Gas tanks for a private home: all about installation rules

Today, the construction of country houses and dachas is actively underway in areas remote from gas networks. In a situation where in the coming years it is impossible to connect the house to the main gas, property owners have to solve the issue of autonomous heating. One of the popular options is gasification with the installation of a special tank for storing liquefied gas. At the same time, it is important to choose the right gas tank for a private home, calculate the technical parameters of the tank and comply with installation and connection standards.

Installing a gas holder in a pit

General information

The gas holder is a storage facility for a liquefied mixture of propane and butane

. But its functions are somewhat broader - it simultaneously allows you to convert liquid fuel into gaseous fuel and supply it under the required stable pressure. Inside the tank, the gas evaporates from the surface of the liquid surface, turning into fuel suitable for use by the consumer.

If you need to set up an efficient autonomous heating system, you can install a gas holder for a private home, multi-apartment buildings, or industrial buildings. When choosing a gas supply station, they are guided by the estimated volume of fuel consumption, the size and features of the area where the tank is to be installed. It is also important to pay attention to the design features of the tank - they affect the efficiency of the station.

Underground gas tanks

Design features of cylinders

Liquefied gas storage tanks have 2 types of design:

Vertical containers have the advantage of being installed in limited space.
But in the climatic conditions of Russia it is better to refuse it. This is due to the small area of surface gas evaporation for supplying it to the main line. The vertical design resembles a thermos, preventing the earth's heat from heating the liquid phase of the gas. Additional heating is performed with electricity, which is not economically viable.
Cylinders of horizontal design do not have such disadvantages, and have proven themselves well in all regions of Russia.
The large evaporation surface and natural heating of the liquid phase by the heat of the earth make it possible to create working pressure in the gas pipeline.

Types of gas tanks

When it comes to stationary tanks, there are 2 types of gas tanks - underground and above-ground. Capacious tanks allow organizing autonomous gas supply in year-round homes. It is recommended that the gas holder for a cottage be made stationary, while at the same time, for irregular use at the dacha in winter, a mobile tank can be used.

Ground gas holder

Features of gas tanks

Ground storage facilities. In European countries, this option is popular, since installation of the tank does not require serious financial costs and time for excavation work. But in Russia, in regions with a colder climate, it is irrational to use above-ground tanks - at low temperatures, liquefied gas evaporates more slowly. The above-ground gas tank will have to be supplemented with special evaporators and the body insulated to ensure the required level of gas pressure in the pipes. The use of an external gas holder is rational if the task is to provide heat to high-rise buildings, cottage villages, or associations of summer cottages, since it is necessary to use large tanks (up to 6,000 m3), which are expensive to hide underground.
Underground tanks. The location of the storage facility for liquefied gas underground, below the freezing point of the soil, has a number of advantages:
the area is not cluttered with a structure containing a container and retains an attractive appearance.
Mobile tanks. A small tank for liquefied gas is installed on a trailer. Thanks to special equipment, it is connected to the gas communications of the house in a matter of minutes. The tank can be filled with fuel at any gas filling station. Tank volume – up to 500 m3. This is enough to heat a small house. A mobile gas supply station allows you to provide your dacha with fuel during winter living.

Mobile gas holder
When figuring out which gas holder to choose, it is necessary to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of tanks in various designs

Vertical gas tank. The advantage is the ability to install the container in a small area, as well as the stability of gas evaporation due to the fact that the mirror area does not change when the fuel level decreases. Among the disadvantages: more effort will be required to prepare the pit, taking into account the height of the tank and the level of soil freezing, and a small area for gas evaporation. To increase the station's performance, some companies equip vertical models with heating elements that promote intense evaporation. Also, for the optimal pressure level in the local gas system, you can connect two vertical containers to one pipe. Vertical models are usually used for houses up to 150 m2.
Horizontal tank. It has high performance, but it depends on the fuel level in the tank. When about 1/3 of the volume remains, gas evaporation is noticeably reduced, and a special reducer is required for stable operation of the system. Horizontal gas tanks require preparation of a pit of smaller depth compared to vertical models; they are suitable for gas supply to houses with an area of over 200 m2.

