Editing Heating oil (section)

=== Heating oil storage regulations in the United Kingdom ===
[[File:Heating oil storage tank.png|thumb|Illustration on where the parts of an oil storage tank that require inspection may be located. Tank design may vary from tank to tank.]]
Heating oil storage in the United Kingdom is governed by regulations that ensure the safe installation and usage of oil storage tanks.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=27 August 2020|title=Guidance note for the Control ofPollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69255/pb5765-oil-storage-011101.pdf|journal=Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs}}</ref> It is a criminal offence to keep a tank that violates these regulations, and the owners are liable for fines, penalties and any costs incurred as a result of cleaning up oil spills.

The regulations are designed to minimise the risk of damaging pollution and reduce the likelihood of oil being stored in hazardous environments, such as a building without proper fire safety measures. The regulations that govern oil storage tanks are [https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/290119/pmho0111btkn-e-e.pdf The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) England Regulations (2001)],<ref>{{Citation | title=The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) England Regulations (2001)|date=2 May 2023 |publisher=Environment Agency, UK|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/290119/pmho0111btkn-e-e.pdf}}</ref> [https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/290118/pmho0811bucr-e-e.pdf The Pollution Prevention Guidelines (PPG 2)]<ref>{{Citation | title=The Pollution Prevention Guidelines (PPG 2)|publisher=Environment Agency, UK|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/290118/pmho0811bucr-e-e.pdf}}</ref> and [[Building regulations in the United Kingdom|The Building Regulations (Approved Document J)]].

The Oil Storage Regulations (2001) apply to oil tanks used for commercial and industrial purposes, or domestic tanks over 3500 litres in capacity. They state that the storage tank should be of "sufficient strength and structural integrity to ensure that it is unlikely to burst or leak in its ordinary use".<ref>{{Citation | title=Oil Storage Regulations and Safety|publisher=Environment Agency, UK|url=https://www.gov.uk/oil-storage-regulations-and-safety/overview}}</ref> The tank, along with any filters, gauges, valves or ancillary equipment, must be contained within a secondary unit or bund that has at least 110% of the capacity of the inner tank. If the tank has a fill pipe that is not contained within the secondary unit, a drip tray must be installed. They also require the use of an automatic overfill prevention if it is not "reasonably practical" to monitor the oil levels within the tank.

The Building Regulations [[Building regulations in the United Kingdom#Approved documents and compliance|Approved Document J]] covers the legal requirements for the installation of the tanks within the premises of a building. The regulations state that any new tank larger than 2,500 litres must be stored within a [[bunding|bunded tank]] or secondary containment that is a minimum of 110% of the tank's capacity. If a tank is single skinned and smaller than 2,500 litres, it must be given an individual site pollution risk assessment. This highlights any pollution or hazard risks such as the possibility of the oil escaping and reaching a river or stream, or the risk of a collision if the storage tank is located near a road.

They further state that all tanks must be installed on a surface strong enough to support a full storage tank. The surface must be flat, even and fire-resistant, and should extend at least 300mm beyond the boundaries of the tank. A paving stone surface must be at least 42mm thick, and a concrete surface must be at least 100mm thick. The document also states that the tank should be situated at least 1800mm away from any potential hazards, such as doors, windows, appliance flue terminals, non-fire rated buildings such as garden fences, and at least 760mm from non-fire rated smaller structures such as wooden fences.<ref>{{Citation | title=Ensuring That Your Tank Meets The Regulations|publisher=Centre Tank Services Ltd, UK|url=http://www.centretank.com/files/CTS_Oil_Tank_Pack.pdf#page=6}}</ref>

A safe, secure tank that complies with all regulations will look similar to the diagram above. It details the different parts of the tank that need to be checked in order to ensure the tank is legal, including where the ancillary equipment should be located and the presence of an automatic overfill prevention.