Bunded fuel tanks, or double skinned tanks, are used to store hazardous substances such as oil and fuel. They differ from their single skinned counter parts because they have a secondary containment tank in the form of an outer skin (the bund). This means that any leaks from the main storage tank will be safely contained within the bund, to prevent them spilling out into the environment.
All new Tanks are classed as 110% Integrally Bunded.
A bunded fuel tank must be used by most agricultural, commercial, and industrial premises (i.e. ones that require an oil tank with a storage capacity of more than 200 litres). They are also a legal requirement in most domestic situations, where tanks over 3,500 litres capacity will also need to be bunded.
If you are unsure of the type of tank your require, it’s best to contact an OFTEC-registered installer, who can carry out a risk assessment for you and let you know whether a bunded tank is essential.
As well as the bund to prevent leaks, bunded fuel tanks also have several additional safety features that vary according to model and size. These can include:
In the event of a leak, the outer section has been built to hold more than the capacity of the inner tank. The amount of fuel this additional layer can contain must be 110% of the capacity of the inner tank.
Bunded fuel storage tanks are considered the environmentally friendly option, as their strong protective layer helps prevent any damage to the surrounding area in the even of a leak. The double layering also helps prevent fuel theft, as the outer layer makes it much harder to steal fuel from the inner section.
Another advantage is that the outer bund affords the inner tank wall additional protection from impact damage. However, we always recommend that tanks are positioned to avoid damage from vehicles or machinery or, where this is unavoidable, barriers are erected as a preventative measure.
If you have any more questions about bunded fuel tanks, get in touch with Octane and we will be happy to help you further.
