Keeping your bulk tank installation safe
Bulk Tank Safety Advice
The below information is essential advice for all bulk LPG tanks – both above ground and underground
A safe tank installation keeps you Flo-ing
Ensuring that your bulk LPG tank installation stays safe from any risk of ignition, impact or obstruction is paramount for all customers and makes sure that we can keep delivering to you safely.
At Flogas, we ensure all of our tanks continue to meet the requirements laid out by Liquid Gas UK – the LPG industry’s governing body, and we appreciate the help of our customers in making sure they stay safe, so we can keep Flo-ing.
There are various different sizes of bulk LPG tanks, so to help you with the sections below the most common sizes are;
450 litres / 0.25 tonnes
1,410 litres / 0.6 tonnes (the most common domestic tank)
2,200 litre / 1 tonnes
3900 litre / 1.75 tonnes
4600 litre tank / 2 tonnes
Larger installations may be made up of a combination of the the above tank sizes.
Your Technical Guide
(Home Bulk Tank Customers)
Download an up-to-date copy f Your Technical Guide to ensure you’re aware of how to care your your installation.
Commercial Customers: Please get in touch with your Account Manager for queries specific to your installation.
Building Works
Your LPG installation is carefully sited to ensure that it is safe and compliant with industry codes of practice. Please contact us before undertaking any building work around the LPG vessel, pipework or regulators so that we can discuss and ensure that the works planned do not compromise this and that it remains safe for us to deliver to.
Caring for your tank
Now for the serious bit…
LPG can be a hazardous product if not handled and stored correctly – that’s why we stick very strictly to the codes of practice and guidance from Liquid Gas UK, the industry trade association.
It’s essential that you take good care of your installation. The following DOs and DON’Ts will ensure we can continue delivering your gas safely. Plus, if you don’t look after your tank and surrounding area, you could be faced with a potential liability, you may even be financially liable for any remedial work.
DO
DON’T
Keeping your installation tidy
The area surrounding the vessel needs to be kept clear from a source of ignition – including cars and other vehicles, as well as weeds, long grass, foliage, and combustible materials.
We go into further detail below, but these diagrams also show a standard domestic installation for either an underground or above ground LPG tank.
Other tank sizes have different separation distances:
150 to 500 litres = 2.5 metres
500 to 2,400 litres = 3 metres
2,400 to 9,000 litres = 7.5 metres
It’s also important to ensure that the shroud of your underground tank is kept free of debris – such as mud, water or even insect nests to ensure your deliveries keep flo-ing!
Screening your tank
A tank screen can be a useful addition to help your above ground tank installation blend into your environment. Below are some examples of screening options, and their guidance for use.
For all tanks up to 1.1 tonnes (or 2,500 litres) this screening must be at least 1m away from your tank – anything larger must have 6m separation from the tank.
Evergreen Shrubs, Trees or Hedging
One side of the tank/installation only.
Despite being evergreen, these shrubs or trees can still pose a fire risk and must be carefully positioned and maintained to ensure they don’t restrict access and don’t grow nearer than 1m* to the tank(s), or in the area vertically above the tank(s).
Open Block / Ranch Fencing
Up to 3 sides of the tank/installation.
The fourth side must be kept clear for ventilation and delivery access. The open blocks or fencing must obstruct no more than 50% of the natural ventilation.
‘Hit & Miss’ style fencing
Up to 4 sides of the tank/installation.
This fencing must not obstruct more than 50% of the natural ventilation through the screen and there must be at least 2 equivalently ventilated means of exit. Any gates must open outwards, be easily openable from inside and not self-locking.
Closed panel style fencing
Up to 2 sides of the tank/installation.
For any fencing where more than 50% of the natural ventilation is obstructed through the screened part, the remaining sides must be left clear for ventilation and delivery access.
Fire Precautions for your tank
It’s essential to have some level of fire precaution – the below table outlines the recommendation for your tank installation.
| Installation capacity | Installation type | Water supply | 19mm hose reel | 9kg dry powder extinguisher | 9 litre water extinguisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 1.1 tonne (2,500 litres) | Vapour | YES | – | – | – |
| Up to 1.1 tonne (2,500 litres) | Liquid | YES | YES | x2 | – |
| YES | – | x4 | – | ||
| YES | – | x2 | x2 | ||
| 1.1 tonne to 2.5 tonnes | Vapour/Liquid | YES | – | – | – |
| Underground/Mounded Tanks | YES | – | – | – |
Protecting your installation from vehicle damage
The driving or parking of vehicles near, and for underground installations parking on top of, your LPG tank(s) can pose a significant risk from sources of ignition and impact risk.
The separation distances for parked cars varies dependent on the size of your installation and whether vehicles are under your control or not – for example cars parked in public carparks.
| Installation | Vehicles under control of site occupier | Vehicles NOT under the control of site occupier |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 0.8 tonnes (1000 litres) | 2.5m | 2.5m |
| 0.8 to 3.5 tonnes | 3m | 3m |
| 3.5 to 12.5 tonnes | 6m | 7.5m |
| Above 12.5 tonnes | Seek further advice from Flogas | Seek further advice from Flogas |
In addition, you should prevent the risk of any impact from vehicles. This may be in the form of bollards or crash barriers, which must be suitable to prevent a vehicle hitting any part of your tank or installation. We advise that you seek the advice of a professional protection supplier. A compound fence on it’s own is not considered to provide suitable protection from vehicle impact.
You must also prevent vehicles from driving or parking on the area above an underground tank, by means of suitable kerbs, bollards or barriers.