Environmental Hazards

The law is quite clear on the potential dangers of oil as an environmental contaminant. Although most domestic oil tanks are exempt from the stricter rules governing large oil tanks, there are a set of definite criteria under which a secondary confinement is needed. This may require the tank to be more protected against damage and leaks (secondary containment) or additional measures to prevent fire. If you have any questions about this, please call us for advice. A properly bunded tank does constitute secondary containment. Failing to comply with the regulations can result in a fine of several thousand pounds and a criminal record.

(if any of the questions are answered yes then secondary confinement must be provided)

• Tanks capacity in excess of 2500 litres
• Tanks location is within 10 metres of controlled water*
• Tank is where spillage could run into an open drain or loose fitting manhole cover
• Tank is within 50 metres of a borehole, spring or well
• Tank is over hard ground that could enable spillage run off to reach controlled water
• Tank is located where vent outlet is not visible from the fill point
• Tank is supplying heating oil to a building other than a single family dwelling
• Any other potential hazard (Risk of Spill etc)
  

Fire Hazards

(if any of the questions are answered no then fire protection must be provided)

• Tank is located more than 1.8 metres away from a part of a dwelling or part of a building.
• Tank is located more than 760mm away from a flammable boundary (hedge, fence, etc).

You will also be required to fill in a risk assessment form with the surveyor as this form is only supposed to guide you and hopefully make your selection process easier and give you an idea of what the surveyor will be looking for.

*Definition of controlled water can be found on the OFTEC website and includes (but not restricted to): streams, ditches, rivers, lakes, ponds, canals or coastal water.