The Bulletin – April 1970

Quarterly Journal of The Association for Petroleum Acts Administration

THE ASSOCIATION FOR PETROLEUM ACTS ADMINISTRATION

Chairman: R. E. J. RODEN Vice-Chairman: J. SHORT

Council: J. W. HEWISON Havant and Waterloo U.D.C. 631 I

E. V. BEEBY J. BEER J. BIRKS H. GRIFFITHS

Rugby R.D.C. 2071 Worcester City 23156 Chesterfield B. 2825 Walsall C.B. 25661 D. HALL Newcastle-under-Lyme B. 60161 G. H. HAR VEY Dudley C.B. 55433 W. HETHERINGTON Witney U.D.C. 3241

Hon. Secretary: J. W. FRID s P

Hon. Editor: R. P. HOLDAWAY

Officers:

B. HODGSON K. C. HUGHES R. HUNTINGTON T. KERR H. R. MELLOR C. T. PEACOCK C. R. PESKETT

Wigton R.D.C. 2133-5 Stafford B. 3507

Thornbury R.D.C. 2258

Glanford Brigg R.D.C. Brigg 2441/5 Blackpool C.B. 23848

Hemsworth R.D.C. Brierley 301 Godalming B. 6191/4 B. W. C. THACKER Teesside C. B. 87721

Hon. Treasurer: J. S. FORMAN

Liaison Officer: G. N. DEAN

Branch Secretaries:

ANGLIA J. W. FRID, CUMBRIA B. HODGSON, EAST MIDLAND J. BIRKS, NORTHERN B. W. C. THACKER, NORTH WESTERN H. R. MELLOR, ScOTTISH J. SHORT, SouTH EASTERN C. R. PESKETT, SOUTH EAST MIDLAND R. E. DUST, WESSEX AND SouTH WALES R. HUNTINGTON, WEST MIDLAND G. H. HARVEY, YORKSHIRE C. T. PEACOCK,

Hon. Electrical Adviser: J. A. SHARP, Hon. Legal Adviser: P. D. WADSWORTH,

Talking Point

CLEAN AIR AND THE PETROL ENGINE

Before 1965, little work was done in Britain to determine the causes of air pollution from car exhaust emission, let alone methods to control them. Research in America has, however, been going on since 1955, when instruments for measuring hydrocarbon were developed. Stringent legislation emanating from California aimed at cleaning up car exhaust emission has spread to the federal authorities in America and it is believed that legislation in European countries is only a matter of time.

Faced with the possibility of the life of the petrol engine being threatened, intense research by the major car manufacturers into alternative means of propulsion was developed, but such alternatives as steam, electricity and fuel cells are not considered comparable to the petrol engine on a viable production and marketing basis. Consequently a great deal of work is being done on improving the petrol engine. The principal air pollutants in car exhaust are hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen, with a small proportion of sulphur dioxide. In all, these noxious contents account for only five per cent of exhaust. Pollution is produced by evaporation of fuel, unburned fuel leaking past piston rings and a dirty exhaust system. It is of interest that diesel fumes, over which in narrow busy streets emotions are often aroused in pedestrians, although having a high particle content consisting of mainly unburned fuel, have a negligible toxic carbon monoxide content.

In addition to the considerable research carried out by car manufacturers, the petrol companies have also been working on this problem and reduced lead content is one recent development. Lead was introduced to petrol when car manufacturers switched to high compression engines. It was found that a higher compression ratio increased the risk of engine knocking on existing grades. This was overcome by minute quantities of lead.

Dropping the lead addition would make it easier to design after-burners, so preventing air pollution from exhaust gases. But doing so would mean either the introduction of a lower compression ratio or a better and more expensive petrol.

the chairma ·n ·

Mr. R. E. f. Roden commenced his Local Government career with the City of Birmingham. After three years war service with the Fleet Air Arm in which he served as a Pilot and later as an Air Traffic Controller he returned to the Town Planning Section of the Birmingham Public Works Department. In 1953 he transferred to the Building Surveyor's Section and was promoted to his present post of Principal Assistant (Fire Escape and Petroleum) in 1963. He holds a bachelor of science degree and is a past Chairman of the West Midland branch of the Association. His authority was one of the original members of the West Midland Petroleum Acts Administration Group.

As Chairman of the Association I have been asked to contribute to the Bulletin and I would like to take this opportunity of thanking members for electing me to this office.

It is pleasing to note that there has been no check in the growth rate of the Association during the past year and I believe that this will continue during my year in office despite the uncertainties facing local government as a result of the proposals contained in the Maud Report.

Although the Association is not yet directly represented on government working parties dealing with petroleum matters, a fair measure of consultation has been achieved and the Council will continue in its endeavours to gain full recognition for the Association.

The strength of the Association lies in its branches and I hope that these will continue to expand during this coming year. Regular branch meetings are essential to preserve the interes t of members and in drawing up agendas sufficient time should always be reserved for the discussion of members' problems , which is one of the fundamental reasons for the existence of this organization.

Finally I would like to thank the Editor of the Bulletin for thi s opportunity of addressing you and to congratulate him on the continued excellence of this publication.

·_·n·ote.s ,a.nd .· news·· ·

' .

New Members

Clevedon

UDC Somerset H

Littlehampton UDC Sussex :-''··., .•. ,:r""'W>· .. •.j._; ,"\"'S -. ..

Marshland RDC Cambs. /.'; J:c

Newport Pagnell RDC Bucks. H

Ryde MBC Isle of Wight H

Southwell RDC Notts. H

Wimborne & Cranborne RDC Dorset s

Wincanton RDC Somerset H

Associate Members

M_r. I. Broom, Regional Manager, W. T. Clarke Ltd.,

Mr. W. Rhind, App_lied Research and Engineering Ltd.,

Mr. W. Scollon, Shell-Mex & B.P. (Scotland) Ltd ,

Mr. E J. ex & B.P. Ltd.,

Retirements

Mr. J. E. Andrew.' M.B.E., Chief Fire Officer, Bury.

Mr. A. F. Bambndge, Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures, Lancaster, after 25 years service in that ffi o ce.

Mr. J. S. Forman, Chief Public Health In t Solihull, after 31 years service with the Council. spec or, Mr. G. W. J. Kerslake, Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures, after 43 years service with the Council the last 21 as Chief Inspector. '

Mr. H. L. Whitham, Chief Public Health Inspecto. Malvern U.D.C., after 38 years service with the Counci\: We wish these gentlemen a long and enjoyable retirement.

AJ)pointments

Mr. A. Buckland, Surveyor and Chief Public Health Inspector, Clowne R.D.C., been appointed Surveyor Estates Department, Derbyslure C.C. '

Mr. K. Burrow, Deputy Chief Fire Officer Blackburn has been appointed Chief Fire Officer, Bury.' '

Mr. G. N. Dean, Deputy Publi_c Health Inspector, Solihull has been promoted Chief Public Health Inspector Mr. R. Churchill, Solihull, succeeds Mr. Dean as Deputy. Chief Inspector.

Mr. J.B. Franks, Deputy Chief Public H_ealth Inspector, Malvern U.D.C. , has been promoted Chief Inspector.

Mr. A . Grant, Deputy Engineer and Surveyor , Newmarket R.D.C., has been appointed Engineer and Surveyor in succession to Mr. M. E. Moore, appointed Engineer and Surveyor, Chesterfield R.D.C.

Mr. J. H. Hill, Coventry, has been appointed Chief Inspector of Weights:>and Measures, Lancaster. .- ;.· ,_ ,, -tir ""r: :1 _: · -7 of Techrucal Services, 'R.u.,.gt5y, liiia§'i' O'e'en appomteu I:fo ftj ugh Surveyor, Loughborough.

Mr. W. R. Simpson , Surveyor and Chief Public Health Inspector, Cockermouth U.D.C., has been appointed Engineer, Surveyor and Public Health Inspector, Brigg U.D.C.

Change in Administration

Warley C.B.C., Staffs., now F not WM.

Correction

The article in the January issue of the Bulletin by Mr. K. J. Brown, reporting on Electrical Instrumentation for use in hazardous atmospheres contains an unfortunate error in punctuation which seriously affects the sense of the last paragraph in the first column. The corrected revision reads 'However, the manappointedstarted work in October, 1969, and in the same month BASEEFA took responsibility for intrinsic safety approvals. For a changeover period of some months BASEEFA will be assisted by H.M. Factory Inspectorate staff who formerly carried out this duty'.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our readers and the author.

Publications

The Valuation and Development of Petrol Filling Stations by J. R. E. Sedgwick, F.R.I.C.S., F.A.I., second edition by R. W. Westbrook, F.A.I., published by the Estates Gazette Ltd., 151 Wardour Street, London, W.l. £2/12/-.

