The Bulletin – December 1988

Journal of the Association for Petroleum and Explosives Adtninistration

Published by the Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration

A company Limited by Guarantee registered in England No. 2261660 Reg. Office: Stoughton House, Marlborough Road, Oadby, Leicester LE2 4LP

Opinions expressed in this Journal are not necessarily the views of the Association

Talking Point

Public safety at petrol filling stations is the concern of petroleum licensing Authorities, and on these issues the Oil Industry usually fully supports the Authorities. UNATTENDED

51 52

The debate on pressurised petrol lines from submersible pumps has produced general agreement that additional safeguards are required to prevent larger losses of petrol, which can endanger life.

In the USA there are requirements in install such additional safeguards, but one major Oil Company with a United States parent company are still attempting to install such systems without these important safeguards, in the UK.

This is the unacceptable face of marketing.

HUMBERSIDE BRANCH J. Horsburgh

EASTERN BRANCH

Honorary Secretary: Mr. B. D. Taylor.

SOUTHERN BRANCH M. Cox Normand Instruments Ltd

MIDLAND BRANCH Derek Hopkins Warwickshire County Council,

Honorary Editor: Mr. J. A . .I. Thompson.

Chairmans Address

Since the Associations small beginnings in the 1950's when petroleum officers in the Midlands area attempted, by meeting together, to reach a uniform approach, the Association has passed a number of professional milestones.

One of the most significant must be the placing of the Association on a sound legal basis. I consider it not only a privilege but also an honour to be chairman during the first year of the newly incorporated body. This status has been achieved by the painstaking work of the council and in particular the meticuluous efforts of your immediate past chairman Adrian Levett.

Having now entered into a new. chapter it is the responsibility of all members to build on what is most certainly a sound foundation. Not only sound in terms of its legal basis but also in relation to the Association's standing in the field of petroleum.

The Association is seen as a body that is worth consulting when new directions or ideas are being considered and similarly when problems arise which affect both the enforcement and industrial sides. Frank debating of such issues which highlight the perimeter within which each organisation is attempting to work can do nothing but lead to a healthier respect and understanding.

As a professional organisation the Association has come of age. This was certainly manifest at the recent seminar when the most professional of presentations was achieved since the seminars introduction.

All this and possibly more can only be achieved by the continued support of the membership. A membership which has the potential of vastly increasing. This cannot and will not be realised unless the Association is taken even more to the existing and potential membership. The bulletin is the window on the Association and for its production we are greatly indebted to the Editor. However the Associations life line is within the membership which needs continued nurturing and support by means of the branch meetings. These meetings have achieved the pioneers prime objective of a interchange of information and experiences leading to a uniform approach. It is of utmost importance that a forward looking organisation like the Association does not loose sight of its own needs.

I therefore urge all members to ensure that their branch is an active part of the Association making the Association even more prepared for the challenges of the l 990's and if any members are in an area which does not have a branch how about the formation of one?

Storage of Petroleum

Tankmaster Fuel Retriever

D. Bucknall Humberside

Country Council

The use of the ahove machine recently gave rise to a pn 1<.,ccution in Humberside. Readers may be aware of thl" f\ pe of machine which can he used for emptying the I ue::I I an ks qf vehicles prior to work being carried out on f ll<'Jll JJl <t workshop.

It consists of a fuel tank on wheels fitted with a reversible semi rotary pump whic enables transference of fuel either way.

Anti flash protection and full earthing facilities are two of the safety features and the manufacturers say that the equipment is designed and produced to satisfy recommendations of the H.S.E. and petroleum licensing authorities.

The licensing authorities job can become a little difficult when the equipment is used incorrectly for keeping petroleum spirit. This is what we believed in Grimsby of a local car hire firm who would drain the tanks of ex fleet hire vehicles being supplied to them in order to use the fuel in other vehicles.

A visit to the trader's premises revealed that 3 jerry cans each contained approximately 20 litres of petrol and the fuel retriever contained a further 109 litres one hundred and sixty nine litres in all. The premises in which the containers were, was unsuitable for legitimate keeping under the Petroleum Spirit (Motor Vehicles etc). Regulations 1929.

