- Thread starter dobbslc
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gaz1
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even if you had a normal steel tank with a foam supression system above within a localised area it would fair better than a plastic oil tank within the same area
whilst the plastic would melt before the supression system started the metal tank would survive the longest as the heat would also have to heat the oil at the same time until boiling point
the foam system would put out the flames before the tank would fail so having a foam system would be an advantage from the start
whilst the plastic would melt before the supression system started the metal tank would survive the longest as the heat would also have to heat the oil at the same time until boiling point
the foam system would put out the flames before the tank would fail so having a foam system would be an advantage from the start
There are Regs for Oil Tanks. PPG2 used to be the one regarding the Control of Pollution Act, but there's more regarding Fire Safety that should be easy enough to Google.
(I'm a bit out of touch now).
The regs covered safe distances from fences, buildings, services etc... based upon the construction & fire resistance OF said infrastructure. Using fireproof barrier materials allowed smaller clearances etc.
The reality? Most domestic tank installations won't comply - people just don't have grounds big enough to meet all the requirements (same as garages keeping oxy-acetylene rigs, propane etc - the regs for indoor storage, ventilation etc are such that most won't meet them - a worry if you ever had an insurance claim).
At one time Certas iirc were having their delivery drivers assessing tanks and saying they shouldn't be filled as non-compliant around us - scaremongering to upsell new tanks & installations (which when you know the site hasn't the space to meet regs is an interesting dichotomy eh?).
I think that died a death when people just voted with their feet & just bought their oil elsewhere - so all of a sudden their "safety concerns" evaporated.
(I'm a bit out of touch now).
The regs covered safe distances from fences, buildings, services etc... based upon the construction & fire resistance OF said infrastructure. Using fireproof barrier materials allowed smaller clearances etc.
The reality? Most domestic tank installations won't comply - people just don't have grounds big enough to meet all the requirements (same as garages keeping oxy-acetylene rigs, propane etc - the regs for indoor storage, ventilation etc are such that most won't meet them - a worry if you ever had an insurance claim).
At one time Certas iirc were having their delivery drivers assessing tanks and saying they shouldn't be filled as non-compliant around us - scaremongering to upsell new tanks & installations (which when you know the site hasn't the space to meet regs is an interesting dichotomy eh?).
I think that died a death when people just voted with their feet & just bought their oil elsewhere - so all of a sudden their "safety concerns" evaporated.
JOEPRO
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Here in NI at least fire protection to oil tanks where the min spatial distances cannot be achieved is done by way of a wall.
Aka a non flammable construction to extend min +300mm to top and ends of the tank. Eg 100mm block wall.
I have got weather and fire resistant fire board approved before to clad timber fences in such cases but the local building control officer has to agree.
addjunkie
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From the top of my head, the base needs to be 300mm all round bigger than the tank, but walls of non flammable material can be included in the 300mm.
The fire rating is just a figure for how long it can be exposed to fire before it fails, from what I can see this is 30 minutes for domestic use. Nothing is completely fire proof.
Could you move the tank location……further into the rear garden for example.
Just pay the oftec man to fit a tank, his fault if not right you can sue him
The fire rating is just a figure for how long it can be exposed to fire before it fails, from what I can see this is 30 minutes for domestic use. Nothing is completely fire proof.
Could you move the tank location……further into the rear garden for example.
Just pay the oftec man to fit a tank, his fault if not right you can sue him
dobbslc
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This is the thing isn't it? The insurance will just say NO if anything happens then I'll have to chase them through the courts while living in a tent!
Almost whatever I do will be much better than the tank that's there now but I can't make it fully compliant without building walls and knocking down a shed unless a fire resistant tank is used and I'm not 100% sure that's even good enough.
It's a tricky one isn't it!
My tank is bonded poly, right behind my (block) shed (which has a glassfibre roof), and a wooden garden fence behind it (& it's on the border to neighbours garden & fence).
What can you do!
Ross365
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I replaced a very old (and corroded) metal tank with a plastic one a few years ago. OFTEC seem to satisfy themselves by specifying that anything combustible in the vicinity (e.g. a wooden fence) must be a miniumum specified distance away from the tank. So the old tank had the fence right alongside it but the new tank has a gap of about 600mm.
addjunkie
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Fit air source….problem solved, well oil tank problem solved…
Mate has one on his modern barn conversion. He is VERY grateful for his wood burner
