22 Mar New Welsh Oil Storage Regulations are good for the environment, but are there any benefits for your business?
Posted at 11:56 in Flood Resilience by Henrik Pedersen
New regulations governing the storage of oil came into force in Wales last week.
As is already the case in the rest of the UK, the Water Resources (Control Of Pollution) (Oil Storage) (Wales) Regulations 2016, set standards for oil storage facilities and aim to prevent the escape of oil and the risk of water pollution and damage to land and property.
From March 15th 2016, if you store oil in containers with a capacity of 200l+ you must now situate them within an oil-tight secondary containment system such as a bund to catch any oil leaking from the container or its related pipework and equipment. This applies where the oil is stored above ground, whether inside or outside a building. The Regulations’ best practice states that constructed bunds need a specialist coating on the internal surfaces of the base and walls to make them impermeable.
Great news for the environment, but what impact does it have on your business?
1. It reduces the risk of non-compliance fines
The new legislation is designed to reduce the number of environmental incidents relating to oil spills and leaks, but it also reduces your risk of fines for pollution. By adhering to the regulations’ best practice and spray lining bunds, you can guarantee oil containment, whatever the size of oil stored.
2. Clean up of spills will be faster and cheaper
Leaks and spills are inevitable and with spray lined bunds, clean-up from leaks and spills is easier and cheaper. Spray lining can guarantee that oil has been contained (for example, our Adalline® 400 polyurea is hydrocarbon-resistant, ensuring oil cannot get through) and when a spill occurs, the oil can be sucked up, and the bund quickly cleaned and back in service.
3. It can extend the lifespan of the bund
Spray lining can extend the lifespan of the bund; our guarantees range from 10 to 50 years depending on the environment. Rather than creating an obligation that needs maintaining and in time replacing, this resilient approach ensures you are compliant without the need for regular bund replacement.
4. It can improve health and safety
Finally, installing a bund system correctly can improve the health and safety levels on a site. We include anti-slip walkways and upgraded signage when installing a bund to ensure that everyone is aware of potential trip and slip risks.
There’s more information on the Regulations here.
For information on Adler & Allan’s complete oil containment solutions, please visit our website.