When being interviewed about the matter, the trader said that petrol was only on the premises for periods of within 4 hours. In Court, he said the petrol found by the investigating officer has only been there for 3/-1 hour at the most.

During the hearing reference was made to GRANDI & ANOTHER -V- MILBURN, but in the event, the magistrates decided that the trader was not guilty of keeping petroleum spirit without licence.

The critical factor in the matter would seem to be in showing the duration of keeping which we could not do in this instance. It does appear that there may be more widespread use of similar fuel retrieving equipment than previously we thought to be the case. Other authorities may care, therefore, to examine the way that their local motor dealers/repairers deal with transferred fuel.

Letter to Editor

Dear Sir

In the September issue, Volume 26 No. 3 mention was made of an incident concerning an alleged nozzle blow back. On receiving notification of this incident our engineering personnel were despatched to the site in question. It was and has been established conclusively that the incident was not due to any equipment defect, and both the nozzle and dispenser worked perfectly.

It is acknowledged by most that some motorists will insist on filling their petrol tanks to the brim just to get that last half litre.

In this particular incident it was not mentioned as filed in the company incident book that the individual had a bandaged righthand. After paying he returned to his vehicle and with the bandage still wet with petrol foolishly lit a cigarette!

Yours sincerely, A. H. Martiniussen Director Chief Executive Ela flex

NITROGEN INERT FOAM, FOR UNPARALLELED SAFETY ON THE FORECOURT AND IN INDUSTRY

Nitrogen Foam lnerting during periods of forecourt shutdown or Forecourt "Mothballing"

* Nitrogen Inert Foam inerting for MANHOLE REMOVAL prior to slurry filling. The pouring of the slurry is unaffected by the foam and the vessel remains totally safe and inert throughout the operation, the inert and bio-degradable foam being broken back down.

* Nitrogen Inert Foam inerting for MANHOLE MODIFICATIONS with product in situe.

* Nitrogen Inert Foam inerting PRIOR TO EXCAVATION including inert foam blanket of area when spirit contamination of ground is suspected. Inert foam filled vessels are unaffected by 'pecker' perforation of the vessel, and any residual spirit does not flow out of these or other area's of porosity as with water fill during excavation, should this take place, but remains totally protected and secure in the bottom of the vessel. During lifting the void is quickly foam inerted so as to render safe any possible leakage from the bottoms of vessels. The Nitrogen Foam filled vessel may then be simply loaded for safe transport to the Demolition site or cut by hot or cold methods in situe.

* *

Nitrogen Foam filling for safe TRANSPORTATION of excavated vessels by road.

Nitrogen Foam filling for SAFE INERTING of road, rail or air transport.

* Nitrogen Inert Foam makes a superb 'VAPOUR PLUG' in pipework and allows 100% safe hot or cold methods of work procedures in very close proximity to hazardous products.

* Nitrogen Inert Foam for the simple removal of Vessel COMPARTMENT BULKHEADS. With both compartments foam filled, engineers wearing approved equipment can quite simply work in good visability within the foam and cut the partition in complete safety.

* . Nitrogen Inert Foam, the 100% safe way of Vessel DEMOLITION. In situations of heavy residual contamination, this procedure can cut days of hand or conventional cleaning method time by allowing safe entry to be made through the sides of large storage vessels and resulting mechanical access for removal of residues under 'open' safety conditions. On heavy Oil Storage for example.

GAS FREEING using Inert Foam or other Nitrogen purging techniques.

LEAK TESTING by Helium trace and all modern techniques.

HOT WORK modification and repairs to Lloyds I A.S.M.E.

BOTTOMING cleaning, Removal, Slurry Filling.

MOTHBALLING.

FILLED RESIN or glass reinforced, spirit or solvent resistant linings, engineered to Lloyds Inspectorate of Shipping approval.

ULTRASONIC TESTING of Underground Vessels under totally inert or Water filled conditions.

During inerting 100% safety is assured by the constant supply of foam at the inlet aperture v1s1ble venting of the foam from the outlet aperture. This ensures a slight positive pressure within vessels and the removal of all primary foam contamination, prior to and during hot or cold work procedures. * * * * * * *

* GRIT ABRASION to S.A.3, under totally inert constant purge situations, using "NITROBRADE"@ equipment.

