Trying to achieve an incident & injury free workplace

By Guido de Jongh

When we drive through Europe, our cars continue to run without problems and petrol fuel for our car is abundantly available in the right specification. Maybe you are not aware of it, but this is because car fuel is standardized. On a large number of fuel pumps, you will notice a small label indicating with which standard the fuel complies. So, next time you fill up your car, you might want to look for a label with following standards:

•EN 228:2004, Automotive fuels -

Unleaded petrol - Requirements and test methods

•EN 589:2004, Automotive fuels - LPG - Requirements and test methods

•EN 590:2004, Automotive fuels -

Diesel - Requirements and test methods

The first editions of these standards were published in 1993 and have since been revised on several occasions. These standards have become trendsetters for several non-European countries and complement the European Directive on petrol and diesel fuels (2003/17/EC).

These standards relate to the fuel specifications for fossil fuels but, for several years now, there has been a tendency to look for alternative fuels, and, more particularly, biofuels.

As a general rule, the production costs of bio-based fuels are higher than the classical fossil fuels, but the recent price increases of fossil fuels have renewed attraction to alternative automotive fuels. In addition, other important considerations are increasing attention:

•The decision to set a target for the use of biofuels for all diesel and petrol for transport purposes of 2 % by the end of 2005 and to 5,75 % by the end of 2010 (Directive 2003/30/EC)

•The Kyoto Agreement

•The security of energy supply

In order to stimulate the use of biofuels, the authorities are examining the current taxation systems on automotive fuels.

CEN is also contributing to the achievement of these objectives, in particular, through its development of standards for alternative automotive fuels. CEN/TC 19 ’Gaseous and liquid fuels, lubricants and related products of petroleum, synthetic and biological origin’, a Technical Committee where stakeholders like car manufacturers, petroleum companies and biofuel producers can sit around the table, has elaborated European Standards for Biodiesel, notably:

•EN 14214:2003, Automotive fuels –

Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) for diesel engines – Requirements and test methods •EN 14213:2003, Heating Fuels –

Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) –

Requirements and test methods

The new Biodiesel standard has expanded the biodiesel market, which saw a 65 % production rise in 20042005, facilitated trade and brought down production costs due to economies of scale.

Meanwhile, work has started on the development of specifications for bioethanol. The draft standard prEN 15376 lays down the ethanol characteristics as a blending component for petrol (i.e EN 228:2004). Today the use of E85, a fuel composed of approximately 85 % ethanol, is still a niche market but one that is growing progressively. In some EU countries –e.g. Sweden and Spain - adapted cars can use this type of fuel. But also here, CEN has been active and CEN Workshop Agreement 15293:2005 lays down the technical specifications for this fuel.

Another niche market is that of emulsion fuels. This diesel fuel is typically used by specific heavy duty fleets, for example urban buses, and helps to reduce air pollution in big cities. The lack of a European specification on emulsion fuels was an incentive in the development of CWA15145:2004, Automotive fuels - Water in diesel fuel emulsions for use in internal combustion engines - Requirements and test methods.

All these standardization activities, excluding those connected with emulsion fuels, have been mandated by the European Commission and are supporting the Commission’s policy.

Looking ahead to the future, BT/WG 149 ‘Liquid and gaseous alternative fuels’has drafted a report, identifying which additional European Standards for alternative fuels should be developed, in order to stimulate their use throughout Europe.

For more information, please contact: guido.dejongh@cenorm.be

Branches Job Description for Branch Representative

The Branch Representative provides the ears and eyes of the Branch, which he/she represents and is responsible for bringing information from National Council to the members within the Branch. The Branch Representative is an ex officio member of the Branch Committee and must attend as many committee meetings as possible. It is also important for the Branch Representative to seek the views and opinions of Branch Members in order to properly represent them to National Council and one way of achieving this is to be given an opportunity to update members and seek comments at Branch Meetings . One of the duties of the Branch Representative is to provide the Business Manager with periodic reports of the Branch’s activities as well as reports for meetings of the Branch Representatives Committee

The job primarily provides an official link between National Council and the Branch for which he/she is the Representative. Essential for any member considering accepting nominations for the post are the following requirements.

1. As far as possible, attend all Branch meetings On any occasion where this is not possible, obtain a report from the secretary or other designated person, in order to provide this to the Business

Manager.

2.To work with the Branch Committee with a view to promoting the interests of the

Branch and planning of the Branch activity.

