Browse Forums Eco Living 1 Nov 14, 2020 9:05 pm Hi All, this is my first post...so let me know if I am asking the question in the wrong section. I am building my first home with a volume builder via a land and house package in Schofields NSW. My house plan recently got certified by a private certifier, however will only be building in the beginning of 2021 due to the Christmas shut down coming. The lot I am building is a zero lot block, which the zero lot line is at the garage side (I assume this is the usual case). My question here is - does anyone know whether: a) there's minimum clearance required for the rainwater tank to the fence. space enough for me to squeeze through. b) can I climb over the tank if for some reason i have to go into that space? (3000L RWT - (850w x 2200L x 1560H)) This is my first home building process... as you may know, we tend to ask stupid question. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Rainwater Tank creating Dead Zone 2Nov 14, 2020 10:13 pm Rainwater tanks are deemed a class 10b structure by the BCA. The required setback as per the NSW State Government is 450mm. There are many styles and shapes of water tanks but most builders unfortunately have commercial relationships with suppliers and installers, the reason why products often more suitable (such as Thin Tanks) are never used even though best practice (and common sense) often decrees otherwise. It is often best to have 2 or 3 smaller linked tanks to achieve the BASIX required volume. Tanks don't have to be clustered but new home owners are again rarely given options. Unfortunately, it is also rare for the final installation not to be sub standard yet substantially overpriced. 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Rainwater Tank creating Dead Zone 3Nov 15, 2020 8:14 am Hey SaveH20, thanks for your reply. I have seen the such requirement of 450mm to the boundaries, however they are for tank above 1.8m height. (https://www.teampoly.com.au/2018/06/15/ ... allations/) Extract: If the water tank is constructed on a land other than in Zone RU1, RU2, RU3, RU4, RU6, R5, E2, E3 or E4, then: the water tank must NOT exceed a capacity of 25,000 L if it is for an educational establishment the water tank must NOT exceed a capacity of 10,000 L for any other establishment the water tank must be at least 450 mm away from each boundary of the lot, if the tank is more than 1.8 meters in height Do you by any chance know if it is below 1.8m of height, they don’t have any set back requirement? Re: Rainwater Tank creating Dead Zone 4Nov 15, 2020 11:23 am You are correct. I have checked the Blacktown Council Development Control and other plans and could find no overrides applicable to water tank setbacks. As such, your tank, being under 1.8 m high, is exempt but you could confirm with the council. The height should include the pad or stand height above ground level but the NSW Development Code doesn't clearly state this. The NSW Development Code is poorly written in part and you particularly need to be aware of their requirement to fit a first flush device to the tank. If you have a charged infeed and the first flush diverter is fitted at the tank, the diverter will fill with the settled water retained in the vertical riser while the first flush is still in the downpipe! It is a sub standard waste of yield and money that does nothing to improve water quality yet this is how most systems on new homes have them fitted. 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Rainwater Tank creating Dead Zone 5Nov 16, 2020 1:40 pm I have to agree with you on that part where NSW Development Code is poorly written. I would assume the setback requirement for the rainwater tank (> 1.8m height) is not based on the spirit of giving access or safety, but more to ensure your neighbor dont have to look at big ugly water tank. To make sure we have a closure to this story, and future references - I have rang up my builder again, and we both agreed that the rainwater tank should be relocated to the back of the house and not the side. The main reason being it will be very difficult for anyone to service the A/C in the future. In fact, could be impossible. Bear in mind, this change came after my housing approval (CDC) , BASIX, new tender being signed. I suppose what I am saying here is that if anyone has this problem, make sure you push through it. Re: Rainwater Tank creating Dead Zone 6Nov 16, 2020 3:43 pm kopipeng I would assume the setback requirement for the rainwater tank (> 1.8m height) is not based on the spirit of giving access or safety, but more to ensure your neighbor dont have to look at big ugly water tank. Spot on! The current NSW regulations allows you to site a wide tank on the opposite wider side, thus blocking both sides. 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Rainwater Tank creating Dead Zone 7Nov 16, 2020 11:28 pm I know you are on a tight block but if you can't access that side I can see it being a pain. Do you have a door out the back of the garage into that space? I can see weeds and rubbish collecting in there. If you have no way to easily clean it out it will get overgrown. At the minimum I'd swap the AC and the water tank. It wouldn't be fun if you need to service or even replace the AC at some point if you can't get past the tank and have to try a climb over. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: Rainwater Tank creating Dead Zone 8Nov 16, 2020 11:29 pm Actually just read your final post. Good move. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair But if it is a ground level open pit, then it is not a charged system. No surprises there. The pipes have obviously been altered and there would be a reason for this.… 3 31527 Grate, thank you! RexChan if thats the reason i could sleep well without thinking about additional cost. But 1st i'll need to read about NRV cleaning/replaing stuff. I… 7 31377 Yes it had a house on it. But Melbourne water only wanted something the original size of the existing house. We managed to fit a 45sq house on. 10 33904 |