*** NOTE. The gasification of a foam compound with inert gas is a patented process and operated under licence from Nowsco Well Services (UK) Ltd. by the above Company. To give total nationwide coverage SUB-LICENCES ARE BEING CONSIDERED and Companies I Firms interested in operating this inexpensive process from their own vans in their own geographical areas should enquire, in writing only, to:-

Explosives Prosecution

Case 1

During ajont inspection of a licensed explosives store, with Officers of G .M. Police Firearms Section, a H.S.E. Explosives Inspector found 5 plain detonators in the main compartment of the Division E store. This compartment was used for nitroglycerine based explosives storage. The information was passed to the Licensing Authority by the H.S.E. and the company pleased guilty in the Magistrates Court. They were fined £750 with £20 costs.

Case2

A reinspection of a Division C explosives store, by Fire Service Explosives Officers revealed the following:-

( a) A failure to maintain the timber interior lining to the main compartment door (a timber lath was missing) exposing the steel construction.

(b) Failure to keep the interior of the store free from dirt and grit.

(c) A deteriorated lOOmm cartridge of 80% strength blasting found in the main compartment of the store (1t was acertained that this type of explosive had not been used for four years).

( d) Detonators within the delay relays (20 detonators in found in the main compartment of the store with other explosive storage.

The company pleased guilty in the Magistrates Court on all charges. They wer fined a total of £4,000 with £200 costs, broken down as follows: (a) £500, (b) £1,500, (c) £1,500, ( d) £500 with £50 costs in each case.

Petroleum Prosecutions

GREATER MANCHESTER COUNTY FIRE SERVICE REPORT

ANOTHER OVERFILL

The Mana?eress of a Stockport filling station, being the "responsible person" at the time of a road tanker delivery, has been successfully prosecuted for "failing to secure that not petroleum spirit overflowed fron; a storage tank". The yound lady had completed the necessary certificate indicating the 10,000 litres could safely be delivered. After only 6.350 litres were discharged from the road tanker, the driver had to stop the transfer as leakage was noted around three dispensers on the forecourt. Spirit had leaked from the breather valves of the air separators. Checks revealed that the tank (of 13.600 litres capacity) held 8.877 litres of spirit immediately prior to the delivery.

The Manageress pleaded guilty at Magistrates Court. A fine of £500 with £50 costs was awarded.

DORSET PROSECUTION

A fine of £1,900 was imposed in Poole, Dorset in a prosecution for conditions taken Department.

breaching petroleum licencing by Dorset Trading Standards

At Poole Magistrates Court on Monday 19th September 1988 Branksome Carriage and Motor Co. Ltd. pleaded guilty to one information involving five breaches of the licencing conditions.

The prosecution, as a result of a routine inspection to the premises concerned blocked interceptor channels, not emptying manhole chambers, failing to secure fill pipes, discharged extingquisher, no sand and failing to display appropriate employer's notice.

TESCO STORES LTD DURRINGTON, WORTHING PETROLEUM (CONSOLIDATION) ACT 1928

The above company pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates Court on the 2nd November to an offence alleged under the above Act that they contravened a licence condition by permitting smoking and a naked flame near to a place where petroleum spirit was exposed; fined £250 with £40 costs.

A Tesco trainee filling station attendant gave a female customer a light for her cigarette whilst she was at in her car next to a petrol pump, which was being used by another customer at the time.

As a result of this case Tesco's training procedures have been changed to hopefully prevent this happening again.

PROSECUTION FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRAVENTIONS IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE

On Monday 19 September at Huntingdon Magistrates Court, Cambs. Fairstar Ltd were fined a total of £1000 with £50 costs for contravention of three conditions of their Petroleum Licence.

A routine visit to the garage, which is at Warboys near Huntingdon. revealed that the emergency switch and associated notice were missing and the pyro cable hanging loose in the outside of the kiosk.

It transpired that when work was undertaken on the kiosk facia in January 1988 the emergency switch was removed from the wall o.f the kiosk and left hanging on the At. between January and April the emc1gency switch tell oft and was not replaced or the matter reported.

The charges related to:

l. installation not being maintained in a sat1stactory condition at all times fine £-J.00.

