HEATING OIL TANKS INFORMATION

Our single skin tanks range from 900 to 2500 litres and are available in both steel and plastic, whilst bunded heating oil tanks versions are available in capacities from 900-90,000 litres. The secondary containment that our bunded tanks provide are a legal requirement for capacities above 3500 litres.

At Tuffa UK we have our own unique, patented fire protection material offering 30 or 60 minute fire protection making our tanks LABC certified.

Homes and business premises not connected to the national gas grid rely on kerosene and a reliable heating oil tank. We have a range of heating oil storage solutions which are safe, reliable, compliant with UK regulations and made from quality materials making them very durable.

Our 30 minute fire protection enables you to legally locate your tank within 1.8 meters of your property – this is otherwise restricted by storage unless you have alternative protection such as a firewall. For those aiming to store their business or domestic heating oil tank in an outbuilding, we recommend 60 minute fire protection.

Our fire protected tanks aren’t just an alternative means of compliance when compared to regulatory standards, more importantly they increase the safety of your home or business in the unlikely event of a fire, giving you enough time to evacuate the building and extinguish the fire. Discover more about the benefits of fire protection in An Expert Guide to Fire Rated Oil Tanks.

We have an extensive portfolio of high-profile clients, both nationally and internationally, and our heating oil tanks have been used across a variety of sectors. For any support or enquiries contact our sales team on 01889 567700 or use the online enquiry form.

You can also check out An Expert Guide to Heating Oil Storage for information, advice and industry insights covering everything from the basic question “what is heating oil?” to the money-saving “how can I get the best price for heating oil?”

Tuffa’s Heating Oil Tank Options

Bunded Plastic & Steel Heating Oil Tank



A bund is essentially a tank within a tank. The secondary containment provides integral protection for the inner tank from leakage and overfilling.

Bunded tanks provide a cost-effective and fuel-efficient heating oil storage solution, as they can hold larger quantities of oil (from 900-90,000 litres) and provide additional protection for the surrounding environment.

Plastic & Steel Single Skin Heating Oil Tanks

If you require a heating oil tank for your home, single skin tanks can be a viable option. Bunded tanks aren’t always a requirement for domestic properties and therefore single skin tanks can provide an economical solution for heating oil storage at home.

Should I choose a plastic or steel heating oil tank?

Plastic and steel heating oil tanks each have their own benefits. Steel heating oil tanks have a serviceable life expectancy of over 30 years and can be manufactured to tailored specifications and to exact dimensions.

This makes them perfect for replacing old tanks within the same space. Our plastic tanks are a great affordable alternative to steel. They are also lighter than steel making them easier to move when empty while still being highly durable with a serviceable lifespan exceeding 20 years. Furthermore, these are the only plastic tanks on the market available with integrally fitted fire protection in capacities up to 2500 litres.

Should I choose a plastic or steel heating oil tank?

Plastic and steel heating oil tanks each have their own benefits. Steel heating oil tanks have a serviceable life expectancy of over 30 years and can be manufactured to tailored specifications and to exact dimensions. This makes them perfect for replacing old tanks within the same space. Our plastic tanks are a great affordable alternative to steel.

They are also lighter than steel making them easier to move when empty while still being highly durable with a serviceable lifespan exceeding 20 years. Furthermore, these are the only plastic tanks on the market available with integrally fitted fire protection in capacities up to 2500 litres.

WHAT SIZE HEATING OIL TANK DO I NEED?

Our heating oil tanks can be a long-term investment. The bigger the capacity tank you order, the more money you can save on kerosene, albeit at the greater initial cost of the tank.

Bulk buying kerosene has numerous benefits. Kerosene prices fluctuate (sometimes wildly) so buying fuel when prices are low and making the most of any deals or incremental savings offered by your fuel supplier, can give you real savings.

A higher capacity oil tank also means you need to refuel less frequently, reducing the price you pay for deliveries and diminishing the risk of running out of fuel altogether.

As your tank have a life expectancy of at least 20 years, these savings can really start to add up and surpass the additional costs of purchasing a larger capacity tank. That’s why we recommend the highest possible capacity for your budget and available space.

WHAT SIZE ARE HOME HEATING OIL TANKS?

Home heating oil tanks come in a range of sizes, from a small unit (approximately 2000x625x1450mm) fit for a 1-bed house to a larger tank (approximately 2840x1520x1630mm) for homes with 4 or more bedrooms.

