Bunded Oil Tanks

Bunded Oil Tanks Information

Bunded oil tanks have a secondary containment system – an outer tank or ‘bund’ which encompasses the primary tank. This safeguards against oil spills and ground contamination by ensuring that oil is stored securely within the primary tank. As well as being more environmentally friendly and safer for your property than a ‘single skin’ tank (a tank without secondary containment), having a bunded oil tank is a requirement in many instances.

At Tuffa Tanks we manufacture bunded oil tanks in plastic in capacities from 1,350 litres to 2,500 litres in domestic sizes and up to 15,000 litres in non-domestic sizes. Our bunded steel oil tanks are available in capacities from 900 to 2300 with non-domestic capacities reaching 86,000 litres in our standard range. Check out our Expert Guide to Heating Oil Storage for more information about our oil tanks as well as advice and industry insights which can save you time and money.

As well as manufacturing bunded and single skin kerosene tanks, we also manufacture fire protected oil tanks. These are essentially bunded heating oil tanks containing a unique, patented flame retardant material offering 30 or 60 minute protection. These work as an alternative form of compliance when compared to traditional fire rated materials (such as fire boards) and enable you to install a tank adjacent to or even inside buildings. For more info about our fire protected tanks check out our expert guide.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SINGLE SKIN AND BUNDED OIL TANK?

Tuffa Tanks manufactures high-quality oil tanks, suited for residential, commercial and agricultural premises. We aim to manufacture bespoke tanks which are suited to your exact need, from litres weight capacity to tank shape and size.

However, it can be confusing to understand which tank is best suited to your requirements. To put it simply, a single skin tank features one skin that the oil is contained within. A bunded oil tank has a tank within a tank, which is referred to as a bund. If you’re unsure whether a single skin or bunded oil tank is best suited to your requirements, then a member of our team can help you out.

OIL STORAGE REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATIONS

The Control of Pollution Regulations (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001 dictates the legal requirements for storing oil on a property in England. The main points are:

• All steel and plastic oil tanks with a capacity of 3500 litres or more must have a secondary containment (a bund).
• All oil tanks located in an area where spills risk contaminating surface and groundwater must have a bund.
• Oil tanks must have a life cycle of at least 20 years.
• Oil tanks must be made of a material suitable for the oil type stored.
• Ancillary equipment (not including the fill pipe or draw-of pipe) must be within the bund system.
• Automatic overfill prevention devices must be used when it’s not practical to observe the vent pipe or tank.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

With an increased focus on protecting the environment oil storage regulations are becoming increasingly strict and regulations in Wales now require all new oil tank installations with a capacity over 200 litres to be bunded. In Scotland, all oil tanks with a capacity above 2,500 litres must to bunded. Tanks in NI  follow the same secondary containment requirements as England and must be bunded when above 3,500 litres in capacity.

To find out more about oil storage regulations in your country click on the appropriate link:

England – Control of pollution (oil storage) regulations 2001

Wales – Control of pollution (oil storage) regulations 2016

Scotland – The Water Environment (Controlled Activities) Regulations 2011

Northern Ireland – Control of pollution (oil storage) regulations 2010

Building Regulations

Oil Tanks connected to combustion devices like central heating and ovens must also adhere to regulations. These regulations cite the distance which your oil tank must be from boundaries which aren’t fire rated. Your oil tank must be:

• At least 1.8m away from any part of a non-FR structure (e.g. properties, eaves & windows)
• At least 0.76m away from non-fire rated boundaries (e.g. a fence)
• At least 0.6m away from screening (e.g. trellis & foliage)

Your steel or plastic oil tank must also be sited on a hardcore base at least 50mm thick which extends at least 300mm past the furthest point of the oil tank on all sides.

WHAT SIZE OIL TANK DO I NEED?

Tuffa’s oil tanks can be a long-term investment. The bigger the capacity oil tank you order, the more money you can save on kerosene, albeit at the greater initial cost of the oil tank. Bulk buying kerosene has numerous benefits. Kerosene prices fluctuate (sometimes wildly) so buying fuel when prices are low and making the most of any deals offered by your fuel supplier, can give you real savings.

Higher capacity storage also means you need to refuel less frequently, reducing the price you pay for deliveries and diminishing the risk of running out of fuel altogether. As our standard tanks have a life span of at least 20 years, money can really start to add up and surpass the additional costs of purchasing a larger capacity. That’s why we recommend the highest possible capacity for your budget and available space.

While we think that bigger is better when it comes to tank sizes, here is a rough guide of tank capacities for domestic use:

GUARANTEE

Our bunded oil tanks come with a 10 year guarantee when registered and our single skin oil tanks come with a 2 year guarantee when registered. All of our tanks have a 1 year guarantee on ancillary goods. We recommend regular maintenance of your oil tank to extend its usable life. If you have purchased or are looking to purchase a Tuffa oil tank and are not sure on how many years guarantee you have, you can get in touch with us and helpful member of our team will help you out.

DELIVERY AND INSTALLATION

Tuffa Tanks are generally built to order. We can arrange delivery to sites across the UK, or oil tanks can be collected from our factory in Uttoxeter.

Current build times are as follows:

To comply with Local Authority Building Control your oil tank installation needs to be signed off by a Competent Person. We recommend using members of the Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors (APHC) who can install the oil tank to meet regulations and self-certify their work. Find APHC installers.

For any enquiries contact our sales team on 01889 567700 or use the online enquiry form.