MA GENERAL LAWS CHAPTER 453

AN ACT RELATIVE TO HOMEOWNER HEATING SAFETY.

This bill is aimed to Facilitate Homeowner Heating Oil Spill Remediation. The law states that insurance companies will be required to offer pollution insurance coverage to homeowner’s that comply with certain oil tank system safety specifications. This includes requiring residential property owners with heating oil tanks that have a fuel supply line in direct contact with a concrete floor surface to:

1) enclose the line with a continuous nonmetallic sleeve
2) install an oil safety valve.

Why is This Important?

Most homeowner’s are unaware that most fuel oil feed lines are made of copper and that bare copper can degrade when in direct contact with concrete. This chemical process could lead to a possible failure or leak from your oil feed line. We can offer you a relatively easy fix - if this is the case. We would simply drain and then abandon the old line and replace it with a new protected (coated) line. Compliance will enhance the safety of your oil heating system and guarantee that you can obtain pollution coverage from your underwriter should you request it.