Be sure to check with your local Fire Marshall or building inspector to determine the type of tank that is required in your area. We have seen wildly variable regulations, depending on location. Typically, fresh motor oil will require a single wall U/L 142 tank for volumes up to 650 gallons. For higher volumes, secondary containment (a double wall tank or a dike) may be required.
For Class IIIB flammable fluids (WASTE OIL), you will almost always be required to use a double wall tank (or you can employ an alternate method of secondary containment such as a block wall dike. These don’t generally make economic sense, however) with U/L 142 certification.
Poly tanks, such as the Fluid All tanks that we sell, can typically be used for fresh lubricants. Again, to be safe, check with your local government official. These are an excellent, cost effective alternative to steel tanks, but can only be used for volumes under 300 gallons per fluid.
To determine the volume of a tank use this formula:
Length x width x height (IN FEET- divide inches by 12 to get feet-sorry to have to add this) and then multiply by 7.5. This will give you capacity in gallons. For example, you have a tank that is 2.5 feet wide by 30 inches long by 54 inches high. Here’s the math:
2.5 x 30/12 x 54/12 or 2.5 x 2.5 x 4.5 = 28.125 x 7.5 =211 Gallons
It is critical that you install a working vent on any tank with dynamic fluid levels. That is, any tank that you are adding to and taking from (especially if you are using a pneumatic pump to dispense from the tank). The reason? You will be displacing air when your oil jobber fills the tank, and you need to allow air to replace the oil that you pump out of the tank. Otherwise your tank will either blow out or cave in, and neither are pretty.
Emergency tank vents are generally required (especially for waste oil) on larger tanks of 300 gallons or so, or larger. CHECK LOCALLY TO BE SAFE. An emergency vent accommodates rapid expansion or contraction of the contents of the tank (like in the case of a fire!)