The Bulletin Magazine - September 2005 by apeauk

The Bulletin Journal of the Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration

September 2005

Editorial

Contents Regulars

Tony Jenner

Chairman’s Report

Editor’s Report

Letters to the Editor

Business Manager’s Report

Editor Cameron Forecourt Ltd Platts Common Ind Estate Barnsley South Yorkshire S74 9SE

New APEA Members

News

Press Releases

tel:

01226 742441

fax:

01226 747441

mob:

07715 375140

e-mail:

tonyjenner@cameronforecourt.co.uk

Articles

Jamie Thompson

WM Morrison Supermarkets plc - Petrol Filling Stations Delivery Procedures

Outdoor Payment Systems - The Forecourt Revival

Publishing Chairman 70 Wangford Road Reydon

APEA Annual Conference, Exhibition and Dinner 2005

Southwold

Petrol Tank Explodes After Lightning Strike

Suffolk

I.C.E - In Case Of Emergency

Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005

Tel/fax:

01502 722999

The European Station - Are We There Yet?

Mobile:

07770 625851

Tank Linings - The Needs and Advantages

Tank Lining - A View by Graphite

UK - Health & Safety Executive Revise Petroleum Licence Fees

IP18 6NX

email: jamiethompson@ukonline.co.uk

Jane Mardell Business Manager (including Bulletin Advertising and Branches

Production) PO Box 106 Saffron Walden

Training 2005 course dates and booking details

Membership form

Essex CB11 3XT 53

Tel/fax:

01799 541816

Mobile:

07815 055514

email:

admin@apea.org.uk

Front Cover - Petrol filling station, Higuey in SE Dominican Republic

Published by the Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration A company Limited by Guarantee registered in England No. 2261600 Opinions expressed in this Journal are not necessarily the views of the Association.

quiet. You will see an interesting

Chairman’s Report

account in this issue of the Bulletin from

The strains of summer are starting to

Jamie describing how a lightening strike

pass now as many of us steal those last

in Florida caused two underground

few days of summer holiday. It has been

tanks to be completely destroyed, an

an unusual period to say the least.

unusual and frightening phenomena to

Perhaps most striking is the horror of

say the least!

the London bombings on 7th July which I have a personal account of as I was on

In my region, there is an emerging

my way to a meeting at the Health &

picture of incidents on licensed sites

Hotel, NEC in Birmingham. Here we

Safety Executive in London when these

which is starting to make uncomfortable

have a full day planned for you with

terrible events took place.

reading! If the projections are taken all

some fascinating technical papers and

over the UK, we may be experiencing a

presentations. As always our Exhibitors

Having taken the train to Euston, my

high number of leaks, spillages and

will be on hand to demonstrate and

arrival was met with an evacuation of

fires on Forecourts that could not have

explain their products and services, and

both the mainline and underground

been anticipated 9 months ago. Once I

of course, our ever popular Conference

stations. By now the bus system had

have assembled all of the data I hope to

Dinner will be held in the Kings Suite in

ground to a halt and the traffic in that

submit a feature article in a future

the evening. This event provides a

area

edition of the Bulletin.

delightful opportunity to relax with

London

quickly

became

congested to the point of gridlock.

friends and colleagues and enjoy good

Through this chaos I made my way on

The next in the series of European

food with a glass or two of your

foot to Tavistock Street, arriving there at

Standards will be published by the end

favourite wine. Please make a date to

about 9.45 in the morning.

of the year. Pr EN 15268 "Petrol Filling

join us for an informative day and

Stations - Safety Requirements for the

entertaining evening.

In fact I was within 50 metres of the

Construction

and

Performance

bus blast that rocked Tavistock Square

Submersible Pump Assemblies. I note

Another exciting piece of news is that

at the same time as Russell Square

that also that the Regulatory Reform

I have been contacted by George

tube station was being evacuated. I

Fire Safety Order will be issued in full in

Gregoras of the Hellenic Petroleum

witnessed some of the shocking sights

April 2006 in the UK. This document

Company in Cyprus enquiring about the

and reflected on how close a call I had

calls for a big change in how fire safety

possibility of Cyprus setting up their

had as it was only seconds before that I

legislation will be enforced in this

own APEA Branch. This is very

was outside the BMA building which

country.

encouraging and something that I would

took much of the blast. I am relieved to be able to tell the tale, and have only

like to see come to fruition before my Jane has now affected a smooth

term of office comes to a close. I hope

the

move of our office to her new home and

George and his colleagues join in

emergency services here in the UK.

hopefully no-one even noticed it! That is

sufficient number and am pleased to

Their

was

the way Jane works, just gets on with it

confirm that all Council Members will do

courageously displayed that day as

and resolves the members needs

everything they can to encourage this

they worked unfalteringly in the face of

quietly and effectively, well done Jane!

initiative.

the

greatest

admiration

professionalism

for

such carnage and destruction. I am sure I speak for us all when I extend our

As there is little more for me to report,

thoughts and prayers for those who

It seems remarkable that almost a

there is no point "banging" on and it just

perished and also to their families for

year has now passed since our last

remains for me to wish you all well and

such a sad and senseless waste of

Annual Conference & Exhibition and I

hope that you enjoy this issue of your

human life.

hope that many of you will be able to

Journal.

As for our Industry it all seems a bit

attend this year’s event on 13th

Until next time - Regards

October, once again at the Metropole

Brian 5

your diary as a day not to be missed!

Editor’s Report

Also, please don’t forget our annual

I am now back in office full time after

dinner which follows the conference,

the sad loss of my wife, Vanessa, in

once again we expect a full house for

April. On behalf of my family I would like

what promises to be a thoroughly

to take this opportunity to express my

enjoyable evening.

sincere thanks for the kind and supportive messages we received from

Also

the

Petroleum

Equipment

so many members of the APEA. It is at

Institute “CONVEX” is scheduled to

times of such difficulties that you realise

take place in New Orleans from 30th

how many true friends you have and I

October until 1st November. I am

consider myself as being extremely

planning to visit this event (don’t worry

fortunate to enjoy the friendship and

the APEA is not paying) and hope to

ongoing support of so many people

see many of you there as I know this

within this industry. Thanks to the kind

truly international trade show is very

donations made by many of you we

popular with visitors from the UK. I hope

raised a total of £3,352.00 for the

to be able to include some news and

Macmillan Cancer Relief Fund. I make

views of this event in the next issue.

station operator – please let us have your newsy and non commercial submission, we will do our best to include all those we receive. Perhaps there’s somebody with international experience of this subject out there who would care to share knowledge with us?

no apologies for reminding you of the good

work

carried

out

this

You may remember from my previous

organisation which exists purely on

Editors report that I mentioned a

charitable donations and ask that if you

“Themed Approach” to future Bulletin

do feel able to make a donation to this

issues. This issue was due to carry

fund please send it to me and I will

significant news and information on the

gladly forward it on your behalf.

subject of Tank Lining and input was invited from those within the industry

By the time you read this issue of the

who have knowledge and experience of

Bulletin summer will be drawing to an

this subject. As you will see, the

end

fast

response was disappointing and many

approaching - where on earth does the

who were invited to contribute failed to

time go? The coming of the autumn

submit anything at all. The December

season sees the onset of a busy time

issue is scheduled to feature Drainage

for all of us, and this particularly applies

& Oil Separators and I would urge any

to the APEA with us finalising the

of you who have experience or news on

organisation of our annual Conference

this subject to share this with us all. This

& Dinner at the Metropole Hotel, NEC,

applies

Birmingham on the 13th October.