Storage and Handling of Petroleum Liquids-Practice and Law. Second Edition by J. R. Hughes, B.Sc., F.lnst. Pet., published by Charles Griffin & Co. Ltd., 42 Drury Lane, London, W.C.2. £5 / 12/

Secretary's Notes

The Editor of the Bulletin, Mr. R. P. Holdaway, has intimated that he is relinquishing this post at the end the year. Any member interested in undertaking tlus important position is asked to contact Mr. Holdaway , who will supply further details.

A number of designs for an Association symbol have been received by the Editor and a decision on them will be made before the end of June. In the meantime any further suggestions will be accepted.

Would members please note that copies of the Association ' s Code of Practice are now available at a cost of 6/ each , including postage. Application for copies to be sent to the Hon . Edito1 , Mr. R. P. Holdaway , at Shrewsbury, and NOT to the Hon . Secretary or Hon Treasurer

CODE OF PRACTICE (ELECTRICAL)

The letter from Mr. S. Gascoigne, raising the question of separate and lighting circuits for petrol pumps, was read with mterest

The initial difficulty to be in the ambiguity of the Home Office Code requirement that "The supply circuits of ea.eh pump should be separately protected by fuse or breakers set to operate when the current in the cucmt so exceeds the rate of current for such a period of tIIDe as to involve danger".

This could mean each individual circuit in a pump should protected or each pump having supply circuits should be separately protected.

What in any case is a circuit ? It is nowhere defined and IS used the l.E.E. Regulations only in a general sense. there is a definition for "a final sub-circuit" which m effect comprises an electrical load fed from the s_upply through a protective device. The I.E.E. Regulat10ns further a limit on the number of points which may be supphed from a final sub-circuit not exceeding 15 amps (normal running). Since a petrol pump incorone or two motors (about 3 5 amps each normal runnmg) and not more than three lighting points (each amps) the total lo'.lding is likely not to exceed 8.5 amps. his ?f pomts fed from one circuit with one to comply with the definition a final sub-cucmt and a petrol pump wired in this would comply with the I.E.E. Regulations

la It IS appreciated t.hat , on starting, a motor requires a thrger current this can be offset in a 15 amp circuit by use of a. ca.rtndge with inverse time-lag characteris ics or a similarly designed circuit breaker.

tiol: circuit further, I.E.E. Regulab m general , requires that a protective device shall for lowe st rated cable in any circuit. In t ys when wmng was in conduit it was more economic 1° use tw.o sets cables, that for the lighting having a ower fratmg, particularly where switching was installed the pump , and these two circuits were separmu Y use · Today .we are using M.l.C C. cable the mini15 m current carrymg capacity of which is in excess of a amps and from this point of view separate circuits Regulatio.n 10 appears to be satiscircuit n fne . 15 amp fuse is mcorporated in such a fuse a so is Home Office Code para. 2.3.8., since the ea .t ment would melt before the current carrying Y of the .cable was overloaded to such an extent or such a tIIDe as to involve danger.

The requirement f · · and li ht or separate c1rcu1ts for pump motors t g s therefore appears to be a matter of interpreta- 10n and the p ·t· 11 . 1 . h ' d osi 10n w1 on Y be clarified and uniformity ac ieve, the Secretary of Sta te become obliged to express an opimon.

The objection raised by Mr. Gascoigne regarding the different recommendations applied to dual and blender pumps is, I feel, justified. No matter how the conditions may be interpreted, there appears to be no reason why these should be treated differently.

Caithness C.C.

Book Revievv

R C. WRIGHT

Fully practising petroleum officers probably spend nearly half their working lives dealing with petrol filling stations. Yet they are concerned with only one aspect, that of safety.

Mr. R. W. Westbrook, F.A.I., in his second edition of the book "The Valuation and Development of Petrol Filling Stations" (published by The Estates Gazette Ltd., price 52/-) deals with an entirely different side of the problem. He writes, obviously with considerable expertise, about the £. s. d. of the matter. In the book he covers rental and capital valuation, stock and equipment, mortgages, ,rating, compulsory acquisition and betterment levy.

Petroleum officers will be interested to have their experience confirmed of the progress of filling stations from solus sites to company owned stations. They will agree with the author that so far as the best sites are concerned, none can compete in bidding with the oil companies who are seeking only an outlet for their products . To this end the companies are prepared to submerge a proportion of their wholesaling and manufacturing profits in a good site The officers will acknowledge that the only true assessment of a station's worth is the throughput of which it is capable. In this connection they may even nod approval at the lukewarm assessment of the value of self-service.

However, those petroleum officers who live in areas with an aggressive sub-soil may raise their eyebrows at the suggestion that tanks in brick chambers have a potentially useful life of twenty years whereas those encased in concrete will last for fifty. While agreeing the proportion they may query the prognosis as being unduly optimistic.

Petroleum authorities wondering how to get rid of substandard filling stations with swing arms over the footway will relish the proposition that companies wishing to develop new filling stations may receive planning permission only on condition that they close a nearby substandard station. How petroleum authorities would welcome comparable powers !

Briefly, this is a book which all petroleum officers wanting to widen their background knowledge will wish to read. W.D.

A Hose End Read-Out Refuelling System

"Star Vista" comprises a conventional pump, meter and computer head unit but incorporates a remote control panel and hose, with an electronic read-out display mounted on the hose nozzle itself. This permits the pump, meter and computer head to , be located remotely, i.e. behind the service station building , while the only equipment required on the pump island itself is the control panel , hose and nozzle.

At B.P's installation at Varberg, four single grade units have been The main pumping units have been remotely ID: an area at the end of the sales building. Two hoses with nozzle mounted displays and control are mounted on the canopy stanchiom , and two s1m1lar umts are mounted on the front wall of the sales office.

The panel incorporates a "push button" price preset. (LJungmans have now developed a control panel which a push button grade selector for blender mstallations).

Nozzle display· litres and kroner

The electronic display on the nozzle can read i.n price or vo lume ; the customer can select the reqmred display by another push button on the control panel.

The Star Vista sys tem can be switched to oper_ate on a post payment self service system during the day tune , and on an unattended note accepting self service system by night.

The note acceptor at Varberg works on 10 Swedish Kroner notes , and can take up to three notes on an accumulating basis.

Such equipment obviously lends itself to con cepts of service station des ign. Furtherm_ore , it has application in a self service context, as 1t offers defiu 1te advantages to the customer in b eing able to see a pnce or volume display at the nozzle itself.

B.P. was the first Oil Company to use a hose end read-out, such as was recently installed by B.P. Sweden at a site near Stockholm. The equipment is supplied by Ljungmans under the trade name "Star Vista".

Control panel on canopy stanchion showing nozzle price pre-set and display selector buttons

Contributed by J. F. BRIDGER, G.I. Mech. E. B.P. Retail Division, Shell-Mex and B.P. Ltd.

Electrical Safety in Dangerous Atmospheres

Contributed by W. C. R. DALE

Introduction

As a preamble to this article it is necessary for the author to state that any views expressed are his alone and do not necessarily represent the views of the Greater London Council. Moreover, in this fast changing world, it may be wise to add that the date of writing is January, 1970, at the start of a new decade and a rtot inappropriate time to examine past progress and future prospects.

New Certifying Authority

So far as electrical safety in dangerous atmospheres is concerned, the most outstanding feature of the past decade has .been the setting up of a new certifying authority for equq>ment. to be used other than in mining applications. The mtent10n to establish a department in the Ministry of Technology to be known as the British Approvals Service for Electrical Equipment in Flammable Atmospheres (BASEEFA) was announced nearly three years ago.

The announcement was welcomed by many who saw the move as a first step to relieving the petroleum industry of the need to comply with requirements which had been framed for coal mining. This enthusiasm was perhaps misplaced in the sense that although the department was to be known as an approvals service, its designed function was to act purely as a certifying authority.

The is of some importance and reflects the underlymg purpose of the department to assist in the export of British electrical equipment. Thus BASEEFA ma)'. be requested by a. British manufacturer to certify that eqmpment made by him complies with Ruritanian Standard XYZ. In BASEEFA as a certifying authority, need !lot consider whether the Ruritanian standard is apposite.

The Certifying Process

S!nce January., 1969, .flameproof and intrinsically safe eqmpment .for mdustnal use has been certified by BASEEFA of the Ministry of Power. A manufact!-lrer requmng certification of a piece of electrical eqmp!llent fi_rst submits drawings and details which are exammed, and if necessary amended so as to secure with the appropriate British Standard. On .satisfactory completion of this stage, samples of the equipment and tested. If the tests prove that the satisfactorily complies with the standard a 1s issued. An appropriate charge is made for the service.

Equip.ment cert_ified by BASEEFA and complying with the requirements may bear the BASEEFA Certification. Trade Mark. This comprises the letters "Ex" fram7d m the outline .of ll: crown. To ensure that specified req.mrements are mamtamed BASEEFA inspectors have a nght of entry to the manufacturer's premises to check

not only on goods held in stock and in course of manufacture but on the manufacturer's inspection and quality control system.

Personalia

BASEEFA is administered by the Ministry of Technology with advice from an Advisory Council. Members of the Advisory Council are appointed by the Minister and are drawn from equipment manufacturers, users, Government Departments and the British Standards Institution.

