Oil Storage Tank Regulations for Domestic Use

Oil is a volatile substance that can cause contamination to watercourses if it escapes from your tank and finds its way there – which it invariably does. If this occurs, The Environmental Agency trace the spillage to its source and you’re likely to incur large clean-up charges. Of course, it’s not all about the money involved. Our natural water reserves, rivers and streams are important to the ecosystem and damage to them can take many years to resolve.

To prevent problematic oil spillages, there are strict regulations in place that you need to follow when choosing a tank to store your oil in and a location for that tank.

It’s vital that you take every precaution to ensure any accidental spillages are contained. If contamination occurs, you will have to demonstrate that you took every precaution possible.

There are different regulations for different sizes of tanks. For an oil storage tank with a capacity up to 3500 litres you must follow building regulations. If your tank can store 3501 litres or more, you must follow the regulations for businesses – source: https://www.gov.uk/oil-storage-regulations-and-safety

When installing an oil storage tank at a domestic property:

Choose an oil tank installer who’s registered with a ‘Competent Person’ scheme. Registered installers can self-certify that their work complies with building regulations and can deal with building control issues, like objections. This ensures that your tank is installed correctly, safely and in the right location.

If you choose not to use someone registered with a ‘Competent Person’ scheme, you’ll have to get a Building Control Notice from your local council. You’ll also have to pay for the inspection yourself.

Bunded or Single Skin Oil Storage Tank?

A bunded oil tank has a second skin to contain any spillages. It must hold 110% of the tank’s capacity and must also be impermeable to oil and water.

You must use a bund if your tank has a capacity of more than 2500 litres of oil.

You’ll also need to use a bunded tank if your tank is to be located in any of the following places:

• where oil spills could run into an open drain or a loose manhole cover
• where the tank vent pipes cannot be seen when the tank’s being filled, for example because the delivery tanker is parked too far away
• within 10 metres of coastal waters or inland fresh waters like lakes or streams
• within 50 metres of a drinking water source, for example wells, boreholes or springs
• where oil spills could run over hard ground and reach coastal waters, inland fresh waters or a drinking water source
• in the inner zone of groundwater source protection zone 1

Source: https://www.gov.uk/oil-storage-regulations-and-safety/home

Further situations that need a bunded oil storage tank:

• An oil storage tank of any size will need to be bunded if the vent pipe cannot be seen from the fill point. This is known as a “blind fill”.
• If you are located in Wales, all new oil tanks installed on domestic or commercial properties must be bunded.
• Bear in mind that all commercial installations required a bunded tank

If you’re unsure, check with an OFTEC engineer who will advise whether you can use a single skinned tank. But, bunded tanks are safer and it’s highly likely that, sooner or later, the regulations will only allow tanks with a bund to be used for domestic oil storage.

Did you know the Government are set to remove tax treatment of red diesel in April 2022?

What this means for you is a significant price increase of circa 46p per litre. Buying a quantity of 1000 litres means an increase of £460, 10000 litres a staggering rise of £4600.

Why is this happening?

The chancellor made the announcement in his 2020 budget statement, explaining that the changes are an attempt to cut down on air pollution.

He said:“The Red Diesel scheme allows selected users to pay duty of just over 11p per litre for diesel, compared to almost 58p per litre for everyone else. But the sectors using red diesel are some of the biggest contributors to our air quality problem – emitting nearly 10% of the most noxious gases polluting the air of cities like London. This is a tax relief on nearly 14 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year… the same as the entire population of London and Greater Manchester taking a return flight to New York.”

He went on to admit that he was fully aware of the impact the new legislation will have on many industries, which is why the changes are not coming in until April 2022.

However, according to industry experts, this is a devastating blow and could cost the UK construction industry between £280m to £490m a year. They also predict an escalation in fuel theft.

With no low-carbon fuels readily available or construction equipment that uses these sources of energy, fears are that the impact of increased fuel costs will inevitably be passed on to customers.

Kevin Minton, chief executive of the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) said, “At a time when business investment remains weak, this move will undermine the construction sector at the point when it is meant to be upskilling, investing in new technology and planning for the future.”

Who is affected? All industries except agriculture, rail and domestic heating.

What can you do?

#1 Stock up!