manufacturer, an installation contractor,

Please make sure you enter this date in

a maintenance contractor or a service

Letters to the Editor

to thank you for the recent training courses held in MK on 21st and 22nd June 2005. The feedback from our attendees has been excellent and was viewed as a very worthwhile day (s). At the moment we are aware of 6 delegates from the Global Alliance who wish to attend the course in the near future and I will open this up to Principal

and

autumn

will

Letter sent to Brian Baker (APEA Chairman) and Brian Humm (Training Chairman) regarding the DSEAR courses held at BP. Dear Brian(s) We would like to take this opportunity 6

whether

you

are

We are always looking for news items and opinions from our members. The Bulletin is widely read throughout the world and is the perfect vehicle for our members to express their opinions and provoke interest and reaction from readers not only in the UK but also in other

continents.

would

also

encourage you to make use of the “Letters to the Editor” feature where we should be able to get some lively debate going on topical subjects.

All that now remains is for me to wish you all well for the coming months and I hope to see as many of you as possible in Birmingham in October.

a Best Wishes Tony Jenner

Contractors, etc. in due course.

Thanks again. Regards Jason Reynolds Programme Manager GlobalAlliance

Business Manager’s Report

Bulletin Advertising

I hope you are all having a good summer, difficult to know what the weather will be like at the time of writing this report but I am ever hopeful. By the time you receive this issue I will have moved house and the APEA office. This is currently a temporary move whilst looking for another property. I hope I can remain sane during this period! However, please note the new office telephone/fax number, this is + 44 (0) 1799 541816.

I will be taking advertising bookings for the 2006 Bulletin between October and December. The renewal reminders will be posted out to all current advertisers in October. Remember that if you book for all four issues you receive a 25% discount and we are able to offer discounts for those of you that wish to book for more than one issue but less than four issue too. You will also receive a 50% discount on Yearbook advertising too for the 2007 issue. The advertising rates remained unchanged for 2006 and are listed on our website on the ‘Publications’ page at www.apea.org.uk If you would like to book advertising for the remaining one issue of the Bulletin for 2005, please call me on 01799 541816.

Annual Conference/Exhibition and Dinner 2005 Included with this issue is an invitation letter to invite you to attend the APEA annual Conference, Exhibition and Dinner being held at the Hilton Metropole at the NEC on Thursday 13th October 2005. If you wish to book an exhibition stand and/or dinner table/place please complete the booking form attached to the invitation letter and send it to me at the APEA office. I have already had a lot of interest in the event so please send in your forms promptly if you wish to make a booking to avoid disappointment. Further information can also be found on our website on the Calender page and in this issue of the Bulletin. 2006 Yearbook Thank you to all of you that advertised in the 2006 Yearbook and also to those that registered to be included. You will be receiving your copy of the Yearbook on 1st October. Corporate members will receive five copies and Individual members will receive one copy. Bulletin Thank you to all of you that have contributed to this issue of The Bulletin. Please send me any news items, press releases or articles for the December 2005 issue and I will pass them onto our Editor for approval. We are always pleased to receive contributions from our members and it ensures that the Bulletin remains an interesting and informative read.

Publications The revised Blue Book is now available at the discounted rate of £40 to APEA members. If you wish to purchase a copy please contact me on 01799 541816 and I will be able to provide you with details on obtaining a copy. We also publish the Code of Practice for Ground floor, multi storey and underground car parks. This can be purchased directly from our website or by calling me at the office. APEA Members £10.00 plus p+p Non APEA Members £20.00 plus p+p Training Thanks to all of you that have booked on our training courses. I have been busy arranging bespoke courses for various companies which enables members to receive training at a discounted rate and at a time and location suitable to them. If you are interested in hosting a bespoke course for your company please do not hesitate to contact me. We can offer discounted rates for these courses if you are able to provide a venue and catering. Thanks go out to all our trainers who often travel long distances to provide their valuable services. You can download a booking form from our website training page, just click on the course you are interested in and

the course details and form are displayed or please contact me by email or by phone and I can email you a copy or you can simply book online from the website. Course dates are listed on page 53 and further dates will be added as we progress through 2005. You can now view the up to date list on the APEA website at www.apea.org.uk/training Membership There have been 65 new members joining during April, May and June and details can be found on page 10. Website By the number of hits that we are receiving it looks like the website is proving to be a benefit to the APEA members. I hope that you find the information on the site useful. If you wish to contribute anything to the site please feel free to log on and go to the APEA Resource Centre where you can submit your article for approval. There is a ‘Help’ pull down menu if you need some assistance. If you need any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me. You can also use the website to change your contact details, just logon and you will be able to access your record. If you cannot remember your logon details please contact me. General Assistance Finally if any of you need any assistance with general or technical matters, please do not hesitate to contact me on 01799 541816 and I will endeavour to help. I look forward to hearing from you.

Jane 9

New APEA Members Detailed below are new members that have recently joined the APEA during April, May and June 2005. April Christopher Cannon 46 Campden Crescent Dagenham Essex RM8 2RU Trevor Barnard 8 Cleveland Road Armthorpe Doncaster South Yorkshire DN3 3DX Darrel Holt 12 Dingle Road Rushden Northants NN10 6RX Audrey Hazelton 46 Capital East Apartments 21 Western Gateway Royal Victoria Dock London E16 1AS Robert Milligan 25 Macadam Close Burntwood Staffordshire WS7 9LJ Spencer Lindsay 6 Ashleigh Rise Ensbury Park Bournemouth Dorset BH10 4FB Colin Stewart 10 Petersfield Pembury Tunbridge Wells Kent TN2 4HD Malcolm Pirie Babcock 45 Venn Grove Plymouth, Devon PL3 5PH Philip Maginnis Ards Borough Council 2 Church Street Newtownards Down BT23 4AP Michael Thomson Booths Supermarkets Ltd 4, 5 & 6 Fishergate Preston Lancashire PR1 3LJ Antony Travers Clare Fire & Rescue Service Central Fire Station New Road Ennis, Clare Ireland 10

Cormac Falvey Clare County Council Central Fire Station New Road Ennis Clare Ireland Jean Edwards Dudley College of Technology The Broadway Dudley West Midlands DY1 4AS Barry Dewhurst Dresser Wayne Pignone Buterfield Industrial Estate Bonnyrigg Midlothian EH19 3JQ Russell Dupuy Fairbanks Environmental Pty Ltd Level 1, 346 Main Street Mornington Australia 3931 Hayley Willis Essex Trading Standards Trading Standards New Dukes Way Office 2 Beaufort Road Dukes Park Industrial Estate Chelmsford Essex CM2 6PS Neil Robson Harly Haddow Park House Park Circus GLASGOW G3 6AN Michael Hewitt George Hammond PLC Limekiln Street Dover Kent CT17 9EE Paul Grant Image Elect Unit 20 -21 Lowes Estate Carryduff Co Antrim BT8 8EH David Morris M&D Electrical Testing Pinewood Newtown Talaton Exeter Devon EX5 2RA John Crouchley Oakmere Safety Consultancy 430 London Road Davenham Northwich CW9 8EF

