Guide
Oil storage regulations
What you must do if your business stores oil or fuel. Covers who the regulations apply to, container and bunding requirements, mobile bowser rules, fill point specifications, and inspection routines.
If your business stores more than 200 litres of oil in a single container, you must comply with oil storage regulations. These regulations exist because oil is one of the most common pollutants in the UK, accounting for a significant proportion of all pollution incidents reported to the Environment Agency each year.
A single litre of oil can contaminate up to one million litres of drinking water. Leaks and spills from poorly maintained tanks, missing bunds, and corroded pipework cause serious and long-lasting damage to watercourses, groundwater, and soil. Getting your oil storage right is a legal requirement and a practical necessity.
Who the regulations apply to
The Oil Storage Regulations apply to all industrial, commercial, and institutional premises in England where oil is stored in above-ground containers with a capacity exceeding 200 litres. This includes:
- Businesses heating their premises with oil-fired boilers
- Workshops and factories storing lubricants, hydraulic oil, or cutting fluids
- Farms storing diesel, heating oil, or waste oil
- Construction sites with fuel bowsers or generator tanks
- Garages and vehicle maintenance facilities storing engine oil
- Any business with a backup generator that uses oil or diesel
Each UK nation has its own oil storage regulations with broadly similar requirements. The snippet below sets out the specific legal basis and thresholds for each nation.
What counts as "oil"
The regulations define "oil" broadly. It covers:
- Petroleum products: Petrol, diesel, heating oil (kerosene), gas oil, heavy fuel oil
- Mineral oils: Lubricating oils, hydraulic oils, cutting oils, transformer oils
- Vegetable and plant oils: Cooking oil, biodiesel feedstock (though these are sometimes regulated under different waste provisions)
- Synthetic oils: Including silicone-based fluids
- Waste oil: Used engine oil, sump oil, and any oil awaiting disposal or recycling
If you are unsure whether a product counts as "oil" under the regulations, check with the Environment Agency or your devolved regulator.
Container and bunding requirements
The regulations set specific standards for how oil must be stored:
Fixed tanks
- Must be within a bund (secondary containment enclosure) with capacity of at least 110% of the tank volume
- If multiple tanks share a bund, the bund must hold 110% of the largest tank or 25% of the total aggregate capacity - whichever is greater
- The bund must be impervious to both water and oil, with no drainage valve or outlet
- Sight gauges must have a valve or cock that closes automatically when not in use to prevent siphoning
- All pipework, valves, filters, sight gauges, and vent pipes must be within the bunded area
Drums and IBCs
- Must be stored on a drip tray with capacity of at least 25% of the total volume of all drums on the tray
- Store under cover where possible to prevent rainwater filling the drip tray
- Check regularly for leaks, corrosion, and damage
Mobile bowsers
- Must have secondary containment (either an integral bund or be placed on a drip tray) when not in use or being transported
- The drip tray must be capable of holding the full contents of the bowser
- During use on construction sites, bowsers should be sited away from drains and watercourses
Fill points and delivery
Fill pipe and vent pipe requirements are a common area of non-compliance:
- The delivery fill pipe and vent pipe must both be within the secondary containment area (inside the bund)
- An automatic shut-off valve or overfill alarm is strongly recommended to prevent tank overfills during delivery
- Be present during oil deliveries to monitor for spills
- Check the tank level before accepting a delivery to ensure there is sufficient capacity
Inspection and maintenance routine
Regular inspection prevents the gradual deterioration that causes most oil pollution incidents:
- Weekly: Visual check of tank, bund, and pipework for signs of leaks, staining, or damage. Check sight gauge and valves.
- Monthly: Check bund for accumulated rainwater (pump out clean water only - never open a drain valve). Inspect drip trays under drums and bowsers. Check tank supports and foundations.
- Annually: Professional inspection of tank condition, especially for signs of corrosion. Check pipework connections and seals. Review your spill response plan.
- After storms or flooding: Check for damage, displacement, or contamination of bund water.
Keep a written log of all inspections. This demonstrates due diligence if you are ever investigated.
Exemptions
The following are exempt from the Oil Storage Regulations in England:
- Containers with a capacity of 200 litres or less
- Oil stored in a building (the building itself acts as secondary containment)
- Oil in wholly underground tanks (these have separate requirements)
- Waste oil already covered by an environmental permit
- Private dwellings storing 3,500 litres or less (though Building Regulations may still apply)
Even where the specific Oil Storage Regulations do not apply, you still have a general duty to prevent pollution under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016. Exemption from the storage regulations does not mean you can store oil carelessly.
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1. Check whether the regulations apply to you
If you store more than 200 litres of any type of oil in a single above-ground container at commercial, industrial, or institutional premises, the oil storage regulations apply. Check the regulations for your nation as thresholds may differ.
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2. Inspect your current storage
Check that all tanks have secondary containment (bunding) of at least 110% capacity, all pipework is within the bund, sight gauges have auto-close valves, and there are no cracks or drainage outlets in the bund.
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3. Check drums and mobile bowsers
Ensure drums and IBCs are on drip trays holding at least 25% of total volume. Mobile bowsers must have secondary containment when not in use. Check for leaks and corrosion.
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4. Set up a regular inspection routine
Create a written inspection schedule - weekly visual checks, monthly bund inspections, and annual professional review. Keep a log of all inspections and any issues found.
The oil storage regulations snippet above includes geographic callouts for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Each nation has its own regulations with broadly similar bunding and containment requirements but different enforcement bodies and registration processes. Check the guidance for your specific nation.