Fuel Storage Regulations UK: A Practical Compliance Guide

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Storing fuel at your home or business without breaking the law sounds simple until you start looking at the regulations. You face different rules depending on whether you store 30 litres or 3,000 litres, and the requirements shift again if you run a business, farm or marina. Get it wrong and you risk prosecution, fines or environmental damage notices from the Environment Agency.

The good news: UK fuel storage law is clearer than many businesses realise. The Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014 and the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations 2001 create a framework you can follow step by step. You just need to know which rules apply to your situation and what actions to take.

This guide walks you through the legal requirements for storing petrol, diesel and heating oil in England and Wales. You’ll learn which containers are approved, when you need licences or certificates, how to position tanks legally, and what secondary containment measures must be in place. We’ve structured it as practical steps you can work through, not a wall of legislation.

What the UK fuel storage rules cover

The fuel storage regulations UK apply to both workplaces and private properties, but they draw different lines depending on what you store and how much. Your legal obligations come from two main pieces of legislation: the Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014 and the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations 2001. Both affect how you position containers, what materials you use, and when you need official permissions.

The two main legal frameworks

The Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014 govern petrol storage at homes, clubs, associations and workplaces where you dispense fuel directly into vehicle tanks. You face these rules when storing more than 30 litres at home or any amount at petrol filling stations. Petroleum Enforcement Authorities (PEAs), usually your local council, enforce this legislation and issue the licences or certificates you might need.

The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations 2001 cover oil storage at businesses, marinas and public buildings like schools or hospitals. This framework kicks in when you store more than 200 litres of fuel oil at work premises, or more than 3,500 litres at a private home. The Environment Agency enforces these rules and can serve anti-pollution works notices if your storage setup falls short.

Which fuels count under these rules

You must follow storage regulations for petrol, diesel, kerosene (heating oil), biofuels, hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO), vegetable oils, synthetic oils like motor oil, and liquid bitumen products. Cutting fluids that contain oil, insulating oils, and oils used as solvents all fall under the same requirements. Waste vegetable oil, waste cooking oil and waste synthetic oil also trigger compliance duties.

Several substances sit outside the scope. You don’t need to follow these particular rules for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), solid hydrocarbons like bitumen unless heated, non-oil-based solvents such as trichloroethylene, or aromatic hydrocarbons like benzene and toluene.

Agricultural fuel oil stored on farms for powering tractors or grain dryers follows separate regulations under the Control of Pollution (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) Rules 1991.

Key exemptions you should know

Your storage containers are exempt from these regulations if they sit underground, inside permanent buildings with walls and roofs, at refineries, or at distribution depots rather than retail sites. Airport oil depots owned by oil companies don’t need to comply because they’re classified as premises for onward distribution. Marina service boats that sell fuel directly to boat owners do fall under the rules, as they’re not purely distribution points.

Storage in buildings may require you to meet Building Regulations fire safety measures, so contact your local council to check whether additional standards apply to your indoor fuel store.

Step 1. Assess your fuel and site

Your first compliance task is to work out exactly what you’re storing and where. The fuel storage regulations UK impose different requirements based on fuel type, volume and site classification, so you need precise details before you can choose the right storage equipment or apply for licences. This assessment takes 15 to 30 minutes and creates the foundation for every decision that follows.

What fuel type are you storing?

Start by identifying each fuel you plan to store and confirming it falls under the regulations. Check your product’s safety data sheet or supplier documentation to verify whether it’s petrol, diesel, kerosene, a biofuel, HVO, or another oil type. Different fuels trigger different regulatory frameworks, so you must know which legislation applies before you proceed.

Record this information for each fuel:

  • Full product name (e.g. "heating oil", "unleaded petrol", "HVO diesel")
  • Flash point if it’s below 32°C (affects where you position equipment)
  • Whether it’s petroleum (petrol) or oil (heating oil, diesel, etc.)
  • Primary use (domestic heating, vehicle fuel, generator supply, etc.)

Calculate your total storage capacity

You need to calculate the combined capacity of all containers you’ll use, not just the amount you typically store. Count every drum, tank, IBC and mobile bowser that could hold fuel at the same time, then add up their maximum capacities to get your total. This figure determines whether you need licences, what secondary containment you must install, and which technical standards apply.