John Pope Nottingham Trading Standards Rolleston Drive Arnold Nottingham NG5 7JA Michael Mott Network Cabling Ltd Unit 6 The Bridges Business Park Bridge Road Horseshay Telford TF4 3EE Andrew Morris Morris Architects 17 La Motte Street St Helier JE2 4SY Jersey Leigh Jeffs Rogers Chapman Grantley House 9 Park Lane Cranford Buckinghamshire TW5 9RW Alan Tweed South Midland Installations Ltd 1 Warren House Gatehouse Way Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP19 3DB Ian Morley Serious Security 9 Dartmouth Road Forest Hill SE23 3HN Mark Davis Taylor Woodrow 10 Southgate Close Plymstock Plymouth Devon PL9 9QL George Macneill West Dunbartonshire Council Council Offices Rosebery Place Clydebank West Dunbartonshire G81 1TG Vernon Bailey VBES Electrical Services 48 Newlyn Drive Bredbury Stockport Cheshire SK6 1EF

May Gary Woodland Active Connect Ltd 5 Hillmont Road Hinchley Wood Esher Surrey KT10 9BA

New Members Adam Snaith Caddick Construction Ltd Calder Grange Knottingley Yorkshire WF11 8DA Paul Louch Sainsbury's Supermarkets Limited 33 Holborn London EC1N 2HT Andrew Sayer Anglia Regional Co-operative Society Westgate House Park Road Peterborough PE1 2TA Erika Taylor RSK ENSR 16 Frogmore Road Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire HP3 9RW Ian Wilson RSK ENSR Limited 172 Chester Road Helsby Cheshire WA6 0AR Larry Blackman Pavilion Cottage Pavilion Square Harrogate North Yorkshire HG2 0PZ Geoff Baskerville 17 Broadway Warminster BA12 8EB Barry Quinn Sligo Fire Brigade St. Annes Place Sligo Ireland

George Lambrianides ACMA Business SRL 41, Fantanica Str. Bucharest, Sector 2 ROMANIA 73361 K Hodgson Hillcrest Red Beck Stump Cross Halifax West Yorkshire HX3 6XL

June John Holmes Newtownabbey Borough Council Mossley Mill Newtownabbey BT36 5QA Paul Holland East Renfrewshire Council 14 Lowndes Street Barrhead G78 2QX Mel Brown Gilbarco Veeder-Root Crompton Close Basildon Essex SS14 3BA Rizwan Ahmed Al Hamad Trading Est. Post Box 22577 Doha 1 Qatar Simon McNamara 50 Tunbridge Close Great Sankey Warrington Cheshire WA53RF

Richard Moore Seymour & Castle Ltd Tattershall Way Fairfield Industrial Estate Louth Lincolnshire LN11 0YZ

Philip Barnes 4 Spring Vale Prestwich Manchester M25 9SE

Nick Crisp 18 Brook Lane Corfe Mullen Wimborne Dorset BH21 3RD

Rachael Chelton City of York Council De Grey House Exhibition Square York YO1 7ET

David Hardman Hardman Electrical Serv Ltd R/O 217 Ormskirk Road Newtown Wigan WN5 9DN

Sally Wilsher 10 Firlands Bishops Stortford Herts CM23

Claire Driver Welcome Break Group Ltd 2 Vantage Court Tickford Street Newport Pagnell Bucks MK16 9EZ

Marion Norfolk Essex Trading Standards 2 Beaufort Road New Dukes Park Industrial Estate Chelmsford Essex CM2 6PS

Stuart Nixon 14 Winchester Close Orrell Wigan Lancashire WN5 8PA Edward Stephenson BP Oil UK Logistics Barras Lane Dalston Carlisle Cumbria CA5 7LX Donald Sutherland Highclere4, Eastcombe Road Weston-Super-Mare BS23 2TG John Cook Clegg & Brooking Ltd White Horse Service Station Middle Wallop (Murco Garage) Stockbridge Hants SO20 8DZ Patrick Joseph Walsh ATC & SON LTD The Office, Manor House Farm RUE DE BAS, ST lawrence Jersey Channel IslandsJE3 1JT Tony Butterfield Cranford Environmental Advisors Ltd Cranford House I Squires Way Coventry West Midlands CV4 7EJ Tom Melvin Retail Petroleum Solutions Gurteen Ballina Co. Mayo, Ireland Mayo Ireland Andrew Clifton HLM Architects 2nd Floor, The Ruskin Building Tudor Square Sheffield South Yorkshire S1 2LA Martin Morrell Grain House The Maltings Station Road Alne North Yorkshire Y061 1TP David Burnham Reading Borough Council Environmental Services (Consumer Protection) PO Box 17 Civic Centre Reading Berkshire RG1 7TD Wayne Palmer 32 Highcross Street Market Harborough Leicestershire LE16 9AJ 11

News

UK, British Standards Online Looking for British, European or International standards? Look no further than British Standards Online, the authoritative, and most current site for all BSI publications. Updated daily, the site includes over 38,500 current, draft and historic British Standards, more than 16,000 of which are BSI adopted European and International standards. http://bsonline.techindex.co.uk

UK, New Regulations on the manufacture and storage of explosives The Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005 (SI Number [2005/1082] ) have been signed by Minister for Work, Jane Kennedy, and were laid before Parliament on 5 April. The new regulations will come into force on 26 April 2005. Copies of the published regulations will be available to purchase from the Stationery Office (http://www.tso.co.uk/site.asp). The text of the regulations will be available to view and download from the HMSO website (http://www.hmso.gov.uk). A copy of the pre-publication draft of the regulations is available here:The Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations [268kb] HSE is supporting the new regulations with an Approved Code of Practice and guidance document (ACOP). The ACOP will be published at the end of April, when it will be available for purchase from HSE Books (http://www.hsebooks.com/Books/defau lt.asp). In the meantime, a copy of the pre-publication draft of the ACOP may be viewed and downloaded from the web site Draft Approved Code of Practice and guidance document [713kb] Further information about the new regulations will be added to the website shortly. Contact details of Police Forces Explosives Liaison Officers in England Wales and Scotland. www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/draftacop.h tm 12

UK, Companies fined after fuel tank fumes kill welders Two companies were fined after they admitted breaching health and safety regulations following the deaths of two welders in a disused fuel tank. Charles Buckenham, 52, and his stepfather Brian Dove, 55, were overcome by fumes in the tank at Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft, Suffolk, in March, 2003. Their employers Small and Co Marine Engineering, of Lowestoft, were fined £100,000 at Ipswich Crown Court, and ordered to pay costs of £29,450 after the firm admitted failing to ensure the health and safety of its employees. Civil engineer, Edmund Nuttall, which owned the tank, had admitted failing to ensure the health and safety of people not in their employment. The company was fined £25,000 and ordered to pay costs of £29,450. The charges followed an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). During the hearing, the court heard how the men were inspecting the tanks to give Edmund Nuttall, which was headquartered in Surrey, a quote before removal. It is believed that Mr Buckenham clambered through an inspection hatch in an attempt to rescue his stepfather, who had gone into the tank, but had not come out. Mr Buckenham, from Lowestoft, and Mr Dove, from Burgh Castle, Norfolk, died through lack of oxygen. It took emergency crews seven hours to retrieve the bodies from the five metre by 15 metre tank at Lake Lothing because their search was hampered by slurry. Speaking after the sentencing, HSE inspector Eddie Scoggins said he hoped the fines would serve as a wake up call for the industry. He said: “This was a tragic set of circumstances and should have been avoided. “I am pleased the court has taken into account the serious nature of this incident and I believe the substantial fines reflect that.” Mr Scoggins said the case underlined the importance of adhering to health and safety regulations when working in confined spaces. He said there had been “any number” of deaths since guidance was first issued in the 1930s and that he was aware of a least four other similar cases currently being dealt with by the HSE. A tragic feature, he said, was that they often involved the death of more than one person. “One person will go into a tank and become

overcome by fumes and then a second person will attempt to go in and rescue them, leading to the deaths of both.” Mr Scoggins said that heavy criticism had been levelled at the firms for failing to follow health and safety rules and provide adequate training. He added: “If you enter a tank like that one you only have 20 seconds. After that you switch off like a light. I hope this serves as a wake up call.”

