Fire Protected Oil Tanks

No, Tuffa fire-protected oil tanks are not OFTEC approved. Because they do not carry OFTEC certification, an OFTEC-only self-certification cannot be used. However, all FirePro® tanks can be legally signed off and fully comply with UK Building Regulations.

How to legally sign off your FirePro® installation:

• Option 1: Stroma Building Control — Submit your application to Stroma at least 7 working days prior to installation. Note: Stroma cannot sign off tanks retrospectively after installation.

• Option 2: Competent Person Scheme (e.g., APHC) — Have your tank installed by a technician registered with a scheme like APHC, who can self-certify the installation without local building control fees.

• Option 3: Local Authority Building Control — Apply for certification via a Building Notice with your local council.

Important: Always establish your sign-off route before installation begins. View our full step-by-step Guide to FirePro® Sign-Off for forms and process details.

A Tuffa fire rated oil tank is a bunded tank that is fitted with integral fire protection and is available in plastic or steel, up to 2300 litres in capacity.

Find out more about what a fire rated oil tank is here.

Under building regulations, fire separation distances state minimum distances that a conventional (non-fire rated) oil tank can be installed from surrounding structures.

Fire separation distances

• 1.8m away from a building or structure (e.g. a garage or shed)
• 1.8m away from eaves of a building
• 1.8m away from building openings (such as doors or windows)
• 1.8m away from oil fired appliance flue terminals
• 760mm away from a non-fire rated boundary such as a wooden fence
• 600mm away from screening (e.g. trellis and foliage) that does not form part of the boundary

Find out more about the oil storage fire separation distances here.

Fire protected oil storage tanks can be installed as close as 300mm to a building or boundary and even inside a domestic building.

Find out more about the oil storage tank regulations for fire rated tanks here.

Technicians within Competent Persons Schemes such as APHC can fit and self certify Tuffa fire rated tanks. In addition, these tanks can also be certified by building control including Approved Inspectors Stroma who can self-certify installations.

Tuffa’s range of fire protected oil storage tanks have been tried and tested by installers since 2005.

Find out more about who can install and certify a fire protected oil tank here.

The fire protected tank range complies with UK-wide Oil Storage Regulations and British Standards for plastic and steel oil tanks. See the Tuffa Declaration of Conformity.

Find out more about the oil storage tank regulations for fire protected tanks here.

The primary difference between a 30-minute and a 60-minute fire rating lies in where the heating oil tank can be installed according to UK Building Regulations:

30-Minute Fire Rating: This level of protection is required to site a domestic oil tank externally adjacent to buildings, structures, or boundaries (e.g., within 1.8 metres of a house, shed, or window, or within 760mm of a wooden boundary fence).

60-Minute Fire Rating: This higher level of protection is required to site a domestic oil tank inside an uninhabited building (such as an attached garage or outbuilding). A 60-minute fire rating is also typically required when placing a heating oil tank adjacent to commercial buildings.