With such a large cost increase very firmly on the horizon, now is the time to stock up on red diesel at the current prices. This means increasing your storage capacity.

Atlantis Tanks StoraFuel range offer tanks designed for the safe storage of red diesel in a variety of sizes to suit any consumption.

But it’s important to act fast. In light of the coming price rise, Atlantis Tanks are anticipating a large increase in demand for diesel storage tanks as savvy customers act to keep their costs down.

Check out the range of tanks suitable for storing red diesel on our new website: https://atlantistanks.co.uk/products/portafuel-storafuel/diesel-tanks/

All tanks comply with relevant regulations and come with a comprehensive guarantee.

Atlantis PortaFuel and StoraFuel tanks – a name you can always trust and a second-to-none delivery service. Wherever possible, we’ll have your tank to you by the next day!

Can you act to stop the price increase?

Fuel suppliers have been asked by the Government to advise their customers of this price rise.

Some fuel suppliers are challenging this new ruling, approaching local MPs, lobbying key Members of Parliament and the House of Lords.

If you want to voice your concerns about these changes, we urge you to write or email the Treasury. You only have until the 1st of October 2020 to do this so ACT FAST.

The email address and postal address are listed below:

ETTAnswers@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Red Diesel Consultation, Energy and Transport Tax Team,
HM Treasury, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ

What is an Oil-Fired Heating System?

If you live in a rural area, outside the range of normal gas mains, it’s likely that your home is one of the 1.5 million in the UK with heating powered by an oil-fired boiler.

Oil has many benefits when compared to other domestic heating methods:

• It is a long standing, proven technology.
• Oil is very reliable and efficient.
• It is among the cheapest heating options.
• If maintained properly, oil systems will last for many years.
• You can control when fuel supplies get replenished and can choose from a wide range of suppliers.

One of the most important features of oil powered home heating is the oil storage tank which houses the oil. There are many kinds of tank available. With this in mind, there are important considerations when choosing your oil tank.

Having a reliable, fully functioning tank is vital to make sure your oil heating system works to its full potential. If your tank is 20-years-old or more, or if you have recently moved into a new house, it’s worth making sure the oil tank is still working as it should. It’s also important to check that it still meets the standards set in current regulations. If your tank isn’t functioning safely and efficiently, buying a new tank should be a priority!

How does an Oil-Fired Heating System work?

Oil-fired heating is an efficient and relatively simple way to heat your home. It works as follows:

• Fuel from the tank (In the UK the fuel used is generally kerosene) is pressurised and pumped into the boiler.
• The pressurised fuel mixes with air and forms a fine spray which is expelled into the combustion chamber.
• An electrode in the chamber ignites the oil to produce a highly efficient burning flame.
• The hot exhaust gases pass through a heat exchanger (usually a copper wire) and the heat is transferred into water, which surrounds the wire.
• The heated water is then distributed around the house into radiators to provide heat and to taps for hot water.
• More modern systems will automatically switch off when the desired thermostat temperature is reached to save fuel and increase efficiency.

What is the cost of Oil-Fired Heating System?

According to which.co.uk, the average annual cost of an oil-fired heating system is £830. But, bear in mind, this is an average for the UK. Your home’s age, size and insulation all affect the cost of providing heat and hot water.

The price of heating fuel may change as oil prices fluctuate. For example, these are the costs per litre of kerosene heating oil over a period of 5 years:

• 32p in January 2016
• 43p in January 2017
• 48p in January 2018
• 50p in January 2019
• 52p in January 2020

The price of oil also changes depending on the season, as higher demand in colder months drives the price up. In addition, winter fuel also contains extra additives to help stop the oil from freezing (or thickening) in cold conditions. Whilst oil in the warmer months is cheaper, remember to always buy oil that has anti-freezing additives for use in the colder months.

Read our blog ‘Oil Storage Tanks’ for more information or browse our range of domestic oil tanks now.

What is the Diesel Bug?

A high percentage of diesel engine failures are caused by fuel contamination. Common forms of contamination are caused by microbial organisms. These can be bacteria, fungi, viruses and types of yeast – collectively known as ‘the diesel bug’. Given the right conditions, the diesel bug population in your fuel can double in size every 20 minutes. It doesn’t take long before this contamination seriously affects the quality of your diesel, causing  performance problems and even complete engine failures.

