Above-Ground Fuel Tank Installation: A Planning Checklist

An above-ground fuel tank is one of the most useful bits of kit a site can have, and getting the installation right decides whether it is a safe, compliant asset or an ongoing headache. This guide walks through what needs planning before the tank arrives, from the ground it sits on to the paperwork.

Requirements vary between states, councils and the type of fuel, so treat this as a checklist of things to work through rather than a substitute for advice on your specific site.

1. Know what you are storing

Diesel and petrol are treated very differently. Under AS 1940, the Australian standard for storing flammable and combustible liquids, diesel is a combustible liquid, while petrol is a flammable liquid with stricter rules on location, ignition sources and equipment. Volume matters too: larger quantities can trigger notification or licensing with your state regulator.

If you are storing petrol, see our specialised petrol storage systems, which are built around vapour recovery and explosion-proof equipment.

2. Pick the location

Where the tank goes affects safety, compliance and how easy it is to live with. Think about:

• Separation distances from buildings, site boundaries, drains and ignition sources. AS 1940 and your local authority set these, and they depend on the fuel and quantity.
• Delivery access. A fuel tanker needs to get in, park close enough for its hose and get out again without reversing through the yard.
• Refuelling access for the vehicles and machines that will use it, ideally without crossing busy traffic routes.
• Drainage. The tank should not sit where stormwater collects, and any spill must not be able to reach a drain or waterway.
• Security. A lockable, visible location reduces theft and tampering.

3. Prepare the base

A full tank is heavy. Diesel weighs roughly 0.84kg per litre, so a 10,000L tank carries around 8.4 tonnes of fuel before you add the weight of the tank itself. The base needs to be level and rated for the full load, which usually means an engineered concrete slab for larger tanks. Smaller cube tanks can sit on a well-prepared, level hardstand, but check the manufacturer's requirements first.

4. Sort out containment

Every above-ground fuel tank needs a way to contain a leak or spill. There are two common approaches:

• A self bunded tank, where the tank sits inside a second outer tank with 110% containment built in. This is the simplest option for most sites and avoids building a separate bund. See our self bunded tanks.
• A single-skin tank inside a constructed bund, which takes more design, more space and more ongoing housekeeping, as rainwater has to be managed.

Keep a spill kit at the refuelling point either way. Our spill containment units cover drum storage and refuelling areas.

5. Plan the pump, power and dispensing

Decide how fuel will get out of the tank before it is installed. A pump sized for the job, the right hose length and a meter if you need to track usage all affect where the tank sits and what power it needs. Electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician, and petrol installations bring hazardous area requirements for equipment near the tank. If grid power is not practical, solar and generator options are available.

If you need to know which vehicle used which fuel, plan for fuel management at this stage rather than retrofitting it later.

6. Signage, safety equipment and paperwork

• Signage appropriate to the fuel and quantity, including no smoking and emergency information
• Suitable fire extinguishers at the refuelling point
• Safety data sheets and a register of the hazardous chemicals stored on site
• Any notifications, licences or approvals your state regulator or council requires
• Handover documents from the installer: compliance certificates and operating manuals

7. Keep it compliant

Installation is the start, not the end. Regular inspections of the tank, bund, hoses and fittings catch problems early. Keep the area clear, check for water in the fuel, and service pumps and meters on schedule. Most problems we see on older sites come from small issues that were never followed up.

Get it right first time

We supply, deliver and install fuel storage across Australia, and we start by looking at the site and how the fuel will be used. If you are planning a new tank, talk to us or call 1300 210 480, or browse our fuel storage tanks.