Porcelain Toilet Tank Failure Analysis

A failure analysis was performed on a toilet tank that had caused water damage to a residence. This failure initiated at a hold down bolt hole. This tank was 14 years old. Originally it was proposed that thus porcelain failure was the result of a manufacturing defect. The root cause failure analysis shows that the tank was subjected to forces that were transfered to the porcelain through the hold down bolts. This toilet tank failed as a result of undue forces. It is not the result of a product defect.