CONDITIONS FOR THE STORAGE OF HEATING OIL IN POLAND

CONDITIONS FOR THE STORAGE OF HEATING OIL IN POLAND

Storage conditions for heating oil in Poland

Heating oil is a popular fuel used for heating residential and industrial buildings, especially where there is no access to the gas grid. The storage of heating oil is regulated by Polish law for reasons of safety and environmental protection. Properly designed and regularly maintained heating oil tanks minimise the risk of accidents and protect the environment.

Compliance with legal requirements regarding capacity, location, ventilation and safety systems is essential to avoid unwanted incidents and to take full advantage of the benefits of this energy source. Compliance with the regulations is not only a duty, but also a way of protecting one's own property and the health of householders and employees.

The details of the legal conditions addressed are contained in the Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure of 12 April 2002 on the technical conditions to be met by buildings and their location. The following are the most important requirements for the storage of heating oil that must be met in Poland.

1 Heating oil storage tanks

Heating oil can be stored in tanks with appropriate technical parameters.

1.1 Tank types, capacity and properties

According to the regulations, heating oil with a flash point above 55 °C can be stored in both above-ground and underground tanks. Two basic types of tanks are provided for the storage of heating oil in buildings:

  • Abovegroundtanks - most commonly used in smaller domestic installations. They are easier to install and service, but require adequate space and security.
  • Underground tanks - mainly used in larger industrial installations. They provide a higher level of safety as they minimise the risk of leakage into the environment and are less susceptible to weathering.


Regulations in Poland limit the total capacity of tanks to a maximum of 100 m³ per building. Furthermore, in the case of tanks located in the boiler room (next to the boiler), the volume of one tank must not exceed 1 m³. A catch sump is required in the storage rooms, the capacity of which allows oil to be retained in the event of a possible tank failure.

Each tank must be equipped with systems for filling, venting and signalling the oil level to enable oil control. This allows users to monitor the amount of fuel in real time and plan for refilling.


2 Requirements for storage rooms

The fuel oil storage room must meet a number of requirements for construction and equipment.

2.1 Location of indoor and outdoor heating oil tanks

Additional provisions apply to ensure the safe operation of heating oil indoors. Such requirements minimise the risk of oil ignition, which is crucial for safety.

  • Distance of the tank from the boiler - a tank of no more than 1 m3 is permitted in the boiler room; the tank should be a minimum of 1 m away from the boiler and separated by a masonry wall at least 12 cm thick, extending beyond the tank dimensions by at least 30 cm vertically and 60 cm horizontally.
  • Sumptray - even for small tanks of up to 1 m³, a sump tray is required unless a bunded tank is used, which eliminates the risk of leakage.
Stalowa wanna wychwytowa
For the installation of heating oil tanks outside buildings, the distances are:

  • 10 m distance of the above-ground tank from residential buildings or 3 m where the wall of the building has a fire resistance of REI 120 or using an additional wall with such parameters
  • 3 m distance from residential buildings in the case of an underground tank
  • 3 m from outbuildings
According to current legislation, heating oil stored in larger quantities (tanks over 70 m³) must meet special requirements:

  • Distances from buildings - the minimum distance from buildings is 20 m, and this distance can be halved if a fire separation wall of REI 120 class is used.
  • Tank design - tanks must be steel, double-walled or embedded in insulation troughs to prevent oil entering the ground


2.2 Ventilation and fire protection

Storage rooms must be equipped with supply and exhaust ventilation systems. The requirement is to provide between 2 and 4 air changes per hour, which allows for the effective removal of fuel oil vapours. These rooms should also have access to a window or be equipped with fire extinguishing equipment to allow rapid response in the event of a fire emergency.


2.3 Heating and static electricity

Heating in fuel oil storage rooms can only be water-based to reduce potential sources of ignition. Prevention of static electricity is also an important aspect - any plastic components must be adequately protected to avoid electrostatic discharges that could pose an ignition risk.
Zbiornik na olej opałowy Kingspan

3 Maintenance and regular inspection of the heating oil storage facility

In addition to complying with technical requirements, owners of oil installations should carry out regular inspections of tanks and installations. It is recommended that maintenance and inspection is carried out by qualified persons who will check the tightness of the tank, the condition of the seals and the efficiency of the ventilation and fire protection systems. Such measures not only increase safety, but also extend the life of the tanks and minimise the risk of failure.

A heating oil spill can have serious environmental consequences, including contamination of soil and groundwater. This is why it is so important to comply with storage regulations and to respond immediately to potential failures. Tank owners are responsible for the safe use of their tanks and for any damage caused by uncontrolled spills.

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