2. All precautions not being taken to prevent any nsk ot ft re or explosion fine £400.

3. A notice stating 'Petrol Pumps Switch off Here' was not displayed adjacent to the emergenc\· switch Fine £200. ·

Fairstar Ltd pleaded guilty to all thrL'e charges.

The County Fire Officer, Greater Manchester County Fire Service has informed us of two recent successful prosecutions under the Explosives Act as follows:-

London Company

Fined £5000 for Unauthorised Driver Controlled Deliveries

The North Area of the London Fire & Civil D efe nce Authority is s u e d two summonses against M a kris Service Stations Ltd of 248 , Hi gh Stree t Barnet a s ub sidi ary of CYMA P e troleum Co Ltd for t wo offences whic h occured on 6 Jun e 198 6 a nd thre e offe nce s on 11 N ove mber 1986 for bre aches of licence conditions a nd th e Dangerous Sub s t a nces (Conveyance b y Ro ad in Ro a d Tank e r s and T a nk Cont a iners) R eg ulati ons 1981. The cas es were h ear d at B a rnet Ma gis t ra tes Court on 11July1988

The pros ec ution pr ese nted evidence on the following

Offences committed on 6th June 1988

1 Co ntravention of Condi ti on 24 of Li ce nce failure to p e riodic a ll y clean th e forec o urt channe ls connected to the petroleum intercepting ch ambers On 6th June, th e chann e ls were blocked by accumulated silt a nd le af debri s.

2 Co ntra ve ntion of para. 5 of P a rt I of Schedul e 4 of the abo ve R eg ulation s before deliv e r y of petrol e um s pirit into two s t orag e tank s was commenced , the company failed to sec ure that so me co mpetent p erso n was in charge of th e s tora ge t a nks for the purpo se of delivery other than per so n s employ e d t o be in a tt e ndanc e on deliv ery vehicle.

Offences committed on llth November 1987

1. Co ntrav e ntion of Condi ti on 17 of lic e nce failure b y th e comp a n y, at leas t one month b efo r e tran sfer ring th e occupation of the above premi ses to anothe r to g ive writt e n noti ce to th e Authority of its int e ntion to do so and of th e name a nd a ddre ss of the person whom the company prop ose d to tran sfe r occ upati o n.

2 . Co ntrav e ntion of Co ndition 39 of li ce nc e - whilst p e trol e.um sp irit was bein g discharged from ta nk wagon mt o s torag e ta nks , a person was in sales office , i. e. Mr Kulasgaram Kulane.

3. Contrave nti o n of para. 5 of P a rt I of Schedule 4 of ab_ove Regulations before delivery of p e trol e um sp mt mt o s tora ge tanks was commenced , the co mpany fa il e d to se cure that so m e competent person 111 c h arge of th e s torage tanks for the purp ose of d e li very ot h e r than person s e mpl oyed t o be in a tt e nd a n ce o n del i very vehicle. T h e Mag is tr a te s fou nd that the case was proven in eac h o ff e nc e_ a nd t h e co mpan y was fin e d £ 1000 for ea ch of t h e fi ve offences plu s cos t s of £104 1.83 making a tota l of £6 041. 83 .

Note

Th e Po li ce had a lso repo rt ed the dr iver of th e road tank e r fo r s mok in g w hil e o ffloadin g th e petro leum sp irit at the f!l lm g s tation The LF C DA was not ab le to as p e tro le um li cens ing Autho rit y ha s no p ower ! hefull fa c t s a nd ev id ence wer e pre se nt e d to th e local H SE in s p ec t o r w h o is e mpow e red to prosecut e, b ut Je id e d aga111 s 1 tak in g act io n

Unattended Self Service Petrol Stations

Trade, Cust:omers and Manufact:urers vvant: t:hem

Contributed by R. P. THOMPSON

During the next few years petroleum officers and other local government officials will have to make a decision on whether to approve or refuse applications for the installation of equipment necessary for unattended self-service petrol stations. At these petrol points customers serve themselves, using pre-payment equipment at stations which would otherwise be closed at week-ends or during the night.