The Director of BASEEFA is Mr. D. E. Fox who, with a number of other experts in the field, was transferred from the Flameproof Certification Section of the Ministry of Power. The Secretary ofBASEEFA is Mr. J.M. Adams who resides for official purposes at the Ministry of Technology, Abel House, John Islip Street, London, S.W. l.

Progress

In theory, as has been said, BASEEFA is a certifying authority not directly concerned with the standards to which it certifies. In practice the calibre of its staff gives the lie to any such suggestion. Already BASEEF f\ has been instrumental in the preparation of a draft Certification Standard for Petrol Pumps, which is awaiting publication as well as in initiating research into the use of flame arrestors in the housings of electrical equipment.

The Role of Enforcing Authorities

It is now apparent that it will remai": the .function <?f enforcing authorities such as petroleum a!-'thonties to determine the types of safe electrical eqmpment which they will accept in various Howev7r, it would be unwise of these authorities to ignore the advice of BASEEFA experts. This is particularly true at a time when there are high hopes of international agreement being achieved on danger areas and permissible electrical equipment within those areas.

I.E.C.

The body trying to hammer out is the International Electrotechmcal Comm1ss10n. The I.E.C. Publications dealing with "Electrical Apparatus for Explosive Gas Atmospheres" have been given a Series Number 79. To date eight Parts have been published. Some familiar concepts are covered as well as some strange ones.

Flameproof Enclosures

Part 1 of LE.C. Publication No. 79 deals with Flameproof enclosures and, as is to be expected, it shows a number of differences from the United Kingdom requirements enshrined in British Standards Nos. 229 and 889. A start has been made on revising one of these British Standards to bring it more into line with l.E.C. recommendations but little real progress has been made or so it would seem to the observer.

.,

One presumes that in due course all flameproof equipment will be marked with the international symbol "d" after the BASEEF A Certification Trade Mark to indicate the type of protection which has been employed.

Pressurized Enclosures

Pressurizing the housings of electrical equipment as a means of safety in dangerous atmospheres has been used m this country for many years. ft is only in comparatively recent times, however, that the method has been incorporated in a British Standard Code of Practice No. I003: Part 2 of which was issued in 1966.

The I.E.C. Recommendations regarding pressurized enclosures are set out in Part 2 of I.E.C. Publication No. 79. One presumes that in due course the Recommendations will be included in a British Standard and that the suffix following the letters "Ex" to denote this type of protection will be the symbol "f".

Intrinsically Safe Apparatus

Although the United Kingdom has led the world in devel?ping the concept of intrinsic safety, British Standard 1259 1s a very vague document which leaves much to the Part 3 l.E.C. Publication No. 79 goes greater detail setting out methods of testing mtrms1cally safe One may be permitted the hol?e. that will be mcluded in the long overdue rev1s10.n. of Bnt1sh 1259. One may also hope that the Bntish Standard will make mandatory for certification of the symbol "i" as the method of md1cat111g this type of protection.

Sand Filled and Oil Immersed Equipment

R:ecommendations fo_r sand filled and oil-immersed equipment .are. set out m Parts 5 and 6 respectively of No. 79. of these types of protect10n 1s currently m the United Kingdom. Sand (or fill mg .has not even got a symbol by can be mternationally. The usual suffix fo1oil11nmersed equipment is the symbol "o".

Increased Safety Equipment

_Increased can be applied to all electrical apparatus which. does not produce sparks or dangerous temperatures m normal servi'ce Th ll d ffi · d. · e genera y 111 thhis method of protection is the sym o . e t.h Ue oK. as not so far found universal favour m e. nt e mgdom but now th t I E c have formulated in .7. of l.E.C. Pubhcat10n No. 79, discussion on a 8 ·r 1 S d d i:> already in hand. n IS l tan ar

Type "N" Equipment

Like increased safety equipment Type "N" · k h d ' equtpment will not spar or angerous temperatures in normal operation. N<? l.E.C. recommendations have yet been prepared for this type The symbol "N" has been derived from _the m1tial letter of the word "Nonsparking" and _complying with the proposed British Standards will be s.mtable for use only in Division 2 "danger areas''. The gmding for the design of the equipment have already been laid down in British Standard 4137. However, until suitable Standards are

issued for the various types of electrical equipment, no apparatus can be certified by BASEEFA. Since this article was written B.S. 4533: Part 2: 1969, "Detail requirements, Section 2: 1, Lighting Fittings for Division 2 areas", has been issued. In the interim reliance has to be placed on letters of approval issued by the Factories Branch of the Department of Employment and Productivity.

Gas Ignition Temperatures and Classification of Maximum Surface Temperature

In deciding whether or not a particular piece of electrical apparatus is safe for use in a certain vapour it is important to know both the auto ignition temperature of the vapour and the surface temperature the apparatus can reach in use. It would, for example, be foolish to install protected equipment liable to achieve a surface temperature of say 200°C if the vapour at risk has an auto ignition temperature of I00°C. Methods of testing gas ignition temperatures are discussed in Part 4 of Publication 79; the six preferred maximum surface temperatures for electrical apparatus for use in explosive atmospheres and a system of marking are set out in Part 8.

Type "S" Equipment

There will always be means of protecting a particular piece of equipment which, for one reason or another, does not fall within a particular category as set out above. Moreover, it may be convenient to certify the whole of a composite piece of equipment containing a of pieces of electrical equipment each with its own method of protection; the kerbside petrol pump is. a in point and, as has been stated, a standard for it i!! draft. It is proposed by BASEEFA that the symbol S should be used to denote specially approved apparatus.

Danger Areas

In due course BASEEFA will have a number of ards to which they can certify. The problem arises as to which type of standard is suitable for 'Yhich of danger area. There is a snag in that whereas m the Umted Kingdom three danger areas, Divisions 0, 1 and 2, are ···I d2are recognized, elsewhere two types, an considered to be sufficient. The foreign Divis10n 1 and 2 areas overlap the United Kingdom it is by no means certain that the view of the classification of danger areas will prevail.

Type of Equipment in Danger Areas

For the time being, it is suggested that only follow 1.ng type of protection should be allowed for electrical equipment in individual "danger areas":

(a) Dfrision 0

Intrinsically safe apparatus

Pressurized apparatus

(b) Division 1 Apparatus allowed in Division 0 areas

Flameproof apparatus

Increased safety equipment where flammable liquid is not likely to drip onto the apparatus.

Apparatus allowed in Division I areas

Increased safety equipment

Type "N" apparatus (when available)

Type "S" equipment may be installed in any area for which it is stated by the certifying authority to be suitable.

The Future

It would be a brave man who would forecast that the whole field of electrical safety in dangerous atmospheres

will be "buttoned up" by the end of this decade. To many it must seem that progress since the setting up of BASEEFA has been depressingly slow. This is not to suggest that the whole fault lies with the Ministry of Technology. It is fair comment that many manufacturers prefer the devil they know and that accordingly they do not seek rapid changes. Nor has the British Standards Institution been excessively over active in preparing the necessary new British Standards.

A sensible start has, however, been made towards the internationalization of safety standards. It is to be hoped that progress is as fast as safety allows.

string 'em out

and bury 'em

Inching their way across Southern England, the pipelaying teams of Lehane, Mackenzie and Shand have recently completed a new 1,000,000 gallons-a-day pipeline from Fawley Refinery to the West London Terminal of Esso Petroleum, near Heathrow Airport. Designed by Esso engineers, the 10-inch pipeline, longest of its type in the Free World, is a major advance in the bulktransport of heavy fuel-oil, one of the grades it will carry. Too viscous to be pumped at ordinary temperatures, this type of oil will be heated to make it more fluid and will then be pumped-without reheating along the way-through the 64-milepipe. Thermal insulation, applied along the length of the line by a method developed by Esso, will ensure that the oil remains hot enough to flow freely.

Shining black in the hot sunlight of high summer, in its jacket of insulation, a 30-foot length of steel pipe is plucked smoothly into the air by the sideboom tractor. The thin circle of the steel pipe-end is guided by careful hands to meet the free end of the previous length. Directed by apparently casual handsignals, the tractor driver inches the pipe up and down-until with a hiss of escaping airthe pneumatic clamp inside the pipe locks the two lengths in alignment. Now the welders, helmeted and gautleted like Martian knights, muffled against the sparks in dull cothing relieved only by gay long-peaked caps which seem to be the badge of their craft, step forward. With a practised click, their visors come down and-in a moment -the pipes are joined by two white-hot spots of weld metal. Swiftly the operator extracts the clamp on the end of its long lance of airtube. The welders crouch and deftly complete the all-important first run of the weld which joins and seals the pipe into a continuous smooth bore.

As the disciplined gangs move across country they follow closely the track of two existing pipelines which already carry liquid petroleum gas and a variety of light oils from Fawley. Esso's decision to proceed with the new line was backed by successful experience with these and with other light-product lines and with shorter insulated fuel-oil pipes in Britain and in Italy.

