Installing a Storage Tank
Listed below is some information regarding installation of your LPG storage tank.
Rental of tanks £15 – £22 per quarter.
Installation of tank onto prepared site and pipework to house ~£150 – £200 for an above ground installation, £450 – £500 for below ground installation.
Civil works extra.*
*Note; from personal experience the supply company do not prepare the area for the storage tank, you will either have to hire a contractor or do the work yourself. I had my tank installed underground; I paid £100 for a local farmer to dig out the hole to the required specification supplied by Calor.
Technical suitability
Requires space to site tank with access for vehicle to deliver fresh supplies of fuel. There are some restrictions on the siting of the storage tank. For example, there is a minimum separation distance between the tank and the dwelling (dependant on the volume of the tank) and the driver of the delivery tanker must be able to see the tanker from the storage tank during the filling procedure. There are other restrictions on the siting and installation of tanks (such as proximity to overhead power cables) – the gas supplier will be able to advise.
Building regulations apply to the installation of the boiler, storage tank and associated fuel delivery pipe-work. If and the work is undertaken by a CORGI registered installer then a Building Control Service need not be involved
Fire Walls
The purpose of a fire wall is to protect the LPG bulk tank from thermal radiation from a fire nearby and to ensure that there is an adequate dispersion distance to boundaries where the normal separation distance cannot be achieved.
Constructed from brick, concrete or solid masonry, the fire wall should be imperforate and not less than the height of the vessel.
Fire walls should not be placed on more than two sides of the LPG bulk tank and should be sited between 1m to 1.5m from the nearest point of the tank. In all cases, the natural ventilation should not be significantly impaired.
The construction of a fire wall aims to achieve at least 30 minutes of fire resistance.
Screening Requirements
Brick, stone, non flammable wooden fencing, metal panels – these are all materials that might be considered for screening purposes around surface mounted LPG bulk
tanks.
The proviso is, as always that there is unimpeded ventilation around the tanks, that weeds are kept down, that nothing obstructs the delivery tanker driver’s line of sight, and that nothing encroaches within one metre of the LPG bulk tanks.
Weeds, long grass, deciduous shrubs and trees and any combustible material should be removed from an area similar to the required separation distance.
These are:
Tanks up to 2500 litres = 3 metres
Tanks over 2500 litres = 6 metres
Note: Chemical weed killers (such as Sodium Chlorate) or any other method which might provide a source of ignition should not be used in these areas.
Visual screening should be:
Located at least 1 metre from the vessel
Located on one side only
Either evergreen shrubs or non flammable ranch type fence
It should not interfere with ventilation
Of all screening materials, however, nothing looks more natural than trees and shrubs. They’re not difficult to grow and cost less than bricks and mortar. The main consideration is to plan the selection carefully to allow for location conditions and the ultimate size of the plant. Ideally, the minimum of pruning should be required to ensure the one metre clearance for ventilation and access.
Trenches
When preparing the trench for pipework it should be a minimum of 600mm deep and the width of an ordinary garden spade. You should ensure that the bottom of the trench and the back fill are free of sharp stones / objects as these may damage the pipe. Extra protection may be necessary if the pipe runs below roadways or garden walls etc.
Pipework
The supply pipework should be designed by a specialist to ensure it provides an adequate supply of gas and that it conforms to the relevant standards.
The service pipework between the LPG bulk tank and the building should be installed in a trench, ensuring the route for the pipe is as short and direct as possible. The pipework should not be installed above ground, inside any building, or under the footings of a building.
The contractor installing the LPG bulk tank will normally lay the underground gas pipe that runs from the tank to your house. *(Please note in my case I had to do this myself and get it approved by the supply company, be warned it can prove very difficult and expensive to get this work carried out by a contractor). The pipe will be laid along a prepared trench to the outside wall of your home where it will enter at about 600mm above ground level with a quick acting emergency control valve.
Your central heating contractor will connect the pipe from this valve to the boiler and any other appliances.
Dimensions For The Concrete Base
Tank size: Length x width x depth (m)
1 x 380 litre = 1.7 x 0.65 x 0.15
2 x 380 litre = 1.7 x 2.3 x 0.15
1 x 1200 litre = 2.0 x 1.0 x .015
2 x 1200 litre = 2.0 x 3.0 x 0.15
1 x 2000 litre = 3.1 x 1.0 x 0.15
2 x 2000 litre = 3.1 x 3.0 x 0.15
1 x 3400 litre = 3.8 x 1.2 x .015
2 x 3400 litre 3.8 x 3.4 x 0.15
Construction Requirements
Peg out the base dimension in accordance with the diagram below ensuring that the vessel separation distances have been achieved.
Excavate the ground and provide a consolidated hardcore base.
Use a simple 4:2:1 sand: gravel: cement mix.
Ensure that the base top surface is at ground level.
Ensure the surface is level in both plains.
Allow at least 7 days for the base to cure.
Concrete Base
To support the weight of the LPG bulk tank including the gas contents, a load bearing base is required.
It is important to ensure that the base is adequately sized for the appropriate tank and suitably constructed to ensure stability and correct functioning of the tank valves and fittings.
Where an LPG bulk tank is to be delivered using a trolley, it is essential that the base surface is at ground level.
Be warned; Some LPG supplier companies claim that a suitable LPG tank will cost £150 and £60 rental in the fist 12 months. But this ignores the fact that it will also cost £60 to rent in the second 12 months, in the third twelve months, in the fourth 12 months… in fact for the lifetime of the installation. Over the typical 20 year lifespan of a heating installation, the storage tank will actually cost approximately £650.00
In the vast majority of cases the tank will be owned by the company that supplies the gas, but if you are unsure then you should check this with your own supplier. In general, the supplier will look after the tank and its fittings (their integrity and maintenance) but again check this with your supplier if you are unsure, as legally it needs to be maintained in a safe condition
