Do you know if your Stage II Vapour Recovery Solution is working correctly

from The Bulletin Magazine - March 2008

by apeauk

Car Valeting Services - on a forecourt near you

Ariff Patel

Branch Meeting 15th January 2008.

The winter meeting of the Southern branch was held on Tuesday 15th February 2008 at Marlborough Golf Club, with a more than average attendance of 40 members.

The branch Chairman, Barry Jenner, gave an opening address, welcomed all those who had braved the inclement weather to attend. Barry advised the meeting that the AGM will be held at BEN in Ascot on Tuesday 15th April 2008, and that the summer meeting will be held on Thursday 10th July at Beaulieu Motor Museum; this venue was especially chosen to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our association.

Attendance to Beaulieu will be limited to 60 members.

The first speaker of the day was Rex Wheeler on the draft energy institute model code of safe practice for entry into underground storage tanks at filling stations, which included:

•Statutory legislation and regulations.

•Confined space risks and criteria prior to entry.

•Common hazards of work conditions/permit to work. •Equipment and services.

Rex hopes that this will be published around the end of March 2008.

for inspection; it is worth mentioning that PRPhas been nominated for the NASAhall of fame, which is quite an achievement.

Barry Jenner closed the meeting at 2.15p.m., informing all present that the next branch meeting is set for Tuesday 15th January 2008 at Marlborough Golf Club.

The committee would like to thank all the speakers for making long journeys to give their presentations; it is much appreciated.

The second speaker was Ronald Meurs of E Meurs BV on automatic temperature compensation at fuel pumps.

Ronald explained how a temperature compensation unit can be retrofitted to existing fuel pumps.

An extract of a Dutch TV consumer programme was shown, which clearly demonstrated the differences in the amount of fuel being issued at varying temperatures.

It will shortly be compulsory in Belgium to have ATC equipment fitted to all fuel pumps.

Following lunch, a member’s profile was given by Barry Doul of Fire Safety First, which was very well received.

The last speaker of the day was Steve Otty from Sira on modification of ATEX approved dispensers.

Steve gave a brief history of the company and explained the different work areas and equipment tested by Sira.

Steve advised the biggest benefit of the ATEX directive given in 2003 was transferable certification spanning the single European market, with few exemptions, such as medical use, military and domestic installations. meeting ended at 2.30 p.m.

The committee would again like to thank all speakers and members for making the day informative and enjoyable.

Sue Meadowcroft Branch Secretary

Steve Otty

Ronald Meurs

Eastern

The Eastern Branch Workshop meeting and early Christmas lunch took place at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire on Friday 14th December 2007. This is a marvellous facility. Duxford is Europe's premier aviation museum as well as having one of the finest collections of tanks, military vehicles and naval exhibits in the country. This famous heritage site began as an airfield in the First World War and also played a vital role in the Second World War, firstly as an RAF fighter station and later as an American fighter base. After the presentation there was a guided tour of the Battle of Britain hangar with some time left to view the other hangars showing the extensive and marvellous collection of aircraft and vehicles at this historical place.

The meeting was exceptionally well attended even for the Christmas event something which has become a tradition for the Eastern Branch’s December meeting. It was particularly pleasing to see new faces as well those we haven’t seen for sometime and others who also brought colleagues along. As usual it was a stimulating agenda with interesting speakers. Sam Davidson the Transport Manager of Hoyer’s Road Tanker fleet talked on his company’s training programme dealing specifically with fatigue and cause and effect. This is a presentation that many more companies should take advantage of as it does not only affect companies but all of us as individuals and the responsibilities we have driving motor vehicles.

Our second speaker was Phil Webb from the AA. Phil brought along their specialised vehicle which many of you will have seen on TV which is particularly useful if there has been a misfuelling. The “Fuel Assist” operation is pretty much a self-contained vehicle which the AA, for a fee, can remove the wrongly filled fuel. More information is available from their web site.

A good lunch followed the presentation in the “Marshall room” and was enjoyed by everyone.

