Part of the house
The oil tank
Answered by Asked in Ayrshire · Updated · Sources at the foot
Most houses in rural Ayrshire without mains gas keep heating oil in a tank outside, and a few Scottish rules decide where it can sit, whether it needs a bund and who looks after it.
The oil tank is usually a green or black plastic tank, or an older steel one, beside the house, the steading or the garden wall. It feeds kerosene to the boiler or range cooker through a buried or clipped pipe, and it holds enough oil to do real harm to a burn, a spring or the ground if it leaks.
The main rule to know is that a house tank of up to 2,500 litres must meet the building regulations when it is installed or altered, under SEPA's general binding rule on storage of oil on a private dwelling. The fire distances and the cases where a bund is needed are set out in the Scottish Government's building standards technical handbook.
SEPA enforces the oil storage rules and takes reports of oil pollution; its domestic oil spill guide explains what to do after a leak. Work on the tank, its pipework and the boiler is for an OFTEC-registered technician. The questions below cover bunds, siting, leaks, theft, tank life and servicing.
The 6 questions
- Does my oil tank need a bund?
Your oil tank needs a bund in Scotland if it holds more than 2,500 litres, or if a smaller house tank sits near water, an open drain, a spring or borehole, or another spill hazard.
- How close can an oil tank be to the house?
An oil tank closer than 1.8m to the house is allowed in Scotland only with extra fire protection: a non-combustible base, non-combustible eaves nearby and, in most cases, a fire barrier between tank and house.
- What do we do if heating oil leaks?
If heating oil leaks, keep people and pets away, keep oil out of drains and burns, call SEPA straight away if it could reach water, then ring your insurer.
- How long does a plastic oil tank last?
A plastic oil tank lasts around 20 years, the expected working life OFTEC gives for fuel tanks, though the risk of failure rises with age and a yearly inspection tells you more than the date.
- How do we stop heating oil being stolen?
To help stop heating oil being stolen, lock or cage the tank, light it, fit a level alarm, keep it in view of the house, and watch the gauge so a sudden drop shows quickly.
- Who should service the oil boiler and tank?
An OFTEC-registered technician should service the oil boiler and tank, at least once a year or as the maker's instructions say, and the service should include the tank and its pipework.