OIL STORAGE RULES

Posted on 14 April 2010

On 1^st April 2006 new rules came into force with regard to the storage of oil in above ground tank installations. These rules have been phased in over a period with the following phasings:-

First phase	April 2006	Applies to all new tanks built
Second phase	April 2008	Applies to all existing tanks located within 10m of surface water or 50m of a borehole or well
Third phase	1^st April 2010	Applies to all remaining tanks

These rules apply to all above ground oil storage facilities, including petrol, diesel, kerosene, mineral oil, heating oil, lubricating oil, waste oil, vegetable and plant oil. For tanks over 200 litres of capacity and 2,500 litres for home heating oil, it means that all tanks must now have some means of preventing oil which is no longer in the primary container, from reaching the wider environment. This will involve bunding or a secondary tank which is capable of containing 110% of the full amount within the primary tank.

Double skinned tanks do not comply with the regulations as none of the pipework or ancillary equipment is contained within the second skin. Therefore the risk of oil being lost from ancillary equipment and pipework is high. However, proprietary tank systems, or just “tank systems”, is the generic term for tanks often referred to as interiorly bunded or twin walled. Some of these tanks may have adequate secondary containment that complies with the regulation requirements; however, some of these would still be non-compliant without additional containment. In order to comply with the regulations, tank systems must have containment to minimise damage from third party interference and should be sited to minimise the chance of damage by impact or collision, or are suitably protected by physical barriers.

It is therefore important that all property owners are aware of these new regulations and take time to inspect the oil storage containers that they have within their property.

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