There’s a science and an art to proper storage of used fats, oils, and greases, something Frontline International has perfected in its more than two decades of designing, engineering, and manufacturing solutions for safe, efficient FOG handling. Despite vast improvements in cooking oil handling and storage, misconceptions persist about the UL 142 standard for storing above-ground flammable liquids that governs proper storage of used FOG.
It is often misunderstood, not just by the restaurant industry, but sometimes by local inspectors, that the UL standard requires tanks with double-wall containment for the storage of used cooking oil. This is not the case.
What UL 142, titled Standard for Steel Aboveground Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquids, actually does is provide construction and testing requirements for steel tanks intended for aboveground storage of non-corrosive, stable flammable, and combustible liquids. The standard covers various tank configurations, including single-wall, double-wall, and diked designs.
So, while UL 142 specifies construction criteria for these different tank types, it does not mandate the use of double-wall containment tanks.
The selection between single-wall and double-wall tanks depends on factors such as local regulations, environmental considerations, and specific-use cases. For instance, certain jurisdictions or applications may require double-wall tanks to prevent spills or leaks, especially when storing used cooking oil near waterways. However, these requirements are determined by local codes and regulations, not by the UL 142 standard itself. Therefore, while UL 142 outlines the standards for constructing double-wall tanks, it does not impose a blanket requirement for their use in storing used cooking oil or other flammable liquids.
All Frontline International used FOG tanks comply with both the UL 142 standard and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommendations for storing above-ground flammable liquids. Frontline manufactures containment tanks made of stainless steel, never non-compliant plastics, to safely and securely store used FOG until it can be collected by a recycler. They can be placed virtually anywhere, indoors or outside.
When local regulations do impose stricter requirements, Frontline manufactures double-wall tanks available in 160-gallon and 315-gallon capacities. The “tank within a tank” construction includes 115% secondary containment. A heavy-gauge stainless steel exterior is insulated to withstand extreme temperatures.