If you store diesel, it’s vital you know what warning signs to look for and what steps to take to prevent and treat the problem.

What does the Diesel Bug Look Like?

Diesel bugs thrive in the layer between your fuel and any water that has entered your storage tank. Fuel that is left to stand for longer periods is more likely to have problems caused by the diesel bug. This is because condensation can form in poor-quality storage tanks over time.

Accumulations of bugs may look like dark brown or black slime. You may also notice coffee-like sediments in fuel filters and a foul-smelling odour.

What Does the Diesel Bug Do?

Contamination corrodes your fuel storage tanks, clogs filters and may mean engines are difficult to start or fail completely.

Look out for frequently blocked filters and gauges, increased fuel consumption, sluggish performance and black smoke from exhausts. Diesel bug contamination also causes corrosion of other vehicle parts, like elastomers. Infections also lead to increased tank and pipe corrosion and may cause stress cracking.

Preventing the Diesel Bug

The accumulation of diesel bugs is largely prevented by using high-quality fuel storage tanks such as the StoraFUEL and PortaFUEL range. These tanks seal tightly to prevent water and microbial organisms from getting into your diesel.

• Regularly inspect your storage tanks for leaks and any damage.
• Regularly check your diesel for contaminants, such as water and dirt.
• Accurately estimate your fuel needs and store accordingly – bugs accumulate over time. When fuel is used up quickly, they don’t have time to grow.
• Using a tank re-circulation kit keeps the diesel bug from growing. You can also use specialised diesel additives to kill off colonies before they become a serious problem.

Getting Rid of the Bug

It’s important to act quickly if you discover evidence pointing towards contamination. Take these steps to get rid of the diesel bug, maintain the quality of your fuel and prevent engine damage:

• Immediately remove fuel from tanks suspected of contamination. Thoroughly clean any contaminated fuel using a diesel fuel filtration system.
• Clean tanks, fuel lines and filters before considering refilling with fuel.
• If your equipment is seriously damaged, you should replace it.

Keen gardeners often have rainwater butts to collect water to use on their lawns and flower beds. However, until recently it wasn’t considered practical or safe to use this water elsewhere. Now, new technology means a rainwater harvesting system can be plumbed into your home’s pipework. Harvested water can be used to wash clothes and cars, water gardens and flush toilets – a large drain on your mains water supply. Rain can even be treated and used as drinking water.

In fact, by combining a water meter and rainwater harvesting system, householders can benefit from a 50% saving on their water bills.

The Cost of Water

We wash ourselves, clothes, dishes and our other belongings more than ever before. We power wash our patios and cars. We use hose pipes and sprinklers in our gardens. The average home in the UK is using 350 litres of water a day according to the Department of Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Over 50% of that water is used for processes which don’t require potable water (water that is safe for drinking).

Most of us take it for granted that we turn on our taps and there’s plenty of water – but our increasing personal and home hygiene standards mean we’re using more and more of this precious resource. The truth is, collecting water in reservoirs, treating it and pumping it to our homes is a costly process. We’re paying an increasing cost – and so is the environment.

The Environment Pays too…

The process of supplying domestic and commercial water uses a huge amount of energy. Producing this energy creates carbon emissions. Our water use is also a drain on natural water resources: lakes, rivers and underground reserves are plundered.

Rainwater Harvesting – Saving You Money

Rainwater harvesting systems are increasingly effective at reducing your mains water usage. The water is mainly collected from rain falling onto your roof, your existing guttering and downpipes are used to supply a tank where the water is filtered and stored. Water is then pumped directly to points of use in your home, or may be fed into a secondary header tank in your loft to increase the pressure of the supply.

Complete systems are cost-effective, simple to install and require little maintenance.

Turning Rainwater into Drinking Water

New innovations mean that it’s now possible to turn rainwater into drinking water with the use of a potable tank. Dependant on rainfall, it’s entirely possible to replace a large proportion of mains water use.

The installation of a rainwater harvesting system could mean you never complain about wet weather again!

To find out more about how to save money and reduce your home’s impact on the environment, have a look at PuraTANK’s range of complete rainwater harvesting systems.