West Fuel Systems Ltd are an OFTEC Registered Business offering a nationwide service for Domestic and Commercial Oil Tank Installations, Inspections & Maintenance Works.
Protection of the environment and property is vital, although oil is an intrinsically safe fuel. Oil tank inspections are essential and allow our engineers to assess the environmental and fire risks associated with Domestic and commercial fuel storage facilities. An oil tank inspection should be carried out prior to any installation work commencing or to identify and record risks regarding the existing system.
For domestic properties with a capacity not greater than 3,500 litres British Standard BS 5410: 1 applies and non-domestic premises British Standard BS 5410 :2 applies to oil tank installations. Each installation will have individual features, and they must be assessed on each occasion as to their likely effect on both the risk of spillage and risk of spread of fire to the contained fuel.
As a trusted provider of heating oil tank installation and maintenance, West Fuel Systems Ltd are registered with the Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC), and our engineers are trained to OFTEC 10-600A for our oil tank installations. OFTEC accreditation is an important qualification to check for when purchasing an heating oil system or changing your current oil tank, or when you have moved to a new property and inherited a oil system.
A registered OFTEC engineer will aid you in selecting the type of tank that you require and more importantly, will help you to determine where the oil tank needs to be positioned for it to be within UK safety and regulations. OFTEC regulations help to mitigate environmental and fire risks - West Fuel Systems OFTEC certified technicians will ensure that your oil tank meets the OFTEC regulations, as well as ensuring that the oil Tanks location complies with current building regulations.
Our safe service doesn’t end with oil tank installation though, as you should have your oil tank inspected on an annual basis by an OFTEC certified technician to make sure that the oil system is in good working order. Getting the oil tank checked at regular intervals will mean that any potential issues are identified prior to them causing real problems, which could save a considerable amount of money and effort in the future. It is particularly important to arrange an inspection if you’ve recently moved to a new property with a heating oil tank. You could end up paying the price for the previous owner’s poor choice of tank, or their neglect of proper proper oil tank inspections.
Domestic Oil Tank location
It's highly unlikely that a fire could be started by a domestic oil tank and its oil contents. However, tanks are required to comply with fire separation distances in order to adequately protect the stored fuel from a fire or heat source, that may originate nearby.
Tanks should be sited:
- 1.8m away from non-fire rated eaves of a building
- 1.8m away from a non-fire rated building or structure (e.g. garden sheds)
- 1.8m away from openings (such as doors or windows) in a fire rated building or structure (e.g. brick built house/garage)
- 1.8m away from oil fired appliance flue terminals
- 760mm away from a non-fire rated boundary such as a wooden boundary fence
- 600mm away from screening (e.g. trellis and foliage) that does not form part of the boundary.
If it is not possible to comply with these requirements, then a fire barrier with at least 30 minutes fire rating should be provided. A minimum separation distance of 100 mm is required between the tank and fire rated barrier unless a larger distance is specified by the tank manufacturer.
Commercial Oil Tanks
Externally sited commercial oil storage tanks should comply with the requirements laid out in the fire regulations of 2m for capacity up to 3,500 capacity and 6 m for capacities over 3,500 litres. Where these separation distances cannot be achieved, a fire wall must be provided between the tank and the hazard (either a building or boundary) in accordance with the specifications. Additionally, where a tank contains more than 3,500 litres any openings in the walls between 1.8 and 6m away from the tank should be fitted with 1 hour fire resisting glass or 1 hour fire resisting self-closing doors.
OFTEC Regulations
Oilsave is an information website for oil heating customers, partnership by OFTEC and FPS
The oil tanks That West Fuel Systems Supply - Install & Maintain lead the industry in innovation, technology, safety, and reliability. The range is purpose-designed to include suitable oil storage options for homeowners, domestic properties, commercial businesses, and agriculture.
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Legal Requirements for Oil Storage
The minimum legal requirements for oil storage depends on where you are in the UK and what your stored oil will be used for or if it’s waste oil.
click below to find what applies to your oil store.
If you’re looking for a well-designed and expertly crafted oil tank, West Fuel Systems can accommodate your requirements. For domestic and commercial markets, in the UK and internationally, West Fuel Systems are a leading Oil Tank Supplier with over 20 years’ experience.
The oil storage tanks that West Fuel Systems Supply are available in both plastic and steel, cover every shape, size, and purpose; all made to the highest of standards, ensuring safe and reliable storage, as well as exceptional quality. Even if you have specific requirements, we will work with you to determine a brief and supply a custom-made solution that suits your requirements exactly.
What size oil tank do I need?
As a rule of thumb, it is always worth buying the largest size tank that you can afford, to make use of price dips as and when they occur. That said, our tanks range from 1,350L all the way up to a huge 100,000L, which are much more suitable for businesses and large-scale operations. Nonetheless, there are still a variety of options available to people looking for domestic use.
For domestic properties, we recommend that choosing a container that can accommodate at least 500 litres for every bedroom in your house, with a minimum tank size of 1,000L. Any less than this and you will be refuelling your home as often as you are your car!
As a general guide, we would recommend the following volumes for a home:
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A one bedroom house needs at least 1,350L
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Two bedrooms needs at least 1,400L
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Three bedrooms needs 1,500L
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Four bedrooms needs 2,000L
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Five bedrooms needs 2,500L
It is also worth noting that any tanks over 2,500L in capacity are required to be bunded, and an Environmental Risk Assessment will need to be undertaken to ensure your safety.
Are there any requirements for storing oil?
The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations from 2001 dictate the legal requirements for storing oil on a property. The main points are as such:
Oil must be stored in a container that is strong enough to make sure that it will not burst or leak when full
Oil tanks and containers must be placed inside a containment system
Valves and pipes have to be sealed to prevent leaking and placed within the secondary confinement system or used with a drip tray to catch any spills
Fixed tanks must have a sight gauge that has a valve which can be closed automatically
Automatic overfill prevention devises must be used when it’s not practical to observe the vent pipe or tank
If you have any questions about which tank to pick, which size you require, and the regulations you need to consider, then please feel free to get in touch with our team.
Useful Links:
Oil Firing Technical Association
www.oftec.org
Federation of Petroleum Suppliers
www.fpsonline.co.uk
Oil Care
www.oilcare.org.uk
Environment Agency for England
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency/
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
http://www.sepa.org.uk/
Natural Resources Wales
https://naturalresources.wales/splash?orig=/
FAQS On Oil Storage Tanks
https://www.oftec.org.uk/consumers/faqs-on-oil-storage-tanks