Oil tank installation problem

[babyseat]

Hi all,

I hope this is the right section to post this. I have a friend who has had an oil tank installed in their garden. It is about 300mm from the neighbours fence and the installers made some temporary fireproofing which was basically a few sheets of hardibacker board leant against the fence and told them that they need a wall built.

The problem is that there is no room to work behind the tank, and also as it is laid on slabs they will have to come up for a foundation to be dug. This means that to get the wall built the fence will have to come down, with the work carried out from the neighbours garden in very cramped conditions which will triple the cost of the wall.

Is there any fireproof products which will meet regs and can be installed like a fence pancel? Also, is it down to the people who installed the tank to make sure that it is all correct before leaving site? It seems to me that they should have at least suggested getting the wall built first.

Many thanks

 

[Steve]

Concrete fence posts populated with concrete gravel boards. Paint it pretty colours.

 

[^woody^]

Why is a wall required?

How high and wide do the flames from a burning oil tank reach?

 

[babyseat]

Just trying to comply with the regs as I understand them. I like the idea of concrete gravel boards....do they need to return back across the sides of the tank aswell? There is a small tree at either end of the tank, should they be protected aswell?

Is there a responsibily on the installers of the tank to make sure this is done before they leave site? It seems to me a bit sloppy that they have left this problem

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I can't see the responsibility lying with them, ultimate responsibility will lie with the property owner

 

[^woody^]

Just trying to comply with the regs

What regs are these?

 

[wessex101]

Concrete fence posts populated with concrete gravel boards. Paint it pretty colours.

^^ This, although you can get concrete fence panels as well as gravel boards.

I believe the issue is the fence catching fire (neighbour has a bonfire etc.) which then spreads to the oil tank. There are regulations, not sure if they are HSE or someone else and I can't be bothered to look it up.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

The regulations wording that applies here is as follows:

Provide a fire wall between the tank and
the boundary or a boundary wall having
at least 30 minutes fire resistance to fire
on either side. The fire wall or the
boundary wall should extend at least
300mm higher and wider than the top
and sides of the tank.

 

[wessex101]

Country Bumpkins 1 Woody 0

 

[garyo]

Provide a fire wall between the tank and
the boundary or a boundary wall having
at least 30 minutes fire resistance to fire
on either side. The fire wall or the
boundary wall should extend at least
300mm higher and wider than the top
and sides of the tank.

Any idea when that dates from? My tank doesn't comply.

 

[^woody^]

Well strike me down with a sheaf of free range wheat.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Any idea when that dates from? My tank doesn't comply.

Part J

 

[babyseat]

Yep, they're the ones! So does this include the vegetation as well, will it need a fire wall between the tank and the tree which is right next to it?

 

[garyo]

Part J

My tank is probably pre-2010 to be fair. It's right between both houses though, so little chance of either of us having a bonfire, but if either house goes up it could get interesting.

 

[Nakajo]

Well strike me down with a sheaf of free range wheat.

I would, but it's all been trampled on.