Commercial fuel spill tanks are required at major petrol stations across Australia. Find out how they work and what we recommend.
Commercial fuel spill tanks are required at major petrol stations across Australia. Find out how they work and what we recommend.
If you own, operate or planning to open fuel service station you need to be clear on what a commercial fuel spill tank is and why they are an integral part of running a safe and responsible petrol station in Australia.
What is a fuel spill tank?
A fuel spill tank is designed to handle any overflow of your main storage tanks, to ensure fuel does not spill into the surrounding environment. These tanks generally come into play when the station’s tanks are being refilled; they serve a purpose in case of overflow or emergency.
How does a fuel spill tank work?
A fuel spill tank works very simply by accepting any overflow from the main fuel storage tanks while they are being refilled. This way, any fuel that could potentially have leaked into the land around the service station instead goes into the extra storage tanks for safekeeping.
Once a fuel spill tank has been used in an emergency, the fuel is pumped out and taken away from that site to be processed by the fuel operator.
Why have a fuel spill tank?
A fuel spill tank can prevent serious issues from arising at a service station.
Firstly, and most obviously, having fuel over the ground is a fire hazard. A fuel spill can lead to possible tragedy, so responsible service station owners stay compliant with regulations by planning ahead and ensuring there is a functioning fuel spill tank on site.
Then there is the possible environmental impact. Fuel spills can run over more than the immediate area.Â
If fuel from your station gets into a local water supply or bushland, it can cause environmental problems that could see a facility owner facing hefty penalties from the local government body. For example, in NSW, if an individual is found guilty of water pollution, they can be fined up to $250,000 and a further $60,000 per day if the pollution continues. For companies, the fine is up to $1,000,000, plus up to $120,000 per day for a continuing offence.
What to look for in a fuel spill tank
A quality fuel spill tank includes the following:Â
- Anti-flotation design: A fuel spill tank should float if it becomes surrounded by water. This ensures that it stays in place and doesn’t rise to the surface if there is flooding or any other form of water issue.
- 50 Mpa concrete: Due to the high compressive strength and durability requirements necessary for heavy-duty construction, 50 Mpa strength concrete should be used in the manufacturing of a fuel spill tank.
- Exposure Classification: A B2 classification is in accordance with Australian Standards AS3735 (Concrete Structures for retaining liquids).
- Extra heavy-duty: Fuel spill tanks in service stations will most likely have a high volume of traffic driving over them. You will need a model that is designed to withstand being driven over by heavy vehicles without sustaining any structural damage.
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Fuel spill tanks from Australian Tanks
Australian Tanks’ 10,000 or 20,000-litre tanks are a purpose-designed solution for service stations that need to avoid a fuel spill incident. The products we share with our clients are tough, durable and low maintenance as well as meeting Australian safety standards and being quick to install.
If you need to find out more about fuel spill tanks at your service station, contact one of our civil design and business development specialists so they can assist you by creating CAD designs.Â
If you’re overseeing the upgrade or designing a service station site, you can also access technical drawings for fuel tanks through our unique Engineers Portal.Â
To find out more, contact Australian Tanks today.
