Oil Storage Regulations
The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001 (OSR England) aim to reduce the number of oil pollution incidents. By meeting the requirements of the Regulations you will be storing your oil safely, legally and reducing the risk of a potentially costly pollution incident.
Who do the Oil Storage Regulations affect?
If you store more than 200 litres of oil above ground at an industrial, commercial or institutional site, then these Regulations affect you. The sites they cover include; factories, shops, offices, hotels, schools, churches, public sector buildings and hospitals. The Regulations apply only in England.
Why do we need Oil Storage Regulations?
Over a sixth of all pollution incidents affecting the environment involve oil. Most incidents are caused by oil leaking from tanks or pipework, tanks being over-filled or vandalism. The Regulations help us stop these incidents by requiring tank owners to provide a secondary containment facility, such as a bund or drip tray, to prevent oil escaping into the environment.
Oil is toxic to plants and animals; even a small amount of oil can destroy river life. It forms a thin film on the water surface and stops oxygen getting to plants and animals. Oil spilt on the ground can pollute groundwater making it unfit for use and it is very expensive to clean up.
The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001 (OSR England) aim to reduce the number of oil pollution incidents. By meeting the requirements of the Regulations you will be storing your oil safely, legally and reducing the risk of a potentially costly pollution incident.
What you need to do?
If your oil store is in England: Check your oil storage to see if it meets the requirements of the Oil Storage Regulations set out below.
If you have custody or control of an oil store that doesn’t meet the Regulations’requirements you could be liable for a fine of up to £5,000 at a magistrates court.
Which types of oil are covered?
All types of oil including petrol, diesel, vegetable, synthetic and mineral oils are covered by these Regulations. Waste oils aren’t included as waste oil storage is regulated by the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010 (EPR), by either an exemption or a permit. The EPR describe waste oil as ‘mineral based oil which has become unfit for the use for which it was originally intended’. The EPR don’t include waste synthetic or vegetable oils, these are covered by the OSR England. For the storage of flammable liquids, such as petrol, other health and safety requirements also apply.
What are the standards?
Tanks, drums or other containers must be strong enough to hold the oil without leaking or bursting. If possible, the oil container must be positioned away from any vehicle traffic to avoid damage from collision.
Secondary containment, such as a bund or drip tray, must be provided to catch any oil leaks from the container or its ancillary pipework and equipment. The secondary containment must be sufficient to contain at least 110% of the maximum contents of an oil tank, mobile bowser or Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC).
Where more than one container is stored, the secondary containment should be capable of storing 110% of the largest tank or 25% of the total storage capacity, whichever is the greater. The secondary containment base and walls must be impermeable to water and oil. Any valve, filter, sight gauge, vent pipe or other ancillary equipment must be kept within the secondary containment when not in use. No drainage valve may be fitted to the secondary containment for draining out rainwater.
Above-ground pipework should be properly supported. Underground pipework should be protected from physical damage and have adequate leakage detection. If you are installing pipes with mechanical joints, they must be easy to inspect. Other requirements are included in the Regulations relating to sight gauges, fill points, vent pipes, flexible delivery pipes, pumps, deliveries to your oil storage and other ancillary equipment.