Planning for the laying operation began over two years ago and Esso paid as much attention to its relationships with those whose land the pipeline traverses as to the technical aspects of its construction. Special efforts were made to keep the people affected by the work fully-informed of what was going on. The care taken during the laying of the existing lines was reflected in the fact that not one

landowner out of all those whose land had been crossed earlier objected. when approached durmg the planning of the msulated hne.

As the opening of the construction phase approached, each owner was asked to sign a clearance to permit work on his land. Later an easement approximately 20 feet wide was purchased' along the whole track of the line on terms negotiated with the, Umon and the Country Landowners Association. This gives the Company the right of access to the pipe m perpetuity, subject to arrangement y.'Ith the landowner, who remains free to make use of hts property for any agricultural purpose which does not damage the line.

As the working crews neared the boundary of each separate parcel of land, an agreement was made with the landowner, specifying the state to which the land was to be restored, and detailing such matters as land-drains and the type of fences to be erected. Advance notice was given of entry on to the site so that crops could be cut and any other preparations After the line was laid and the tract restored the land was handed back to the farmer who was then paid compensation for loss of use during construction.

Central headquarters, at which the operations of the gangs were integrated, were at Blackdown, near Frimley in Hampshire. From this point the whole complex operation was controlled, the essential communication network being provided by a radio-telephone through which all the operating gangs and Esso's liaison men were i!1.constant touch. Here also. were pipe-bending faciht1es and the plant where the msulation was applied to the pipe sections.

In this plant, lengths of seamless steel pipe with a quarter-inch-thick wall were first shot-blasted to remove rust. and dirt and 'Yere passed by mechanical handling eqmpment to the plant. Each pipe length, held centres sc;i that It could be rotated, was carried, revolvmg slowly, mto a spray booth where a special gun applied a 2-inch-thick coating of foamed polyurethane. As the from the spray booth it was coated with pnmer .over the polyurethane insulation, and a protective wrappmg of but;,:l rubber tape, backed with blac_k poly.ethylene, was applied to seal and waterproof the msulat1on.

The advance-guard of the pipelaying crews was the right-of-way ga.ng, who cleared ?rush and trees and then erected a barbed-wire safety-fence on each side of the 60-foot-wide tract, down the centre of wh' h the line runs. In arable or the topsoil was fully segrated. from the subsoil and put on one side. The line of the pipe was out on the ground for the guidance of the stnngmg crews, who were the next personnel on to the land.

Ready-insulate? of _Pipe were delivered from the headquarters site on special transporter lorries and were laid out along the ground on baulks of wood so that no section nee.ded to more than a few yards to its final place m the pipe-strmg.

Next came the welders. The first, or root-run, was backed-up by several further weld One weld in ten gI·ven a stringent X-Ray exammatton by an indepen- was · · Wh 1 k dent inspection orgamzat10n. ere a ea age could have

more than usually serious effects, every weld was so examined. When the gaps in pipe insulation around the welds were filled in, the pipe-now lying along the ground like a gargantuan black snake-was ready for the laying gang.

Following the contours of the terrain, the pipe was buried about feet The ponderous red ditching machme crawled mexorably down the line its giant wheel, armed the rim with toothed buckets, biting a neat channel m the spewing out the soil in a continuous stream to form a wmdrow to one side. Sideboom tractors-yellow diesel-powered monsters with a derrick perched on one up the continuous pipe, carefully padded. preventing damage to the insulation, and snaked It mto the prepared trench.

Backfilling of the ditch was carried out by bulldozers and mechanical shovels. The soil was carefully consolidated over the top of the pipe, leaving the tract ready for the reinstatement and tidy-up gangs. These worked carefully to the agreement previously made with the owner of the land, restoring replacing the top-soil, cultivating and reseedmg tf necessary. On pasture, the fences were left in situ for some months to allow the leys to re-establish themselves. Boundary and field fences were carefully replaced and all rubbish and items of plant removed before the land was returned to the farmer.

Where a road or railway could not be trenched across because of interruption to traffic, auger boring was often the solution. From a pit on one side, a hydraulic auger, looking like a huge carpenter's wood-bit, drilled a hole under the obstacle. A steel tube was pushed after it by hydraulic jacks, and an Archimedean screw behind the cutting head of the auger extracted the earth. The insulated pipeline could then be pushed through the steel sleeve. At one river crossing on the route a 300-foot section of pipe was assembled on one bank, floated across the water and sunk under the guidance of divers into a trench dredged in the river bed.

Since completion, the entire line has been tested, pumped full of water. to 2,200 per square inch to prove its mtegnty before the first. 011 can flow into new tanks at West London. To provide continuing security against leaks the completed line will be inspected fortnightly a helicopter-such inspections have been earned regularly o!1 the ex1st!ng lines ever since they were laid. Cathodic protection systems-already in use on the existing lines-will guard it against corrosion, adding to the protection given by coatings, and careful measurement of the throughput will ensure that no leak could remain undetected for long.

Four different grades of fuel oil can follow each other in succession through the pipe, each grade being directed, at the proper time, to .its appropriate at the terminal. The new hne will make an important contribution to the Company's continuing effort to improve efficiency in its distribution system and to offer better service to its fuel oil customers, both private and industrial. And over the river of fuel oil, as it flows to London, children will play and crops will grow, the presence of the pipe marked unobstrusively by small concrete posts in the hedgerows.

Nevv Apparatus for the Determination of Flashpoint

In this article DAVID HANDLEY, A. M.l:E., Group Sales Promotion, Stanhope-Seta Ltd. discusses the development of the Setaflash Tester whereby rapid flashpoint determinations are possible

The Petroleum Act of 1879 which made the determination of flashpoint a legal requirement, adopted the Abel-Flashpoint Apparatus as the method by which the test should be carried out. Subsequently, forty-nine years later in 1928, the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act was introduced and Abel was again adopted. Today ninety-one years after its initial adoption, Abel has still to be used, begrudgingly by many, for the test.

Contaminated Oil-Explosion Scare!

Districts in London's East End were toured by Police last night in an effort to trace persons who may have bought paraffin from a number of wholesalers in that area.

The paraffin was delivered by road tanker early yesterday, and after the mysterious explosion of a paraffin heater, the fuel was found to be contaminated with petrol. It was disclosed by a spokesman last night that 500 gals. of the fuel had been sold before the contamination was discovered. Contamination in this way lowers the flashpoint, (the minimum temperature at which a fuel gives off flammable vapour), and could lead to an explosion if used in any paraffin fired appliance. Persons who may have purchased this fuel yesterday are asked to notify the Police immediately, and are warned not to attempt to use the fuel in any appliance.

The laborious and complex operating procedure (too long to include in this article !) is indicative of the amount of time taken when conducting a flashpoint determination by the Abel method. Similarly the large sample requirement-approximately 85ml-is not conducive to rapid operation when heating. It will be appreciated that from the complexity of this procedure the Abel apparatus does not lend itself to portability and on-the-spot flashpoint determination; in fact this apparatus can only be used satisfactorily in a laboratory or where laboratory conditions are available. The need for an apparatus whereby rapid flashpoint determinations are possible, is therefore apparent.

This account is an embellishment of a situation which did in fact, occur during January 1970 in another area of and unfortunately this type of situation is becoming an all too frequent occurrence. What then can be done to eliminate the recurrence of this type of hazardous situation ? The only practical way is to carry out a flashpoint determination of the fuel contained in the road tanker or bowser. However, if conventional apparatus is used this could delay the tanker for at least three of an hour, that is assuming that a laboratory is clo se at hand wh e re the sa mple can be tested. Delays are co stly, a nd consequently for fuel oil s in both industrial and domestic apphcat10ns g ive ri se to th e n eed for a quick t urnround of the delivery ve hicle s .

Stanhope-Seta Limited, designers and manufacturers of Petrol_eum Test Equipment have, at their Surrey laboratories tackled this problem and have developed such an instrument-The Tester-to deal exclusively "".'ith rapid Flashpoint determination. This portable equipment enables tests to be carried out on a definitive or Go/Not-Go basis, either on-the-spot or in the laboratory. The requirement of sample is small, 2ml, and used_ on a Go/Not-Go basis gives precise results m one mmute. The SETAFLASH Tester gives results in correlation with l.P. and A.S.T.M. Standards, and accurate repeatability is always maintained.

operating_ procedure for SETAFLASH is simple and reqmres no special skills.

Two closed cup models are currently in production ; the SETAFLASH Tester (Seta 1374)-Low Temperature model O-l l0°C/32-230°F ; the SETAFLASH Tester

and for the High Temperature model 100 watts. Gas for the test j_et is liquefied petroleum gas (L.P.G.) charged mto an mtegral tank. An adaptor is available which enables a main piped gas supply to be used.

