If your business stores fuel, oil or hazardous liquids, understanding bunded storage is essential. UK environmental law requires effective secondary containment to prevent pollution, protect watercourses and ensure legal compliance.
In this comprehensive guide we will break down:
- What bunded storage is
- The relevant UK legal requirements and guidance
- How these laws apply to different substances
- Why you need to comply
- What happens if you don’t comply
- How Hyde Park Environmental helps you meet standards with compliant products and solutions
What is Bunded Storage?
Bunded storage refers to storage systems that incorporate secondary containment, designed to capture leaks, spills or overfills from primary containers such as oil tanks, fuel tanks, drums or IBCs.
A bund prevents:
- Oil contamination of soil
- Groundwater pollution
- Surface water pollution
- Regulatory breaches
UK Legislation and Guidance: Bunded Storage
In the UK, bunded storage is driven by environmental protection laws and health and safety guidance. There is no single “bunding law,” but rather a network of regulations that require effective secondary containment where hazardous liquids are stored.
Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001
If you store more than 200 litres of oil, this regulation applies. Under the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001:
You must:
- Provide secondary containment (bunding)
- Ensure the bund is impermeable
- Contain associated pipework within the bund
- Prevent oil escaping into the environment
This legislation is one of the clearest legal drivers for bunded oil storage tanks in England.
Environmental Permitting Regulations
If your business operates under an environmental permit, you must prevent pollution of land and water.
GOV.UK guidance on controlling emissions can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/control-and-monitor-emissions-for-your-environmental-permit
The guidance makes clear that businesses must implement effective measures — such as secondary containment — to prevent unauthorised releases.
Inspectors routinely expect bunded storage systems where hazardous liquids are present.
Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations (CAR)
For businesses operating in Scotland, similar requirements apply under CAR regulations. These regulations are designed to protect Scotland’s water environment and require pollution prevention measures, including bunding where appropriate.
COSHH & HSE Guidance (HSG71)
COSHH requires risk assessment and control of hazardous substances.
While not strictly environmental legislation, COSHH requires businesses to assess risks and implement adequate controls when handling hazardous substances. This includes safe storage, spill prevention and containment.
Bund Capacity Requirements (UK Compliance Rules)
One of the most important compliance requirements relates to bund capacity.
Your bund must hold:
- 110% of the volume of the largest container stored inside
OR - 25% of the total volume stored
(Whichever is greater)
This standard is widely referenced in UK environmental guidance and industry practice.
Impermeability Requirements
✔ Liquid-tight
✔ Resistant to stored substances
✔ Free from cracks
✔ Constructed without drainage outlets that bypass containment
Pipework & Fittings
All pipework must:
- Be located within the bund
- Drain back into the bund
- Be properly sealed
Where Should Bunded Storage Be Located?
- Choose a compliant, low-risk location: Position bunded oil storage tanks well away from surface water drains, inspection covers, and natural watercourses to prevent contaminated runoff entering the drainage system and to provide added environmental protection in the event of a spill or overflow.
- Install on stable, level foundations: Ensure tanks are placed on ground capable of supporting the full weight when filled. Uneven or unstable bases can compromise both the primary tank and secondary bund, increasing the risk of structural failure over time.
- Protect against vehicle impact: In industrial or commercial settings, install protective barriers such as bollards or crash protection to prevent accidental damage from forklifts, HGVs, or other site traffic.
- Maintain safe chemical separation: Store bunded diesel tanks and chemical systems away from incompatible substances in line with COSHH guidance, segregating oxidisers, flammable liquids, and corrosives to reduce reaction risks, fire hazards, and long-term liability exposure.
Why you MUST comply:
Preventing environmental harm is one of the most important reasons to implement proper bunded storage. Leaked fuel, oil or chemicals can contaminate soil, pollute groundwater and enter surface water drains, causing serious damage to ecosystems and wildlife. Even small spills can spread quickly and become costly environmental incidents. Clean-up operations, environmental investigations and restoration work can easily run into tens of thousands of pounds, not including disruption to your operations or reputational damage.
Compliance with UK law is equally critical. Environmental and health and safety regulations require businesses to take reasonable steps to prevent pollution and safely manage hazardous substances. Without adequate secondary containment, organisations risk enforcement notices, criminal prosecution, significant fines and legally binding restoration orders. Insurance claims may also be refused if preventative measures were not in place. Regulators such as the Environment Agency, SEPA, HSE and local authorities actively enforce these standards, making bunding a practical necessity rather than a choice.
Bunded storage also protects people and property. Fuel and chemical leaks can create fire hazards, increase the risk of harmful exposure to workers and visitors, and damage buildings, equipment and stock. Effective secondary containment reduces these risks, limits product loss and helps avoid costly downtime.
Finally, proper bunding demonstrates responsible management. It shows that your business assesses risks, implements appropriate controls and maintains safe, compliant operations. This builds trust with regulators, customers and insurers while reducing overall business risk.
Bunded storage is a compliance requirement for any UK business handling oils, fuels or hazardous liquids. UK legislation and guidance from GOV.UK and HSE. All point toward effective secondary containment as the foundation of safe and compliant storage.
By understanding what bunded storage is, what UK rules apply, and why compliance matters, you protect:
- Your legal standing
- Your business continuity
- The environment
- Your people
What Hyde Park Environmental can provide:
At Hyde Park Environmental, we provide a comprehensive range of bunded storage solutions designed to help businesses meet UK regulatory requirements while maintaining safe, efficient operations. Our bunded storage tanks include bunded diesel tanks, bunded fuel tanks and double-skinned chemical storage tanks, all manufactured to meet secondary containment capacity standards. These pre-bunded systems offer a robust, corrosion-resistant solution for safely storing fuels and chemicals, ensuring any potential leaks are contained within an integrated secondary barrier.
For businesses storing intermediate bulk containers, we also supply bunded IBC storage solutions, including bunded bases and trays specifically designed to capture leaks from one or multiple containers. These systems are ideal for multi-container storage areas where effective spill containment is essential. In addition, our bunded drum storage options feature pallet and cage systems with built-in secondary containment, providing a safe and compliant way to store drums in warehouses and industrial environments.
With our trusted containment solutions in place, you can ensure your storage infrastructure aligns with industry best practice and current UK regulatory expectations. Contact our experts today for your storage and compliancy needs.
Straightforward Expertise, Protecting your Reputation.