If you store oil in England or Scotland, you must comply with the general requirements of the Oil Storage Regulations. These regulations do not apply in Northern Ireland and Wales. However, you should still consider meeting the requirements of the regulations, as they aim to prevent water pollution. If you pollute water you are committing an offence and you may be prosecuted and fined.
Containers, bunds and drip trays
You must use oil containers that are strong enough and that are unlikely to burst or leak during ordinary use. In Scotland this is the only requirement for portable oil containers with a capacity less than 200 litres.
You must store containers within a drip tray, bund or any other suitable secondary containment system (SCS). This will contain any oil that escapes from its container.
For oil tanks, intermediate bulk containers and mobile bowsers, your SCS must be able to hold:
- at least 110% of the volume of any single container in the storage area, or
- if there is more than one container, at least 110% of the largest container’s storage volume, or at least 25% of their total volume (whichever is greater).
For drum storage your drip tray must be able to hold at least 25% of the total storage capacity of the drums.
Position the SCS to minimise the risk of damage, eg from vehicles.
You must ensure that the base and walls of your bunds are impermeable to water and oil. The base and walls must not be penetrated by any valve, pipe or opening that is used for draining the system.
If any fill pipe or draw-off pipe goes through the base or walls, you must seal the junction of the pipe with the base or walls to prevent oil escaping from the system.
You must locate within the SCS all valves, filters, sight gauges, vent pipes and other equipment, other than fill pipes or draw-off pipes or pumps.
Where a fill pipe is not within the SCS, you must use a drip tray to catch any oil spilled when the container is being filled. You should make sure this drip tray is clean and empty before each delivery.
Further information
You should also read our guidance on storing oil in mobile bowsers and fixed tanks.