Modular contruction is employed throughout, all parts being readily accessible ; should service be required the appropriate module has only to be replaced. The sample well is electrically heated and the temperature is accurately controlled by a thermistor and potentiometer. A manually operated timer is incorporated which gives an audible warning at the conclusion of one minute. A pre-set 2ml syringe is supplied for the transference of the sample into the sample well.

Since June of 1969 when SETAFLASH first went into production, great interest has been shown in the Petroleum and allied industries, together with many Government Departments, both at home and overseas.

(Seta 1377)-High Temperature model 100-280°C/ Additionally Open Flash Cup models are now bemg mtroduced: the SEATFLASH Tester (Seta 1390) -Low Temperature range O l 10°C/32-230°F ; the SETAFLASH Tester (Seta 1392)-High Temperature range 100-280°C'212-536°F. The Closed and Open sample wells are interchangeable in the respective High and Low Temperature instruments-as are the power packs and other accessories.

The instrument is normally operated from an internal power pack, and will operate within the voltage range l00-250v. A.C., but may also be operated from an external 12v. D.C. battery supply. Maximum power consumption for the Low Temperature model is 48 watts,

Of the initial production batch twenty-nine instruments were delivered to the U.K. Department of H.M. Customs and Excise for use in their mobile road fuel test tories, and the laboratory of the Government Chemist. Twenty-eight of these instruments are used for spot checks on the road, of diesel fuel oil (DERY) to ascertam. or not kerosine, a non-duty paid fuel, has been mixed w1t_h the fuel· this is a common way by which the revenue 1s When the two fuels are mixed , the flashpoint is altered, and a spot check will detect t he c;>f kerosine at the time of sampling After discovery within the fuel , a sample is sent to the Laboratory of th e Government Chemist where the accurate proportions are deter mined.

All consignments of fuel oil delivered to any of the Central Electricity Generating Board Power Stations have to be tested for Flashpoint before unloading may commence. The SETAFLASH Tester has been adopted for use, thus reducing the turnround time for the delivery vehicles.

Orders have recently been placed by the Admiralty Oil Laboratory and the Admiralty Engineering Laboratory, are responsible for the design and function of ships' and bunkering supplies. It is proposed to use the on board ship to detect cross contamination of diesel fuel with engine lubricating oil, and to check new supplies, this beingveryimportant from engine performance and safety aspects. Similarly, Merchant Shipping companies are currently using the SETAFLASH Tester in the same application.

SETAFLASH Testers are used to quickly determine the flashpoint of aircraft engine oils which may have become contaminated with jet fuel. Exhaustive tests were recently conducted on various samples of differing contaminant ratios down to one per cent. The tests were conducted in conjunction with a highly expensive gas liquid phase

Chromatograph; the results obtained were in correlation with those of SETAFLASH, and led to the subsequent recommendation of SETAFLASH for general use.

The oil producing companies and their factors have shown great interest in the instrument. Applications within the oil industry are innumerable, both in laboratory and field work. Substantial orders have been received from these sources, including this year twenty-seven instruments-delivered to Esso for use in their many terminals and refineries. Similarly some twenty-five instruments have been despatched to the U.K. terminals of Shell Mex & B.P. Ltd. In many instances SETAFLASH Testers are in use twenty-four hours a day.

Other applications for the instrument are unlimited, and include the Paint, Chemical and Petrochemical and Pharmaceutical Industries. In fact, wherever a volatile product is used or stored in quantity, then there is an application for the SETAFLASH Tester. Contamination of these products can lead to hazardous conditions which can only be accurately determined by a flashpoint test. If this can be done speedily then time and money are saved-both are premiums in modern industry.

AMC REPORT

Fire Service Committee

Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928-Car Parks

A member authority has drawn our attention to an enquiry received by the council regarding the need, or otherwise, for obtaining a petroleum licence in respect of an open-air garaging area where more than 60 gallons of petroleum spirit are likely to be present. The combined effect of the 1928 Act and the Petroleum Spirit (Motor Vehicle) etc. Regulations 1929 is not entirely clear it is not generally the practice for and street car parks where all-day parkmg is permitted to be licensed. We feel that it is desirable for the 13:w to be into line with the practice and accordmgly are takmg the matter up with the Home Office.

Dangerous Substances-Conveyance by Rail

In. September we reported on representations we were makmg that advance notification of the movement by rail of abnormal hazardous loads should be given to local fire police '.1uthorities. We are now glad to learn !hat the British Railways have (i) agreed to the to exh1b1t on railway wagons explosives standard fire fighting class symbols ; (11) made arrangements for guards to record information which will identify wagons carrying explosives ; such information will be readily available in case of fire or other mishap ; and (iii) arranged that where wagons containing explosives are likely to be held in an unmanned goods

or siding local. railway management must inform British Transport Police and the local fire service.

It seems to us that these measures do much to relieve concern about the transporting of explosives by rail and we do not intend to ask for more to be done at this time.

1970

Municipal Review Supplement March

NOTES AND NEWS

continued from page 23

Gas Consultative Councils

A Bill has been introduced to amend the structure of the gas industry to enable it fully to exploit the opportunities brought about by the advent of natural gas. The powers of the Gas Council are to be strengthened to enable it to assume responsibility for the central direction of the gas industry's affairs, including the determination of strategy on major questions such as supply and distribution, marketing, tariffs and technological development. The Bill will empower the Council to have subsidiaries with powers to search and bore for, get and refine petroleum and to sell petroleum and petroleum products. The Bill also makes further provision for securing safety in the use of gas.

Council at Birmingham

Report of a meeting held on 25th February, 1970

Present

Messrs. B w. C. Thacker (Chairman), E. V. Beeby, J. J. Birks, G. N. Dean, J. W. Frid (Secretary), H. D. Hall, q. H. Harvey (Treasurer), W. Hethermgton, J. W. Hew1son, R. P. Holdaway (Editor), K. C. Hughes, R. Huntington, T. Kerr, H. R. Mellor, C. T. Peacock, C.R. Peskett, R. E. J. Roden and J. Short.

Apologies

Messrs. B. Hodgson and J. A. Sharp (Electrical Adviser).

Minutes

the previous meeting held on 29th October 1969 havmg been already circulated, were confirmed and ;igned'.

Matters Arising

Mr. J. Short queried th cerning Re-organisation efacLcuracy of the report 1 o ocal Government as it ates to petroleum administration Th t discussed at length and the Minute . ed repor was approve .

REPORTS OF COMMITIEES

Finance and General Purposes Committee

I. Annual Genel'al Meeting

The Chairman reported on the arr d r h A I G l angements ma e 1or t e nnua enera which will be held at the Town Hall, Royal Leammgton Spa W . k h" 9tl A ·1 1970 E"'" , arw1c s ire, on 1 pn ' . uorts were bein d b . services of a speaker for tl f g ma e. to o tam the 1e a ternoon sess10n

The Committee recommended to th C · .1 h M R E J R d B" · e ounc1 t at r. f th A 0 irmmgham be nominated as Chairman o . e ssociat10n, Mr. J. Short p . 1 b . ted as Vice-Chairman M 1 W •. ais ey e nomma. . · r. . . Fnd was prepared to and Mr. R. P. Holdaway as 1 or. r. · · arvey was not prepared to accept t' T . nomma wn as and it was suggested that Mr. J S. Forman, Sohhull who was retiring early in 1970 might be prepared to accept nomination for this post.

2. Association's Financial Affairs

. The produced an interim balance sheet and was evident that .there was an epxenditure in excess over mcome. of £300. The largest increase in lay m <:;ouncll Meeting expenses which had mcreased from £342 m 1968.to approximately £600 for the current year. Part of the mcrease lay in the additional

meetings held in the year by the Technical Committee and it was thought that expenses under this heading would be reduced in 1970. Nevertheless the Committee recommended to the Council that subscriptions should be increased from the lst January, 1971 as follows:

Members £3 (£2 2s. Od.)

Associate Members £3 10s. Od. (£3 3s. Od.)

Retired Members 10/Subscribers £1 10s. Od.

3. School Account

The Treasurer also produced a provisional school account which showed a balance of £206. He recalled that in 1967, £150 was transferred from the General Account to the School Account and later that year £500 was transferred from the School Account to the General Account and then deposited with Dudley Corporation. Mr. Harvey considered the original £150 should now be returned to the General Account and the £500 on deposit with Dudley Corporation should be regarded as School profits. This course of action was agreed. Mr. Cave's retirement was discussed and it was recommended that a gift be presented to him at the Annual General Meeting.

Resolved that the report be adopted.

Constitution and Rules Committee

The Chairman recommended that revised Constitution and Rules, which had been in many instances subject. to amendment by members of the Committee before bemg circulated to Council Members, be taken to the Annual General Meeting for members' approval.

Resolved that the report be adopted.

Education and Publication Committee

l. Petroleum Testamur

The Chairman reported that it had been by the Institute of Weights and Measures that the Association take over the orgamsat10n of the Petroleum Testamur examination of that It was decided that no action be taken regarding tlus, m view of the fact that Local Government reorganisation as a result of the Maud Committee Report could well the timing of such a move inopportune. The .of recognition of such an examination by local was also queried. The Secretary was mstructed to wnte to the Secretary of the Institute of Weights and Measures Administration accordingly.

