frequently asked questions

Large quantities of AdBlue® can be stored in AdBlue® tanks. Our AdBlue® tanks range in capacity from 1,350 – 15,000 litres in our standard range. These are available as simple holding tanks or dispensing systems perfect for quickly filling up a company’s fleet with AdBlue®.

Large quantities of red diesel should be stored in bunded diesel tanks which comply with oil storage regulations in the UK. Our bunded diesel tanks are available in plastic and steel in capacities from 1,350 to 90,000 litres and come with or without dispensing equipment.

If diesel is kept in optimum conditions below 20°C and out of direct sunlight (this is particularly important for plastic tanks) then the degradation process of diesel can be decelerated. In these conditions diesel can be stored for up to a year without the need for additives.

Storing diesel in large quantities requires a bulk storage container such as a bunded diesel tank. Our diesel tanks are available in capacities from 1,350 litres to 90,000 litres and comply with oil storage regulations throughout the UK. Dispensing equipment is also available.

Domestic oil tanks cannot be installed inside a building unless surrounded by a fire barrier with at least 60-minute fire resistance. We manufacture oil tanks integrally fitted with a fire-resistant material. This means our tanks can be sited inside buildings without requiring additional building work.

Building regulations state that oil tanks must be installed a minimum of 1.8 meters away from a house or boundary which isn’t fire rated. However, our tanks can be fitted with a fire rated material enabling a tank installation a minimum of 300mm away from your house.

Home oil tanks for domestic properties start at around £400 for a 1,400 litre plastic single skin oil tank. However, we would always advise purchasing a bunded oil tank which offer greater protection to the environment and your property. Prices for 1,400 litre bunded oil tanks start at around £850.

Home oil tanks for domestic properties start at around £450 for a slimline 1,350 litre plastic single skin oil tank. However, we would always advise purchasing a bunded tank which offers greater protection to the environment and your property. Prices for 1,350 litre bunded oil tanks start at around £900.

Heating oil tank installations vary from about £600 for a basic installation of a small tank using an existing base. The costs increase if the installer is required to do more work such as drain and dispose of the old tank, and add a new line and trench, or make a tank base.

How long a tank of heating oil lasts depends upon how frequently it’s used, the size of the tank and the efficiency of the boiler. As a rough guide you can expect to use around 2.33 litres per hour of continuous use for home heating.

If properly maintained bunded plastic oil tanks have a lifespan of at least 20 years and bunded steel oil tanks have a lifespan of at least 30 years. This lifespan is a requirement of CE marked tanks. However, oil tanks have been known to last much longer.

Heating oil tank installations start from about £600 for a basic installation of a small tank using an existing base. The costs increase if the installer is required to drain and dispose of the old tank, add a new line and base. The tank itself will cost anything from £400.

It is not mandatory to have an oil tank installed by a professional – it can be done yourself. However, you will have to notify your local authority and a site inspector will be required to inspect and authorise the installation. The costs for this vary.

A well-maintained oil tank should have a lifespan of more than 20 years for plastic and 30 years for steel. An oil tank should only need replacing if it’s damaged or warped and cannot be repaired. The person who services your tank should be able to advise you when you need to replace an oil tank.

A ‘bund’ is a secondary container protecting the contents of the primary container. When people refer to a ‘double bunded oil tank’ they really mean a ‘bunded oil tank’ – a tank within a tank with a capacity to hold 110% of the primary tanks contents.

Bunded fuel tanks have two layers – an inner tank and an outer tank (bund) which acts as a secondary containment (a tank within a tank with a capacity to hold 110% of the primary tanks contents). The bund will capture any spills or leaks from the inner tank.

If the Tuffa FMS unit is not reading correctly, check that the sensor connected to it is sat on the floor of the tank. Also check the configuration settings on the unit.

If the above are correct please contact us for further advice.

A double skinned or twin wall tank comprises of an inner tank laid directly onto the outer tank. To obtain structural strength on the outer tank a method is to support it externally or to drill holes in the outer plate and fillet weld the inner to the outer plate filling the hole in again.

All fixed tanks must be bunded and Secondary Containment to prevent spillage is a legal requirement.

DEFRA’s guidelines state:

“Secondary Containment does not include “double-skinned” or “twin-walled” tanks where the tank is surrounded by a second outer skin for extra strength.”
A double skin or twin wall tank is an inferior design as it may not have the legal Secondary Containment of 110%, unless additional space has been added to the outer skin to allow for this.

Please contact our sales or technical team for more information regarding your legal obligations and compliance.

In all cases a risk assessment should be carried out by a suitable qualified engineer.

If the following apply then a bunded oil tank is to be installed:

Tank capacity in excess of 2500 litres
Tank within 10m of controlled water
Tank located where a spillage could run into an open drain or to a loose fitting manhole cover
Tank within 50m of a borehole or spring
Tank over hard ground or hard-surfaced ground that could enable spillage run-off to reach controlled water
Tank located in a position where the vent pipe outlet is not visible from the fill point
Tank supplying heating oil to building other than a single-family dwelling