UK, Diesel drivers warned over fuel Drivers of diesel cars who accidentally refuel with petrol have been warned to expect a bill of up to 4,500 (£3,000) Lex Vehicle Leasing, a British company with a fleet of 12,000 vehicles, has reported bills of this magnitude on its own cars. The big bills come on the latest common-rail diesels (first developed at the end of the nineties and now almost universal) as they are built to more exacting tolerances than standard diesel engines. If petrol gets into the common rail diesel system it can mean replacing both low and high pressure fuel pumps, injectors, rail, line filters - pretty well the whole system. The root of the problem is that diesel acts as a lubricant, being a heavy oil, while petrol, being much lighter, acts as a solvent. Petrol strips oil from metal parts, causing metal-tometal contact and tiny bits of debris to circulate within the fuel system. Lex warns that you do not even have to run the engine to cause damage. Just turning on the ignition can activate the fuel pump, which will then get petrol circulating around the fuel system. Instead, have the tank drained immediately (without using the tank's own pump) and flushed through with diesel. Even more scarily, your warranty will probably not cover the cost as it would be down to user negligence.

UK, Industry calls for oil tank ‘MOT’ The revelation that more than threequarters of serious inland oil spills go undetected by the authorities has prompted calls for tighter regulations and regular checks on tanks. The Environmental Industries Commission (EIC) has called for the UK. While the EIC clearly has an interest in further regulation which would bring work to its member companies there is a sound argument for closer monitoring of the tanks. In its

News report An Analysis of Inland Oil and Fuel Incidents in England and Wales the Oil Care Campaign, a consortium of key players from industry and watchdog organisations, finds that most spills are down to faulty or badly maintained tanks. There is also a reluctance to report spills allowing many to go undetected. The implementation of regular checkups would go some way towards tackling offenders attempts at concealing their spills. Merlin Hyman, director of EIC, said: "Inland oil spills are the biggest cause of pollution incidents in the UK and cost many millions of pounds every year in damage to the environment - and this new report shows the real story is far worse than we thought. "It is vital the Government acts to put in place a statutory 'MoT' system for oil storage tanks. "It is disappointing that the Oil Care Campaign has seen fit to weaken this report by changing the recommendations to 'discussion points'. "Oil spills cause massive damage to the environment and we will never tackle them if serious recommendations are swept under the carpet."

UK, Somerfield to buy 22 petrol station convenience stores as fresh bid approach announced Somerfield recently announced that they plan to buy 22 UK forecourt franchises for a £1.5 million cash payment and plan to invest £20 million in refurbishment over the next two years. The announcement, made comes as United Co-operatives said they plan to make an offer for the Somerfield and Kwik Save chain. UK supermarket group Somerfield plc announced that it has agreed to buy 22 UK forecourt convenience stores from Fuelforce Limited amid further developments in the aciquistion bid for Sommerfield itself were announced. Under the terms of the agreement, Somerfield will acquire the individual forecourt businesses as going concerns to include stock, goodwill and fixtures and fittings, at a total estimated value of £1.5million payable in cash. Somerfield will also enter into leases with Fuelforce on all 22 sites. Following the proposed acquisition, Somerfield's Forecourt Convenience Store Portfolio

will increase to 184 stores. This builds on the recent Texaco acquisition and follows the Group's stated strategy of increasing its presence in the UK Forecourt and Convenience Store Sector. In addition to the acquisition cost Somerfield said that it intends to invest approximately £20million in redeveloping the forecourts over a 2year period. Once re-developed, the Portfolio will be branded and operated by Somerfield under its "Somerfield Essentials" format. Commenting on the transaction, Steve Back, Chief Executive of Somerfield, said: "We are very pleased to announce this acquisition which together with the Texaco acquisition further strengthens our retail position in the Forecourt Convenience Market". The announcement comes as the UK’s second largest cooperative group, United Co-operatives, announced that it is weighing up an audacious bid for the 1,250 food stores in the Somerfield/Kwiksave chain. The Somerfield group is already the subject of interest from two other parties, including a consortium consisting of Icelandic retail group Baugur and property tycoon Robert Tchenguiz that analysts believe could value it at up to £1.2bn ( 1.8bn). A statement issued from United’s Rochdale headquarters said: “There can be no certainty that an offer will be made. A further announcement will be made in due course.” Ironically, Somerfield made national headlines last autumn when a leaked internal document offered staff bonuses if they could help close their local Co-op store. The so-called dirty tricks dossier was later withdrawn with the company apologising to Co-operative Group Chief Executive Martin Beaumont for any offence caused. United recently announced sales of £1.9 billion and trading profits of £50 million for the year ended 22nd January. At the same time, the society said it planned to spend at least £200 million on acquisitions and developments over the next three years.

UK, MAG fights diesel spills on petrol stations The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) is putting pressure of garages to display stickers warning of the dangers of diesel spills. Thousands of 'Diesel Spill'

stickers have been placed on pumps and trucks throughout the UK to remind drivers to replace fuel caps properly, but the group is still meeting resistance from forecourt staff, supermarket chains and oil companies. There is no legal requirement for fuel caps to be secured with chains or designed so ignition keys cannot be withdrawn from them unless they are properly secured. "Despite extensive campaigning on the danger of diesel spills for motorcyclists, the situation doesn't seem to have been resolved,"said MAG's Trevor Baird. "How hard is it for diesel tanks to be designed so that diesel cannot spill out of tanks or caps designed to prevent the problem. It's not rocket science." MAG are also unhappy that spills are not being cleared from highways correctly with road authorities continuing to use sand and stone chippings. These create further hazards for motorcyclists.

UK, Stars Wars fans burnt by petrol-filled ‘Light Sabre’ A man of 20 and a girl aged 17 were engulfed in flames when a home-made Star Wars "light sabre" exploded and showered them with burning petrol. Mark Webb and Shelley Mandiville are thought to have filled a fluorescent tube with fuel to imitate the weapons in the latest Star Wars film Revenge of the Sith, released at the weekend. But their clothing caught fire and Mr Webb suffered 40 per cent burns. Firemen were called to woodland near Hemel Hempstead, Herts, on Sunday and found them on the ground. Police think they had been filming themselves. Last night they were in a critical condition at a specialist burns unit at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, Essex.