2. Attingham Park

It was reported that in the knowledge that the fees for students at the midweek School at Attingham Park had been increased, the Association should withdraw its guarantee to the Midland Branch who were to run this course. It was further agreed that the Midland Branch be notified of this decision in order that they may take such independent action as they may wish.

3. Codes of Practice and Copyright

The Chairman reported that a second print of the Codes of Practice numbering 1,000 had been ordered and were now available for sale at a cost of 6/- each, including postage. Mr. W. Hetherington produced a report on the question of copyright on any of the Association's publications, in which he indicated that in his opinion the Association had the right to place a copyright on the aforementioned Codes of Practice.

Resolved that this report be adopted.

Reference and Legal Committee

1. Queries

The Chairman reported that a number of queries had been dealt with from authority's officers in Chesterfield, Orkney, Margate, Hastings and Grimsby. The Committee's opinion on the queries raised would be published for the benefit of members in a 'Questions and Answers' Bulletin at the end of the year. ·

2. Bulk Storage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas

The Home Office Standing Advisory Committee on Dangerous Substances Sub-Committee IV has submitted a draft Code ?f Practice for the storage of L.P.G. at fixed bulk mstallat10ns, to the Association for comment. The Cod_e was in fact very similar to the one published by the Institute of Petroleum and the Committee's comments were submitted to the Home Office as requested.

3. Electrical Certificates

. A re_vised electrical certificate for use at existing premises 1s awaited from the Association's Electrical Adviser.

4. Emergency Procedures

Procedures in dealing with emergencies were discussed and the Committee decided to examine this further and prepare suggestions for publication in the Bulletin for general comment.

5. Tank Contents Indicators

It was decided to examine the method available from an Eastbourne Company with a view to accepting these devices for general use and approval.

Resolved that the report be adopted.

REPORTS OF OFFICERS

Hon. Secretary's Report

The Secretary reported further correspondence from the Home Office regarding representation of the Association on the Technical Sub-Committee lV of the Standing Advisory Committee on Dangerous Substances, in which the Home Office pointed out that this Committee already consisted of 20 members and was fully representative of !ocal authority :)pinion. It did, however, promise to mform this Association of its proceedings.

A letter from Mr. F. M. Bucknall, Grimsby in which he requested that the Association make representations to the Home Office regarding the carriage by tank vehicles of dangerous and highly flammable loads. Arrangements had made for the Annual General Meeting of the Assoc1at10n to be held at Leamington Spa. The guest speaker would be G. J. Jeacocke, M.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.l.C., one of H.M. Inspectors of Explosives, who would talk about the Model Codes and the storage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

Resolved that the report be adopted.

Hon. Treasurer's Report

The Treasurer submitted a statement of Income and for the year ended 31 st December, 1969, together with a balanc_e sheet and referred in particular to loss of £300 m the year. He pointed out that the Com.m1ttee had recommended an increase in subwhich should be satisfactory to cover the workmg of the Association for some time to come. He also reported that he would not be standing for nomination as Treasurer at the Annual General Meeting. that the report be adopted and that Mr. Harvey be smcere!y thanked for the work he had undertaken.

Hon. Editor's Report

h reported that the publiction of the Bulletin Aa ed to plan. On the 'Questions and nswers. Bulletm which had been sent to members he had rec_e1ved c?rrespondence from a number of members the1r appreciation. Regarding the reprint of ihe ?f Practice (I ,OOO), he was pleased to inform . e omm1ttee that up to date already 200 had been disposed of.

Resolved that the report be adopted.

Vote of Thanks

A vote of thanks to the Birmingham City Council and Mr. Roden for the hospitality and for the arrangements made was carried unanimously. Thanks were also exto the Chairman for his able conduct of the meetmg.

BRANCH REPORTS

Wessex and South Wales

A Meeting of the Branch was held on Monday, 20th October, 1969, at the Manor House, Sherborne, Dorset.

Present

The Chairman, Mr. S W Harris, Gloucester R.D.C., and thirty members. · ·

Welcome

The Chairman welcomed members to the meeting and 111trod1:1ced the Chairman of Sherborne Urban District Counc1l, A. E. Lugg, Esq.

1'1r. Lugg then addressed the meeting, expressing satisfact!011 and pleasure that the Branch, so early in its format10n, had chosen to hold a meeting so far into the West Country as. On behalf of his Council he expressed appreciation of the responsibilities which rested UJ?On. Pe.tr?leum Officer&, and he looked forward to talks 111d1v1dual members later in the day at the refreshment mterlude.

The Bra.nch Chairman suitably thanked Mr. Lugg and the Council for hospitality which was being provided, and. for the assistance given by Mr. T. K. Blackwell ?ngmeer and to the Association generally and 111 respect of tlus particular meeting.

Minutes

The. Minutes o_f the Meeting of 14th May, 1969, had circulated with the Agenda and were confirmed and signed. '

Matters arising out of the Minutes

(i) The Secretary_ drew attention to the fact that he had able to Clfc1;1late the Minutes in order to save the time of the meetmg, and to help those members who not adding that he would endeavour to contmue this policy.

(ii) The draft and Rules had been submitted to the Secretary, and this would be considered Council Meeting on 29th October, 1969, in Birmmgham.

(iii) Forty-eight authorities in Cornwall Carmarthen and had been circularised'. and forty-four replies had been received. The information therein contained had been compiled into a list which had been duly issued to all members as an addendum to the original list of Petroleum Officers in the area of the Branch.

(iv) The Branch's support for the holding of a Summer School at Guildford had been communicated to Mr.

At the request of the Chairman, Mr. Peskett, present at the meeting, then spoke to the meetmg about the Summer School to the effect that arrangements had been made to hold this School from the 14th to 17th April, 1970, at Surrey Univer-

sity.. It provide accommodation for about f?rty m residence, with a few non-residents in addition: A comprehensive series of lectures and discuss10ns had been arranged.

Apologies for Absence

Twelve apologies were received.

Hon. Secretary and Treasurer's Report

(i) The Secretary drew attention to the fact that Mr. D. J. Davies, Chief Fire Officer, Merthyr Tydfil C.B., member of this Branch, was awarded the M.B.E. m the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Members expressed appreciation of the honour accorded to Mr. Davies, and it was Resolved that a letter of congratulation be sent from the Branch.

(ii) The Secretary stated that the Branch membership was now fifty-two, plus two associate members, and that as there were 231 local authorities in the area covered by the Branch, it was his hope that every member would do his best to recruit new membership.

(iii) There had been no recent meeting of the Executive Committee, but a Council meeting of the Association had been arranged for October 29th, 1969, at Birmingham, when consideration would be given to a revised draft of new Constitution and Rules for the Association, a replacement for the present National Secretary, who had tendered his resignation after years of service, together with sundry other matters.

(iv) The Branch were informed that due to the heavy initial costs of stationery, production and circularising of schedules, etc., to local authorities, funds were now reduced to £2 4s. Od.

The Chairman indicated his readiness to assist the Branch through this early period of its formation, and it was left for the Chairman and Treasurer to consider whether an approach should be made to the Association for further financial assistance.

Date and Venue of Next Meeting

After general discussion on a suitable venue, it was eventually Resolved that the next meeting be the Annual General Meeting to be held at Taunton in April, 1970 -the Chairman and Secretary to decide a convenient date, and that an effort be made to obtain the services of Mr. John Sharp as Speaker.

Any Other Business

There were no matters for discussion.

Discussion on Codes of Practice

The Chairman introduced the guest speakers, Messrs. John Beer, M.I.W.M.A., Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures, City of Worcester, and Cyril Peskett, M.R.S.H., M.A.P.H.I., Chief Public Health Inspector, Borough of Godalming.

Mr. Beer in opening his talk, referred to the origin of the Association in the formation of the West Midland Group. This had been so successful that the idea had spread until there were now branches covering the whole country. Ever since the inception of the Association they had been dealing with questions of interpretation.

. Both Messrs. Beer and Peskett had played a large part m the work of the Committee responsible for the present Codes of Practice issued by the Association. It was ex_that the Association had been unable to gain recogmt10n of the Home Office Committee dealing with the Model Code issued in 1968, but meetings had taken place with members of the Institute of Petroleum and Greater London Council members. As appeals against Petroleum Authorities' decisions could be referred to the Home Office, it was desirable that the Association's Code of Practice should be kept as near to the Home Office Code as possible, and it had been designed to deal with the many problems of definition.

The attention of members was drawn to the aim of the Association in getting general acceptance of the Model Code, by Petroleum Licensing Authorities, and therein would lie the Association's strength.

After an adjournment for lunch, the meeting resumed with Mr. Peskett going through the Model Code, and detailing important points.

