No products match those filters.
Clear all filtersTalk to a specialist.
Sizing, regulations, installation. Our team has been answering these questions for 28 years.
5000 Litre Single Skin FAQs
Can I install a 5,000 litre single skin tank at a commercial premises?
Generally not without secondary containment. The Oil Storage Regulations require bunding for above-ground oil storage over 200 litres at commercial, industrial and institutional sites, which a 5,000 litre tank comfortably exceeds.
Single skin tanks of this size are normally used domestically, or in a purpose-built masonry or concrete bund that provides the required 110% containment separately.
Does a domestic 5,000 litre tank need bunding?
It depends on the risk assessment rather than the volume alone. Building Regulations and OFTEC guidance require bunding for domestic installations where the tank is within 10 metres of controlled water, within 50 metres of a borehole or spring, where the vent cannot be seen from the fill point, or where a spill could reach a drain or manhole.
Most 5,000 litre domestic installations end up bunded for at least one of those reasons, so it is worth having the site assessed before ordering.
How much space does a 5,000 litre tank need?
Beyond the tank footprint itself, allow for the fire separation distances in Building Regulations Part J — typically 1.8 metres from non-fire-rated buildings and boundaries, or 760mm where an appropriate fire barrier is in place.
You also need access for the delivery hose and enough clearance to read the gauge and service the outlet fittings.
What base does it need?
A level, non-combustible base extending at least 300mm beyond the tank on all sides, capable of supporting the full weight. Five thousand litres of kerosene weighs roughly four tonnes before the tank itself.
Concrete slab or paving slabs on a properly prepared sub-base are the usual solutions. Point loading or a base that settles unevenly will crack a plastic tank and distort a steel one.
Steel or plastic at this capacity?
Both are common at 5,000 litres. Plastic is lighter to position, will not corrode, and is generally cheaper. Steel is more robust against impact and vandalism, and is often preferred on exposed or agricultural sites.
Access is often the deciding factor — a plastic tank can be manoeuvred by hand where a steel one needs machinery.
How long will 5,000 litres last?
For a typical UK home using oil for heating and hot water, annual consumption is often in the range of 1,500 to 3,000 litres, so a 5,000 litre tank usually covers a full year with room to buy when prices are favourable.
That is the main argument for the larger capacity — fewer deliveries and the ability to fill at a good price rather than when the tank is nearly empty.