Best Practices for Diesel Generator Fuel Storage

What are the Diesel Storage Options I Have?

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Under the AS1940 Standard for the storage of fuel, there are three approved methods when it comes to storing diesel to feed a generator. Burying the tank underground, installing the tank within a fire-rated room, or installing a tank above the ground in a fire-proof bund.

• Burying the tank underground 

This method of fuel storage is a great space saver when the tank needs to be installed in a tight location, however there is potential complexity in the installation process, as well as the possibility of hidden services required. The completed solution will need an ongoing monitoring and maintenance program. Inspection and repairs on a tank of this sort can be difficult as leaks are not easily visible. When burying a tank underground, other factors that need to be considered include access pits for servicing, proximity to property boundaries, the water table level, building foundations & corrosion protection. If a longer run-time or higher load rate was required in the future, obviously more capacity of fuel storage would be required.  Relocation is difficult, and the underground tank isn’t easily extracted to be used elsewhere, so a second fuel tank would be required.

• Tanks located in a fire-rated room

A fire-rated room is essentially a room that is designed to protect the tank inside it from fire and other major hazards. In the construction phase of this method the walls, roof and all penetrations in and out of the room will need to have an FRL (Fire Resistance Level) of 240/240/240. Fire-rated ventilation/dampers will also need to be installed. A removable roof for tank replacement will need to be designed and installed, as well as a fire-rated door that is designed to stay closed. There are specific separation distances from other tanks that need to be kept to, along with services, foundations of the building and boundaries or other properties to be considered in keeping a safe distance from. In addition, the whole room will require water-tight bunding to be able to contain the volume of the largest tank within the room.

When installing your tank in a fire-proof room, it’s important to ensure that the concrete products used to construct the room have been certified to the FRL. The FRL is the ability of a building element to withstand a fire under test conditions for a certain period and consists of the three criteria being structural adequacy, integrity, and insulation. This means that if a building element was exposed to a standard fire test, it would not be expected to fail for 240 minutes (4 hours) in each of the following three criteria.

– Structural Adequacy: For a period of 240 minutes (4 hours) the product being tested was able to support a load while subject to fire conditions.

– Integrity: The product did not disintegrate or crack so as to see the flames of the fire for gases to escape.

– Insulation: The product being tested did not transfer an average temperature reading that exceeds 180°C above the ambient temperature.

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• Installing an above-ground fire-rated tank

This method of storing diesel for your generator is fast becoming the simplest and most cost-effective way to store fuel. With a fire-rated tank, it is important that the structural adequacy, integrity and insulation are demonstrated on the complete tank. Where the tank is subject to a recognised US standard test, only a 4-hour fire-rated would be deemed equivalent to an FRL of 240/240/240. An example of an appropriate test is the 4-hour liquid hydrocarbon pool fire test to an appropriate SwRI (Southwest Research Institute).

According to the Standard AS1940:2017 written specifically for ‘The Storage and Handling of Flammable and Combustible Liquids’ (Recognised across Australia, New Zealand, and other Pacific Islands), a 4-hour fire-rated tank that complied with AS1940 in regard to the SwRI-93-01 & 95-03 Standards is permitted. Clause 5.9.2(a) and (b) are, by virtue of clause 5.9.4(c) “regarded as complying with the requirements for tanks in chambers” (see clause 5.13.1 and 5.13.2). This means that accordingly, the 4-hour fire-rated tank may store flammable or combustible liquids inside or close to a regular building.

Industrial generators are typically massive pieces of equipment, and rightly so–they may be called upon to power your entire business’ operations when grid power fails.

Because of their complexity, their unavoidable propensity to emit fumes and noise, their sheer size, and the significant financial investment they require, owners must dedicate careful thought to planning the site their generator installations will go. 

This will ensure you avoid fines from regulatory agencies and get years of reliable service from your generator. 

We’re taking a look at how to prep the perfect site for a commercial generator. 

Before beginning, you’ll need to know what size generator you need. If you need help determining this info, check out our Generator Sizing Guide and explore the Diesel Fuel Consumption Chart to understand your fuel storage needs before continuing.

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