Gas holder horizontal

Vertical and horizontal gas holder: pros and cons

The issue of choosing a suitable device worries the vast majority of potential buyers. According to a number of experts, the best option is to purchase a horizontal gas holder - due to its shape, it has a larger area for evaporating gas inside the container. Accordingly, the larger the evaporation area, the more efficient the operation of the device.

At the same time, vertical gas tanks should not be discounted either - the small evaporation area is easily compensated by installing an evaporator. In addition, vertical models take up much less space, which is very important when there is a shortage of free space!

should be covered with a layer of thermal insulation in winter . This will greatly increase the power of the system. Horizontal ones do not need to be insulated, since they are installed in a private house, as a rule, in a pit on a reinforced concrete or concrete foundation. The boiler is filled in after installation, and there is no need for insulation. The body of the horizontal gas tank should not be treated additionally - it has already been coated with a special anti-corrosion compound. In turn, the body of the vertical gas tank needs anti-corrosion treatment!

When installing a horizontal gas holder, be sure to paint over the cables and (or) anchors with which it is secured to the base. This procedure will significantly increase the service life of the system.

The main factor in choosing a suitable gas tank for a private home is the size of the area for the tank. If there is a shortage of it, choosing a vertical model is ideal and vice versa.

Mobile gas tanks are popular in Europe. As a rule, they are transported in a trailer and are connected directly to the gas exhaust system. Connection speed is 1-2 minutes. The mobile gas tank can be refilled at gas filling stations, which allows the consumer to choose the most optimal price for gas. The maximum volume of such a gas tank is 500 liters - it is more than enough to service a residential building with an area of up to 100 m2.

Installation Standards

When planning to heat a private house with liquefied gas, it is necessary to take into account the strict requirements for installing a gas tank, based on which the location on the site is selected.

The rules and regulations for the installation of gas tanks provide for the location of the tank for liquefied gas fuel at least

10 meters from a residential building, up to 5 floors high;
2 meters from the foundations of other structures;
5 meters from the septic tank;
15 meters from the water intake point (well, borehole, reservoir);
5 meters from the trees.

The distance from the gas tank to the enclosing structures without a foundation along the perimeter of the site is not regulated. Before installing a gas tank in a private house, you should prepare a drawing indicating the distances from all objects on the site to the place where the gas tank will be installed, with the parameters of the pit for the tank and the trench for the gas pipeline.

Note! There is a security zone near reservoirs and power lines - it is prohibited to set up a gas storage inside it!

Installing a gas tank in a country house or in a private house requires proper design of the part of the territory where the gas tank is installed. After it is immersed in a pit and backfilled, it is allowed to create lawns or a flower bed on the surface of the earth. You cannot concrete the site, lay tiles, or plant shrubs and trees, since it is necessary to ensure the ability to quickly dismantle the tank in case of a leak.

Diagram of the correct installation of a horizontal gas tank in a pit

If possible, the container is placed in such a way that the refueling machine has free access to the neck. If the site features do not allow the fuel storage facility to be located near the entrance, a special hose more than 40 meters long is used to pump liquefied gas into the container.

Dimensions of the pit for the tank: depth is from 1.9 meters, width - 2 meters, length must correspond to the dimensions of the tank. The walls of the pit are flat.

Rules for installing gas tanks: distances in meters

Residential properties: at what distance from the house is the gas tank installed?

The tank should be located no closer than 10 m from the house.

According to general fire safety rules, a residential building is built no closer than 3 m from the fence. For small areas this is a serious problem: in order to place a building and a container, according to the standards, there must be 25-30 m between the fences.

The pipeline must be inserted into a room with gas-using equipment or adjacent to an open opening.

The gas pipeline cannot be laid under the foundation or through structures, so it is logical to locate the storage facility on the side of the boiler room. If this is not possible, you will have to pull the pipe along a trench 1 m from the foundation.

Distance to outbuildings

name of the property	From tank (m)	From the gas pipeline (m)
Sports or children's playground	10	Not indicated
Garage	10	2
Boiler room, warehouse, barn	8	2
Foundations of buildings not related to gas supply	5	2
Foundations for fences	2	1

Note: in cramped conditions, you can reduce the distance to the gas pipeline by 2 times.

Pipes at the point of approach and 5 m in both directions are installed with additional precautions:

for steel pipelines, seamless and electric-welded pipes are used in a case or with mandatory seam control;
for polyethylene - long pipes without joints or connected by butt welding, fittings with embedded heating elements.