UK, Petrol retailers voice concerns over suppliers The Retail Motor Industry Federation’s latest ‘Oil Company of the Year’ survey has found almost half the retailer respondents rated their relationship with their supplier as average or below average, and 28% said they would change suppliers, given a choice. Smaller fuel distributors appeared to be better appreciated by forecourt 15

News operators than large ones, with 92% of Jet retailers rating their relationship as ‘good’ or ‘very good’. Murco scored 80% on the same basis, but 43% of Shell retailers and 39% of Esso retailers said they would change to a different company if they could. Retailers seemed increasingly aware that their fuel prices were being undercut by supermarkets, 86% being aware that their products were more expensive, compared to 70% in the previous, 2002 survey. Loyalty schemes came under fire from retailers, with almost half of the retailers participating in them – around half the total – saying they were ineffective in growing profitable sales. Only 3% of Esso’s independent retailers participated in the company’s schemes. Further concern was evident among RMI survey respondents about wet stock losses. The RMI’s petrol division head Ray Holloway said, “It is critical that fuel suppliers are forced by regulation or law to confirm to a more auditable method of fuel measurement that will ensure that only fuel physically delivered is charged for.”

UK, Birmingham, Fireworks prosecution On Friday 17th June 2005 at Birmingham Crown Court, Mr Baljinder Singh of Claines, Worcester was fined for overstocking and inappropriately storing fireworks at a shop premises in the Mere Green area of Sutton Coldfield trading as “Fireworks Direct”. Explosives Officers from Hay Mills Fire Safety Centre were alerted to the shop by Birmingham Trading Standards Officers who had been concerned about both the quantity of fireworks on site and the manner in which they were stored. A stock take by the Explosives Officers, and the presence of a delivery note indicating that in excess of 1500kg of fireworks had been delivered just a few hours previously, gave them grave cause for concern as the shop was registered to store only 250kg of fireworks. During the case, heard by Mr Justice Ross, he commented that Mr Singh’s manner of dealings had posed a major risk to the safety of the staff he employed and people who worked and lived in the vicinity of the shop. He went on to comment that there was a huge risk to members of the Emergency Services who would be called to the shop if there had been a fire. 16

Judge Ross fined Mr Singh £12,500 on two counts amounting to £25,000 in total. This is to be paid in full by 30th September 2005 or Mr Singh will serve a custodial sentence of 18 months. Mr Justice Ross thanked the investigating Officers for their diligence and professionalism in bringing this case before him in order to ensure the safety of the public.

Ireland, Shell in talks to offload 50 Irish petrol stations Oil giant Shell is in talks to sell off its 50 petrol stations in Ireland. The company said on June 24 that it was in negotiations with a number of bidders for the stations. Although it would not release the names, it is believed that all the major forecourt operators, including Maxol, Esso and Statoil, are interested. No price has been given out by the company, but it could fetch more than 50 million. Shell has around 50 petrol station in Ireland and services about 160 others. The business up for sale also includes its commercial fuels, lubricants and marine businesses. The company will retain its stake in the Corrib natural gas project and its aviation, bitumen and chemicals units. Shell Ireland director Frank Bergin said he hopes the sale will be concluded in a few weeks. “For reasons of commercial confidentiality, we are not able to disclose these parties, or to discuss this matter in more detail at this time. If we do decide to proceed with a sale, it would be Shell’s intention to sell the business as a going concern,” Dr Bergin said. The company said it was selling off the retail arm to focus on its more profitable business units. Competition at the pumps has eroded any gains made by the oil firm from the soaring cost of fuel. The entry of supermarket giant Tesco into the market has driven margins down further.

Ireland, April 26 2005. Esso and Mazol to swap sites in forecourt deal ESSO and Maxol, two of Ireland’s biggest petrol retailers, are expected to swap service station sites in a deal aimed at streamlining their operations. Esso recently placed 15 sites outside

Dublin up for sale as it concentrates its activities in the capital. As part of the deal, a large number of these sites will now be operated by Maxol. In return, Maxol is understood to be providing Esso with three sites in Dublin. These include the Maxol service station at Dublin airport. CB Richard Ellis Gunne is handling the sale of Esso’s petrol stations, which were riginally expected to fetch about 25m on the open market. A number of the sites will be sold separately. These include a station at Ballybrit near Galway racecourse, valued at more than 3m, and a site at Bluebell in south Dublin, which has a guide price of 750,000 with a condition attached that it no longer be used for retailing petrol. Both properties are expected to attract the attention of property developers. Separately, Maxol is creating its own all-Ireland home heating oil distribution business - Maxol Direct - in response to falling prices and tightening margins. The business is worth 200m a year to the company. Tom Noonan, Maxol’s group chief executive, said the growth of Maxol Direct was down to a squeeze on prices and margins, which is encouraging it to bypass independent distributors.

Ireland, Dublin May 4 2005. Businessman fined over safety breach after fatal explosion A Cork businessman was fined 25,000 for health and safety breaches after one of his employees was killed when a petrol tanker exploded. The 23-year-old was carrying out repairs on the empty tank when the blast occurred in September 2003. Robert Fitzgerald, from Aghada, Midleton pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the tank was cleaned thoroughly and ensuring a safe working environment before the employee began the work. He was fined 25,000 at Cork Circuit Court. Following inspections the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) found work practices at the premises were deficient in several respects. The HSA noted the tank had contained petrol as its last cargo but warned that before work could be carried out on the inside of such a tank, appropriate cleaning and gas-freeing – to remove a potentially

News explosive atmosphere – should take place. The authority revealed a device used to generate the steam to clean the tank using the recommended methods was unsuitable. A report showed the small portable hot water washer was unsuitable as it was incapable of producing the quantity of steam required. And it found a gas analyser or detection meter was not used to test the atmosphere inside the tank following cleaning. The safety statement for the premises referred to the use of “gas free certificates” and “permits to work” but no such system was put into place. The Health and Safety Authority said the culture of risk taking in firms around the country had to be rooted out. Mark Rowlands, HSA inspector, said the authority was determined to ensure employers of every size from large companies to sole traders maintained the highest safety standards in the workplace. “Employers should make sure that proper controls have been put in place to minimise risks to staff health and safety. We are particularly concerned with the tendency of small businesses to take risks with health and safety,” he said. “The message needs to go out that the cost of not putting safety measures in place can be far greater than the cost of addressing those safety issues head-on.” Robert Fitzgerald, Aghada, Midleton, who operates his business in Midleton had pleaded guilty to one count taken under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Confined Spaces) Regulations 2001. Mr Fitzgerald admitting failure to provide a safe system of work for the entry of persons into confined space.

EU, A guide to EU Standards and conformity assessment This guide is an easy-to-use introductory reference for industry and government officials on the general principles and concepts behind the European Union’s (EU) "New Approach" laws and directives. It is designed to help business and government officials understand the new laws, the EU’s standardization process, and the relationship between the European Commission and the European standardization bodies in the European Union.

