British Standards & Fuel Oils

The oil heating equipment detailed in this short web-catalogue conforms and in most cases exceeds (comfortably) the requirements laid down in BS 799 Part 5. We have reprinted some of this BS so that you will be aware of the relevant requirements. Note that BS 799 is now superseded and further information on the subject will be made available shortly.

In general, heaters covered by the Standard may be of the IMMERSION, SUBMERSION or OUTFLOW type. Typically these are always inserted horizontally, but special vertical versions are available.

IMMERSION Heaters may be inserted at the Outlet end of the tank.
SUBMERSION Heaters may be inserted through the top of the tank.
OUTFLOW Heaters are inserted into the tank wall.

Line heaters are also covered but in a different part of the standard. ALSO SEE INFORMATION

For ELECTRIC Heaters, the loading shall not exceed 1.6 W/cm2 on the sheath (1975 BS). Thermostatic control shall be employed.

Elements and Thermostats shall be of the DRY (removable) type so that they can be withdrawn without emptying the tank.

The element sheath or pocket shall be of sufficient strength to prevent damage to the element and shall be supported as necessary along its length by cradles or other supports.
(There is mention of Steam Immersion heaters but as these are very specific to one customer we do nt intend to discuss them unless asked.)

LOCATION. All heaters and control thermostats shall be so located in relation to the draw off level that their surfaces do not become exposed. In other words - keep them BELOW the draw off.

That about covers the British Standard so far as it mentions Heaters. You will note however that no mention is made of Safety Cut out thermostats. We thought that this was something of an error since the standards applied to Outflow Heaters and Line Heaters require their fitment. We therefore took it upon ourselves to design - as a standard - an immersion heater which fulfills all the requirements plus a few that have yet to be written.

Referring now (briefly) to BS 799 Part 4 - mention is made of materials which are NOT recommended for use with fuel oil, as follows :

1) Copper and some copper alloys are generally unsuitable for coal tar liquid fuels
2) Aluminium and aluminium alloys may be unsuitable when in contact with hot fuel.
3) Unprotected copper and aluminium and their alloys are unsuitable for use with hot oil
4) Metals in contact with oil shall not be galvanized. Unalloyed lead and zinc are unsuitable for use withhot oil

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  (c) AKW 2002-9