The next Eastern Branch meeting is expected to take place in April. The date

Geoff Clements

has not yet been fixed as we are trying to make it a special event to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of the APEA and the Eastern Branch wants to play its part in this. If you would like to give a talk or can provide us with something of particular interest to commemorate the 50th anniversary please contact me directly. We look forward to seeing you at the next meeting. I would lke to remind everyone that the next meeting is also the AGM so please let me know soonest if you would like to participate in serving and contributing to the health of te Eastern Branch. The branch is there to serve your interest and facilitate debate and presentation of topics and equipment that affect our industry

The secretary looks forward to hearing from you. He can be reached at the below address details

Kind regards

Anton Martiniussen Branch Secretary and Treasurer

Rodney Carter & Anton Martiniussen

The APEA / Irish Branch was reformed on 25th September 2006, having being dormant from the mid 1990’s [ after an existence then of about 3yrs – fewer involved / took on too much / got burned out !]

We should record our sincere thanks to Jamie Thompson, Brian Baker and Brian Humm from the Central Administrative Council for attending to help initiate proceedings, give introductory presentations and “press gang” a Branch Committee into place –all with the purpose of taking the Irish Branch forward once again. The Committee volunteers were confirmed by an attendance of about 35 interested members out of a then total membership of about 70 individuals –excluding corporates.

The current serving Committee is as follows :Chairman Tom Daly, Dublin Fire Brigade

Vice Chairman Kevin Wright, Pumps & Fuel

Secretary Michael O’Kane, MOK+AConsultants

Treasurer Mark Elmore, Elmore Group

Branch Rep. to Central Council Philip Bonny, Suresite N.I.

Committee members:. Alan Pollock, Maxol Clive Dukes, Ballymena Council Brian Fitzgibbon, Forecourt Dimensions Maureen Briggs, Craigavon Council

The Branch Committee met on six occasions during 2007 and focused primarily on consolidating the existence of the Branch – being conscious of the short life of the 1990’s previous active period.

Brian could not continue to give an ongoing commitment due to pressure of work. Maureen was co-opted to replace Brian for the 2nd part of the term

The main undertaking of the Branch during 2007 was the Seminar held on 22nd May in the Red Cow Hotel, Dublin.

The Seminar attracted 39 attendees. APEACentral Council Chairman, Bob Conlin - Fairbanks Environmental UK, very kindly accepted an invitation to address the gathering and outlined his mission/vision statement for his term of office. The Irish Branch were honoured to receive Bob and further encouraged by his own ambitions and good wishes for our endeavours. We should record our sincere thanks to Bob for taking the time and trouble to be with us (and to

battle through Dublin Airport, across the M50, via the notorious West Link Toll not to mention the final obstacle of the Red Cow roundabout - we still have to send him his “I survived the M50” tee shirt !).

The serving Committee members have been generous with their time and efforts over the past 15 months and have shown a resolute determination to see the Irish Branch lay a solid foundation, build a strong representative body and represent Oil Industry technical practitioners in Ireland. The current Irish Branch stands at approximately 78 individual members drawn from all sections across Oil Companies, Equipment Suppliers, Service Contractors, Consultants, Regulators. There are 16 listed Corporate Members reflecting a similar background. Through 2007 there has been a steady trickle of recruits into the Irish Branch - a membership of excess 100 can reasonably be forecast in the near future providing a significant forum for matters of common concern.

Therefore the continuing Branch Committee will have substantial responsibility/accountability in dealing with new fuels, technology advances, improved operating practices and not least any updated regulation for the service of Irish members and with the benefit of access to the greater APEA network.

Michael O'Kane Branch Secretary

Scotland

At our latest committee meeting it was agreed to arrange dates for our AGM and autumn meeting in order to give members the earliest opportunity to make arrangements to attend.

We are fortunate to have at our disposal a venue in Stirling courtesy of Forth Valley College.

Dates have been confirmed for the 17th April 08 for the AGM and the 16th October 08 for the autumn meeting at The "Stirling Centre" Kerse Road Stirling. Details of speakers and directions will be made available in the calling notice for the meeting.

Members of the branch are reminded that we are currently collating numbers wishing to attend the national conference in Telford on the 23rd October 08. We are in the process of arranging travel arrangements for the event; if anyone wishes to be included in the branch arrangements could they please contact a member of the committee soon to allow us to finalise arrangements.

North East

Nothing to report at present

North West

Nothing to report at present