: :  petroleum services

ATTENTION: FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RECENT LAWS DEALING WITH FUEL TANKS, IN REGARDS TO REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE.  Click Here

: : Fuel Oil Underground and Aboveground Storage Tanks

Fuel Oil is an excellent source of energy, it is less expensive compared to natural gas and electricity, it is very safe and clean if the storage tanks are properly maintained and inspected regularly.

The new regulations require fuel oil distributors to conduct inspections on all fuel oil heating systems. This includes all underground and aboveground tanks, associated piping, venting and heating appliances such as furnaces, boilers and water heaters. The fuel oil distributor must inspect all equipment to which they deliver fuel, whether it is located above or below ground. Fuel oil cannot be delivered to equipment that poses an immediate hazard.

What homeowners or commercial establishments don’t realize is that most tanks corrode from the insight out which is not visible to the naked eye. This is due to condensation build up in the tank, since oil is lighter than water, the water goes to the bottom of the tank which causes it to corrode. Most insurance companies are concerned about this, because they are afraid that the tank has the potential of spilling all of its contents into the environment (soil, ground water).

If you own a buried fuel oil tank, or aboveground storage it must be upgraded with leak and spill-protection equipment or removed. Your first step is to register your tank, free of charge, with the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA). Your fuel supplier may refuse to fill your underground tank if it is not registered with TSSA This does not include oil tanks in basements and aboveground fuel storage tanks. The provincial regulations include a phased-in, multiyear program to upgrade or remove these tanks. If you’re underground fuel tank was installed:

• 25 or more years ago? the tank must be upgraded or removed by October 1, 2006
• 20 to 24 years ago? the tank must be upgraded or removed by October 1, 2007
• 10 to 19 years ago? the tank must be upgraded or removed by October 1, 2008
• Less than a year to 9 years ago? the tank must be upgraded or removed by October 1, 2009

First, it is important to realize your fuel oil system consists of more then a storage tank. It includes a fill and vent pipe for oil supply and an outlet line with a valve and filter to supply the oil to your furnace. So when we discuss the oil system, we are really talking about all of these components. Keep in mind any one of these components can fail causing a leak or spill.

Some of the things your fuel dealer will be looking at during the inspection include:

• verifying the tank has a proper gauge and an overfill protection device
• checking whether the tank is leaning over and may topple
• checking whether there are signs of leakage at the tank bottom
• ensuring that the fill and vent are piped outside.

Real Estate transactions can be put on hold or Insurance can be denied if an underground fuel oil storage tank is found and not registered or an aboveground storage tank is found leaking this also can pose a serious problem. Immediate action is required, the removal or replacement of the tank must follow or according to the Insurance bureau of Canada a place of residence or commercial facility with an exterior tank older than 15 years or an interior tank older than 25 years will not be insured.

: : Other Petroleum Services

• Service Station construction and maintenance
• Petroleum piping installation
• UST (Underground Storage Tanks) and AST (Aboveground Storage Tanks) Removals and Installations
• Bulk plants and dyke containment construction
• double wall steel and fiberglass underground tanks
• leak detection equipment
• rigid and flexible, single and double wall piping
• spill containment equipment
• safety valves
• waste oil tanks and pumping equipment
• Construction & repair of concrete pump islands, aprons, fill boxes, sign poles, flood light pole and canopy bases
• Patch paving
• Pressure and vacuum testing of underground tanks and lines
• Aboveground and underground tank cleaning
• Remote Tank Monitoring
• Hazardous location specialists
• Telemetry development and implementation
• Power and distribution systems
• PLC design / programming
• Control panel system design and construction
• Remote automated voice / fax / email reporting