An above-ground oil tank with a capacity of 275 gallons must be installed at a maximum distance of how many feet next to a building?

• A. 3 feet
• B. 5 feet
• C. 8 feet
• D. 12 feet

Answer: (B)

The key idea is keeping enough space between a fuel oil tank and the building to reduce the chance that heat, fumes, or a potential spill could affect the structure and to provide room for safe maintenance. For a 275-gallon above-ground oil tank, the standard requirement is a five-foot clearance from the building (including from openings). This distance helps prevent heat radiating from the tank or a fire on the tank from reaching the structure, and it also allows safe access to shutoffs, venting, and piping. While some places may have small variations, five feet is the typical minimum used in common HVAC fuel-oil installation guidelines. So the proper installation distance is about five feet.