Design For Oil Tank Platform

Davesnave

I'm getting different kinds of 'help' regarding the installation of a new 1800l bunded oil tank. I've read the OFTEC leaflet, I've spoken to building control and I've had a chat with the local building supplies chap who sells the blocks, slabs and lintels most people use.

OFTEC says, use 215x65 mm lintels wide side up/down (?) to make a platform, then top with 50mm slabs.

Building control say, space 140x100mm pre stressed lintels normal way up at intervals of 150mm across whatever walls you create for height, then top with 50mm slabs.

Now, I'd prefer to do it building control's way anyway, but having already constructed a reinforced slab 120mm thick, I'm already well on my way to the 300mm above floor level spec that my heating installer gave me. So it seems a hellava palaver to put in lintels now, especially as they will cost about £200+

As I only need to come up another 220 mm or so, could I not just construct the remaining supports for the slabs with concrete blocks, which I have plenty of left over, or perhaps make a slab outer with an inner core of more reinforced concrete?

The builders' merchant seemed to think I couldn't make a solid structure, but then he wants to sell me the lintels!

Any comments from those who might do this kind of work?

Davesnave

No replies, so I decided to do my own thing, construct with concrete blocks + pavers and to hell with wasting more ££ on reinforced lintels.

After all, my time is free.

reeac

Do you really need the paviors? My 2500l. Plastic tank has sat on a cast concrete slab for 18 years now with no problems. I like your idea of a perimeter of concrete blocks with an infill of concrete, though.

Davesnave

I probably don't need the paving slabs, but as I have a surplus of these huge 900 x 600 mm things, I may as well use them.

It will also be a nod towards what building control said they'd 'like to see,' though they are not the ones paying for their little foibles!

reeac

I like the "little foibles" remark. We had to have a gutter and soak away to take runoff from our drive when we had our place built. I've never seen more than a trickle in it as the drive is absorbent shingle. Meanwhile we suffer copious streams of mud which runs off from field entrances ...presumably the phenomenon which led to complaints which led to the requirement for our gutter and soak away.

malc_b

I assume the 300mm is so oil tank is above burner. Have you considered fitting a tiger loop instead and then you could sit the tank on the base you already have. Tiger loop can be used to increase the oil head.

Davesnave

We're agricultural, but there are no field entrances direct to roads, so not guilty of that one. :A

The council were the ones responsible for a major road hazard here in the form of a 7 metre pool of water outside our house. It took me about 4 years of badgering before they investigated, to find that the'd tarmacked over one of their own drains.

Davesnave

malc_b wrote: »

I assume the 300mm is so oil tank is above burner. Have you considered fitting a tiger loop instead and then you could sit the tank on the base you already have. Tiger loop can be used to increase the oil head.

Thanks, yes, I considered it, but my heating guy wouldn't do it, as he's very old school.

Swings and roundabouts. Nearest quote to his from anyone local was way higher (lots of other work in the house) so I decided to bite my tongue and build the stand.