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1.0 Introduction
This is a report for project proposal for constructing a fire water tank for Elkem Carbon
Soderberg Electrode Paste Plant. Amazing Construction Sdn Bhd aimed to construct fire
water tank which located at Samalaju Industrial Park, Sarawak. Thus, soil investigation
and planning for design of foundation for the project has been provided. It is expected that
the provided design of foundation of water tank can sustain the load from 5000 Gallons
fire water tank. A brief introduction to project background and objectives of this report will
be further discussed.

1.1 Project background

The proposed additional structure for Sunshine residential area is a fire storage water tank
for located at Samalaju Industrial Park, 97000, Bintulu, Sarawak. Fire Protection Water
Storage Tanks provide fire fighters with needed water in locations where the demand for
water can exceed the available municipal water supply. This is especially true for suburban
or rural areas served from a well with a limited delivery or locations prone to wild fires.
The proposed fire water tank is for the use chemical plant. Therefore, it is required to
prepare a fire water tank as it is probe to wild fires. Fire water storage can supply fire hoses
during an emergency.

The additional fire water tank is planned to locate at the open area nearby the where
chemical plants placed in Elkem Carbon Company. The dimension of the proposed water
tank is of 7.32 x 8.54 x 3.86m.

1.2 Project Profile

A fire water tank for Elkem Carbon Malaysia Sdn Bhd

Location: Elkem Carbon Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Lot 20, Block 1, Kemena Land District,
Samalaju Industrial Park, 97000 Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Type of structure : Fire water tank

Dimension of the water tank : Height : 3.86m

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Width : 7.32m

Breadth: 8.54m

Volume of water tank : 5000 Gallons

1.3 Project Site

The project site is located at Samalaju Industrial Park of Bintulu, Sarawak with coordinate
(3.537454, 113.353280). The site encompass a total of approximately 70metersquare area.

Figure 1.1: The site location for the fire water tank project
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Figure 1.2: Location plan for the water tank project

1.4 Site condition

In investigate the site condition of the project’s site, field investigation which involved in
the geotechnical investigation was carried out in a manner as recommended in BS5990:
1999 “Code of Practice for Site Investigation”. Field investigation that carried out at the
the proposed site included borehole, undisturbed sampling, standard penetration test (SPT).
Besides, laboratory testing were also performed on undisturbed samples based on the
available of soil samples. Moisture content, bulk and dry density determination test and
unconsolidated undrained triaxial compression test (UU) were conducted. The purpose of
laboratory tests was for the evaluation of shear strength, compressibility characteristic and
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classification of soil properties. Both field and laboratory investigate will be useful in
design part for foundation construction.

1.4.1 Soil Profile

In general, the project area lies within the formation of Older Alluvium Formation with
layers of Clayey SAND and Silty CLAY. Figure 1.3 showed the soil profile found at site
based on the data collected from boleholes.

Figure 1.3: Soil Strata Layer at Project Site

1.4.1.1 Clayey sand soils

Clayey sand soils can be considered as composite matrix of coarse and fine grains and the
interaction between these matrices can affect the overall stress–strain behavior of these
soils. Fine content may affect the compression characteristics of coarse grained soils as
well. Clayey sand soil is poor material in pavements if not compacted at the proper moisture
content, in this case its shear resistance can be low. The unconfined compressive strength
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of clayey sand soil can be doubled by compaction. The compressibility of the cohesionless
soil is affected by grading and grain shape. Besides, clayey sand soils (SC) soil is
undesirable as fill or under foundation material, but it is suitable in roads and highways as
a base material when frost action protection is considered.

1.4.1.2 Silty Clay

A silty clay soil has a higher percentage of clay then silt. Silty soil can be smooth to the
touch and retains water longer because of its smaller particles. However, because of its
tendency to retain moisture it is cold and drains poorly. This causes the silty soil to expand,
pushing against a foundation and weakening it, making it not ideal for support. Next, clay
which is made up of tiny particles so it stores water well, but because of its tight grasp on
water it expands greatly when moist and shrinks significantly when dry. When clay is moist,
it is very pliable, and can easily be moved and manipulated. These extreme changes put a
great deal of pressure on foundations, causing them to move up and down, and eventually
crack, making clay a poor soil for support. In conclusion, silty clay is a weak soil for
foundation for their soil properties.