Self service petrol forecourts are on the incre ase in thi s country but the majority of them operate under the banner of attended self service where customers serve themselves. and then pay a cashier for the quantity of petrol received. The cashier is in control of the pumps and that precautions are followed and equipment 1s not misused. If there is a danoer apparent individual whole petrol area equipment can be frozen by the attendant. It 1s estimated that at the P.resent time there are about 70 in s tallation s of this type 1n operation

However, although attended self service is all very well 111 its way, .Pet ml companie s generally are becoming m o re and m o re Insistent on attempting to obtain sanction f o r pre-payment petrol pump s which at week-ends and during the. 111ght can be operated by the cu s tomer with o ut s up e 1'.:: v1s1on. Whether or not they s ucceed will depend to a lar ge extent o n the attitude of local government o fficial s.

It is claimed that the trade , the customer and the pump manufacturers would welcome such a move.

At the pr ese nt time so me local fire a nd petroleum officers are h es it a nt regarding pre-payment se lf se r v ic e on unattended stations. They hav e s till to be convinced the fire danger s can be overcome both fr o m the point o f view of equipment and the carele ss cu s tomer.

One of the few concern s to h ave taken definite s tep s to s how lo ca l government officials that unattended se lfse rv1.ce petrol s tati o n s are no more dangerous than co nventional type forecourts is the BP retail di v is ion of Shell Mex and B.P ., Ltd. A few week s ag o the y took po s iti ve ste ps when 34 seni o r local gov ernment office r s visited Hamburg 111 We s t Germany to see at f-ir s t hand unatt e nded s elf-service petrol sta tion s in o perati o n.

The_ p a rty that went to G e rman y includ e d t ow n clerks. chief fire officers, chief public he a lth inspect o r s, chief Inspectors of weight s and m eas ure s They came from a ll part s of the country. There were a lso r e pre se ntati ves fr o m the Board of Trade , Hom e Offi ce and the Mini s tr y of Technology. R Gresham Cooke, M.P., wa s a m e mber o f the party also, as was Alan Wrioht , petrol committee chairman o f the Motor Agents' Th e v is it was of two d ays duration and in Germany the Briti s h officia ls had the chance to di sc u ss mutu a l probl e m s regarding se lfse rvice with th e ir opposite number in Hamburg.

The BP retail divi s ion of Shell Mex and B.P. are convinced that there is a need for e x tended opening hours of petrol station s to cater for the increasing number of motorists travelling at night. They say: "Unfortunately it is not always economic or practical to provide a manual service at these times The so lution lies clearly in unattended self-service b y pre-payment. Although this method of retailing is contrary to the conditions of standard petroleum licences , we con s ider that the risk involved with the equipment we would like to install is no greater than on manned tilling stations".

At the outset BP pointed out that the pumps they wanted to install on selected sites would not be in operation during the day. It was an additional service on their stations for the night-travelling cu s tomer.

In CL)lllllllln with t1thcr trades the m otor trad e ha s look ed t o se lf serv ice t L) cuuntcra c l in c reas ing labour cos h. s h o rt e r working weeks. s h n rtagc o f s uitabl e labour. in c rea sed turn ove r and con s umer demand. T h ese problems are accentuated in the 1110t L)f' trade b y high and week-e nd bu s ine ss peaks. se a so n a l trad e and a r equ ir e m e nt !'or lo n g ope nin g lh i urs.

R. GRESHAM COOKE, M.P.

The introduction of attended self-service petrol stations into this country began in 1963 and now there are a considerable number in existence. Most local petroleum authorities will permit, with various additional conditions to their standard licence, this form of self-service. It was in April, 1965, that the first unattended self-service was obtained from a local petroleum authority and since only a further 20 or so have agreed to this type of ret.a1hng. The principle of unattended self-service does not dlf_ectly comply with certain conditions in existing petroleum lt is considered by Shell Mex and B.P. that the operation of self-service equipment even by unskilled persons does not present a great risk.

Before the BP party of officials set off for Germany they were briefed about the Wayne £1 note acceptor pumps, which BP are anxious to install se ected sites in this country. It is virtually fool-proof and th £1 · e approximates with the average gallonage purchased by a customer.

.Tihe bank note acceptor cabinet is designed for either or plinth mounting with anchoring points to prevent 0 Ily remo_val. The cabinet is formed from heavy gauge P_late with the door edges formed to preventjemmying a pi_n in the full depth door hinge. The 1 d ockmg linkage 1s protected by a JO-pin tumbler cy er lock for security and the enclosed cash drawer ms1 e the cab· t · d . me is protected by a second lock of similar esign but different combination. Key changes are never repeated.