It also provides information on the EU’s approach to conformity assessment and requirements for obtaining CE mark to gain access to the European Market. The guide offers explanations of such concepts and requirements as: notified bodies, conformity assessment modules, supplier’s declaration of conformity, technical construction files, user manuals, authorized representatives, and product liability in the European Union. http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/210/gsig/euguides/sp951/sp951.htm

Hungary, Tesco announced plans to open 16 filling stations in Hungary in 2005. Oil companies are looking to premium fuel options to protect market share from supermarket rivals. Across Europe, the entrance of supermarkets into fuel retailing has meant cheaper petrol prices for motorists. In response, the oil majors are focusing on performance fuels to help them tap into a market the price-driven retailers cannot reach. However, given the current oil price spike, consumers will need to be convinced that premium fuel is the right choice. In the light of its recent record profits, UK retailer Tesco [TSCO.L] announced plans to expand further into Europe's fuel retailing market with the opening of approximately 16 filling stations in Hungary alone in 2005. Meanwhile Total [FP.PA] has launched Excellium, a premium fuel which will be available in France from April and the rest of Europe by the year end. Oil majors have been consistently undercut by petrol prices offered by supermarkets such as Tesco and Carrefour, which benefit from being able to counterbalance fuel discounts by charging more on non-fuel products. According to AGCM, Italy's Competition Authority, the entry of supermarkets into other European fuel retail markets has resulted in a 10-15% reduction of petrol prices when compared with periods prior to their arrival. In France in 2003, supermarkets accounted for 54% of fuel volumes in the market. In the UK, Tesco's homeland, supermarket volume shares grew by 7% from 1997 to 2003. These numbers alone are testimony to the appeal of cheaper petrol. In response to such aggressive

competition, oil companies are now investing money and technical expertise in the development of premium fuels - an area that the supermarkets cannot compete in. The likes of BP's Ultimate and Total's Excellium claim to offer not only high performance but also improved fuel economy and less pollution. However, premium fuels do not come cheap. While product diversification is one of the only ways oil majors can win motorists over, a combination of scepticism and price consciousness may mean that premium fuels will only appeal to the most discerning motorist and, even then, on the condition that such fuels live up to their claims. Doubts must therefore be raised as to whether, in the current climate of record high oil prices, such product differentiation will persuade consumers to choose premium offerings over the apparently cheaper alternatives offered by the supermarkets.

USA, Lightning strikes Florida petrol station The Circle K remains closed Wednesday afternoon as company officials try to figure out the extent of the damage and how to repair it. As strong storms rolled across Pinellas Park Tuesday night, a lightning bolt struck the metal cap for underground gas tanks at the station. Chief Lou Sclafani, Pinellas Park Fire Department: "The underground Glass Fibre gas tanks, which have a 10,000 gallon capacity, were blown out of the ground ."Witnesses say the impact caused the tanks to come up out of the ground, some two to three feet. There was an explosion, then everything settled. What's left? A huge depression in the concrete parking lot. Sclafani: "There were actually two people filling up when the storm rolled through. One of them jumped in their car and drove away while the gas hose was still in their car. It could have been very dangerous." Fortunately, no one was injured. A gas station employee immediately shut down the pumps, but the damage was immense. One tank contained 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel, the other tank held about 4,000 gallons of gasoline. Both we're breached. Sclafani: "They're double walled fiberglass tanks and they're made to take some impact and control some amount of leakage. But this is unheard of, what happened tonight." 17

News So far, all of the fuel has been pumped out of the tanks. A company spokesman tells Tampa Bay’s 10 that the store will remained closed for at least several days.

Malaysia, Motorists ‘playing with fire’ by ignoring safety at petrol stations Motorists who refuse to switch off the engines of their vehicles, talk on their mobile phones or even smoke while refuelling at petrol stations are "playing with fire", Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal warned. He lambasted their lackadaisical attitude to safety at petrol stations. "Just because few accidents happened at petrol stations does not mean that the public can take lightly the warning notices on safety put up at petrol stations," he said. He spoke to reporters after launching a safety campaign with the theme "Jangan Main Bahan Api, Nanti Terbakar Diri" (Don't Play With Fire, You May Get Burnt) organised by Shell Malaysia here Tuesday. Shafie cited an incident on March 12, 2002 in which two siblings were killed when the van they were in exploded while being refuelled and another on Nov 15 last year when a motorcyclist was injured while refuelling his machine. Asked whether legal action would be taken against errant motorists, Shafie said it would be better to intensify programmes to educate the public. "Imposing a fine does not ensure the public's compliance with safety regulations. We should educate them from primary school," he added. He asked operators of petrol stations to get their workers to advise ignorant motorists at their premises. On plans to abolish the subsidy for diesel, Shafie said the people should accept the fact that it had to be done sooner or later due to the increasing cost incurred by the government. He said abolishing the subsidy would not hamper the competitiveness of companies. "Traders in Thailand and Singapore can still compete despite the much higher prices of diesel in their countries. This means subsidy has nothing to do with the ability of a company to compete," he added. Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd managing director Mohzani Wahab said the 18

campaign emphasised the use of only "approved containers" for petrol and to discourage motorcyclists from sitting on their machines while refuelling.

Press Releases Dave Blakemore appointed president of UKPIA Dave Blakemore of ConocoPhillips Ltd, has been appointed President of the UK Petroleum Industry Association, the trade association representing the main oil refiners and marketers in the UK. He succeeds the outgoing President Ken Rivers, who is Manufacturing Director of Shell UK Oil Products, at Stanlow. Commenting on his appointment, Dave said "I look forward to building upon the excellent work that UKPIA has been doing under Ken's Presidency and looking at some of the strategic issues facing the downstream oil industry. The industry has developed a first-rate refining and supply infrastructure over the years, as a well as s investing heavily to produce cleaner fuels and meet tighter environmental standards. It is vital for the security of the UK's energy supplies that the downstream oil sector remains in a healthy state to meet the changing needs of the transport fuels market." Enquiries to: Nick Vandervell, UKPIA Tel. 020 7240 0289; 0780 3954090 mobile UKPIA is the trade association representing the oil refining and marketing companies operating in the UK. UKPIA members operate all of the UK's nine crude oil refineries, supplying about 90% of the UK's inland demand for petroleum products, and between them own approximately 2,700 of the UK's 10,350 service stations. Dave Blakemore graduated from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology in 1976 with a first class degree in Chemical Engineering. Since then, Dave has worked for ConocoPhillips. He is responsible for deploying Six Sigma to help drive business improvement in their European and Asia Pacific Refining and Marketing businesses. Between 1976 and 1985, Dave worked in the UK, Germany and USA in Refining operations, planning and strategy roles. During the merger between Conoco and DuPont, Dave assisted on business development

opportunities between the two companies. These included carbon fibre technology development and the commercialisation of membrane technology for hydrogen recovery. Dave has also worked in marketing, his last two posts being as Managing Director of a Joint Venture Marketing company in Spain and then as General Manager of the ConocoPhillips Limited UK Marketing businesses. He is married and enjoys driving sports cars and walking as hobbies.

Shell: Exodus from the European forecourts? Intensifying competition in the Irish fuel retailing market has seemingly prompted Shell to announce its departure from the country, hot on the heels of its exit from several other European markets With Shell apparently set to focus its future downstream operation on emerging Asian markets, a trend could yet emerge whereby the oil majors quit Europe's forecourts altogether. Shell's announcement that it will exit the Irish market is the latest in a series of departures in an effort to maximize downstream revenues. The move will involve the closure or sale of 52 of its own sites as well as many of its 160 dealer operated sites in both the Republic and Northern Ireland. Since 2004, the oil major has sold its filling stations in Spain, Portugal and, most recently in April 2005, Romania. Despite the total number of vehicles on Irish roads increasing by 1.4% annually between 2000 and 2004, fierce competition has resulted in a dramatic drop in the number of petrol stations. Between 2001 and 2004, the total number of filling stations fell by over 10% annually; a loss of 564 sites in three years. Shell's decision only reinforces this downward trend. The increasing presence of hypermarkets, particularly the giant Tesco, is speculated to be part of the reason behind Shell's decision to forgo its operations on the Emerald Isle. Total sales at Tesco's stores in the Republic of Ireland rose by nearly 12% to E2.1 billion in the year of February 2005 and, at the pump, its presence has driven already low fuel margins down further. Another influential factor behind the decision to leave Ireland is that other far-flung markets offer greater growth opportunities. In 2004, for example,

News Shell launched a retail venture with Sinopec in the Jiangsu Province in China and, by year-end, 213 sites were in operation. Although Shell made no mention of the supermarket competition, it did admit to divesting much of its poorly performing European networks in favour of less competitive, faster growing markets. However, as hypermarkets push fuel margins down even further, focusing on emerging markets such as China, India and Russia, seems all the more sensible.

