Bunded heating oil tank.

GAM

Member
Mixed Farmer
My Son has recently purchased a run down farm, and has been told he has to replace his existing plastic central heating tank with a bunded one, is this right? obviously he's not farm assured!
 

Shovelhands

Member
Location
Sunny Essex
Might as well do it before the plastic tank fails anyway!

Replace with bunded steel would be my advice. I have one to change this week, and the plastic one has not lasted that long, absolutely rubbish.
 
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DanniAgro

Member
Household tanks of less than 1000 litres can be single skin I think, but who would want to run the risk if the fuel reached a stream say? Presumably the fines would be the same as a pollution source from a farm tank.
 

pembsarable

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Pembrokeshire
There are new fuel storage regulations coming into force in Wales from March next year. All tanks on commercial premises with a capacity of over 200 litres have to be double skinned. Building regs have also changed saying all new oil tanks for domestic boilers have to be the same - but i think that is just for new installations.
 

jellybean

Member
Location
N.Devon
I am thinking about replacing our 5000 litre heating oil tank. It's 30 years old and still fine but has sunlight fading on one side which I am told is not a good sign. It is single skin but about 10mm thick walls.
Our first tank got smashed when a gale took the roof off the mobile home we were living in whilst doing a barn conversion. Exactly the same make and size.
What I do not understand is why do you need a bunded tank. If you get physical damage it will break the outer skin first; You may not lose any oil but you no longer have a bunded tank. What are the chances of ever having a leak on the inner skin?
Nearly zero I would have thought. So once again it appears to be fear based selling, something I detest.

On the subject of sunlight degradation a steel tank is cheaper and would not have that problem. What are the TFF thoughts? obviously I have read the above posts but still question the thinking.
 

Shovelhands

Member
Location
Sunny Essex
I am thinking about replacing our 5000 litre heating oil tank. It's 30 years old and still fine but has sunlight fading on one side which I am told is not a good sign. It is single skin but about 10mm thick walls.
Our first tank got smashed when a gale took the roof off the mobile home we were living in whilst doing a barn conversion. Exactly the same make and size.
What I do not understand is why do you need a bunded tank. If you get physical damage it will break the outer skin first; You may not lose any oil but you no longer have a bunded tank. What are the chances of ever having a leak on the inner skin?
Nearly zero I would have thought. So once again it appears to be fear based selling, something I detest.

On the subject of sunlight degradation a steel tank is cheaper and would not have that problem. What are the TFF thoughts? obviously I have read the above posts but still question the thinking.

I think you’ve sort of answered your own question. In the event of physical damage to the exterior of a bunded tank, then you stand a chance of not rupturing the inner tank. That’s a positive advantage of a bunded tank.
Yes it’s very unlikely that a tank will spring a leak inside a bund, but better to be safe than sorry. Besides, if legislation dictates it, then you haven’t got the choice not install a bunded tank.

My experience with plastic tanks has not been good. If you have a plastic tank tank that’s lasted 30 years then I’m genuinely impressed. I’d have a guess it’s not a Titan tank?, as in my experience they don’t last that well.
I too have a plastic tank that must be approaching 30 years old now, the makers name escapes me at the moment, but it’s certainly stood the test of time. I no longer use this tank for long term storage, it’s does get used for tank change overs though. But this one good experience of a plastic tank does not change my opinion of them at all.
Sadly, I think plastic tanks are outdated technology, and their legacy is not going to be the trouble free long service we all hoped they would give, but will in fact will be the major waste problem of disposing of these tanks that are not lasting any where near as long as a steel tank.

I’ve had many tanks now from UK Bunded Fuel Tanks, and I think they offer good value for money, with the added confidence that they will last the distance. And when I enquired a few years ago about a single skin tank, it didn’t seem that much more to go bunded.
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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