Each pump h · d h . fr ousing an t e changeover mechanism thorn automatic to manual operation is furnished with e same type f 10 · with d"ff 0 -pm tumbler cylinder lock but again 1 erent combinations.

The note a 'ce t b. · cally c P or ea met 1s fitted with a thermostati- controlled fan h t . electrical co ea er t_o maintain the electronic and perature and c1rcu1ts at correct working temto avoid malfunction due to condensation.

Each pump cont 1 d 1 time switch Th. ro mo u e IS e_qu1pped with an _electric nozzle · · IS allows three minutes from the time the and the pu_mp switched on for the minute s is a completed. Expenence has shown that three The tim deq uate for the deli very of£ I worth of petrol. arising guards against the possibility of a hazard the nozzle e of a delivery not being completed and Th no emg replaced afterwards.

e note accept h copies. (A de or _ead rejects forgeries and photoScottish £] monstrat1on showed that it would reject a S note) Th · · tandard W . h · e eq u1pment 1s approved by the Trade Under ecig Measures Department , Board of F II ert1 icate No. 1439.

o owing the d answers · emon s trat1on there was a question and es s1on M t f h 0 . · os o t em referred to the safety angle. ne o fficial ·1 k d cu s tomer wh ds e what_ precaution there was for the tank o f the off with the pump nozzle still in the point in the e. He wa s told that there was a break relabng to There were a number of questions o fficial that · ng by cu stomers. It was stated by a BP s t a tion s the in a s urvey made on unattended service re Wa s · rep o rt e d It · no in s tance of smoking by customer s · was J · s m o king o n c a imed that there seemed to be more stat io ns. O n a tt e nded forecourt s than on self- service se lf-s er vice s t =tim o tf r trader wh o ha d been operating a had n o in s t a n o n o r seven m o nth s mentioned that he ve hi cles w ith cu st o me r s s moking while filling their

O n e q · ue s t 1o ne r w · t d t h e actua l h os . a n e to kn o w a bout the durabilit y o f 11 wou ld be e pip e to wilful dam a ge. He wa s told that t throug h t h e h o · Y o use a ha c ksaw blade t o c ut c o n s tru c tio n se. Te mp e red s te e l wire wa s used in it s

In Hamburg, BP Germany set out to convince the British party that the Munz Tank system, which is in operation on over 2,000 BP German stations, offers complete security even in the hands of unskilled persons. lt operates on a multi-coin basis and fulfils all the requirements laid down by Western German licensing authorities.

Said Ing. J. M. Dopner, chief engineer, B.P. Germany: "One of the fears always expressed by public officials and authorities when self-service of petroleum products is being discussed is the great danger likely to arise because no station attendant is present. Invariably the question is posed concerning the maniac, who can be a hazard to the community.

'

' The stock answer is , of course, that the problem of the maniac always exists, and not only in relation to tilling stations. An act of arson is a possibility anywhere, whether there is, or is not a watchman or other person present. It might be well to re-emphasise that hazardous liquids of various kinds can be obtained over the counter of a number of stores in canisters or bottles and there is no control over their ultimate use.

"Since the fir s t Munz Tank equipment wa s in s talled on BP sta tions at the end of March, 1964, a total of approximately 6,000 s uch unit s ha s been put into service by the oil co mpanie s in We s tern German y by the end o f 1966. B.P., with some 30 per cent or so of thi s equipment. ha s completed around 11 , 500 ,000 tank filling s t o date, and has had only two incident s rep o rted involving a fire".

The fir s t ca se wa s that of a taxi-driver wh o decided t o s mo ke while filling the balance o f hi s deliv e r y into a canister , and set the content s alight. The sec o nd ca se co ncerned an e scap ed maniac who , hav in g in se rted so m e c o in s int o the Mun z unit , s pra ye d the fo rec o urt ar e a with th e product and ignit ed it. In ne ith e r c a se we re th e indi vidual s

J.M. DOPNER

harmed and the only damage to the premises or equipment was some charring of the outside of the hoses. These were subsequently tested for tightness and were shown to be leak-proof, but were changed for sake of appearances. The quantity of product spilled was, in both incidents, only a few litres and there was no action required by the fire

services, but they appeared on the scene in each case. Before leaving Germany the British party were able to witness the operation of unattended self-service petrol stations in Hamburg at night. Whether they were vinced sufficiently as to its safety in operation remains to be seen.