Here is a rough guide of tank capacities for domestic use:

GUARANTEE

Our bunded tanks come with a 10-year guarantee when registered and our single skin tanks come with a 2 year guarantee when registered. All of our tanks have a 1 year guarantee on ancillary goods. We recommend regular maintenance of your tank to extend its usable life.

DELIVERY AND INSTALLATION

Our heating oil tanks are generally built to order. We can arrange delivery to sites across the UK, or tanks can be collected from our factory in Uttoxeter.

Current build times are as follows:

Plastic tanks Stock tanks available with next day delivery – call us for current stock levels Small standard tanks (up to 2500 litres): 7-10 days Large standard tanks (over 2500 litres): 2-3 weeks Steel tanks Small standard tanks (up to 2300 litres): 4-6 weeks Large standard tanks (over 2300 litres): 8-10 weeks

To comply with Local Authority Building Control your heating oil tank installation needs to be signed off by a Competent Person. We recommend using members of the Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors (APHC) who can install the tank to meet regulations and self-certify their work. Find APHC installers.

OIL STORAGE REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATIONS

The Control of Pollution Regulations (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001 dictate the legal requirements for storing oil on a property in England. The main points are:

All oil tanks with a capacity of 3500 litres or more must have a secondary containment (a bund).

All oil tanks located in an area where spills risk polluting surface and groundwater must have a secondary containment (a bund).

Heating oil tanks must have a life expectancy of at least 20 years.

Oil tanks must be made of a material suitable for the oil type stored.

Ancillary equipment (not including the fill pipe or draw-of pipe) must be within the secondary containment system.

Automatic overfill prevention devices must be used when it’s not practical to observe the vent pipe or tank.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

With an increased focus on protecting the environment oil storage rules are becoming increasingly strict and regulations in Wales now require all new oil tank installations with a capacity over 200 litres to be bunded.

In Scotland, all oil tanks with a capacity above 2,500 litres must to bunded. Tanks in Northern Ireland follow the same secondary containment requirements as England and must be bunded when above 3,500 litres in capacity.

To find out more about regulations for oil storage in your country click on the appropriate link:

England – Control of pollution (oil storage) regulations 2001

Wales – Control of pollution (oil storage) regulations 2016

Scotland – The Water Environment (Controlled Activities) Regulations 2011

Northern Ireland – Control of pollution (oil storage) regulations 2010

BUILDING REGULATIONS

Oil Tanks connected to combustion devices like central heating and ovens must also be held to regulatory standards.

These cite fire separation distances – distances that your oil tank must be from boundaries which aren’t fire rated. Your tank must be:

At least 1.8m away from any part of a non-fire rated structure (e.g. buildings, eaves & windows).

At least 0.76m away from non-fire rated boundaries (e.g. a fence).

At least 0.6m away from screening (e.g. trellis & foliage).

Your heating oil tank must also be sited on a hardcore base at least 50mm thick which extends at least 300mm past the furthest point of the tank on all sides.

We have a diverse range of heating oil tank types which are regulation compliant and come in several shapes and sizes. The tank shape is determined by how many litres of heating oil you need to store and whether you require heating oil storage for domestic or commercial purposes.

Contact us for a quote on our LABC certified fire protected tanks.

FAQs

Can heating oil tanks be inside? Fire rated domestic heating oil tanks with 60 minute fire protection can be installed inside an uninhabited outbuilding e.g. a garage. 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. How far should an oil tank be from a house? Building regulations state that 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. How much are domestic heating oil tanks? Home heating 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 your property and the surrounding area. Prices for 1,350 litre bunded oil tanks start at around £900. How much does it cost to put in a new oil tank? 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 does a tank of heating oil last? How long a heating oil tank 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. How long do heating oil tanks last? Bunded plastic tanks have a lifespan of at least 20 years and bunded steel oil tanks have a lifespan of at least 30 years when properly maintained. This lifespan is a requirement of CE marked tanks. However, heating oil tanks have been known to last much longer. How much does it cost to have a new heating oil tank installed? 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. Can I install my own heating oil tank? It is not mandatory to have a heating 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. How much are heating oil tanks? Home heating 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 your property and surrounding area. Prices for 1,400 litre bunded oil tanks start at around £850. How often do oil tanks need to be replaced? 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. What is a double bunded 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 tank’s contents. Is it law to have a bunded oil tank? Whether a bunded oil tank is a legal requirement depends upon which country the tank is in, whether it’s used to fuel a domestic or commercial property and the proximity of the oil tank in relation to local water sources. Find out more here.

For any enquiries contact our sales team on 01889 567700 or use the online enquiry form.