Can I Install A Single Skin Oil Tank?
Whether you need a single skin or a bunded tank depends on several factors and regulations. In plain terms, a single skin tank has one outer skin with the oil held within. In comparison, a bunded tank has a second skin that encloses the oil holding tank, a tank within a tank, which reduces the risk of a spill in the event of a split.
Single skin oil tanks are typically used for above ground heating oil storage in residential and domestic properties. At times they can be used in industrial and commercial properties but only when a legal bunded area is already in situ. When installing these types of tanks, they must be placed on a base that can adequately support its structure. If not, the tank can become weak and lose its ability to keep the contents secure, resulting in leaking oil and spills.
When speaking about oil spills, they can be extremely damaging to the environment. The clean-up could prove very costly. Because single skin oil tanks offer less protection from a spill, government regulations are set which provides guides that the single skin tank can only be installed if it meets the following criteria.
Single Skin Oil Tanks Regulations and Installation Guidelines
- The oil tank cannot be located where an oil spill can not run into a manhole or drain
- The oil tank is not located within 10 meters of a lake, river, stream, or coastline
- The oil tank is not located within 50 meters of a source of drinking water (borehole, well, spring)
- An oil spill could not run over hard ground to a drinking water source, freshwater, or coastline
- The oil tank capacity is under 2,500 liters
- The oil tank must be close enough so a delivery driver can see the vents from where they park the tanker
Connecting to a Boiler? Fire Safety Regulations
- The tank needs to be 6 ft. away from non-fire rated buildings, structures, and eaves of buildings
- 6 ft. away from opening such as garages, doors, and windows
- 6 ft. away from oil fire appliances
- 2.50 feet away from non-fire wooden structures like fences
- 2 feet away from foliage and greenery
In most cases, a bunded tank offers a safer option even if a single skin tank complies with the regulations and is legal to install and use. While a single skin is generally cheaper initially, a bunded tank typically comes with a much longer guarantee. It offers better long-term value, while its additional safety features provide extra peace of mind.
Would you like to learn more about single skin vs. bunded oil tanks, contact All American Environmental? We are a leading oil tank installation consulting and contracting company serving central and northern New Jersey.
Our oil tank installation services cover the areas of Morris, Sussex, Middlesex, Passaic, Monmouth, Bergen, Hunterdon, Ocean, Hudson, Essex, Warren, Mercer, Union, and Somerset.
