Types of Oil Tank

With multiple shapes, sizes and capacities to choose from, selecting the right oil tank may seem a bit more complicated than you first thought.

But at HF Group, our Mechanical Division are here to help by explaining the different types of oil tank currently available.

Single Skinned Oil Tanks

Single skinned oil tanks are rarely used these days for commercial purposes because they must be less than 2500 litres in capacity and they must be a legally required distance from any environmental hazards nearby or within 10 metres of a water source.  Single skinned oil tanks are obviously less expensive than other options but are usually installed in a secondary containment system such as reinforced concrete which makes the total cost of the installation higher.

Double Skinned Oil Tanks

Also known as twin walled tanks, as the name suggests, this type of oil tank has two layers.  This provides an increased level of protection from leaks in the event of a tank failure. There are of course still many regulations that a double skinned oil tank must abide by.  You can read more about there here on the OFTEC website.

Integrally Bunded Tanks

Offering the best protection against an oil leak, the integrally bunded tank is generally regarded as the best tank design on the market as it offers the best level of protection against oil leaks and condensation due to the insulation created by the air gap in the bund.  Integrally bunded tanks are available in steel, plastic and steel/plastic constructed variations.

Underground Tanks

While underground tanks may require planning permission, they do offer the advantage of significantly saving you space and are hidden out of site on your premises which can be invaluable for a business.  They also offer an increased level of security as they are hidden out of site from thieves making them harder to access and steal from.  This does however make them more difficult to access for required maintenance.

What about material construction?

There are two options for tank material. Plastic and Steel.  Plastic tanks are both generally more cost effective and require less in the way of maintenance as they are not going to rust however a plastic tank is easier for thieves to drill into and steal the contents or even hoist and lift away as they are a lot lighter.  Steel tanks therefore are more secure and the preferred choice of businesses in rural areas.

Find out more

Exceptional quality, attention to detail and hands-on management throughout the process: that’s what our clients demand when they contract HF for Mechanical Services. And they hire us again – and again – because that’s what we provide, every time. If you would like to know more about our the Oil Tank Fitting Services that we can offer as part of Heating System Installation and Maintenance, please contact us today.

Case Studies

Oil Tank Replacement Project