Standards for installing a gas tank near public buildings and structures

If private territory borders on public buildings, this will have to be taken into account. The minimum distance to the foundation of a public building is 15 m.

Distance from road

Law No. 123-FZ specifies a limit of 5 m from the curb stone. If a road runs a meter from the fence, you will have to retreat another 4 m. The gas pipeline, according to SP 42-101-2003, can run 1.5 m from the edge of the road.

The maximum distance from access roads is 40-50 m (length of the filling hose). If there is enough length, the car fills the tank directly from the road. If you place the tank further, you will have to organize access for the gas carrier. The tanker will enter the site through the gate.

More information about gas delivery:

“Refilling a gas tank: we’ll teach you how to save without risks.”

How many meters to the tree

A mandatory rule when installing autonomous gasification pipes is to ensure the safety of the connections. The roots of a large tree can damage the pipe and cause a gas leak.

According to Appendix B from SP 42-101-2003, there should be no perennial woody plants near the pipe. The gas pipeline is installed no closer than 1.5 m from the axis of a tree with a crown diameter of up to 5 m.

Explanation: Some varieties of trees with a narrow crown reach a height of 10 m and have a developed root system. An old apple tree, birch, spruce, pine or oak can damage the gas pipe.

Gap between tanks

If the system consists of several containers, then the clearance between them should be at least half the diameter of the larger reservoir - for different containers. But in general, at least 1 meter.

Calculate yourself

If you want to install 2 containers with the same diameter of 1.25 m next to each other, then the distance between the bodies should be at least a meter - since half the diameter is only 0.625 m.

Distance from communications

Utility networks periodically require repairs. Excavation equipment can damage your gas system.

The entire length of the pipeline is accompanied by warning tape. However, an inattentive repairman will still dig it up. It is better to lay the gas pipeline at a safe distance.

Additional danger: the heating main next to the gas system causes unwanted heating of the LPG, and technical wells can fill with gas if there is a leak.

From capacity (m)	From the gas pipeline (m)
Underground sewerage, septic tank	3.5	1
Heating main	3.5	2
Wells of underground communications	5	2
Water supply, pressure sewerage and other non-channel communications	2	1

Gas storage volume calculation

Gas tanks for a country house or cottage vary in capacity and configuration. The tank is selected based on gas consumption and the functional features of the containers in horizontal and vertical versions.

To heat a house, the total area of which reaches 200 m2, you need from 4,000 liters of liquefied gas per heating season. Wherein:

A horizontal gas tank for a summer house or cottage should have a volume reserve of 15–20% of the calculated minimum gas consumption. This is due to the fact that when the tank is 2/3 empty, gas productivity will drop sharply and the tank will need to be refilled with fuel.
Vertical storage is selected with a margin of about 10%, since the design of the tank helps maintain stable gas pressure almost until it is completely empty.

In order for the heating system to work efficiently and the storage unit not to need to be refilled more than once every six months or a year, it is necessary to correctly select the tank volume, taking into account gas consumption. Autonomous gas supply requires a professional calculation based on the heat consumption of all rooms of the house, gas consumption by various equipment in addition to the boiler unit, which is installed in the house. These include a gas stove for cooking, a direct heating boiler, which can be used in the warm season when the boiler is turned off to prepare hot water - this helps to optimize gas consumption.

Installation diagram of an underground gas tank

Gas tank volume

If you buy a small gas tank to heat a large house, you will have to refill it more often. If you choose the right volume, refilling will only be required once a year.

The average gas consumption is 30 liters per square meter for 1 heating season. Accordingly, for heating a house of 50 square meters. meters you will need a capacity of 1500 liters. But you need to understand that this gas will only be used for heating.

Separately, it is necessary to take into account the costs of gas appliances - stove, heating boiler, etc. The hourly gas consumption for them is indicated in the technical data sheets.

It is also important that when filling the container, gas is filled to 85% of the volume. Therefore, you need to add 15% to the calculated volume. For example, if we need 1500 liters of gas only for heating, then 1500+225=1725 liters. The optimal capacity would be a capacity of 2000 liters with a reserve of 300 liters in case of overconsumption.

