Sale and delivery of oil and gas

This guidance is for England, Scotland and Wales

There are legal controls concerning the selling and delivery of oil (consisting primarily of diesel and kerosene), butane and propane gas. Oil and gas must be accurately measured or weighed, and a ticket given to the customer indicating the quantity delivered.

Oil measurement

Oil sold in bulk is measured by the litre using a bulk fuel road tanker equipped with a calibrated meter.

Oil is pumped from a compartment on the delivery tanker through a meter that has been tested for accuracy and sealed. From there the oil flows to the tank. Each meter must be at zero before each delivery and have a ticket printing mechanism. There is often a minimum delivery associated with road tanker metering systems, typically 500 litres, but can be less depending on the tanker.

Metering systems for the measurement of fuels are 'in use for trade' and controlled by weights and measures legislation that contains the limits of error within which they must measure fuels. If you operate road tankers with metering systems, they must be passed as fit for use for trade and bear the appropriate marks.

On older equipment the crown stamp, year of application and official number of the inspector of weights and measures who passed the equipment as fit for trade use is found on a lead plug that attaches the data plate (found near the volume display) to the tanker by a wire seal. Other metrologically significant components will also be sealed in this way.

The M mark may be found on the tanker's data plate and indicates that the equipment it is attached to has been manufactured in accordance with legal metrology requirements. The year of manufacture appears next to the M. The M mark follows the UKCA or CE mark.

Also found on the data plate is the approved or notified body number that indicates which organisation examined and approved the equipment as being in accordance with all manufacturing and accuracy requirements.

The requalification sticker indicates that the equipment has been repaired or adjusted since it was manufactured, to maintain manufacturing and accuracy requirements. The examples below are those used by, respectively, inspectors, approved verifiers and approved manufacturers.

It is good practice to ensure that the meters are periodically tested for accuracy, and that the seals protecting the security of the measuring system are regularly inspected and remain intact. Should any seal become damaged or broken, for whatever reason, it must be replaced by an approved verifier or inspector using their official stamp number. Contact your local Trading Standards service if you require further information.

It is normal practice to 'dip' the customer's tank before delivery commences to ensure that the amount of fuel ordered can be accommodated by the tank. This will avoid overfilling the tank, which could result in fuel loss and potential environmental contamination.

Gas measurement

Gas in bulk

Bulk propane - or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as it is also known - is measured by the litre and, like heating oil, if destined for domestic use is delivered by road tanker. The meter used to measure the fuel, as it goes from tanker to storage tank, is periodically calibrated and sealed to prevent unauthorised access. Each meter is fitted with a ticket printer. Some meters are fitted with electronic meter heads and the printer for this system may be located in the driver's cab.

Propane / LPG meters are not controlled by weights and measures legislation so there are no associated legal limits of error. However, the equipment is 'in use for trade' as it measures product for which payment is made and its performance in terms of accuracy should be comparable with road-tanker metering systems that operate to +/- 0.5% of the quantity delivered.

Gas in cylinders

Gas cylinders are sold by reference to the net weight of the contents (in kilograms), which should be clearly marked on the cylinder (and must also say 'butane' or 'propane').

The plant where the cylinders are filled must use accurate weighing or measuring equipment that has been checked and tested to ensure accuracy.

Net weight = the weight full (gross weight) minus the weight of the cylinder when empty (tare weight). The empty (tare) weight is normally on the neck or rim of the cylinder or on a permanent label.

Storage conditions

You should consider the hazards of storing oil and gas, as both are highly flammable. Your obligations differ depending upon whether you are storing as a business or consumer. If in doubt, contact the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Trade associations

• Liquid Gas UK: LPG and bioLPG industry. The website contains an extensive list of publications on the use and storage of LPG.
• OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association): heating oil industry
• UKIFDA (UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association): liquid fuels distribution industry

Please note that a link to an organisation in the list does not imply any approval or warranty as to the standing or capability of that organisation by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute.

Other legislation

The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 make it an offence to give any false or misleading statements about the price charged and descriptions applied to goods. For example, claiming that heating oil or bottled gas have particular properties, such as efficiency, cleanliness or heating properties that cannot be substantiated, or are false or misleading.

Please see 'Protection from unfair trading' for more information on the Regulations.

Contracts between traders and consumers are also controlled by the Consumer Rights Act 2015. The Act requires that goods and services provided by traders to consumers should be in accordance with the contract, provided with reasonable care and skill, at a reasonable price, etc. It also provides consumers with remedies they can require from the trader if goods and services provided do not meet the terms of the contract; these remedies include a reduction in the price paid.

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, heating oil and bottled gas supplied to consumers should be:

• of satisfactory quality (for example, it should burn correctly)
• fit for purpose (for example, it should be compatible with any appliances for which it is specified, particularly in relation to the type of gas, as different types operate at differing pressures; it must also be fit for any specific or particular purpose the consumer makes known to the merchant)
• as described (for example, if it is described as being a particular brand or having particular combustion properties or other features, etc, that is what should be delivered to the consumer)

See 'Selling and supplying goods' for detailed information on the Consumer Rights Act.

Where specific legal requirements, such as those detailed earlier in this guide, impose stricter duties and requirements on traders, they take precedence and must be complied with.

Trading Standards

For more information on the work of Trading Standards services - and the possible consequences of not abiding by the law - please see 'Trading Standards: powers, enforcement and penalties'.

In this update

Images updated. General detail added.

Last reviewed / updated: October 2024