(Newswire.net — November 28, 2022) — The Environmental Agency has set out some rules to limit the risk of heating oil tank spillage and help those installing them keep the environment safe. They have chosen to do so as leaks can cause serious pollution and damage. Spillages can run into nearby rivers and harm fish and other creatures living here. The oil can even seep through soil and rock, leading to the pollution of groundwater. The Environmental Agency set out their legislations so that homeowners understand the risks involved in the installation of heating oil tanks and the potential harm it can have on the environment and the surroundings. Are you interested in learning more about heating oil tanks? Visit this dedicated website Delta Design for useful information.
To ensure that your heating oil tank meets environmental legislation you must understand what your responsibility is. Creating a schedule of regular checks will help the process. As an owner of a property with an oil tank, whether commercial or personal, you are legally responsible for the damage it causes. Failure to check the tank can cost you a lot of money as a result. Also, if you want to make sure that your existing tank or the tank you’re about to construct fits these standards, you could get in touch with a company that specializes in tank fabrication.
The first step you must take when installing a heating oil tank is to conduct a risk assessment. This will be slightly different for each individual installation. Assessing the size oil tank you will need for your property is also important. You might even have to apply for planning permission for the installation. The third element here to consider is a Fire Prevention assessment. This is important as it will determine where the tank can be positioned on the property to minimize the chances of an accident. Click here Electric Mela to read in-depth articles about environmental legislation.
So what should you be looking for when checking your heating oil tank? All oil tanks will have a metal plate stating that it complies with UK legislation. It is important that you do not paint over this plate as insurers might want to read it if you have been unfortunate. Below you can find a checklist of the things you will need to keep an eye on when it comes to your oil tank’s condition.
- Rusting/Dents/Corrosion/Physical Damage
- Drip Leg: should be drained at least once a year, this should not substitute regularly draining the water from the fuel tank.
- Tank Stand: look out for shifts caused by the weight of ice, water, children climbing on them, etc.
- Flex Connectors: should be aligned in a straight line.
- Fitting and Valves: check for rust, corrosion, other physical defects, leakage, or weeping.
- Fuel Lines: schedule an annual check by a Certified Oil Burner Mechanic as well as perform regular checks yourself.
- Fill and Vent Pipes, Caps, and Vent Whistles: inspect these before and after each fill as faults might not be apparent until the volume is changed.
- Drips and Ground Staining: excessive staining might be a sign of spillage or leakage.
- Oil Level Gauge: monitor it for a few weeks, if it does not change it is broken.
- Secondary Containment: these are required to have a capacity of 110% of the volume of the oil tank.
- Tank Location: ensure the tank is not in the way and that it is protected so as to prevent physical damage.
Checking these things at regular intervals should keep the oil tank in reasonably good shape, and therefore save you time and the hassle of having expensive repairs when the damage has gone too far. Another great source of information regarding the heating oil tank is Rough Draft. Do not forget to check that out!