Fuel storage building

[lilranch2001]

What does everybody use to store their fuel, not the container itself but a location.

I usually store between five and 30 gallons of gasoline and 5 gallons of fuel oil for the tractor.

I have always stored mine in my barn and I’ve gotten to the point where I’m uncomfortable doing that.

It not only takes a valuable floor space, but I’m concerned with the fire load it could add to the building contents if the building did somehow catch fire, along with the fact that I do welding, cutting grinding, and so on in that building.

I was looking at Northern Tools job boxes the other day, but I was concerned with the fact that it may contain more atmospheric humidity with the sun beating down on it throughout the day, and getting rained on, and cause water to condensate inside my jugs.

Do you think that would be a problem?

Do any of you have any better ideas than using a job box?

I have considered building a small shed or buying one of the yard sheds that you can buy on skids also but its not, my preferred choice.

Below is a photo of what I was thinking about.

 

[dodge man]

I have a shop/garage I store mine in. It a concrete floor, insulated and heated in the winter. I’m also concerned since it has all my tools and usually two cars. I just try and make sure nothing is leaking but there is a risk.

 

[ponytug]

What does everybody use to store their fuel, not the container itself but a location.

I usually store between five and 30 gallons of gasoline and 5 gallons of fuel oil for the tractor.

I have always stored mine in my barn and I’ve gotten to the point where I’m uncomfortable doing that.

It not only takes a valuable floor space, but I’m concerned with the fire load it could add to the building contents if the building did somehow catch fire, along with the fact that I do welding, cutting grinding, and so on in that building.

I was looking at Northern Tools job boxes the other day, but I was concerned with the fact that it may contain more atmospheric humidity with the sun beating down on it throughout the day, and getting rained on, and cause water to condensate inside my jugs.

Do you think that would be a problem?

Do any of you have any better ideas than using a job box?

I have considered building a small shed or buying one of the yard sheds that you can buy on skids also but its not, my preferred choice.

Below is a photo of what I was thinking about.

I have always kept mine in flammable cabinets, mostly metal ones. (I built a wood one for my shop storage, based on a Popular Woodworking design.)

AW Extra 11/21/13 - Flammables Cabinet | Popular Woodworking

Have you got finishing supplies scattered all over your shop? Concerned that they’re a fire hazard? Organize them into this cabinet built out of one sheet of plywood and you’ll sleep better at night.

www.popularwoodworking.com

I made one based on those plans about twice the size. I used fire resistant plywood (boron treated), and intumescent paint ($$$). Wood cabinets with intumescent paints are much more fire resistant than metal, but that assumes that the fire department arrives in a timely manner. In a wildfire, I no longer assume that the calvary will arrive in time. My fire cabinets are to reduce the impact if there is a small fire.

Here, the local fire safety recommendations are changing (wildfire concerns) and it is no longer permissible to have flammables stored under cover in the house, garage, or a carport. I'm thinking of a small metal garden shed, either self made, or one from ShelterLogic, which are way cheaper than what I could build one for out of local materials, but YMMV. I'd like to be able to access the flammables easily and still keep out vermin, dust, and water.

All the best,

Peter

 

[oosik]

I have a four bay carport. The second bay is totally enclosed and used only to store fuel. Diesel and gasoline. It's not really that much - two five gallon jugs of each.

I case of a wildfire - last thing I'm concerned about is fuel. I have a "bug out" bag full of clothes stored in the truck.

My major concern is - get me, Brownie and the truck the hell out of harms way. Insurance will cover the remainder.

 

[LouNY]

my tanks, 275 gallon and 300 gallon are outside in the weather.

 

[ultrarunner]

Local concrete fuel vaults are popular… above ground storage with pump.

Fire stations use them.

 

[lilranch2001]

Local concrete fuel vaults are popular… above ground storage with pump.

Fire stations use them.

That sounds like a good idea. Wonder how much of an arm and leg they would want for the one.

