene. It is a special formulation designed to give just the right combination of performance characteristics for the end use. A balance of flexibility and strength to withstand the service envisaged in hauling water to the scene. The inside surface of the tank is smooth and non-porous, water and debris just slide off the surface. All fittings are made from the same material for complete compatibility. In field modifications can easily be made on Polypropylene tanks by qualified technicians. Polypropylene tanks have been made for the fire service for over 20 years and now account for more than 80% of the water tanks used in Fire Apparatus. Lifetime warranty. By the tank manufacturer, UPF