Installation principles

Installation of a gas holder for a home requires the use of special equipment. Main stages of work:

Preparing a pit and trench for a gas pipeline. According to the drawings, a pit is being dug for a gas tank. A sand and gravel cushion is laid and compacted at the bottom.
Arrangement of a foundation base with a thickness of 16 cm, which prevents the tank from floating under the influence of soil movements:
if the gas tank is immediately fixed to a solid reinforced concrete slab, then it is installed together with it in a pit.
The container is lowered into a pit, onto metal fasteners, and an anti-corrosion coating is applied.
Electrochemical (anodic-cathode) protection of the tank from corrosion under the influence of moisture and stray currents is being installed.
A gas pipeline is installed from a polymer pipe, the trench is filled with sand, and a synthetic warning tape is laid at a distance of about 50 cm from the surface.
The pit is filled with sand, and the distance from the ground surface to the top point of the tank must be at least 60 cm. The nameplate with information about the gas tank and the tank fittings must be located above the ground surface. Access to the neck must remain free so that the container can be filled with fuel.

Autonomous gas supply AvtonomGaz

Autonomous gas supply to private houses, carried out by AvtonomGaz, is a full range of equipment, works and services, including the following operations:

Supply of an underground gas tank for storing liquefied gas with a volume of 2.7-20 m3, manufactured and tested at the Chemet plant (Poland), audited by Rostechnadzor. The numbered gas holder of an autonomous gas supply system has a passport reflecting all stages of its production, a GOST-R certificate and permission from Rostechnadzor for use;
Inspection by a specialist of the site for the possibility of placing an underground gas tank and carrying out work on autonomous gas supply;
A specialist’s assessment of geodetic and hydrogeological information about the gasified area where it is planned to install an autonomous gas supply system;
Development of the section “Autonomous gas supply” in the general design of the house (if the gasified house has no more than 3 floors and is intended for one family, then according to Article 48, Part 3 of the Town Planning Code of the Russian Federation, a general design for such a house is not developed);
Digging a pit for a gas tank and trenches for a gas pipeline to the depth of soil freezing, removal of excavated soil, backfilling of a sand cushion (carried out by the customer or partner AvtonomGaz);
Installation of the gas tank base plate;
Installation of the gas holder and fastening of the gas holder legs to the plate using fasteners made of austenitic steel;
Installation of a gas tank protective and grounding system;
Installation of an underground polymer gas pipeline with the installation of a warning tape, a butane evaporator collector and an all-welded steel base inlet with a bellows compensator;
Testing the autonomous gas supply pipeline under pressure, monitoring the correct installation of the autonomous gas supply system and the integrity of the gas tank coating;
Backfilling of the installed gas tank, gas pipeline and electrochemical protection system with sand (carried out by the customer);
Connecting the gas pipeline of the autonomous gas supply system, purging it with inert gas and setting up the gas equipment of the gas tank using inert gas;
Regular inspections of the autonomous gas supply system during maintenance;
Refilling the gas tank with liquefied gas, launching an autonomous gas supply system;
Regular monitoring of the performance of the filled gas tank and fittings of the autonomous gas supply system by a specialist;
Regular routine technical diagnostics of the gas tank and other equipment of the autonomous gas supply system, pumping out unevaporated residues from the gas tank;
Regular refilling of the gas tank with liquefied gas according to consumption.

Connecting to the gas network in the house

It doesn’t matter what type of tank you choose - the scheme for connecting the gas storage facility to the local network is the same and is regulated by building codes and regulations.

Installation work, including connecting the gas pipe from the gas tank, must be carried out by professionals who have the appropriate permit

. The installed gas tank is connected to the house by a pipeline, which must be laid at a depth of 1.5 meters at a slope of 1%.

Autonomous connection of the private sector to the gas storage
Required:

protect all metal elements located underground from corrosion;
install a condensate collector;
connect the gas pipeline introduced into the house to the heating boiler and other fuel consumers.

Be sure to use devices that control the gas supply and shut it off in case of leakage. Protective systems, like the gas boiler itself, require power supply, so it is recommended to take care of a backup source of electricity so that the equipment functions without failures.

Distance from home to installation

Before deciding on the placement of a gas tank, you should refer to the building codes and regulations - they clearly regulate the norms of distances from a residential building to the installation.

