There are several reasons why some homes need to have an oil tank for the storage of oil. It might be that your home is not connected to mains gas due to its location or you might even choose not to connect it to the mains. Whatever the reason, some people find themselves in a situation where they need to store large amounts of oil.
It is important that you get the storage of oil right, it is a big responsibility as it can not only be damaging to the local environment if it escapes the tank in any way, but it can also be a huge fire risk to people and property close by. Damaged tanks or leaks are the most common way that oil can escape from a tank, and so efforts have been made to reduce the chance of damage and leaks both through the material that the tank is made from and its design in general.
Bunded Oil Tanks
There are normally two types of oil storage tanks – single skin oil tanks and bunded oil tanks. One of the main problems with a single skin tank is that if there is any damage to the tank, there is a high possibility that the tank will leak. A steel bunded oil tank helps to mitigate this risk by having essentially an inner steel tank within the outer steel tank. This means that if there is damage to either one of the ‘skins’, the other should be there as a fallback. Of course, it is possible that there is a situation whereby both of the ‘skins’ get damaged at the same time, with the oil being able to escape, but this is extremely unusual.
Bunded plastic oil tanks work in the same way, with each skin on the tank being made from a strong, robust, and durable plastic, a diesel resistant, polyethylene plastic.
Using a bunded oil tank is usually the best way to reduce the risk of causes oil leaks and damaging the environment around it and your home. It is also important, however, to make sure that it is properly looked after.
Maintenance and Looking After Bunded Oil Tanks
Part of ensuring that a bunded oil tank properly protects its contents, it must be well-maintained. You should carry out regular checks of the tank, looking for potential leaks or damage, and carrying out repairs as soon as you notice any potential problem. If you are using a steel bunded oil tank it is also important that you check for signs of rust or corrosion.
By ensuring that you look after your bunded oil tank properly, you can make sure that any damage that is caused by it is covered on your home insurance policy. Having an oil tank is a responsibility and it is important that it is taken seriously.
Oil Spills
The rules relating to oil tanks are set out in the building regulations. If you realise that you have a spill, however, it is important that you respond in the correct way. The response depends on whether it is a ‘major’ spill or a ‘minor’ spill.
A major spill consists of an incident whereby:
- You can smell oil even when you are inside the house, or;
- The oil could have leaked into a drain, under your property, or beyond the edge of your property, or;
- The tank is close to a water source such as a pond, stream, or river.
If you have a major oil spill, the procedure involves notifying your local authority and insurer then employing the services of a specialist oil contractor to investigate the next step. It can be useful to take pictures to be able to show people whatever the size of the oil spill.
If there is a spill from your oil tank, the most important things that you can do are turn the oil off at the source and do what you can to stop it from spreading. Do not try and use water or detergent to wash it away, and the local authority must be notified if it reaches any local water sources.
Remember to keep children and animals away from the oil and spill and avoid eating, drinking, and smoking nearby.
The good news is that by using a bunded oil tank, these oil spills and leaks are far less likely to occur, making the use and storage of oil safer for everybody.
