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The Environment Agency reports that there are approximately 3000 pollution incidents involving oil and fuels every year in the UK, making this the second most frequent type of pollutant of inland waters in the UK, after plastic. On average, an oil spill can cost a business up to £8 million in fines, clean up charges and production losses. Not only this, but if you pollute, as stated in the Pollution Prevention Guidelines, ‘’you could get an unlimited fine, go to prison for up to 5 years, or both’’. You may also have to pay for the whole cost of the clean-up. There could also be additional costs in terms of compensation to third parties, higher insurance premiums or loss of contracts. With damage to your reputation too – it’s certainly something that any business owner should seek to avoid. Luckily with an OFTEC inspection, you can reduce the risk of oil spills and oil leakages from both your generators and fuel tanks.
Recommended annually, an OFTEC inspection from Dale ensures that yours is carried out by an OFTEC-registered engineer or OFTEC-registered technician. By carrying out a tank inspection by a qualified engineer you are minimising the risks and associated penalties that come with an oil spill or oil leakage, and should you pass, you’ll receive an OFTEC certificate that is valid for 5 years.
Covering everything from the condition, construction, type of oil and identification of your oil tank through to bund compliance, gauge inspections and environmental considerations, our OFTEC inspections are thorough, reliable and industry-compliant. You can be certain that after an OFTEC inspection with Dale Power Solutions, you will have the information and tools you need to prevent oil spills and oil leakages, and actionable advice for increased protection, and health and safety.
An OFTEC Inspection from a qualified and competent team member offers many advantages, including:
Quality Assurance: As an OFTEC-registered business we possess the necessary skills to carry out tank inspections effectively, working to recognised practices and standards that OFTEC, the government and The Environmental Alliance have laid out
Extensive Inspection: Our OFTEC inspections are thorough and extensive, looking at everything from the condition, construction and location of your tanks, through to bund compliance, your procedures for operation and filling and spill response. Along with inspection of your gauges, level alarms and fire valves, we’ve got you covered
Certification: Should you pass your inspection, you’ll receive an OFTEC certificate which is valid for 5 years. Please note that OFTEC inspections should still be carried out annually, and regular servicing and maintenance completed as swiftly as possible
Avoids Nasty Surprises: Should you not comply with regulations, you may be subject to reputation-damaging court cases, expensive fines and the costs associated with production loss and clean ups, not to mention prison sentences. By being forward-thinking and putting measures in place to prevent oil spills, such as regular OFTEC inspections, then you avoid any nasty surprises in your future
Peace Of Mind: They’ll be no confusion or concern with, and following, an OFTEC inspection from Dale Power Solutions. You’ll know what you need to do to be compliant, and to keep the environment safe, and should you fail, what the consequences will be
An OFTEC Inspection from Dale ensures compliance with industry regulations and OFTEC-approved controls. An extensive inspection, it covers the following functions:
Tank Features. Taking its location, condition and construction into account, we also look at the type of oil used, its age and identification.
Condition of Pipework. From your gathering pipelines and your feeder pipelines through to your transmission pipelines and distribution pipelines, we look out for corrosion, cracks, environmental pressure and any potential damage from installation or excavation.
Corrosion, one of the most common causes of pipeline issues, can be of 3 types:
External Corrosion. Usually arising from external conditions of heat, water or pressure combined with contact with corrosive materials such as acidic soil
Internal Corrosion. Resulting from the transportation of a corrosive or pressurised product
Corrosion Defects. Due to physical characteristics such as pipeline shape or form, or from issues resulting from handling or installation
As well as checking weld integrity, we look out for cracks and fractures in the pipelines, consider pipe alignment and wall thickness.
Condition of Tank Supports and Base Quality. A visual check of the base and supports of the fuel storage tank for cracking and subsidence is very important. An uneven base, or incorrectly fitted base, could cause an oil tank to succumb to pressure, especially when full. This could lead to stretching and the formation of cracks and splits. We can check for all of this, and make recommendations on base types too.
Bund Compliance. Also known as ‘secondary containment’, a bund is an area around a tank and its ancillary equipment designed to contain any loss of oil and to prevent any environmental impact. A bund must hold at least 110% of the volume of oil the tank is designed to contain, with that extra 10% taking into account everything from sudden tank failures and leaks through to loss of the total tank contents, overfilling and containment of fire-fighting agents.
Bunds may also be impermeable to oil and water with no direct outlet such as a pipe, valve or other opening to drain the system.
Inspection of Gauges, Level Alarms and Fire Valves. For example, sight gauges will be checked that they:
Have a bracket along the length of the sight gauge tube that fixes the tube to the tank so that it can’t be knocked over
Are fitted with a valve that closes automatically when the gauge is not in use
Inspection of Associated Ancillary Equipment. If your fixed tank has a pump, we’ll check that:
Your pump has a valve in its feed line that prevents the tank contents emptying if there’s damage to the pump or feed line
It’s positioned to reduce the risk of damage by impact – for example, away from tanker turning circles and fork lift truck routes
It’s protected against oil theft – for example, by keeping the pump in a lockable cage
Inspection of Overfill and Impact Protection. If the vent pipe of a fixed tank, and the tank itself, cannot be seen from where the tank is filled, we’ll check that an automatic overfill prevention device has been fitted to the tank. This may be a device that cuts off the flow of oil to the tank when it’s full, a sounding alarm or fixed tank probe that sends a signal to alert the person filling the tank when the tank is full.
Inspection of Fill Points, Draw Off Points and Vents. Fill pipes, draw off pipes and overflow pipes must be positioned in a location that minimises the risk of damage by impact – for example away from driveways, tanker turning circles, and fork lift truck routes.
Also, if you fill your tank or container through a remote pipe (i.e. you fill your container at a fill point that’s outside the bund/secondary containment), we’ll check that you’re using a drip tray to catch any oil that may be spilled during its delivery.
If your fixed tank has any vent pipes, taps or valves, we’ll also check:
That the vent pipes, taps or valves are within the valve
They are arranged so that any oil coming out of them will go vertically down the bund
That taps and valves have a lock and can be locked when not in use
We will also discuss your processes and procedures for operation, filling and spill response, and ensure that environmental issues and fire issues are at the forefront of your business.
To avoid costly and damaging fuel leakages which could lead to pollution and legal action we recommend an annual OFTEC inspection along with regular servicing and maintenance. Book a comprehensive inspection, carried out by fully qualified Dale engineers, today.