As a general rule, the distance from the house to the gas tank depends on the size of the tank. For above-ground tanks, the following distance standards are established depending on the volume of the tank:

up to 5 m3 – distance of at least 20 m;
from 5 to 10 m3 – distance from 30 m;
from 10 to 20 m3 – a distance of at least 40 m.

If we are talking about a horizontal gas tank installed underground, then the distances are reduced:

up to 5 m3 – 10 m;
from 5 to 10 m3 – 15 m;
from 10 to 20 m3 – 20 m.

Installation cost

To understand how much it costs to install a gas tank, you need to consider:

the price of the fuel storage tank itself with equipment and components;
costs for system calculation and project development;
cost of land work (site preparation, arrangement of pit and trench);
costs for delivery of the gas tank and components to the site;
cost of installation work and connection of the installed tank.

The station itself, excluding components, costs on average from 100 to 190 thousand rubles. Installation work - about 175 thousand rubles

. But prices vary depending on the nature and remoteness of the site, the amount of work, etc. Installing anodic-cathodic protection increases the total amount, but extends the service life of the tank several times.

Autonomous gasification of a dacha using the installation of a gas holder

Consumption of liquefied gas for home heating

Gas consumption in independent gasification systems for houses depends on a large number of different factors, the main ones being:

the desired temperature regime in the house, the air temperature outside and the duration of the heating period;
area of walls, windows, doors, ceiling and floor. For example, the larger the window area, the greater the heat loss and gas consumption of the boiler;
material and structures of walls, ceilings, floors, doors, such as glass packages in windows. For example, the thicker the walls, the better their thermal insulation properties. Heat loss through wooden walls is less than through brick walls with equal thickness, and double-glazed windows provide greater energy efficiency when compared with single-chamber ones;
mode of residence (permanent or on weekends and holidays);
number of residents. This moment determines the gas consumption for cooking and preparing hot water for the DHW system;
presence of a swimming pool;
operation of additional gas-using equipment (gas generator, outdoor IR heaters, etc.).

Calculator for estimating heating costs

The calculator allows you to calculate the sufficient power of the boiler and compare the costs of home heating with network gas, liquefied gas from a gas tank, diesel fuel (diesel fuel) and electric current.

The following data were used in the calculations:

duration of the heating period - 5256 hours;
duration of non-permanent residence (summer and weekends 130 days) - 3120 hours;
the average temperature during the heating period is minus 2.2°C;
the ambient temperature of the coldest five-day period in St. Petersburg is minus 26°C;
ground temperature under the house during the heating period - 5°C;
reduced home temperature in the absence of a person - 8°C;
insulation of the attic floor - a layer of mineral wool with a density of 50 kg/m? 200 mm thick.

High-quality gas - lower costs

Cost of refilling a gas tank

Timely filling of gas tanks with high-quality Kirishi gas at a fair price “from first hand” is a guarantee of good operation of the independent gas supply system and long-term partnership with our customers.

Filling a gas tank with high-quality gas is not only the key to the operation of an independent gas supply system without any interruptions, but also to the comfortable operation of the heating system in winter. In order for the gas boiler not to stop, and the emergency gas electric generator to reliably start, you need to remember a few basic rules.

Classification of cylinders

According to the classification, there are high-pressure cylinders that store a constant volume of gas, and low-pressure cylinders that store a variable volume of gas. In low-pressure gas tanks, an easily changing volume of gas maintains the required pressure.

Cylinders are divided into 2 groups:

Wet gas tanks with vertical or screw guides. Water acts as a water seal in them.
Dry gas tanks with piston or membrane operation are necessary for storing dehydrated gases.

Selection of cylinder by volume

Only a specialist can calculate the required volume of the container for uninterrupted supply of gas to the consumer.
You can only make approximate calculations yourself. For example, heating 1 m2 of space requires about 30 liters of liquefied gas per year. Taking into account that the annual consumption will be variable, we come to the result: 2700 liters of gas are enough to heat 100 m2 of space per year.

An important issue in choosing the volume of the cylinder will be its refilling. For example, for a room of 100-150 m2, a cylinder with a capacity of 5 m3 is suitable. You can save money and install a smaller tank, but it will have to be refilled more often.

Keep in mind: it is more profitable to install a gas tank, one refill of which will last for a year. It will be possible to refuel during the period of minimum gas prices.