For example, if you have two 1,000-litre diesel tanks and four 205-litre drums, your total capacity is 2,820 litres. You would face the oil storage rules for businesses (over 200 litres) and need secondary containment sized to handle at least 1,100 litres (110% of your largest tank or 25% of total capacity, whichever is greater).

If your containers are hydraulically linked so fuel can flow between them, treat them as a single container when calculating capacity requirements.

Identify your site type and location

Map out where your storage sits in relation to buildings, water sources, driveways and public areas. You must position containers away from inland or coastal waters by at least 1 metre, at least 50 metres from springs, and outside flood risk zones. Site classification matters: home storage, business premises, farms, marinas and public buildings each trigger different regulatory obligations even when you store identical fuel volumes.

Walk your site and note down:

  • Distance to nearest watercourse, spring or drain
  • Traffic routes where tankers, vehicles or forklifts could strike containers
  • Whether you’re storing at a home, business, farm or public building
  • Indoor or outdoor location for each container

Step 2. Design safe storage for homes and businesses

You must select storage equipment that meets British or OFTEC standards and position it where damage is unlikely. This step covers container specifications, placement rules, and secondary containment requirements that apply across the fuel storage regulations UK. The technical standards protect you from prosecution and prevent fuel escaping into the environment.

Choose approved containers and tanks

Your containers must be strong enough not to burst or leak during ordinary use. Fixed tanks for petrol, diesel or heating oil need to comply with British Standard 5410, or OFTEC standard OST T100 for plastic tanks, or OFTEC standard OFS T200 or British Standard 799-5 for metal tanks. Drums and intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) should carry UN markings, which confirm they meet United Nations design requirements for transporting dangerous goods.

Contact the Environment Agency if your container doesn’t meet these standards and you want to confirm it has sufficient structural integrity. They can assess whether your equipment provides adequate protection even without the standard certifications.

Fixed tanks must always be bunded. You cannot use a drip tray as secondary containment for a fixed installation.

Position containers to prevent damage

You must place your container away from driveways, tanker turning circles and forklift routes where impact damage could occur. If you can’t avoid these areas, install barriers or bollards around the tank to absorb any collision before it reaches the fuel store. Position storage at least 1 metre clear of inland or coastal waters and at least 50 metres from any spring.

Keep containers outside flood risk zones and on ground that won’t become waterlogged. Remote fill points (where you fill the tank from a location outside the bund) need drip trays beneath them to catch spillage during deliveries. Store fuel away from ignition sources like naked flames, electrical equipment or hot surfaces, particularly if you’re storing petrol with a flash point below 32°C.

Install secondary containment correctly

Fixed tanks require a bund (an outer case that surrounds the tank), while drums and IBCs can use drip trays. Your secondary containment must hold 110% of the capacity of the container if you’re storing in a single fixed tank, mobile bowser or IBC. For multiple containers that aren’t hydraulically linked, the bund must hold whichever is greater: 110% of the largest container or 25% of the total capacity.

Drip trays for drums need capacity equal to at least one quarter of the drum’s volume. If your drip tray can hold multiple drums, calculate the capacity based on the combined volume of all drums it could hold, even if you only place one drum on it. A tray designed for four 205-litre drums must have a 205-litre capacity (one quarter of 820 litres).

Bunds must be impermeable to oil and water, with no pipes, valves or openings in the base or walls that allow drainage. Any fill pipe or draw-off pipe passing through the bund must be sealed to stop oil escaping. Masonry and concrete bunds typically need internal rendering or coating to make them impermeable. Pre-bunded tanks manufactured as complete units already include this protection.

All valves, taps and sight gauges on fixed tanks must sit inside the bund unless the fuel has a flash point below 32°C (in which case filters, gauges, valves and equipment can sit outside). Sight gauges need brackets fixing the tube to the tank and automatic shut-off valves that close when not in use. Pipework above ground must be properly supported with brackets, and positioned where vehicles or machinery won’t strike it.

Step 3. Put licences and controls in place

Once you’ve chosen compliant containers and positioned them correctly, you must obtain the right permissions and set up ongoing controls. The fuel storage regulations UK require different paperwork depending on your fuel type and storage volume, and you face prosecution if you store fuel without the correct authorisation. This step covers notification procedures, licence applications, and the inspection regime you must maintain.

Apply for petrol storage permissions

You need written notification to your local Petroleum Enforcement Authority (PEA) if you store between 30 and 275 litres of petrol at home or at a club or association. Send a letter or email stating your name, full address, and the location where you’ll keep the fuel. Your PEA doesn’t issue a formal document in response, but keep a copy of your notification and any acknowledgement you receive.

