In England, the storage of oils (except waste mineral oils) is regulated under the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations 2001. The regulations apply to industrial, commercial and institutional sites storing more than 200 litres of oil, such as diesel or lubricant storage.

The guidelines are intended to help reduce pollution caused by inadequate storage of oil in above ground tank installations. Even in countries where the regulations do not apply, following the guidelines will minimise the risk of your site causing pollution. And, with the cost of spillage clean-up anywhere from £10,000 to more than £230,000, a 'prevention is better then cure' approach seems the obvious choice!

The regulations state that the tank must be fitted with an automatic overfill prevention device if the filling operation is controlled from a place where it is not practical to observe the tank and any vent pipe. What's more, an adequate means of measuring the quantity of oil within the tank must be provided, with the use of electronic gauges and high level alarms strongly recommended.

Endress+Hauser's Liquiphant M vibrating level switch provides a cost-effective and reliable solution for pollution prevention in oil storage tanks. With both high and low level alarm functions and a unique fork corrosion monitoring system, you'll know immediately if there's a problem. ATEX certified (EEx ia and EEx d) for hazardous area use, Liquiphant M also complies with IEC61508 offering a SIL2/3 rating.

Liquiphant M is maintenance-free with operation unaffected by air bubbles, turbulence, foam, vibration or build-up. With a wide choice of wetted parts, including five different coatings, it maintains reliability even under aggressive conditions. Better still, its 3⁄4” fork means it is ideal for applications where space is at a premium.