Known as the Oil storage regulations or OSR England, these regulations require anyone in England who stores more than 200 litres of oil, to provide more secure containment facilities for tanks, drums, Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) and mobile bowsers. This is to prevent oil escaping into the environment.
This section contains questions and answers on the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001.
If you wish to read the regulations in full, you will find them listed in Annex C of the following document:
Remember that other regulations and standards apply to the storage of oil and these aren't enforced by us. For example, Building Regulations (PDF, 4MB), OSR Northern Ireland (PDF, 1.1MB), OSR Scotland and petroleum licensing legislation.
It is your responsibility to make sure that your oil storage facilities comply with all relevant legislation.
For more information about the OSR England please read this document:
The OSR questions and answers were updated in April 2011. Updates include:
- information relating to Oil Storage Regulations in Northern Ireland in the 'Do the regulations apply to you?' section
- underground and buried tanks - how the regulations link to European tank manufacturing standards
- an update of the Water Resources (Control of Pollution) (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) Regulations 2010 (SSAFO) in the 'Exemptions' section.
You can download a PDF of all these questions and answers from the 'downloads' box on the right.
