There are many options when it comes to buying petrol tanks either for storage or for dispensing fuel on a work site. From construction material and safety features to pricing, this article will go over the most crucial factors you need to consider when it comes to buying a petrol storage tank.
Construction
Not all petrol tanks are constructed from the same heavy duty and high-quality materials that prevent things such as weather corrosion or impacts and damage that can occur during the freight process. Ideally, you’ll want to look for petrol storage tanks that are made from all steel construction. Steel tanks are not only more durable and resistant to the elements, but they’re also surprisingly crack resistant and are able to withstand impacts from passing vehicles or equipment without sustaining the kind of damage that leads to cracks and fuel leaks. When looking at petrol tanks for your next construction, agricultural or transport project, be sure to pay attention to the materials the tank is constructed from as well as the manufacturing and safety standards of the tank.
Safety Features
All petrol tanks should come equipped with Hazchem signage for petrol and lockable fuel caps. Most importantly, any petrol storage tank you buy needs to have an air vent to relieve the vacuum and pressure caused by the fuel expanding and shrinking as a reaction to the changing temperatures throughout the day. An air vent on your petrol tank will dramatically decrease the chances of an accident, injury or death occurring on your work site. If you’ve bought an overhead petrol tank, the tank should have a solid platform and ladder attached that allows workers to move safely and securely around the tank without the risk of falling.
Compliance
Petrol tanks must be constructed to Australian standards for petrol storage tanks and must also clearly state the country where they were made. Compliance is important, as it will allow your project to continue instead of being abruptly shut down by a safety inspector. Using petrol tanks that are compliant with all standards and codes is also critical for ensuring safety for all work on site.
Storage Capacity
Petrol tanks can range in capacity from 500 litres all the way up to 5000 litres. Generally, if you only have a rough idea of how much fuel you’ll need to complete a project successfully, you should aim to buy a petrol tank that has a slightly larger capacity than what you think you’ll need. This is because even a slight miscalculation could lead to you running out of petrol in the middle of a job and having to overspend on petrol due to fluctuating petrol prices. Also be sure to know what the shelf-life of the petrol stored in the tank is. When left in a tank for an extended period of time, petrol can go stale due to gathering too much moisture and oxidisation. Oxidised fuel is effectively unusable and can be unstable. It’s not worth the risk to use oxidised fuel in equipment and vehicles.
