Oil Fired Appliances Brochure

This easy guide applies to pipe work systems supplyingkerosene and gas oil to oil fired equipment under 45kWoutput, from oil storage tanks under 3,500 litres servingsingle family dwellings.Depending on where you live, regulations may vary slightly.The information here is a general guide, and you can checkup on local regulations with building control or withOFTEC’s technical helpline which is a free service availableto OFTEC registered technicians.Types of oil feed systemsThere are two types of oil feed systems; gravity and sub-gravity. Gravity feed systems are typically used with bottomoutlet oil storage tank installations and/or were a tank has tobe raised off the ground. Sub-gravity systems are used fortop outlet tank installations which require mechanicalsuction to raise the fuel out of the tank.The oil feed pipes for these supply systems must becorrectly sized. An incorrectly sized pipe will result in thesystem operating inefficiently.Oil feed pipesOil feed pipes are usually made of plastic coated coppertubing that can be manipulated into shape. If steel pipes areused they must be protected from corrosion. Plastic pipe isalso available, but this must not be used above groundbecause it is not fire rated.External/exposed pipesIn order to prevent air locks, external gravity piping shouldrun in a continuous rise following the direction of flow. Pipesmust be supported by purpose made clips and attached topermanent structures such as a wall. A garden shed orwooden boundary fence is not classed as a permanentstructure because it will deteriorate with age, and anymovement may damage the pipes.Buried oil feed pipesBuried oil feed pipes must be of appropriate material suchas plastic coated copper or approved plastic undergroundpipe. Oil feed pipes should be buried at least 300mm clearof other underground services such as water and electricity.Oil feed pipes should be buried to a depth of 450mm. Thebottom of the trench should be filled with 40mm of tightlycompacted sand for the pipe to lie on. The pipe is thencovered with another 40mm of sand and a layer of buildinggrade polythene used to protect from contamination.Warning tape (which is available from OFTEC Direct) shouldalso be placed above the pipe 150mm below the surface.It’s important to protect the oil feed pipes from accidentaldamage.Pipes running through buildingsWhere a pipe passes into buildings it must be within asleeve, such as a larger/outer pipe.domestic feed pipesTheOFTECeasy guide to...Oil feed pipes should not be run underground directly intothe interior of a building. Instead the pipe should riseexternally and have a remote acting fire valve fitted before itenters the building. In the event of a fire oil is thereforeisolated outside of the building.JointingJoint materials must be suitable for the type of pipe and fuelbeing used. Special petroleum resisting compounds aredeemed acceptable for jointing. Underground joints inburied pipe work should be avoided, but if they have to beused the joints must be easily accessible.Fire valvesA fire valve is an essential part of the fuel supply systemwhich will cut off the oil feed in the event of a fire. The valvemust be located outside the building before the point wherethe oil supply pipe enters the building, and must beactivated by a remote sensor located within the boilercasing.Existing internal oil feed pipes that do not have a fire valvecan have one added at the first point where the pipeappears internally. This cannot be done on a newinstallation, but can improve safety for an existinginstallation.Fire valves are also required for external boilers, with the cutoff point located at least 1m away from the appliance.Safety andmaintenanceOil feed pipes must be inspected regularly, and pressuretesting may be necessary, especially for pipesunderground.For safety purposes, records should be kept by installerand occupier on the following:• Pipe Route• Material used• Size of pipe and sleeving if any• Buried depth if applicableOFTECOil Firing Technical AssociationFoxwood House, Dobbs Lane,Kesgrave, Ipswich IP5 2QQTel: 0845 65 85 080 Fax: 0845 65 85 181www.oftec.org PUB/46 Issue 2 11.11.2008