diesel fuel storage
safety guide

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Diesel, like any liquid fuel, plays an essential part in our day-to-day lives. Hundreds of thousands of businesses across the UK require ample supplies of diesel for all manner of applications. These include running their company fleet, operating core machinery, fuelling generators, and more.

As important as diesel is, it’s crucial to remember that it is a volatile and toxic substance; one that you have a responsibility to store correctly. Failure to do so is not just a fire safety risk, but also a potential environmental hazard.

If you use diesel fuel on site or for commercial purposes, it is essential that you are aware of how to store it safely. This means it’s important that the correct storage and dispensing equipment is used, and that anyone responsible for managing or using diesel is aware of all relevant safety guidelines, fuel storage regulations, and what measures to take in the event of a diesel spillage.

How To Store Diesel Fuel Safely

There are plenty of things you can do to ensure the safe storage of diesel fuel on your commercial site. For the most part, these involve a common-sense approach to safety as it pertains to dangerous chemicals. These are some key pointers to bear in mind:

Choose The Right Tank

There are many varieties of diesel fuel tanks on the market and choosing the right one to meet the unique needs of your business is highly important. Before purchasing a tank, it’s worth taking the time to carefully think about where the tank will be sited, the capacity required, how the tank will be used and whether a steel or plastic tank will be most appropriate.

We’ll look at these aspects in more detail further down the page, however to begin with it is always recommended to select a good quality and reliable tank from a well-respected manufacturer, and from a supplier whom you can trust to deliver quality service and aftercare.

Choose The Right Location

Once you have the right tank for the job, you need to store it somewhere safe. There are three key risks to consider when placing your tank:

Damage
Fire
Theft

Your diesel fuel storage tank should be positioned somewhere that it cannot receive accidental damage. Typically, this means away from any driveways or thoroughfares on your site, and away from any moving machinery. If that’s not possible, you need to erect barriers around the tank and limit access only to authorised personnel.

Since diesel is highly flammable, the storage location should be somewhere cool and dry, and far from any potential sources of ignition. As diesel prices rise, so does the risk of fuel theft. Ensure your storage tank is in a secure, lockable area, with suitable protection.

Make Sure Your Tank Complies With Diesel Fuel Storage Regulations

All diesel fuel must – by law – be kept in a safe and environmentally-responsible manner. This means putting measures in place to collect any oil in the event of a leak. This is most easily done with a bunded diesel storage tank, or with the addition of a drip tray.

Maintain Your Diesel Fuel Tanks

A good diesel fuel tank should last you for years with proper care and maintenance. You should arrange for your tank to be checked annually by an OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association) certified engineer to ensure it remains fit for purpose. They will also identify any early-warning signs of weakness or deterioration with your tank. Steel diesel tanks in particular require maintenance to ensure they do not rust, which may ultimately result in leakage, and it is therefore recommended to plan for this with an appropriate maintenance schedule.

What Type Of Diesel Storage Tanks Are Available?

Diesel storage tanks are available in a number of configurations, including steel and plastic varieties, bunded and non-bunded, drums and cylinders, bowsers, and more. They also come in various sizes, with standard tanks fitting anywhere from 1350 to 100,000 litres of diesel fuel. These are some of the more popular variations:

Bunded Diesel Tanks

Perhaps the most popular type of diesel storage tank on the market, bunded diesel tanks benefit from a second layer (the bund) which serves as an important safety feature. Should the inner tank spring a leak for any reason, the oil will not escape. Instead, it is contained by the bund, saving damage to your premises and the wider environment. Since the diesel can still be accessed from the bund layer, your company can continue its work interrupted while you source a replacement tank.

Plastic Diesel Fuel Tanks

Plastic fuel storage tanks tend to be made from polyethylene. This durable and recyclable plastic is a cost-effective alternative to steel and can last 20 years or more if properly installed and well-maintained. Many plastic diesel fuel tanks are moulded as a single component. This removes the need for seams or joins, which are notorious weak spots, however it’s worth comparing steel vs plastic tanks before making a decision to identify which is most suitable for your needs.