 

[Rustyiron]

These concrete fuel "stations" that I see around here are simply an evniromtal safety item that will contain the contents of the tank in the event of a leak, and mostly steel.
Many have a framed roof above as there's NO drain for rainwater by the designed purposes of fuel containment.
What's not in a 275g tank is stored in 5g cans in my sawmill building that's not tightly sealed and with no electricity run to it.

 

[lilranch2001]

My biggest concern is moisture.
My garage and barn is both concrete floor but I don’t want to store them in inside my residence or my barn.

I also want to protect them from whatever moisture could be introduced by condensation.

I would think by storing them in a job box, condensation would be minimal, but I’m not sure, and I don’t want to take a chance.

Ultrarunners idea of a concrete bunker seems like it would better insulate against temperature swings, and a job box but I’m not sure. also, it seems like it would dramatically be more expensive.

 

[EddieWalker]

I store my gas and diesel containers in my 10x30 shed. It has three sides, a roof and concrete floor. I park both of my riding mowers in there, along with a lot of "stuff". It's close to where I park my tractors, it has power, and it's about 100 feet from my house.

 

[tomplum]

This likely will vary depending on one's climate. I feel that fuel should be stored in the most temperature stabile place you can put it.

 

[ruffdog]

This likely will vary depending on one's climate. I feel that fuel should be stored in the most temperature stable place you can put it.

I think this is a good point. I store my jugs atop a 2x wood riser on concrete and never have a moisture problem.

 

[EscapedSuburbia]

Are folks here storing their vehicles outside? We don't have an EV so all of our vehicles have fuel tanks built in. Between my truck, car, RV, tractor, SxS, and lawn mowers I've got almost 200 gallons of gasoline and diesel onboard. I've never had a problem with storing them inside.

 

[deserteagle71]

I built a small building (shed?), wood frame covered by roofing metal, that sits about 80 yards from the house/garage. That's where I keep the bulk diesel tank, all my chainsaws and fuel.

 

[JRH02]

Dyed diesel is outside in 100g transfer tank and two 55g drums in shade. Never had a problem with diesel. Gasoline in 5g jugs is a royal PITB esp in the winter because the genset runs 3 hours per day to make of the loss of sunlight needed to charge batteries. I try to use 87 / E0 from a depot but it's location is inconvenient. We go through 2g day so even running E10 its not around long enough to stratify.

But beginning this year's winter season I now have a 6kW diesel genset running off a 55g drum so will be done with gasoline jugs, TG. I think by the time the drum gets low it'll be about oil change time

 

[WM75Guy]

Diesel is in the 58-gallon fuel pod on the small trailer. Only gas engine left is a 50CC Honda motor on the pasture vacuum. I keep a 1-gallon plastic container for it in the hay barn where the vacuum stays if not in use. Thinking of switching over to canned fuel as we don't use that much.

 

[Jstpssng]

Are folks here storing their vehicles outside? We don't have an EV so all of our vehicles have fuel tanks built in. Between my truck, car, RV, tractor, SxS, and lawn mowers I've got almost 200 gallons of gasoline and diesel onboard. I've never had a problem with storing them inside.

How long does a tank last? When I was working I filled my company truck every day, my personal truck at least twice per month.

 

[ultrarunner]

https://www.carbtrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Convault-Broch.pdf

ConVault Aboveground Tanks - Core Engineered Solutions

Hardened Protection and Security for Fuel Storage. ConVault UL 2085/UL 752 Fuel Storage Systems

core-es.com

 

[EscapedSuburbia]

How long does a tank last? When I was working I filled my company truck every day, my personal truck at least twice per month.

My point is we never think twice about storing our vehicles full of fuel in our garages and buildings every day. A transfer tank doesn't strike me as any more dangerous so I don't see the need for a separate building.

 

[civilian]

Years ago at the other house, kids had a rabbit in a wood cage . When the rabbit died, I converted that to my gas storage shed. Brought it to the new house and has been replaced with a newer one. I store two 5 gallons of diesel, two 5 gallons jugs for recreational gas, plus two small cans for mixed gas. Shed is about 24" to 30" cubed on four 2"x4" legs. One side is open, with dog food bags keeping the sun off the opening. Shingled roof. Sits about 25 feet from the storage building. Jon