Any problem with bulk diesel tank in the barn/shop?

[sixdogs]

23 years ago I had a 150 gallon bulk diesel tank in the barn on rollers because I was painting it. I went to work and the bulk driver filled it there. It's still there and a 90 gallon tank on rollers next to it. Concrete floor; nice new pole barn and 42x60x 14'H.

I never saw a problem since only a few lights, not much going on and power off most of the time. Now, however, I plan to insulate the barn and put up a propane heater. Maybe keep it 55' away--but still inside the barn--- since I only want the barn at 50 degrees most of the time.

Any problems with this?

 

[Topzide]

Put up a small lean too, for shade and rain protection.

 

[bmaverick]

23 years ago I had a 150 gallon bulk diesel tank in the barn on rollers because I was painting it. I went to work and the bulk driver filled it there. It's still there and a 90 gallon tank on rollers next to it. Concrete floor; nice new pole barn and 42x60x 14'H.

I never saw a problem since only a few lights, not much going on and power off most of the time. Now, however, I plan to insulate the barn and put up a propane heater. Maybe keep it 55' away since I only want the barn at 50 degrees most of the time.

Any problems with this?

Diesel hates 3 things, HEAT, water and microbes. Avoid all 3 and you have great storage.

 

[oosik]

My diesel and gas are stored in one walled off bay of my carport. Up off the ground on pallets. It's not heated but reaches the ambient temps - both summer and winter. Never had a problem.

My ATV is stored in this bay also. Starting the ATV has never been a problem either. Been this way for 40+ years.

 

[sixdogs]

Put up a small lean too, for shade and rain protection.

My diesel and gas are stored in one walled off bay of my carport. Up off the ground on pallets. It's not heated but reaches the ambient temps - both summer and winter. Never had a problem.

My ATV is stored in this bay also. Starting the ATV has never been a problem either. Been this way for 40+ years.

Oops--I meant to leave the tanks inside the barn with a propane furnace off in the far corner of the barn. Tanks stay in barn and furnace added.

This way my fuel is clean, dry and no problems.

 

[grsthegreat]

A ceiling mounted Furnace wont cause explosion if thats what your worried about. Fumes from fuel stay low…aprox 12-18” from ground.

 

[RjCorazza]

I personally wouldn't worry about storing diesel in a heated barn. #2 diesel has a flash point of around 125 degrees F.
I store 108 gallons of diesel in my pole barn, but keep the gasoline in a small shed.

 

[sixdogs]

I personally wouldn't worry about storing diesel in a heated barn. #2 diesel has a flash point of around 125 degrees F.
I store 108 gallons of diesel in my pole barn, but keep the gasoline in a small shed.

Yeah, I keep gas out in a shed. Too big of a risk.

 

[ponytug]

@sixdogs

While diesel's flashpoint isn't that high, I would put a large diesel tank behind a firewall just to lower the chance of a small fire becoming catastrophic. It doesn't take a lot of fire resistant plywood or plasterboard to make a nice fire resistant wall and ceiling.

Most oil tanks for furnaces are enclosed for fire resistance as well.

All the best,

Peter

 

[sixdogs]

@sixdogs

While diesel's flashpoint isn't that high, I would put a large diesel tank behind a firewall just to lower the chance of a small fire becoming catastrophic. It doesn't take a lot of fire resistant plywood or plasterboard to make a nice fire resistant wall and ceiling.

Most oil tanks for furnaces are enclosed for fire resistance as well.

All the best,

Peter

That makes sense.