SELF-SERVICE PUMP INTRODUCED ON COUNCIL CAR PARK

Linked to Note Acceptor Unit

Two new do-it-yourself developments for motoristsa blending pump deli,-cring five grades of BP petrol and a machine accepting pound notes for self-servicehave been linked for the first time at a new filling station at Horsham, Sussex. The BP Blender Pump is the first to be operated on a local authority's car park. The price of the grades ofTcrcd will be 2d. per gallon below normal prices. The station, leased by Horsham Urban District Council to CafTyns Ltd., is in the Blackhorsc Way car park behind the main shopping centre of the town in West Street. A note-acceptor self-service system was specified for the site by the Council following successful tests by BP last year.

Councillor A. Y. Murrell, Chairman of Horsham U.D.C., who inaugurated the site on Monday, 20th February, by filling his own car's tank, said, We must make prm ision for those who. for business or pleasure, want to stop in the town and not merely get through and out again as quickly as they can. For this purpose we ha'e provided car parks as near as possible to the town centre. In this latest car park we have now gone a stage further by the establishment nf this self-scf\ice petrol filling stati o n... At the opening Mr. Sidney CafTyn, Chairman and Joint Managing Director of Caffy ns, Ltd., said that self-service equipment was one way of reducing labour costs on filling stations. Mr. Stanley Fryer, BP Area Manager, said, The use of both the bl e nding pump and the note-a cc eptor have been pioneered by BP in this country and are the latest innovations in our policy of pro' ic!ing up-to-elate service for the motoring public,"

The note-acceptor machine, 291ins. wide, 28ins. high and 16ins. deep, is set in a brickwork surround. The motorist puts a pound n o te on the machine's drawer, which is then pushed intll a slide-awa y. Forgeries, crumpled notes and pieces of paper arc rejected by the machine. which recognises the genuine note by a photo-electrical proce ss After the note ha s been accepted, the nwturist clwoscs the gr a de of petrol at the Blender Pump at the other end of the island b y operating a selector s\\itch on the pump. He then take s the nuzzle and fill s the car with the grade of petrol chosen. Both the note-acceptor and the Blender Pump are undn canopie s. O ve r the next two years, BP plans t o introduce mnrc note-ac cep tors un sites in the U K. where there is s utlici c nt for after-hours sef\ ice. Blender Pump s , which \\ere introduced by BP throughout the c,1untry la st October, will total 1, 800 b y the end o f th is 'car. These pumps dispen se mixture s of BP Super and BP Regular, drawing s upplie s fr o m se rarate tank s and blending them in co rrect proportions t o achieve the desired octane rating. The control unit in the pump gmcrns the flow of the two base petrul:;, feeding them thrciugh a d ou ble h ose to the pump nozzle\\ here blending taJ...es pla ce

Petroleum Seminar

1988The annual seminar held at Dunstable was very well supported with well over 250 members and exhibitors present to hear the three speakers present papers on the proposals in the HSE draft guidance on petrol filling stations.

Pat Lloyd of the Health and Safety Executive who is responsible for publishing the code first explained the reasons for need of a new code , and the process of laying down the standards and the consultancy period. An important input into the code was from the various technical departments of the HSE at Bootle. An electrical sub committee contributed to an important section of the code and this had drawn a number of comments. The draft out for public comment had resulted in over 100 detailed submissions which were being colated , to be considered first by the HSE then the worki_ng party. Mr Lloyd was pressed by numerous questioners on a date for publication. He was unable to be specific but expressed a " hope" that the code would be published in the spring of 1989

Dunk of Total Oil Ltd and Chairman of the panel

A engmeermg committee of the Institute of Petroleum gave an Oil Industry response to the code.