Steel Diesel Fuel Tanks

While steel fuel storage tanks may be more expensive to produce than their plastic counterparts, they are easier to adapt and built to be longer-lasting. Unlike plastic diesel fuel tanks, which tend to come in standard sizes and shapes, steel tanks can be adapted and customised. This makes them much sought after by companies that have unique and stringent storage requirements. Steel tanks are even longer-lasting than plastic varieties, with a life expectancy of 30 years or more.

Diesel Dispensing Tanks

It is not always practical to take your fleet vehicles to the nearest forecourt to fill up. If your business is remote, it is more cost-effective to have a diesel dispensing tank on-site. These mobile devices can be filled from your main tank and taken to where they are needed most, be it a vehicle, generator, or piece of essential machinery.

Diesel Fuel Storage Regulations For The UK

The correct and safe storage of diesel fuels in the UK is covered by several pieces of official guidance and regulation. These are initially enshrined in legislation, before being further fleshed out by the appropriate regulatory bodies. These are the main ones you should be aware of:

Pollution

The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) regulations 2001 (OSR England) concern above ground oil and diesel storage for both domestic and commercial tanks in England. There is a similar set of regulations in Scotland – the Water Environment (Oil Storage) (Scotland) Regulations 2006. In addition, the Environment Agency has published Detailed Pollution Prevention Guidelines to assist in this matter.

Fire Safety

OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association) has published Domestic Oil Storage Publication 19, containing detailed guidance on this issue. Full fire prevention and protection requirements for fuel storage are included in local Building Regulations, which vary from region to region.

Tank Construction

Diesel fuel tanks must be constructed to meet the standards laid down by OFTEC in their Guide to Domestic Oil Storage. Both plastic diesel fuel tanks and steel diesel fuel tanks must be certified by the manufacturer that they adhere to OFTEC Standards OFS T100 and OFS T200. In addition, your tanks need to be covered by an OFCERTTM Licence to demonstrate compliance with the regulations.

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What Should I Do In The Event Of A Diesel Fuel Spillage?

Even if you follow all the guidelines and take care when filling and dispensing from diesel tanks, accidents can and do happen and spillage is always a risk. This is bad news, as you will see a valuable commodity going to waste. However, it is even worse news for the environment as it can damage the soil and contaminate the local water table.

As a business, you are responsible under law for cleaning up any oil and diesel spillages as soon as they occur, with hefty fines on the line if you fail to do so.

Here is how you go about cleaning up a spill:

Stop the flow of oil immediately by switching off the tap.
If oil continues to flow from the tank, you probably have a leak – try to identify where it is coming from.
Check the area around the spill to confirm the extent of the leak.
Clean up minor spills straight away with the help of a professional oil spill kit.
Investigate whether the leak has reached anywhere other than your premises and whether it has entered any nearby watercourses or drainage systems.
If oil is actively flowing towards such a watercourse, or to nearby buildings, take such action as you need to divert it.
If the leak is substantial, try to estimate how much diesel has been lost. Investigators and cleaning contractors will need to know this information.
If a spill kit isn’t up to the job, contact your insurance provider and explain the situation. Have them arrange for specialist cleaning contractors to attend to the problem.
If you know that the leaked diesel has contaminated natural waterways, including lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams, you must contact the Environment Agency immediately. The sooner you call, the sooner they can act to minimise the impact on the local environment.

For Safe Fuel Storage - Speak To The Experts

For more information on diesel storage safety, or to get guidance on the best diesel fuel tank and equipment options for you and your business, contact Northern Tank Store. With decades of experience in the industry, we can offer help and advice on the most suitable fuel storage solutions for your needs. And with our own design and manufacturing facilities, we’re able to produce bespoke tanks to suit almost any requirement if an “off the shelf” solution is not quite right.

Contact northern tank store

diesel fuel storage
safety guide