Mr. Beer dealt with many aspects of installations, the trend towards new types of storage tanks, some of which were not satisfactory; the provision of flame proof traps on vent pipes, which the Home Office Code did not requirethe provision of petrol interceptors at Self Service Stations, etc. Reference was made to dangers from ground water, and the effects of soil; the need for soil testing by a qualified person, who should supervise the method of obtaining the and the testing, the cost being borne by the mstaller.

The meeting was told that there were grades of sulphate resisting cement, and that concrete should generally be of this type unless proved unnecessary; that there was a need to protect pipe lines by at least 4in. of concrete as these were frequently the first to rust. Compartments in multiple tanks must be separately tested.

The advantages and disadvantages of the various methods of tests, and the circumstances in which they could be used, were discussed in considerable detail.

An opportunity was given for members to put questions to both the speakers, and a general discussion took place on various aspects of the Model Code.

Vote of Thanks

At the conclusion of the meeting a unanimous vote of thanks was given to Mr. Cyril Peskett and Mr. John Beer for their interesting and instructive talks, and explanation.

The Secretary was requested to record the appreciation of the Branch to Sherborne Urban District Council.

Upon the conclusion of the meeting, afternoon tea was kindly provided by the Chairman of Sherborne Urban District Council.

Yorkshire

A Meeting of the Branch was held at the West Riding County Council Fire Brigade Headquarters, Birkenshaw, Bradford, on 26th January, 1970

Present

The Vice-Chairman, Mr. E. Darwin, in the chair, together with 15 members.

Apologies

Apologies for being unable to attend were received from the Branch Chairman, Mr. F. Gledhill, the Chairman and Hon. Secretary of the North Western Branch, and Messrs. Kearns, Wallam and Gascoigne.

Minutes of the Meeting commenced on 26th September, 1969, and continued on 14th October, 4th November and 21st November, 1969

Mr. Sample moved, Mr. Skelton seconded and it was agreed that as the minutes of the meeting had been circulated they be taken as read.

Matters Arising out of the Minutes

There were none.

Correspondence

Letters were read from Mr. K. L. Holland and Mr. J. A. Sharp.

Codes of Practice

The Hon. Secretary referred to the comparatively small number of points upon which there was some disagreement and urged that as they were all minor points the dissidents bow to. th_e democratic principle of accepting the view of the maJonty. He pointed out that in addition to assisting the trade by having uniform conditions the cost of printing would be reduced considerably. '

The Hon. Secretary was instructed to get some information of the probable cost.

The Branch's recommendations were discussed and accepted with the following exceptions:

P.16 of Codes 5(c) insert after "loudspeaker" "or other approved communication system".

P.18 Single Circuits-defer until a reply received from Mr. Sharp the Association's Electrical Adviser. '

Pp. 23, 24 and 25: Omit the diagrams and insert "as set out in the 'Requirements relating to Electrical Installation at Licensed Premises' " after the words '"dangerous areas" are'.

P.28, 9: The letter "s" to be added to the word "compartment" in the Branch's recommendation.

P.29, 14: Insert this condition into "Schedule of Conditions" part A, p. 22 after Item 4 and re-number the following conditions.

It was agreed that the following two queries be referred to the General Council:

P.9, The word "flammable" is preferable but would it be acceptable legally as the word "inflammable" is used in the Act ?

There is no condition requiring an electrical test at Can and Drum Stores. Is this an oversight or has it been omitted intentionally ?

The following query is to be referred to Mr. J. A. Sharp, the Association's Electrical Adviser:

A megometer is not flameproof and therefore not safe to use in a danger area. What alternative can be used ?

It was moved by Mr. Sample, seconded by Mr. Benson and passed by the meeting that this Branch deprecates the general acceptance of unattended self-service petrol stations.

There was some discussion on the use of the word "should" in the Association's recommendations until it was realised that it had to be used as the intention is to advise; it was agreed that the word "must" or "shall" will have to be used in the conditions issued by each local authority.

Next Meeting

The time and place of the next meeting were left in the hands of the Chairman and Hon. Secretary.

Election of Officers and Committee

The following were elected: Chairman

T. H. Keith, Cannock U.D.C. Vice-Chairman

R. P. Holdaway, Shrewsbury M.B.C. Committee

K. C. Hughes, Stafford M.B.C. G. Balshaw, Shrewsbury M.B.C. J. R. Lewis, Walsall C.B.C.

Hon. Secretary/Treasurer and Branch Representative G. H. Harvey, Dudley C.B.C. Hon. Auditor

T. J. Metcalfe

A vote of thanks to Mr. J. Easton, retiring Chairman, was approved.

Petroleum School at Attingham

West Midland

The Annual General Meeting of the Branch was held at The Old Community Centre, Cannock, on Thursday, Sth March, 1970.

The Meeting was welcomed by the Chairman of Cannock Urban District Council, Councillor Leonard Poole He commented on the need for controlling the varied dangerous substances being transported about the Country, and suggested the Associa_tion should make representations to the Mm1stry concermng these matters.

The Branch Chairman, Mr. J. Easton, Burton-on-Trent, expressed the thanks of the Branch for his welcome.

Present

Thirty-four members and four visitors.

Apologies for Absence

Twenty-six apologies were received.

Minutes

The Minutes of the Branch Meeting at on Wednesday, 26th February, 1969, been previously circulated, were approved and signed as a correct record.

Report of Secretary/Treasurer and Branch Representative

The Secretary presented the Report and Balance Sheet. These were approved.

The Secretary reported on the present position. Considerable discussion took place and it was reluctantly decided that in the existing circumstances, owing to matters beyond the control of the Branch, it would not be possible to proceed with Attingham this year. However, it was proposed that Attingham should be looked at as a possible venue for an Advanced School in 1971. It was further proposed that a letter should be sent to Sir George Trevelyan, thanking him for past hospitality and explaining some of the difficulties. Mr. Harvey undertook to transmit this proposal to the Secretary of the Association, who was the proper person to deal with Attingham at this time.

Retirement of Mr. L. A. Cave, National Secretary/Treasurer

Tributes were paid to Mr. Cave from members of the Branch. It was proposed and seconded that the Branch Committee be authorised to provide a gift for presentation to Mr. Cave. This was passed unanimously.

The Meeting then adjourned for Lunch.

THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF ANNUAL INSPECTIONS OF PETROLEUM INSTALLATIONS D. Hall

Newcastle-under-Lyme

In introducing his subject, Mr. Hall circulated copies of the inspection sheet used in his area, and he elaborated on the items. The sheet acted as an "aide-memoire" for the inspector, and one was completed for each visit, and was also used as a record. Among many points made was that attention should be given to interceptors.

In Newcastle-under-Lyme checks were made on conveyance certificates and vehicles. Tankers were usually inspected when a suitable occasion arose. Mr. J. Beer of Worcester had drafted a very comprehensive inspection sheet for petroleum tankers. Regarding the Electrical Certificate he required that a suitable Certificate should be in force, and renewed once every three years.

Mr. Kelly, Seisdon, asked if the interceptor should discharge into the foul sewer or storm water sewer. This was not strictly the province of a Petroleum Officer as such. Mr. Keith said that it is drainage, and a person has a right to insist on drainage. It was up to the powers-that-be, under the Public Health Act, 1936.

It was generally agreed that a bund wall should be put around above-ground DER V storage if the storage in some way endangers the keeping of petroleum spirit. This was a question of proximity, site design, falls, etc. The petroleum officer must decide for each particular site. The bund should be kept clear of water, perhaps with low-level outlet and stop-cock.

Questions were then discussed on electrical certificates, kiosk heating, cut-off switches and self-service stations. Attention should be paid to the design of self-service sites to ensure that very little obstruction to the view of other pumps was caused by waiting vehicles. Mr. Hall did not consider that sales of other commodities could be prohibited, but the console operator should be limited to just receiving the money. The console itself should be completely free of other types of sale. Special conditions could be applied. One must strike a balance between safety and inoperability. Licence Conditions must relate to safety.

A question was asked regarding the maximum quantity permitted to be stored according to the Licence, particularly where the Licensee wished to store less than the nominal total capacity in order to lessen his Licence Fee. Mr. Hall and Mr. Holdaway stated that they permitted this. Mr. Harvey stated that his Local Authority fixed the

Licence "Permitted Maximum Quantity" as being the nominal capacity of the tanks containing petroleum spirit. Some differences of opinion existed.

Mr. Lewis, Walsall, queried the position of existing sites with electrical equipment not up-to-date or with unsatisfactory vent-pipes. Mr. Hall replied that it was a matter of what was reasonable and necessary for safety. Re-site unsatisfactory vent-pipes if a better position could be found. Personally, he would like to know if anyone had a good method of inspecting vent-pipes. There were no suggestions.

Regarding swing-arms, these are very undesirable, but with existing installations the petroleum officer would be influenced by the immediate surroundings. Appeals to the Home Office varied in their decisions according to circumstances of each case.

Conversion to the metric system was discussed, and it was agreed that some models of pumps would have to be replaced. This would be a convenient opportunity for improving the safety of a site.