_He welcomed the new code and expressed a wish that this would lead to uniformity of practise throughout the country· He explained the difficulties that Oil

Companies faced when dealing with the varying standards of Local Authorities and especially those officers with limited experience in this field . To illustrate this he singled out the special problems that some Fire Authorities posed to the Oil Industry when the person dealing with the Petroleum Acts was constantly changed , and therefore knowledge and experience was in short supply. Mr Dunk welcomed the dialogue which the Institute of Petroleum and the APEA had developed in recent years by the two meetings a year where joint problems were discussed. This has developed a better understanding of each others problems, and had benefitted both sides. Mr Dunk responded to some questions on some of the more controversial aspects of the code.

Ivan Reader of Hertfordshire Fire Brigade in his "swan song" before his retirement gave the seminar an illustrated talk on the problems he has had to face with Oil Companies and equipment manufacturers when developing petrol filling stations. His slides illustrated his concept of the poor quality of petrol pumps which had arrived at the site, and queeried the validity of the BASEEFA certificate. His refusal to licence the site led to visits from the manufacturer, and BASEEF A and eventually all his safety concerns were met. His message to Petroleum Licensing Authorities was not to get forced to accept something due to pressures of commercial and economic expediency. He also welcomed the new code.

The Seminar was also an occasion for many exhibitors to display their equipment and services.

New Members

The Association welcomes the following new members

D. A. Jones Belhan Construction Co Ltd

G. J. Findlay BP Oil Ltd

Mr Malcolm Palmer PM Services Limited

Roger F. Wyatt, Director Wyatt Project Engineering Ltd

G Muttitt Essa Petroleum Co Ltd

Heinrich Koppitsch Raychem Ltd

Richard Kewell Raychem Ltd

Pauline Reith BP Oil Ltd, Retail

A. E. Sweetman Ferranti Industrial Electronics Ltd

A. R. Harris Shell UK Oil

A. H. Hall Manager Engineering S e rvices

P. Baldry Barn es C on s truction L td

Illustrated

THE RONCOL COMMERCIAL FUEL PUMP

The pump incorporates a positive displacement, rotary gear type, pumping unit with inbuilt bypass valve and air separator, together with a remote air separation chamber incorporating "drain line elimination". In its standard form it is capable of delivering fuel at 45 litres per minute, there being a high flow version also with a delivery rate of 70 litres per minute. The meter unit incorporated is of the positive displacement type, with all materials of either stainless steel or aluminium for internal corrosion resistance, and positive stop type micro adjustment of measure is possible with increments as small as 0.08 per cent.

The automatic nozzle, INCORPORATED AS STANDARD, is the world renowned 'lVA type. The pump is manufactured using a structural rolled steel angle frame with heavy section side plates and base for rigidity, the whole chassis being cross braced and finished in a petrol resistant paint. The flexible suction connector, also INCORPORATED AS STANDARD, is set high in the base for ease of installation. The cladding is in light-weight architectural plastic coated and passivated rustproofed steel sheeting in either red or green.

The pump is also available with integral, top mounted, TIMEPLAN system 300 fuel monitoring, providing a total security and management package. The system will accept up to 100 keys, the basic system being supplied with 25, and provides vehicle reports and tank stock management reports via the integral 20 character liquid crystal display. Alternatively a printer can be incorporated to provide more detailed management reports in printed hard copy form. An MPG computing facility is also available for use with driver entered odometer readings, thus providing a total fleet and servicing management tool.

Each unit is supplied completely wired internally and only needs connection to a single phase electrical supply, intstallation costs are therefore kept to a minimum.

COMMERCE HOUSE, THE MALTINGS, STATION ROAD, SAWBRIDGEWORTH, HERTS. CM21 9JX Telephone: 0279 723448

LAFON SAFETY F I LLING LIMITERS

For above or underground tank storage of petrol and diesel, gravity or pump fed.

With forecourt safety in mind, the Lafon Filling Limiters ensure no overfills, no pollution or environmental damage.

With deliveries out of hours no errors in filling can take place.

Full protection against product overfills, damage and pollution costs.

The LAFON Filling Limiters require no maintenance, are used internationally, and do not rely on extraneous products such as electricity.

-on

(Forecourt Safety at its Best)

l.F.L Ltd.

160 Abbey Street, Derby DE3 3SS

Tel: 0332 36 96 14

Telex: 3 77 106 (IFL)