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Save Cash and The Environment This Winter, says the Environment Agency
22nd September 2009
Homeowners seeking to save money on their heating oil bills are being urged by the Environment Agency in England and Wales, to ensure they store the fuel safely. The recession has led to a growing trend towards householders group-buying fuel oil, as highlighted recently in the press.
This has prompted Environment Agency officers to issue advice to ensure that people do not put the environment at risk. Many group-purchasing schemes are not a concern because they do not involve more oil than usual being ordered or stored. But people who may be bulk-buying greater quantities than usual need to think about the possible consequences.
David Hutchinson, of Environment Management, Lincoln, said "While we recognise that it makes sense for householders to join together to negotiate better deals for their heating oil, we would advise against anyone ordering more oil than they can safely store.
"This would lead to an increased risk of oil loss and damage to the environment. Even with domestic oil spillages, the cost of clearing contaminated ground and watercourses can run into tens of thousands of pounds."
Oil should only ever be stored in tanks that are in good condition, with both the tank and pipe work regularly inspected. The installation of a Bunded Tank is the single biggest difference homeowners and householders can make to minimise the risk of oil pollution at domestic installations. A Bunded Oil Tank consists of a 'tank within a tank'. In the event of a spillage, surplus fuel will be safely and securely contained within the outer tank and a pollution incident will be avoided. Bunded Tanks are a legal requirement at all new, replacement and existing domestic installations with an installed capacity in excess of 3,500 litres, together with all commercial, industrial and institutional installations with an installed capacity greater than 200 litres.
Current Building Regulations also require that a Bunded Tank be installed at the vast majority of new and replacement domestic oil storage installations - irrespective of capacity. As one leading oil tank supplier readily admits, 'if you're fitting anything other than a Bunded Tank, you're probably fitting the wrong tank'.
To avoid pollution and potentially expensive clear-up costs, the Environment Agency recommends that homeowners should take the following action to ensure their oil tanks are safe for use.
- Site tanks as far away as possible from drains, streams and ponds.
- Inspect tanks, pipes and other equipment for leaks, damage and interference once a week.
- Check their home insurance - it may not cover loss of oil or pollution clean-up costs. Always notify insurers immediately in the event of a spill or suspected spill
- If anyone is concerned about a pollution incident, they should contact our 24-hour hotline on 0800 807060
Additionally, common sense suggests that consumers should:
- Choose a responsible fuel delivery company whose vehicles are equipped with a failsafe overfill prevention system - ask when you place your order.
- Remember that old fashioned Mechanical Overfill Prevention Valves are not failsafe and can cause the very event they're designed to prevent i.e. an overfill. If you have a Mechanical Overfill Prevention Valve fitted to your oil tank, its worth giving serious consideration to having it removed. If you're buying a new tank, be sure to specify a Bunded Oil Tank which does not have such a device fitted and opt instead for a failsafe LRC type system.
- Ensure your oil tank is properly based. Plastic oil tanks in particular must be fully supported across their entire base by a level, flat base that extends 300mm beyond the widest point of the tank and is capable of supporting the weight of the tank when fully laden.
- Remember that metal oil tanks tend to rust from the inside out. So no matter how well your steel tank may look on the outside, it could be only days away from failure on the inside.
- Ensure their oil tank is inspected annually by a suitably competent person e.g. an OFTEC Registered Technician
- Give serious consideration to replacing any existing Single Skin Tank with a Bunded Tank
For further information, visit the Environment Agency online at www.environment-agency.gov.uk