Major contracts see New Zealand company drive international growth of pay at pump technology New Zealand based Provenco Retail Automation is experiencing major international growth on the back of significant contracts to supply outdoor payment terminals to petrol station forecourts across Malaysia and the Asia Pacific region. The company has announced a new deal which will see a further order of outdoor payment terminals (OPTs) or pay-at-pump terminals, installed progressively in Asia over the coming year. Provenco Chief Executive David

Ritchie says the new order follows the manufacture and deployment of over 5,000 OPT units last year throughout Malaysia – the largest pay at the pump market in the world outside the United States. “This order reflects strong endorsement of the EMV[1] technologies and leadership role that Provenco has established in the i m p o r t a n t international markets of the retail oil industry,” says Mr Ritchie. “Petrol companies around the world are moving to install or upgrade their pay-at-pump capabilities and we are well positioned to support them with our proven technology solution,” he says. The first Malaysian contract was initiated following advancement of the country’s EMV compliance regulations by 12 months. The petroleum company required implementation of an end to end EMV-compliant payment solution from terminal to bank, across 500 stations, in a three month rollout period. “Provenco fulfilled the contract ahead of time with full EMV compliance, making our client the only Malaysian oil company to achieve this, well ahead of competitors,” says Mr Ritchie. Provenco partnered with a number of organizations both in New Zealand and internationally - to fulfill the contract, and worked with Visa to develop the terminal EMV level two kernel.[2] “We used Visa’s SmartPos kernel as the base of the kernel

for our outdoor payment terminal, the G5OPT, and this enabled us to deliver our terminal to the market in record time. This was crucial for our Malaysian customer, as any merchant not compliant by the due date faced having their debit and credit card payment facilities turned off,” says Mr Ritchie. “When you consider that the majority of fuel is paid for at the pump, non compliance would have had a significant impact on their business. We had to deliver - and we did.” Ritchie says the statistics from the project are significant and reflect Provenco’s ability to deliver. “EMV level two, VISA PED - the terminal security standard which is a lot more stringent for outdoor terminals than indoor ones, and the extremely tough ETSL[3] standard were all passed on the first attempt. The complex process of bank certification was also achieved according to the plan.” The growth internationally in fuel theft at petrol stations has also accelerated demand for pay-at-pump facilities, which not only reduce fraud and theft, but increase customer satisfaction by removing the need for customers to enter the store to prepay for fuel. As both EMV compliance and pay at the pump capabilities increasingly become worldwide requirements, Ritchie says Provenco is wellpositioned to take advantage of this growing international market opportunity, especially across the UK and European markets. 21

Articles

WM Morrison Supermarkets plc Petrol Filling Stations Delivery Procedures By Geoff Oldham, Suresite Ltd Introduction: Morrison’s, in conjunction with their delivery contractor – EXEL, are in the process of installing on-board computers on all their delivery tankers to ensure efficient, flexible deliveries. The ISOTRAK system incorporates remote telemetry allowing the on-board tanker's PC to link directly to: 1. Morrison’s routing/planning department at Wakefield 2. On-site Gilbarco Veeder-Root tank gauges 3. Gilbarco Veeder-Root monitoring in the USA The new procedures have been verified by the local Petroleum Authority. Overview: The on-board PC is linked to the vehicle's tachograph and accurately records the driver's hours, mileage, etc. It can also be used for recording any driver expenses. Additionally, the PC can be updated by the routers during the day to reschedule the planned journeys in line with demand. Ullage reports are printed out on the vehicle; hence there is no need for the traditional DCD Cabinet with duplicate gauges. Note: This process accords with the site operators responsibilities under paragraph 29 of the ACoP1. The documentation produced gives a complete audit trail. (the driver can print multiple copies) Eventually, it is hoped that this documentation will be accepted in lieu of the model ‘delivery certificate’ as recommended in paragraph 33 (appendix 2) of the ACoP1 22

Operation: Transport Depot 1. Driver reports to depot and (at present) collects manual delivery ticket. 2. Logs onto on-board PC which forces him to enter personal details, odometer reading and confirm vehicle safety check. 3. On-board PC prints out work instruction (the driver can refuse must telephone planners for alternative work) 4. On-board PC Instructions’

prints

out

‘load

Driver then proceeds to oil terminal. Oil Terminal: 1. The driver loads as per instruction and confirms. 2. On-board PC prints-out ‘load receipt’ 3. On-board PC prints-out ‘consignor's declaration’ 4. On-board PC prints-out ‘delivery instructions’ Site: 1. Within 50 metres of the delivery point,

the on-board PC automatically links to the site's gauges and produces the ‘delivery plan’ (example attached). This not only prints the ullage per tank, but also instructs the driver which compartment has to be dropped into which storage tank. 2. Should the link with site fail to take place, the driver can link directly to Veeder-Root in USA to poll the site. If that fails, there is a facility for the driver to contact Morrison’s Planning Dept and they can text the ullage to the driver and the on-board PC will print that message. As a last resort, the duty Manager has access to the petrol kiosk (forecourt closure times) and he/she can print-off an ullage report from the TLS350 gauges. 3. If all the above fail - i.e. total gauge failure, the driver is under instruction to abort the delivery.

Articles 4. Delivery takes place as per normal delivery procedures with the driver confirming the delivery into each tank. 5. At end of the delivery, the on-board PC produces the ‘delivery note’ (example attached). As can be seen, this certificate confirms that the delivery has taken place by showing the new, reduced ullages of the storage tanks. End Of Delivery: 1. (Currently) The driver manually completes hard copy delivery ticket (as originally collected at the transport depot) and either delivers it, (plus delivery tickets 1-5), to the site cashier or, if closed, leaves the paperwork in the site box. 2. The on-board PC produces next instruction for driver (e.g. return to specified terminal and load for delivery to / End of shift - return to transport depot, etc) Site Specific Control Measures: Suresite Ltd is in the process of carrying out full DSEAR risk assessments at all of Morrison’s forecourts throughout the U.K. and

these assessment will identify any sitespecific delivery requirements (e.g. closure of car wash prior to delivery", ‘no deliveries between 10:00pm and 8:00 am’ etc). Once the assessment has been received and agreed by Morrison’s, a procedure is being implemented whereby any such conditions will be typed onto a laminated instruction which will be securely fixed into the site's ‘DCD’ or ‘driver unassisted delivery’ box. For sites that cannot transfer to ‘unattended delivery’ for any reason (e.g. specific planning restriction) these conditions will be available on site and the ‘competent person’ attending the delivery will notify the driver directly, as per current procedures.

on-board meters, but with the new system these have been rendered surplus to requirements and newer installations will only incorporate a wallmounted box with emergency telephone and high level alarm test switch. There is also another box by the fill-point incorporating a fire extinguisher. As Morrison’s only market two grades of fuel (ULP and DERV), they have standardised tank keys. One key fits all ULP tanks, with the other key fitting all DERV tanks. No keys are left in the DCD box (as previously); the driver has both keys in his possession.