Storage above 275 litres but below 3,500 litres requires a petroleum storage certificate, which you apply for through your local PEA. Submit your application in writing with details of your storage setup, including container specifications, location plans, and secondary containment arrangements. Certificates remain valid for up to three years but don’t transfer if you sell the property or change ownership.

Storage of 3,500 litres or more needs both a certificate and a licence from your PEA. Contact your local council (which usually acts as the PEA) at least four weeks before you plan to install containers. They’ll inspect your proposed setup and may request modifications before granting approval.

You don’t need a licence or certificate if you store petrol underground, in buildings, at refineries, or at distribution depots for onward supply.

Register oil storage with the Environment Agency

Business premises, marinas and public buildings storing more than 200 litres of oil don’t need a licence, but you must ensure your installation complies with the Control of Pollution regulations from day one. The Environment Agency doesn’t operate a registration system for oil storage, so you won’t receive a certificate. Your legal duty is to install compliant storage and be ready for inspections at any time.

Keep documentation proving your containers meet British or OFTEC standards, including manufacturer certificates and installation records from your registered installer. Store copies of tank specifications, bunding calculations, and any structural engineer reports if you’ve built masonry or concrete secondary containment.

Set up inspection and maintenance schedules

You must inspect your storage equipment regularly to catch problems before they cause leaks or spills. Check fixed tanks, bunds, pipework and valves every week for signs of corrosion, damage or wear. Look for cracks in bund walls, loose pipe fittings, corroded metal surfaces, and debris blocking drainage points inside bunds.

Underground pipework attached to fixed tanks needs formal leak testing. Test pipework when you install it, then every five years if it contains mechanical joints (compression or threaded fittings), or every 10 years if it uses only welded, brazed or soldered connections. Alternatively, fit a permanent leak detection device that monitors pressure changes or flow rates, and test this device according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Record all inspections and maintenance work in a logbook. Note the date, what you inspected, any defects found, and what action you took. Retain these records for at least three years so you can demonstrate your compliance history if the Environment Agency or PEA requests evidence during site visits.

Additional resources and checklists

You can simplify compliance by working through structured checklists before you install storage and during routine inspections. These tools help you catch regulatory gaps early and create an audit trail that proves your diligence if enforcement authorities visit your site. We’ve included a pre-installation checklist below and pointed you toward official guidance that covers technical details beyond this guide’s scope.

Pre-installation compliance checklist

Work through this checklist before you purchase or install any fuel storage container. Tick each item off as you complete it to confirm you’ve addressed every requirement the fuel storage regulations UK impose on your situation.

  • Confirm fuel type and verify it falls under petroleum or oil storage rules
  • Calculate total storage capacity including all containers on site
  • Measure distances to watercourses, springs, buildings and traffic routes
  • Select containers with British Standard, OFTEC or UN markings
  • Design secondary containment to hold required capacity (110% or 25% rule)
  • Contact local PEA if storing petrol above 30 litres
  • Arrange installation by registered OFTEC technician for fixed tanks
  • Schedule first inspection within one week of commissioning

Keep completed checklists with your storage documentation so you can demonstrate compliance during inspections.

Official guidance documents

The Health and Safety Executive publishes detailed guidance on the Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014 at hse.gov.uk, while the Environment Agency provides technical specifications for oil storage at gov.uk. Both sources include diagrams, worked examples and answers to common compliance questions that extend beyond this practical overview.

Key takeaways

You face clear legal obligations when storing fuel in the UK, but you can navigate them systematically. Calculate your total storage capacity first, identify whether you fall under petroleum or oil regulations, then choose containers that meet British Standard, OFTEC or UN requirements. Your secondary containment must hold 110% of your largest tank or 25% of total capacity, and you need written notification or certificates when storing petrol above 30 litres at home.

Position your containers at least 1 metre from watercourses and away from impact zones, install proper bunding or drip trays, and set up weekly inspection routines to catch problems early. Keep documentation of your compliance measures and be ready for Environment Agency or PEA visits. If you handle dangerous goods alongside fuel storage, proper training protects your business from operational risks. Logicom Hub delivers specialist courses in chemical storage safety systems and hazardous materials compliance that give your team the confidence to manage complex regulatory requirements across your supply chain.