Western Australian Current Regulations Western Australian Current Regulations (1) A manufacturer
shall not produce fibreglass septic tanks unless the design of each model has
been approved by the Chief Health Officer and each tank conforms with the
following requirements:
(a) the
resin shall be isophthalic or bisphenol type resin and shall be chemically
resistant, suitable for curing at ambient and advanced temperatures with
addition of suitable catalysts and promoters in accordance with the resin
manufacturer’s recommendations;
(b) the
glass reinforcement shall be composed of “E” type glass fibres;
(c) the
gel coat shall be unreinforced or reinforced isophthalic or bisphenol resin
free from cracks, pinholes and surface defects and shall be a minimum of 0.25
mm and a maximum of 0.4 mm thick and shall include not more than 0.5% by
weight of polyester compatible translucent pigment, and where isophthalic
resin is used to fabricate the laminate, the gel coat must comprise an
isophthalic resin, and similarly with bisphenol resins;
(d) the
tank —
(i)
shall have a minimum total wall thickness of 5 mm
and shall contain not less than 30% glass, and no fillers or pigments shall be
included in the laminate; and
(ii)
shall have the exposed side of the laminate (away from
the mould) coated with a clear layer of catalysed resin after the laminate has
cured; and
(iii)
the inlet and outlet holes shall be accurately moulded to
neatly accept all attachments which may be secured according to instructions
from the manufacturer, or which may be fibreglassed into place and then coated
internally with gel in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (c),
and coated externally with resin in accordance with the provisions of
paragraph (d)(ii); and
(iv)
shall not exceed 3 180 litres capacity measured at
the operating liquid level for which the tank has been designed;
(e) a
tank cover shall be a minimum of 5 mm thick maintaining the 30% glass
content ratio and reinforced to withstand a minimum load of 0.5 tonnes and a
cover shall —
(i)
be supplied with 3 openings; and
(ii)
provide 150 mm diameter inspection openings over
inlet and outlet squares; and
(iii)
provide a minimum 510 mm diameter opening in the
centre of the lid for cleaning purposes;
(f) the
gel coat for a tank cover may contain an opaque polyester compatible pigment
in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations;
(g) all
cured laminate used in the manufacture of fibreglass tanks shall have the
following properties —
|
Specific Gravity |
1.5 min. |
|
Flexural Strength |
10 x 10 4 kPa min. |
|
Flexural Modulus |
8 x 10 6 kPa min. |
|
Impact Strength |
533 Joules/Metre |
|
Hardness (Barcol) Ref, AS 1799.4‑1985 |
|
|
Moisture pick up |
0.5% max. 24 hours |
|
Glass content |
30% min. |
|
Thickness |
4 mm for body per min. 5 mm for lid per min. |
|
Specific Tolerance on length |
|
|
Diameter including out of round |
|
|
Entrapped air Max. No. of Bubbles |
|
|
Max. Size |
1.6 mm thick; |
(h)
where the manufacturer uses the “lay up by hand” or the “lay
up by spray application” method of applying fibreglass to septic tanks,
he shall have available the following plant and equipment:
(i)
a mould for the tank which may be fixed or capable of
being rotated mechanically at a speed that can be adjusted by the operator;
(ii)
equipment for measuring the thickness and degree of
hardness of the walls of the completed tank at any point;
(iii)
platform scales capable of weighing the completed tank
and smaller scales for weighing the glass rovings;
(i)
one of the following means of antibuoyancy anchorage
shall be provided within the tank:
(i)
a fibreglass flange around the outer wall of the tank at
least 100 mm wide placed midway between the bottom and top of the tank; or
(ii)
a galvanized iron pipe across the underside of the tank,
held in place by nylon cord loops bonded to the base of the tank, the pipe
being embedded into the earth at the side of the hole;
(j) the
following details shall be permanently affixed or incorporated within the
resin in a prominent position:
(i)
inlet and outlet positions;
(ii)
the manufacturer’s name or trade mark both on the
body and cover;
(iii)
a serial number on both the tank and the lid placed
beside or under the name of the trade mark.
(2) The manufacturer
shall make available a sample from each moulding, identifiable with the
original moulding, and the specimen shall be at least 0.15 m 2 in size and be
identified by the appropriate serial number.
(3) The sample
referred to in subregulation (2), shall be retained for a period of not
less than 2 years.
(4) An authorised
officer appointed under the Act may inspect any fibreglass septic tank,
conducting such tests, including the drilling of holes in the body of a tank,
as he considers necessary to ascertain if it complies with these regulations,
and where the fibreglass tank is accepted, it shall be branded in accordance
with regulation 33(9).
(5) All costs and
fees, including the cost of any repairs, in relation to the testing of a
fibreglass tank shall be borne by the manufacturer.
(6) The fee for
testing each tank shall be $5.00.
[Regulation 36 inserted: Gazette
21 Apr 1978 p. 1218‑20; amended: Gazette
29 Jun 1984 p. 1781; 4 Sep 1992 p. 4474;
29 Jul 1997 p. 4083; 5 Sep 1997 p. 5037;
10 Jan 2017 p. 285 and 287‑8.]
[Heading inserted: Gazette 29 Jul 1997
p. 4078.]
[ 37. Deleted: Gazette 28 Jun 2004
p. 2395.]
[Heading deleted: Gazette 29 Jul 1997
p. 4082.]