New regs for oil tanks?

[Chrissie]

OK, so it's change-the-boiler time.  Still debating about whether to go for a water-heating one or not - what did Afy choose eventually? (having read his last year's thread.)

BUT, another question has reared its head:  chauffagiste has told us that we cannot keep our oil tank in its current position, which is in the boiler room, but behind a waist-high wall.  He says it has to be de-fumed by specialist company, cut into pieces and removed, and a new one bought and installed OUTSIDE the house, on a concrete foundation etc etc.[blink]

Is this true?  Or has he just seen another stupid English person on the horizon.......?

Chrissie (81)

[KathyC]

God, I hope not; ours is in the sous sol.

[Will]

This sounds like the European rules that came in last year - in about April I think in England, so France is probably doing the same. As far as I know it only applies to new installations, not (yet) to existing ones.

[Gluestick]

The new regulations for oil storage tanks in France are extremely strict.

The tank must be either (i) Fully self-bunded, which means simply a double skinned type capable of containing the total volume of oil contained if the tank was/is full, or: (ii) the tank must be contained within a Bunded Wall, which is an oil-proof wall, capable of containing the total maximum content of the tank and the tank volume itself. Which is pretty big!

There are important bits and conditions too. For example, above a threshhold volume, the tank must be buried.

I obtained a full translation of the new regs into french, complete with illustrations, as well as a copy of the new regs themselves, from a technical translator, who will supply these in pdf for a modest fee.

If any one would like a copy, please PM me and I will put you in touch with the lady concerned, who is in fact English and lives in either Brittany or Normandy.

It will be critical to comply with these new regs otherwise it is probable oil companies will refuse (should do!) to deliver etc.

(Edit) Sorry, forgot to say I am away now for two weeks and will respond to any PMs after that time.

 

 

 

[AnOther]

As far as UK goes the regs changed some time ago and covered both new and replacement tanks, i.e. a replacement tank has to meet current regs even if it's like-for-like and it has caught quite a few people out with things like distances from property/boundaries/watercourses etc. to the extent that some have literally had nowhere acceptable to place a tank and consequently have had to either break the rules or face giving up oil altogether.

Existing installations from before the new regs were exempt (assuming they met the previous regs of course) so it's only on tank replacement that problems arose.

I don't imagine that the French situation would be much diferent in this regard, how would they know who's got oil anyhow ?

[Le Petomane]

If you have a tank that can hold 2000 litres or over you're supposed to tell the local mairie and the sapeurs-pompeurs. If you haven't obeyed all the regs regarding installation and you had an oil leak or fire, then as sure as eggs is eggs your insurance company would refuse to pay up on any claim.

[Chrissie]

When they say "new installation", surely that's if you are planning to get a new oil tank (?).  I love my current oil tank and don't want to change it.  It is, however 5000litres, and I doubt very much if previous owners bothered to tell the Mairie, judging by their lack of declaration of anything else we have so far discovered.  I'll keep asking locally.

Do keep replies coming though!

Chrissie (81)