3.To assist the Regional Committee in monitoring the performance of speakers and members response to the subjects and presentations and generally gauge the interest of the membership.

4.To attend the Branch Representatives meetings held twice a year, to exchange views and idea’s with other Branch

Representatives and to bring those idea’s to the respective branches

5.To maintain a link with the Business

Manager to enable centralisation and recording of information., and to respond promptly to emails seeking information about the Branch.

6.To attend National Council Meetings on behalf of the Branch, ensuring that the views expressed are those of the

Branch rather than their own personal views. Conveying all relevant information back to the Branch

Committee.

The next technical meeting and AGM of the NW branch is scheduled for March 2007 on a date to be confirmed. It is our intention to move our meeting venue from it's home in Skelmersdale to the Manchester area in the attempt to include those members in the Yorkshire and Humberside area who do not currently have an active branch. All NW and Y&H members will be emailed shortly with the meeting details which will also be available on the apea website."

Bob Conlin Branch Secretary

Southern

The APEASouthern Branch held a recent branch meeting at a favourite venue, the Grasshopper Inn at Westerham in Kent.

Excellent presentations were made by Andrew Banks from Tokheim and Rodney Carter of Petroman both speaking on issues surrounding the fitting and operation of Stage II vapour recovery, and Graham Hilton of Green Spirit Fuels who spoke about the production and use of E85. Asuperb three course lunch was also enjoyed by all present!

The next meetings are booked for the 9th January 2007 at the Compass Inn Tormarton (just off the M4 at junction 18) where we will be looking at new builds and re-built petrol stations from the view of the architect, developer, contractor, operator and regulator.

The spring meeting is scheduled for the 17th April at the BEN Home in Ascot. This meeting will host the branch AGM, and involve presentations on alternative energy sources for running petrol stations, the carbon trust, site electrical testing and automated energy control systems.

The branch is delighted to be able to use the BEN accommodation again, as this provides the branch with good meeting facilities and lunch whilst directly and indirectly donating to the excellent work of BEN.

David Sommer Branch Secretary

Eastern

APEAEastern branch Diary Note. Autumn 2006

The Eastern Branch industry workshop meeting was held on Wednesday 18th October 2006 at our regular Venue The Limes Hotel in Needham market. The formal branch business procedures were observed.

Aspecial thank you to Jamie Thompson our vice Chairman for stepping in at short notice and deputizing for our busy Chairman John Boudry who was abroad drumming up business for British Industry. We were also delighted to have Ian Taylor with us. It was also pleasing to see so many familiar faces too numerous to mention here, but who are the stalwart of the Eastern Branch. It’s always encouraging and important that you attend which make the events special, also for us, and we thank you for your support.

The event was extremely well attended. Yet again we were fortunate to have excellent speakers who gave of their time and were able to share with the members their experience and knowledge of their specialist subject. Two of our speakers had traveled from as far away as Germany, so the Eastern Branch demonstrates yet again its ability to bring to its members a broad range of current topical subject combined with stimulating technical debate. Of the speakers Emma Faure of Downstream Events gave members an update of the forthcoming APEAAGM and conference in Coventry. Dr Jeremy Smallwood, of Electrostatic Solutions Ltd gave a fascinating talk combined with demonstrations on Static electricity in petroleum forecourts and vehicle refuelling. Jeremy demonstrated how static electricity is generated and can build up. He showed voltages arising on a person's body and how these can in some circumstances provide a fire risk during fuelling, and how floor and tyre materials can lead to the whole vehicle becoming charged. In forecourt system design, Jeremy discussed how flowing fuel can be an important source of electrostatic charging and some of the problems that can arise. His "Report on the risk of static ignition during vehicle refuelling", commissioned by the Institute of Petroleum, UK Petroleum Industry Association and Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd, was published in May 2001. Jeremy works extensively in electrostatics related standards and is a member of the BSI panels GEL101 (Handling of electrostatic sensitive devices) and GEL601 (Control of undesirable static electricity). He is currently Chairman of the International Electrotechnical Committee TC101 Electrostatics, the international committee responsible for drafting electrostatics standards worldwide.

After a nice little lunch there followed an informative presentation by Miriam Maiberger, of Flammer Gmbh on the subject of E 85 (Ethanol) and flame arrestors as used on forecourts in Germany, the different behavior between petrol and Ethanol. He talked about safety concepts and gave a German