Do not store petrol at home unless you have to, if you do STORE IT SAFELY
Petrol is a dangerous substance, it is a highly flammable liquid that gives off vapours that can be easily ignited. Any leak of petrol can lead to a serious fire and/or explosion, particularly if the leak occurs within a building.
Petrol must be stored in suitable portable containers and only in specific locations.
Petroleum Regulations
The storage of petrol is covered by the Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014.
Common storage arrangements
- Petrol must not be stored in living accommodation
- The storage place must have a direct exit to open air and ventilation
- You must take reasonable precautions to prevent any ignition sources or excessive heat in the storage place
- Where the storage place is attached to a building, e.g. an integral garage, it must be provided with fire separation from the remainder of the building
- You should not use petrol in the storage place except in the fuel tank of an internal combustion engine or in quantities less than 150 millilitres for cleaning purposes
Maximum storage quantities
You can store up to a maximum of 30 litres of petrol (in addition to the petrol contained in the fuel tank of your vehicle). This volume depends on the type of container used:
- Plastic petrol containers up to 10 litres capacity
- Metal petrol containers up to 20 litres capacity
- One demountable fuel tank up to 30 litres capacity
Filling up
- Take care when filling your vehicle's fuel tank or appropriate approved container. Spillages or leaks are hazardous, so do not overfill your tank and make sure that the filler cap is securely in place and not leaking.
- Fuel expands and vapour can build up in hot weather, so avoid filling to the brim.
- Approved containers should not be overfilled and should be securely fastened during transit to prevent them falling over and leaking.
Spillages on the road surface, particularly of diesel, create slippery conditions that are a major hazard to other road users especially those on two wheels.