DIYbanter - View Single Post - Oil tank move/replacement/installation/commission

The Natural Philosopher

wrote:
Ok, so the boiler's working. One of the problems is the lack of drop
to the boiler when the tank's near empty.

Looks like the oil was sucked to the level of the outlet, but there
wasn't enough head to displace the air when a couple of emergency
drums were thrown in, necessitating waiting for a partial fill & bleed
process.

So I want to move to a slimline tank, placed slightly higher up on
either a brick base, or some sort of blocks, probably on a concrete
over hardcore raft.

Is this DIY-able ? I'm happy with the concept of mixing and pouring
concrete, and building something that will hold a tank up, but.

Its definitley DIY able.

1) What's the required thickness of raft to support a 60Kg tank plus
1000 litres of contents ?

So about 1 tinne overall yes?
Not a lot frankly. About 4" of concter should be adequate.

2) what supporting should be put under the tank if any, I.e how many
legs and or cross supporting does it need ?

What I have here for a 2500 liter tank is this.

First we cast a base of about 4" of concrete over assorted rubble
smashed into the wet clay. Shuttering was used for s 'naice' finish on
the sides.

Then two walls of concrete blocks were used to make up the height.
Finally, because the support ribs on the tank ran parallel to the walls,
4 reinforced concrete lintels were laid on top and mortared in: The tank
sits on these.

3) Any special considerations planning permission

may need a buidling notice as there are strict regs about siting and
bunding.

4) Any statutory requirements siting or commissioning ?

see above.

5) I'm told a "recognised risk assessment undertaken by a competent
person" is required, Is it still required as the new tank will be
adjacent to the old one i'm decommissioning. So siting shouldn't be an
issue in the current location.

Ah, but replacement rather than repair brings you into building regs,
and these are more stringent than when the intiial was installed.

6) Pipework needs to be buried. Ok, with what protection and any
special considerations ? I'll probably connect the new tank pipework
to the old, existing pipework.

I used plastic coated 10mm copper. I have to say we did lay some in a
scaffold pipe under the drive for protection. Even though the tank is a
meter and a half above the burners, the damned pipes didn't fill with
oil without a lot of sucking. I never figured out why a down and up was
worse than a straight down..

7) Any recommnedations as regards new filters/gate valves etc. Clearly
won't be reusing the existing items.

No. Not really. However keep compression jonts to a minimum. You cant or
shouldn't solder oil pipe, and 10mm is a ******* to make leaktight
joints in. Use special gas type red whotsit - it helps.

The tank i'm looking at is 160Cm long by 70 wide by 140 high.

Thanks,

Paul.