According to Gov.uk, the UK has approaching 3m registered businesses, tens of thousands of which rely on on-site commercial tanks to store oil or other fuel for heating, to power back-up generators or refuel fleets or as part of industrial manufacturing. Another use is the safe management of waste oils. But with so many different tank sizes and business types, it’s hard to obtain more precise numbers on how many organisations have these tanks.
Why are spillages from commercial oil tanks so bad?
If you have a spillage of oil from a commercial storage tank, the results can be pretty disastrous. Not only are there obvious consequences for the environment, but there is the potential danger to public health, not to mention possibly hefty legal and financial penalties.
Just one leak can permanently damage the surrounding soil, contaminate local drinking water supplies, lead to fires and cost organisations hundreds of thousands of pounds or more in mandatory clean-up operations. So of course you’ll be keen to do anything you can to avoid something so potentially catastrophic.
What is the main legislation for oil tank spills?
The main piece of legislation covering the storage of commercial oil and spill avoidance in the UK is the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations, which has progressively tightened over the years, and is currently as follows:
- In England: The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001
- In Wales: The Water Resources (Control of Pollution) (Oil Storage) (Wales) Regulations 2016
- In Scotland: The Water Environment (Oil Storage) (Scotland) Regulations 2006
- In Northern Ireland: The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
At the same time, the Environmental Protection Act 1990 holds businesses strictly liable for any spillages.
What does the law say?
The relevant legislation encompasses a number of elements of commercial oil storage in tanks, including:
Secondary containment
All commercial oil tanks which are fixed in place must incorporate an exterior shell which can contain 110% of the capacity of the inside tank. Almost all commercial sites must comply with this part of the legislation to prevent spills. And this rule applies to any organisation storing 201 litres of oil or more.
While 110% may sound a slightly odd number, it’s worked out to account for the entire contents of the tank as well as any overfill, plus water ingress which could collect in the bund in the event of, say, extreme weather.
Having a second shell or a ‘tank within a tank’ creates what’s also known as a bunded tank. Equally, this is required in domestic settings for those storing more than 3,500 litres of fuel, and in agriculture if you’re holding more than 1,500 litres of oil.
Structural integrity
Tanks have to be strong enough structurally so that they don’t burst, while the materials they’re made of must meet British Standards.
Inspections
The regulations state that you must visually inspect your tank every month yourself, while also having annual assessments and labelling by a certified professional, such as one registered with the Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC). What’s more, regulators stringently enforce the rule that these checks should take place.
Positioning and protection
The regulations add that you must place your tank away from vehicle traffic and any sources of water including lakes, open drains or similar. If your tank is close to vehicle routes, you’ll need barriers in place such as bollards or another physical object.
Specifically, you must have a bunded tank if you store oil within 10m of fresh inland water such as a river or stream, and within a similar distance of coastal waters. Tanks must be bunded if they lie 50m or closer to a potable water source such as a well, spring or borehole.
Responsibility for spillage and pollution
The regulations follow the principle that ‘the polluter pays’. So the Environment Agency and other bodies can impose heavy, uncapped fines on any business which contaminates water or land through an oil spillage.
What else does my business need to do to be compliant?
If your business stores fuels such as oil, biofuel or diesel, you’ll need to meet government guidelines on commercial oil storage. These include:
- Installing your tank on a flat, non-combustible base such as solid concrete. This must extend at least 30cms beyond the perimeter of the tank.
- You should keep a spill kit on-site that’s readily available to handle any small losses of fuel during maintenance or delivery.
- Fit alarms or automatic shut-off valves if the driver can’t see the delivery tanker’s filling point.
Are the fuel tank rules getting stricter?
The core UK legislation has not changed greatly since the most recent major overhaul – 2001 in the case of England. However, enforcement standards have become significantly stricter, with the rules becoming more stringently applied.
These days, commercial site operators face tougher fines, while the expectations for preventing fuel spillages and managing tank installations are higher. And, as mentioned, these penalties are potentially unlimited in terms of oil spillages and pollution. Organisations may face prosecution from the Environment Agency or via the criminal courts.
Even lacking an appropriate bund for your tank can lead to a non-compliance fine. This can affect any insurance claim, as well as invalidating your manufacturer’s warranty.
Specific fines are worked out according to blame, the amount and severity of damage caused (classed in four different categories) plus the size of the organisation involved.
Compliant Fuel Tanks From LV Fuel Services
At LV Fuel Services, we handle fuel and oil tank installation, removal, cleaning and maintenance for a wide range of commercial clients. Plus we have many years’ experience in providing a professional yet friendly, reliable service, along with all relevant industry accreditations and certifications.
Read some of our case studies here and get in touch for a quote without obligation – we work across the UK. Use our services to ensure your commercial oil tank is fully compliant; after all, there are so many reasons why you can’t afford to have a fuel spillage on your site. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
