Oil Tank Monitoring Project
The municipality of Hollola will monitor the implementation of the oil tank inspection regulations in cooperation with the Päijät-Häme Rescue Department during the summer of 2026. Oil tank owners whose tanks are classified as C or D or unclassified according to the registry data will be approached for advice. In important groundwater areas, an advisory letter will also be sent to those whose tanks are classified as A or B, but whose inspection is overdue according to the registry data. On this page you will find information about the progress of the project and general additional information on the subject.
Request for clarification
If you have been approached by letter with a request for clarification, please answer the attached questionnaire. The purpose of the questionnaire is to collect information on the periodic inspections of oil tanks in the area of the municipality of Hollola and the up-to-dateness of the tank register. The information provided will be used to update the information in the oil tank register. By answering the questionnaire, you consent to the processing of the information you provide for the monitoring project. Note: If you own more than one property with an oil tank, please fill out a new form for each property.
To the questionnaire , opens in a new tabGeneral information for the oil tank owner
According to the environmental protection regulations of the municipality of Hollola, the owner or occupier of the property must have heating oil and fuel tanks inspected for the first time within 10 years of the tank being put into use. After this, periodic inspections of the tanks must be carried out every 2-10 years, depending on the condition class determined during the inspection. The regulations apply to all oil tanks, i.e. both heating oil tanks and, for example, farm tanks on farms.
Section 16 of the Environmental Protection Act (527/2014) deals with the prohibition of soil pollution. According to it, no waste or substance may be left or released onto the ground in a way that may cause a deterioration in the quality of the soil and, as a result, for example, a danger or harm to the environment or health. Section 17, on the other hand, deals with the prohibition of groundwater pollution and prohibits the release of a substance (in this case oil) into the groundwater area in a way that may cause a risk of groundwater pollution. The Environmental Protection Act also stipulates the responsibility of the municipal environmental protection authority to monitor environmental protection (section 22). These sections of the Act set the conditions for monitoring the condition of heating oil and fuel tanks.
Switching from oil heating to another heating system promotes sustainability by reducing the use of fossil fuels and emissions. In addition, removing oil tanks from the ground significantly reduces the risk of soil contamination.
More information about oil heating in a detached house: https://www.motiva.fi/tietopankki/pientalon-kaasu-tai-oljylammitys/
Section 6 of the Environmental Protection Act (527/2014) defines the responsibility of the owner or holder of an oil tank to be aware of the environmental impacts or risks of the tank. According to this, the person must prevent environmental pollution in advance and, if the activity causes or threatens to cause harm to health or harm to the environment, the person must immediately take the necessary measures to prevent pollution or the risk thereof (sections 7 and 8). The Waste Act (646/2011) prohibits littering, which in this case means that an oil tank may not be abandoned in the environment (section 72). The owner or holder of an oil tank is responsible for removing the tank from their area.
The owner or keeper of an oil tank is always responsible for the condition of the tank, so any costs arising from soil contamination are generally borne by the owner or keeper of the property. In the event of damage, insurance companies also take into account whether the oil heating system has been properly maintained and inspected. Regular maintenance and inspections of the tank can significantly reduce the risk of oil damage and prevent equipment breakdowns. It is also possible to improve energy efficiency when the system is maintained and repaired regularly.
For more information on servicing or removing oil heating equipment:
https://tukes.fi/-/vaihdatko-lammitysjarjestelmaa-vai-riittaako-nykyisen-oljylammityslaitteiston-huoltaminen-#95ffb3d5
https://www.motiva.fi/tietopankki/pientalon-kaasu-tai-oljylammitys/
Oil tank inspections may only be carried out by an inspection company approved by the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (TUKES). The register maintained by Tukes allows you to check companies that have the right to install, maintain or inspect heating oil systems. You can find companies with operating rights on the following website: https://rekisterit.tukes.fi/toiminnanharjoittajat
During the inspection, the oil is drained from the tank and the tank is cleaned. The condition of the inner surface and wall thickness of the metal tank are checked on a random basis. A pressure test is performed on underground reinforced plastic tanks. A report is drawn up from the inspection, which indicates the tank's condition class (AD) and the date of the next inspection. The inspection report must be submitted to the Päijät-Häme Rescue Department. The inspection of the oil tank is eligible for household deduction.
Some inspection companies may offer tank coating as a repair option. According to the environmental protection regulations of the municipality of Hollola, repairing metal oil tanks with plastic or fiberglass coating is prohibited. After coating, it is not possible to reliably measure the thickness of the oil tank shell, which is why the condition of the tank and the inspection interval cannot be reliably determined.
Sources and additional information:
Environmental protection regulations
https://tukes.fi/koti-ja-vapaa-aika/kodin-tekniikka-ja-sahko/oljylammityslaitteistot
https://tukes.fi/-/vaihdatko-lammitysjarjestelmaa-vai-riittaako-nykyisen-oljylammityslaitteiston-huoltaminen-#95ffb3d5
When oil as a fossil fuel is replaced with renewable energy, the amount and costs of purchased energy are often reduced. The investment is often also economically profitable and is also one of the most important actions to reduce the climate impact of a household. Substitute heating solutions include, for example, ground source heat pumps, district heating and air-to-water heat pumps. A hybrid heating solution, i.e. a second form of heating alongside the oil heating solution, also has benefits, such as reducing the need for purchased energy and operating costs and increasing the degree of self-sufficiency.
When replacing the heating system, the oil heating boiler and burner as well as the oil tank must be removed. The tank must first be emptied and cleaned and its use must be prevented, after which the tank is removed. Tukes-approved oil tank inspection and installation companies have the necessary equipment and sufficient expertise to safely remove the system from use. A report on the removal of the oil tank must be sent to the Päijät-Häme Rescue Department and, upon request, to the environmental protection authority. If the tank is located underground in a place from which it cannot be removed without causing danger to the building's structures, a deviation permit from the environmental protection regulations can be applied for to leave the tank in the ground. Additional information: Leaving the oil tank on the ground
The Finnish government has supported the transition from oil or natural gas heating to other heating systems in accordance with Government Decree (803/2021). The grant application period ends 25.5.2026 at 16.15 o'clock.
Sources and additional information:
https://tukes.fi/-/vaihdatko-lammitysjarjestelmaa-vai-riittaako-nykyisen-oljylammityslaitteiston-huoltaminen-#95ffb3d5
https://elinvoimakeskus.fi/avustus-asuinrakennuksen-oljylammityksesta-luopumiseksi#Avustuksen-aikataulu
https://www.motiva.fi/tietopankki/pientalon-kaasu-tai-oljylammitys/