Vote of Thanks

In proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Hall, Mr. K. C. Hughes, Stafford, said that one of the main diftlculties was to cover the human element in safety.

Mr. R. P. Holdaway expressed the appreciation of the Branch.and proposed a vote of thanks to Cannock U.D.C., and to Mr. Keith for the facilities provided.

These were carried unanimously.

through the pipeline

by OTTO

WHO'S TO STOP IT?

Technological progress is not a panacea for the nation's ills; it can produce side effects which arc far from desirable. Unless proper precautions are taken, advancing technology can bring in its wake not only increased fire risk but pollution of man's environment.

Examination of codes of practice current in the petroleum world reveals greater concern at possible outflow of class "A" petroleum products than Class "B" or "C" products. While it is true that Class "A" products are the more dangerous. are not Class "C" products likely to produce the more persistent pollution ? Can it be that fire risk in the culprit's plant is of more moment than the

convenience, to put it no higher, of the general public ? As the Navy would put it, "ls Jack alright just because he is fireproof '? "

"Fireproof" is a word which has little meaning nowadays and one wonders with what force it can be applied to oil industry depots. Certainly most depots have walls surrounding above-ground tanks containing Class "A" and "B" products but does not the suggestion that these should be called fire walls and not bund walls give some indication of industry's purpose and concern in providing them'!

Pipework layouts are sometimes unimaginative and suspect both from the point of view of preventing fire and stopping pollution. To hear some industrial experts speak

is to believe that gravity flow is impossible yet the scientists tell us that: ., V" h = f x l/d x 2g where h = head in feet.

f = the coefficient of friction between pipe and liquid.

I = the length of the pipeline in feet.

d = the diameter of the pipeline in feet. v = the velo9ity o( outflow in feet per sec. g = the acceleration of gravity in feet per second second.

Considering the case of an above-ground tank with a 25 foot head of petroleum connected to a 6 inch diameter pipe, 500 feet long, and taking the coefficient of friction as 0.02, we find that: 12 v2 25 = 0.02 x 500 x 6 x 64 40 40 x 60 i.e. v = 2-0 feet per sec. or 2J5 feet per min. = approx. 533 feet per min.

We can convert this velocity into gallons per minute by d2 using the formula 30 = gallons per foot run, where dis the diameter of the pipe in inches, and deduce that flow can P otentially be 533 x 36 or 640 gallons per minute. Because 30

tank nozzle fittings are normally badly shaped it is fair to assume an efficiency of only 60 %. Thus we should accept that in practice in the case cited gravity flow is unlikely to exceed 400 gallons per minute. (It should be noted that reduction of the head from 25 feet to, say, 9 feet does not reduce the flow as much as might be expected; the reduced . v9 3 flow at 240 gallons per mmute 1s only v 25 or 5 of the previous flow. With a 1 foot head, the flow would still be 80 gallons per minute).

Most companies are prepared to fit non-return valves in Jines filling above-ground tanks so that reverse flow does not occur when pumping is stopped. They do tend, however to throw up their collective hands in horror when anti-head valves are required on discharge lines. Without wishing to be tied to precise figures they say that pumps and filters, etc., etc., will restrict gravity outflow should anything go wrong. It is surprising that companies are satisfied with only a restriction of flow in these circumstances because most have emergency buttons on their tank wagon loading gantries to stop pumps in an emergency.

The uninititiated might be forgiven for thinking that operation of the button will. always stop As we have seen, this may not necessanly be so. In their defence industrial experts argue that manually operated tank valves are provided for positively stopping flowif one can reach them in time. Anti-head valves, they say, are liable to "chatter" and who would dispute with the experts.

If anti-head valves are disliked, there is the alternative of a fail to safe solenoid controlled valve. Any such valve should be near the tank and be held open only so long as the pump circuit is energised. With this arrangement the man who hits the button will truly stop the flow, whether he is acting to prevent fire or to prevent pollution.

HOW DOES ONE KNOW NOW ?

. Petroleum officers must-often wonder what pernicious fate it is that apparently cause5 all emergencies and leakages to be reported not only in the small hours of the morning but at weekends. The truth probably is that these emergencies are the best remembered because they are the most roundly cursed.

It would be interesting to know how many times petroleum officers engaged on these excursions have used the field suction line test in an attempt to locate the prob- able source of trouble and thereby avoid the need to shut down the whole filling station until more exact tests can be applied.

The field suction line test was discussed at page 51 of Volume 4, No. 2, of the Bulletin dated October, 1965. Briefly the sequence of the test is first to open the pump nozzle valve and then switch on the pump motor. As the motor starts petrol should immediately gush from the nozzle; if it fails to do so and there is a delay before petrol emerges then something is wrong on the suction side of the pump. The fault may be a defective angle check valve but on the other hand it could well be a leaking suction line. In the middle of the night in the middle of an emergency one must assume the worst and put that particular pump out of commission. Needless to say, during the test the nozzle should be aimed into a suitable receptacle and the longer the test takes place after last use of the pump the more positive are the results.

So many suction line leaks have been spotted by use of the test that it is a pity that filling station proprietors have never been persuaded to carry out the test themselves on each pump every morning as they open up. A lot of trouble might have been saved had they done so. Certainly petroleum officers would have been spared those moments of exasperation when after a long night's vigil they arc told "Oh this pump has always taken a long time to pull up ! "

To carry out the test on the blending pumps available in the past has required a little forethought but has pre- sented no real difficulty to the initiated. But now the picture is changing. The test cannot be done so quickly or effectively with some new blending pumps just reaching the market because the pump motors for both grades always run when the pump is switched on. If one guesses wrongly first time one has to wait to give the second grade line a chance to drain before it too can be tested; no-one likes to wait when time is the essence.

On some self-service pumps the test cannot be done at all; these are the pumps which have either a hydraulically operated re-setting mechanism or a dwell valve which stops delivery while the register is being re-set mechanically. In both cases the effect is the same, namely that the pump motor runs before the flow path is opened.

Eheu

fugaces !

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

ETON RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL

Conveyance Regulations

Legal proceedings were taken against a petrol tanker driver who pleaded guilty to an offence under Regulation 2 of the Petroleum Spirit (Conveyance by Road) Regulations 1957. The case was heard at Burnham Magistrates Court on 16th February, 1970, and a fine of £5 was imposed.

Proceedings resulted from a fire which broke out on the forecourt of a garage in the High Street, Burnham. It appeared that after a delivery of petrol into the underground tanks was completed, and when the driver was lifting the hosepipe on to the vehicle platform some three feet from the ground, a quantity of petrol came out of the end of the hose and was ignited from some source. Flames spread rapidly over two directions and considerable damage was done to the showroom window and the vehicle. The alarm was raised by a schoolboy and the fire was extinguished by the Fire Brigade in a very short while.

Defending solicitor suggested in his address to the Court that the petrol had spilt on to the rear light assemb.ly of the vehicle which provided the ignition source; this, however, could not be proved due to the damage sustained to the tanker.

POOLE Conveyance Regulations

On Thursday, 26th February, 1970, at Poole Magistrates Court the licensee of a filling station was ordered to pay £25 for failure to comply with Regulations 16(7) and (10) of the Petroleum Spirit (Conveyance by Road) Regulations, 1957. Proceedings resulted from an error when 200 gallons of petrol were inadvertantly placed into an underground storage tank containing 650 gallons of paraffin.

A small quantity of the paraffin/petrol mixture was sold as paraffin, but fortunately the mistake was quickly discovered and no accidents resulted.

Warnings were issued to the public about the dangers involved by means of radio, television and press announcements.

BRADFORD Licence Conditions

On 25th March, 1970, at Bradford Magistrates Court, The Trinity Box Manufacturing Co. Ltd. was fined a total of £50 plus £15 15s. Od. costs for two breaches of the conditions of a petroleum storage licence.

The Court was told that firemen who went to a blaze at the factory found excessive petroleum mixture on the premises, some of it not in the authorised store. The firm said the mixture was cellulose enamel and had accumulated because less than normal was used the previous week.

THE ASSOCIATION FOR PETROLEUM ACTS ADMINISTRATION

Applications are invited from members of the Association for the office of

Editor of the Bulletin

which will become vacant on list December, 1970.

The person appointed will be required to perform the duties imposed by the Standing Orders of the Council, and to act as assistant to the present Editor until he takes over full responsibility on the lst January 1971.

Further details may be obtained from:-

R. P. HOLDAWAY, Weights and Measures Dept.

2 Claremont Buildings, Claremont Bank, Shrewsbury, Salop. to whom applications are to be addressed so as to be received not later than 3 Ist May, 1970.

Published by THE ASSOCIATION FOR PETROLEUM ACTS ADMINISTRATION

R. P. HOLDAWAY, Hon. Editor, Weights and Measures Dept.,

2 Claremont Buildings, Claremont Bank, Shrewsbury, Salop Telephone Shrewsbury 55813/4

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