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Britteco

Commercial heating oil tank beside a brick outbuilding before removal
Case Study — Tank Decommissioning

11,500-litre heating oil tank Removal during renovation

Removing an unused tank and the outbuilding around it to clear space as part of a commercial property renovation.

  • Commercial property
  • 11,500-litre tank
  • Renovation project
11,500L Tank capacity
Unused Heating oil tank
Outbuilding Additional removal scope
Renovation Client objective
Project Overview

An old tank enclosed by an outbuilding

Britteco was asked to decommission and remove an 11,500-litre heating oil tank at a commercial property. The tank had been unused for years, and an outbuilding had subsequently been constructed around it.

The work formed part of a wider building renovation. The client wanted the space cleared so it could be developed into an employee rest area. The scope therefore included both the tank and the surrounding outbuilding.

Site Requirements

Planning around the surrounding structure

The outbuilding contained electrical installations, a safety system and an asbestos roof, according to the original project account. These were additional considerations alongside the tank contents and its connection to the heating system.

The project needed to be considered as a combined tank and building-clearance job. The sequence had to account for the surrounding materials and services before the area could be handed back for renovation.

Site photograph from the heating oil tank removal project
Site photograph from the heating oil tank removal project
Work Undertaken

Fuel removal, disconnection and dismantling

Remaining oil was removed using specialist equipment, and the tank was disconnected from the heating system. It was then cut into manageable sections for removal.

The work also included removal of the outbuilding. Waste and metal from the project were cleared, with materials sent for recycling or disposal as appropriate to their type.

For an overview of how Britteco assesses unused tanks, see oil tank decommissioning . The tank removal and cold-cutting service explains the wider options for removing vessels from restricted locations.

Project Outcome

Space cleared for the next stage

The old tank and outbuilding were removed, leaving the area clear for the client’s planned refurbishment. The project demonstrates why a removal survey should cover the structures built around a tank as well as the vessel itself.

The intended future use was an employee rest area. This case study records the clearance work; it does not claim that construction of the rest area formed part of Britteco’s scope.

Discuss Your Project

Planning similar work?

Tell Britteco about the tank, its contents and the available access. Photographs and site details help the team understand the scope before discussing the next steps.

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