If you use a fuel oil tank for the heating of your home, then there are a number of important obligations for the maintenance of that tank and you must also demonstrate these obligations when selling your home.

Does each fuel oil tank have to be checked?
Every fuel oil tank must be checked after installation and before commissioning. If there are 5.000l of fuel oil or more in the fuel oil tank(s) at your home, you are obliged to report this to the municipal mayor and aldermen. In the case of very large tanks (from 20.000 liters), you are finally obliged to apply for an environmental permit.
Even after commissioning you are obliged to regularly have your fuel oil tank checked. How often depends on the volume of the tank, its location (underground or above-ground) and its location (inside or outside water catchment areas and protection zones).

Which periodic checks should you continue?
Tank for the storage of less than 5.000l fuel oil:
The owner of a fuel oil tank for the storage of less than 5.000 liters of heating oil has the following maintenance obligations.
An 'underground tank' is a tank that has been buried in the ground. A tank in a basement is therefore an 'above-ground tank'.

• An underground fuel oil tank must be inspected every five years.
• An underground fuel oil tank that was commissioned before 1 August 1995 had to undergo a periodic inspection for the first time before 1 August 2002.
• An above-ground fuel oil tank must not be periodically checked since 1 March 2009 after it has been used. Only the control during the placement is mandatory.
• Do you have an above-ground tank that was commissioned before 1 March 2009? Then the 'date for next check' on the last maintenance certificate determines whether or not control is still required.
• Does the latest maintenance certificate state that the next inspection must take place on 1 March 2009 or a later date? Then you are not obliged to periodically have your tank inspected.
• Does the last maintenance certificate state that the next inspection must take place on a date before 1 March 2009? Then you are obliged to have the above-ground tank checked one last time.
• An above-ground fuel oil tank that was taken into use before 1 August 1995 had to undergo a first periodic inspection before 1 August 2003.

Tank for the storage of 5000 kg fuel oil or more:
The owner of a fuel oil tank for the storage of 5000 kg fuel oil or more has the following maintenance obligations.
An 'underground tank' is a tank that has been buried in the ground. A tank in a basement is therefore an 'above-ground tank'.

• An underground fuel oil tank must undergo a limited investigation at least every two years (this must be done annually if the tank is located in a water abstraction area or protection zone) and
• every 15 years a thorough general examination (this must happen every 10 years if the tank is in a water abstraction area or protection zone). Underground tanks of reinforced, thermoset plastic are exempt from thorough general research.
• An above-ground fuel oil tank must undergo a limited examination every 3 years and, if the tank has a capacity of more than 20,000 liters, a general examination every 20 years.

Who should check your fuel oil tank?
● A tank for the storage of less than 5000 kg of fuel oil must be inspected by a recognized 'oil fuel tank technician'.
● A tank for the storage of 5000 kg fuel oil or more must be checked by one : approved engineer oil fuel tanks or recognized environmental expert in the discipline of containers for gases or hazardous substances.

When can you continue using a fuel oil tank?
For every inspection or investigation the accredited technician or environmental expert draws up a certificate for the owner or operator. This must unequivocally show that the tank does or does not comply with the statutory provisions. The certificate must always include the following:

• name and approval number of the executive technician or environmental expert
• date of the check
• date of the next inspection (if it is an underground tank).

After the check, your installation will receive a green, orange or red cap or mark plate.

• A green cap or brand plate means that the tank complies with the legal requirements and may be used further.
• An orange cap or brand plate means that the tank does not comply with the legal provisions, but that the defects identified can not give rise to contamination outside the tank. The tank may still be filled or refilled during a transitional period of a maximum of 6 months. The owner or operator must take all necessary measures to restore the tank to good condition. Before the end of the transitional period, a certified technician must again check the storage facility.
• A red cap or brand plate means that the storage installation does not comply with the legal requirements. In such a case it is forbidden to fill or have the storage tank filled. The owner or operator must take all necessary measures to restore the storage installation in good condition. Thereafter, a certified technician must again check the storage installation.

You need help requesting your certificate?
Stijn Voet Immobiliën would be happy to help you with applying for your certificate.