Burying oil tank underground

jimpix12

Hi all, I live in a 3 year old property that has heating oil. The tank is quite large in an otherwise small garden and I've been thinking about having it buried underground to save space. Problem is that I can't find much information online about it here in the UK - has anyone does this?

There seems to be all sorts of regulations and red tape but it seems possible, given that you can buy specially-designed underground tanks. Can anyone advise if they have had this done themselves and what were costs and drawbacks?

I'd like to use the land freed up for a vegetable patch - again not even sure if that's permitted. Thanks!!

ilikecookies

I had no idea this could be done! The regs for "sealing" it must be pretty onerous I would have thought because a leak underground would be even more of a environmental problem than above ground.

jimpix12

From my research it appears the tank needs to be encased in concrete once its in the ground...

thozza

The reason that you will not find much information on underground domestic oil storage is, I suspect, because it is uncommon due to the onerous regulations and high costs of installation.

Oftec says:

If an underground oil storage tank is to be directly buried below ground it should be specifically constructed for underground use and should be installed strictly to the manufacturer’s instructions. The recommendations in the Environment Agency’s Pollution Prevention Guidance note PPG 27 should be followed and planning permission may also be required.

So domestic underground oil storage falls into the same regulation as petrol stations etc.

oysterman

Certas Energy would require a letter from the installer before filling an underground tank nowadays.

Ebe_Scrooge

Thanks for the spam, ZARAJOHN78