A Guide To Heating Oil Tank Regulations

For those who use oil to heat their homes, which is estimated to be around 4% of households in the UK, there are a number of regulations and legal requirements to be aware of. Whether you use an existing system or are planning a new installation, it’s important to be fully aware of the applicable regulations to help ensure the safety of your household, your neighbours and the environment.
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When oil leaks from a tank it can cause considerable damage to the local environment, harming plants and wildlife. In more serious cases it can result in more extensive damage, such as polluting waterways. Furthermore, the cost of remedial clean-up work in the event of a larger oil spill can be very high.
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Some requirements differ, depending on whether your heating oil tank is for domestic or commercial use. However, if your oil tank has a capacity over 3500 litres, you will need to adhere to the building regulations for business tanks rather than domestic tanks.
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Compliance with relevant building regulations is very important – the installer can face a fine and your local authority may instruct you to pay for the remedial work needed to meet requirements.

Requirements For A Bunded Tank

Heating oil tanks are available as single-skin products, with just one wall holding the oil inside, or as bunded tanks. A bunded oil tank is simply a tank fitted inside an outer container, also known as a bund – in effect a tank within a tank. It is designed to give an extra layer of protection from the risk of leaks.
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Regulations relating to a bund:

It must be waterproof and impermeable to oil

The capacity of the bund must be at least 110% of the capacity of the main (or inner) tank

A single-skin tank is permitted in some locations, but a bunded tank or another secondary container is required if the tank capacity is to exceed 2500 litres. A bunded tank is also essential if the tank is to be situated:

Within 10 metres of water such as lakes, streams, or coastal waters

In a site where oil spillages could easily reach coastal waters or freshwater inland, or a source of drinking water, for example by flowing over hard ground

Within 50 metres of a source of drinking water

Within the perimeter of a designated groundwater source protection zone, as designated by the Environment Agency

Where a spillage could enter a loose manhole cover or an open drain

Where it is impossible for the tank vent pipe outlet to be viewed while the tank is filled

Where Can An Oil Tank Be Positioned?

Safety is the number one priority when choosing a location for your oil tank. The other factor to consider is practicality. The tank needs to be positioned where it can be filled easily, so it should not be too far from a road or driveway, in order to allow access for the fuel tanker within the length of the hose.
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Your tank must be placed on a robust level surface that is constructed from heat-resistant materials. Concrete or stone slabs work well. If you choose concrete, it must have a depth of at least 100mm, while a base made of stone slabs must be at least 50mm deep, and they should be placed on a compact layer of hardcore. Whatever material you use, the base must be 300mm wider on every side than the outer edge of the tank.

The oil tank must be sited at least:

1.8 metres from sheds or other non-fire rated structures

760 mm from the property boundary, such as a non fire-rated wooden fence

600mm from any screening that is not part of the property boundary

Planning Permission For Oil Tanks

In most cases, it is not necessary to seek planning permission to install a heating oil tank on your property. This is subject to a number of conditions, which include:

The tank is not sited forward of the principal elevation of the property fronting a highway

The installation will not exceed 3m in height

The installation will not exceed 2.5m in height if located within 2m of a property boundary

These regulations typically apply to existing houses. If you are planning to install a heating oil system for a flat, or for a new build property, particularly where change of use has been granted, additional planning restrictions may apply.

Oil Tank Piping

Pipes from the tank may be fitted underground or overground, provided it is modern piping, made from plastic-coated copper tube, which can be bent. Plastic pipes are also permitted, but may only be used underground. Buried pipes must be fitted in a trench 450mm deep, on top of a layer of compacted sand. More sand should be used to backfill, with builder’s grade plastic fitted on top.
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Oil warning markers should be placed above the piping. Overground pipes should be attached with clips to a permanent structure, such as a wall, where possible. Whether above or below ground, the piping should take the most direct practical route possible to the boiler.

Siting An Oil Tank Within A Building

An outbuilding can be used to house an oil tank, but you cannot install an oil tank in any building which is inhabited. If you install an oil tank inside a building it must be encased in a non-combustible container and it must be fitted on the lowest floor of the building.
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Additionally the tank must be positioned at least 1.8m from:

Any non-fire rated eaves of the building

Opening such as door or windows

Appliance flue terminals

If you wish to install an oil tank within a building, or in close proximity to combustible materials, a fire rated heating oil tank offering 30 or 60 minute fire protection may be required.

Installing An Oil Tank Underground

Heating oil tanks can be positioned underground, and may be something you wish to consider for aesthetic reasons. However, since a leak could be harder to detect, and repairs would be harder to deal with, it is generally not recommended unless absolutely necessary, and there are additional specific requirements for underground oil tanks.

If you choose to have an underground oil tank it must be a reinforced tank, with the outer wall able to withstand the pressure from the surrounding earth when the tank is not full. For maximum protection, the tank must be encased in concrete, with a protection zone of two metres from the outer edge of the tank. Walls should not be built, and vehicles should not be allowed to drive within the protection zone. The tank’s neck must be 200mm above ground level to avoid entry of water into the tank. An underground tank needs to be installed by a specialist company.

Oil Tank Maintenance

As the owner of an oil tank, you are responsible for ensuring that it is maintained in good condition. If oil escapes from your tank, it presents a fire hazard, as well as causing damage to the environment, and leading to a potentially costly clean-up operation.
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It is good practice to carry out regular visual inspections of the oil tank to check for any damage to the exterior, and you should contact your heating engineer immediately if you spot any signs of damage, such as cracking. Your oil heating system should have an annual service by a qualified heating engineer, and a thorough inspection of the oil tank should be included in this service.

Ideally, your installer should be registered with the Competent Person scheme. This means that they are authorised to certify for themselves that the work they carry out for you complies with the requirements of building regulations. If the person who installs your tank is not registered with the scheme, you will be responsible for getting a Building Control Note and for organising an inspection of the work.
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These regulations apply to heating oil tank installations in England. Oil storage regulations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland may differ.

A Guide To Heating Oil Tank Regulations

Requirements For A Bunded Tank

Where Can An Oil Tank Be Positioned?

Planning Permission For Oil Tanks

Oil Tank Piping

Siting An Oil Tank Within A Building

Installing An Oil Tank Underground

Oil Tank Maintenance

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