There is a huge variety of oil tanks available on the market today. You’ve probably heard the term ‘bunded oil tank’ but you might be asking - what is a bunded oil tank and how is it different from other storage tanks available? Below, we’re going to answer all of your questions to do with bunded oil tanks, and discuss why you should be using a bunded tank for your oil storage.
What is a bunded oil tank?
Bunded oil tanks differ from other oil storage tanks, such as 'single skin tanks' because they have a secondary containment tank or 'outside skin.’ This tank-within-a-tank approach means that bunded tanks are generally considered to offer the highest level of safety and security. Bunded tanks have been developed especially for the safe, secure and responsible storage of waste oils and lubricants. Fully bunded they exceed all current and expected regulatory requirements. It’s important to stay compliant and know how to safely store your oil, to minimise the risk of pollution and environmental damage. You could face serious penalties - and even prosecution - for failing to follow the required regulations. Storing your oil is a bunded tank is the easiest way to ensure that your storage complies with environmental legislation.
When is one required?
A bunded tank is used by most industrial and commercial premises and is required when storing hazardous substances, such as domestic heating oil. The unique construction offers higher levels of safety, which means these liquids can be stored securely with minimal chance of leakage. Fuel spills or leaks can have a huge detrimental impact on the environment, so it’s important that you do everything to prevent this from happening. Bunded fuel tanks have been specially designed to offer a higher-level of safety and protect against leaks and spills. The additional outer tank will prevent fuel leaks by containing any fuel that gets through the first tank. This stops any environmental damage that would occur in the event of a leak. In some cases, bunded fuel tanks are required in order to stay compliant with fuel storage legislation, so it’s important to know if you need one. For instance, any container with the capacity to store more than 200 litres must be bunded.
What are the safety features?
Aside from having a second layer to prevent oil leaks, bunded tanks have several additional safety features to keep your oil secure. This varies depending on the specific make and model of your tank, but may include:
- A tank gauge so you can check how much fuel is left in the tank and know when a refuel is needed.
- A lockable fill point to help prevent fuel thefts - fuel theft is on the rise and can prove extremely costly, so it’s important to protect your oil by looking for a storage tank with extra security features.
- A secure fuel inspection hatch so you can access the fuel tank - this allows you to carry out maintenance checks and clean your tank with ease.
- A warning system to alert you of any sudden drop in fuel level - this could be due to a leak or fuel theft.
- An overfill protection device to prevent you from overfilling your tank - this could lead to a fuel spillage or leak which would be both costly and damaging to the environment.
How much fuel can it hold?
In the event of an oil leak the bunding, or outer tank, is designed to hold more than the capacity of the inner tank, and it will also store the pipes and vents. The exact amount of fuel this outer layer can hold depends on the make and model of the tank, but the minimum is 110% of the fuel capacity of the inner tank. You can therefore be confident that your bunded tank will be able to prevent any leaks from occurring.
Final thought
As you can see, there are plenty of benefits to storing your oil in a bunded tank, this includes - increased security, better safety features, and less chance of environmental damage. This means you can have peace of mind knowing that your fuel is stored securely, safely, and responsibly. In some cases, a bunded oil tank is required by law, so it’s important to know if you need one. If you’re unsure of the type of tank you need, you can contact your local OFSTED-registered installer, who will carry out a risk assessment and let you know whether a bunded tank is needed in your circumstances.