The above procedure will therefore ensure that written notification of specific delivery conditions is available to drivers prior to them making a delivery as required by paragraph 55 (56) of the ACoP.

On-Site Responsibility: Forecourt Managers are now required to print out a daily tank report. Should this highlight any discrepancies, they will be obliged to telephone Veedor-Root. Additionally, the sites will receive a print-out of the monthly wetstock summary so that, in time, the sites will be in possession of a rolling 12 months' wet-stock summary.

Many of Morrison’s sites were equipped with old-style DCD boxes with

1Approved Code of Practice L133 ‘Unloading Petrol From Tankers’.

Articles

Outdoor Payment Systems - The Forecourt Revival By Martyn Gent VBi Retail Ltd Outdoor payment systems are exactly as described; they allow for payment of fuel and or other services (such as a car wash) without the need to go into the forecourt shop or kiosk. In the past this has been seen as something most forecourt operators would want to avoid for fear of adversely effecting shop sales, however times are changing. The lower margin on fuel sales plus the increase in the number of drive off’s, and in some cases the real need to take action in order to stop the closure of petrol stations has led to a revival of these systems. For some time we have become used to seeing these devices on every Tesco forecourt in the country, but there again you would expect that as their need is to speed up the massive volume of traffic through their sites. For the independent operator who owns his own petrol station the requirements are obviously somewhat different but the need may still be there. · The desire to sell fuel 24 hours a day may be a requirement, but when you consider the cost of the security and staff necessary to provide this service the business case may not stack up. Alternatively the site could have a phenomenon called “The drive off lane” · The drive off lane can cost forecourt operators dearly, especially as the margins are so tight. To see these problem lanes “coned off” is not uncommon. · The need for a “Fast Lane” to alleviate the rush hour / busy periods and reduce queues. · In Scotland the number of site closures has reached a critical point where some drivers have to travel up to 90 miles to find a petrol station.

Although this is a real problem in itself, the ecological concern is just as much of an issue. The solution to such problems is simple, an OPT (Outdoor Payment System) such as the Illumina 3000 from VBi Limited can remedy all of these issues. Especially now with the introduction of Chip & PIN based card transactions, the risks to the retailer have virtually disappeared, each transaction being authorised by the bank prior to fuel being dispensed, in other words the site owner will get paid. The Chip ensures it is a genuine card and not one that has been skimmed or copied. The PIN (Personal Identification Number) ensures that the user is the card owner, provided of course that they have not given their number to anyone else, but in any case there is no risk to the retailer. On retail forecourts the OPT can be integrated into the pump (appears to be part of the pump as on a Tesco site) or it can be wall or pedestal mounted to control one or more pumps. There are also provisions for an OPT to control a completely unmanned forecourt, provided that the agreement of the petroleum licensing authority can be obtained. The OPT can accept the following methods of payment, · Credit / debit cards · Fuel cards (PHH / Overdrive or country equivalent) · Bunkering cards (Keyfuels, UK Fuels etc) · Local account cards (Regular customer credit or pre paid account facilities) The OPT can work independently of any POS and is able to produce it’s own reports detailing transactions, fuel type, volumes, values and also an EFT report for each card type accepted. The latest OPT’s employ the very latest Touchscreen technology which can be used to vend other services such as a Car Wash, or even promote goods available for sale in the shop. This media technology has

even been described as a “Marketing Tool” for the forecourt which can allow the forecourt operator to sell the advertising space it creates whilst removing the need for the familiar pump crown ads. The VBi Illumina 3000 will be available from September 2005.

Articles

APEA Annual Conference, Exhibition and Dinner Thursday 13th October 2005 By Brian Baker, APEA Chairman What’s coming next is the theme for this year’s conference. We will be taking an informed look into the future and discussing some of the issues which are of concern to the downstream Petrol Filling Station Industry. We will also be taking a look at some of the exciting research which is being undertaken worldwide in the pursuit of alternative energies and fuels. To compliment the conference our Exhibition is scheduled to run concurrently, here you can view the very latest technology available to support our industry. Experts representing the various exhibitors will be on hand to answer your questions and explain their innovative products and services. The doors to the event are to be opened at 10:00 am when visitors are invited to enjoy tea or coffee whilst completing their registration (if not pre-registered) before visiting the exhibition stands within the conference hall. The conference session begins at 10.30 with a welcome by APEA Chairman, Brian Baker. Brian will give an overview of the days programme and introduce the speakers for the morning session. Here you can sit back and learn some of ‘What’s Coming Next”? All of our guest speakers have been selected for their specialised knowledge in their respective fields and will be explaining some of the ground breaking issues that soon will be directly affecting our industry. The exhibition hall will remain open after the conference closes to give visitors time to talk with exhibitors, colleagues and friends. No matter what your function is within this industry there will be something here that will be of importance to you. We attract delegates from all aspects of the industry, whether you are a contractor, a supplier, a manufacturer, a regulator, an oil company or hypermarket engineer you should attend. Please help us cater for all attendees by completing the registration form overleaf before faxing it back to us or you can email your details to admin@apea.org.uk. You are also welcome to bring your colleagues, just include their details and we will cater for them. Dinner To compliment the exhibition and conference the APEA is holding its ever popular Dinner in the Kings Suite at the Metropole. Pre dinner drinks are being served from 19:15 with dinner guests taking their places at 20:00. An after dinner speaker has also been booked for your entertainment. Accommodation The APEA have also reserved 80 rooms on 13th October at the hotel at discounted rates should you wish to stay overnight. Rooms can be booked directly with the hotel on 0121 780 4242 quoting the APEA event.

What the day offers Informative Educational and Training Conference Sessions (Counts as 4 hours CPD)

Opportunity to make comments and suggestions during the Q & A session

Exhibition of innovative products and services Opportunity to remain abreast of and understand advances in technology as they happen Opportunity to network with colleagues, friends and suppliers

‘What’s Coming Next?’ Conference and Exhibition - Westminster Suite 9.30 - 10.25 Arrival/refreshments (Pavillion room) 10.25 - 10.30 Introduction Brian Baker 10.30 - 10.55 Renewable Energy in the Building Industry Ray Noble UK Commercial Manager BP Solar 11.05 - 11.30 The London Hydrogen Partnership Speaker to be confirmed 11.40 - 12.05 Nano-technology for Petrol Filling Stations Professor Kerry Gardiner 12.05 - 2.00

Lunch (Pavillion room)

2.00 - 2.05

Introduction Brian Baker

2.05 - 2.30

Stage 2 Vapour Recovery - ‘An Oil Company View’ Paul Vierhout, ExxonMobil

2.40 - 3.05

Stage 2 Vapour Recovery - ‘An Equipment Manufacturer View’ Mike Jennings, Gilbarco Veeder-Root

5.00

Exhibition closes

Dinner - Kings Suite 7.15 - 8.00

Pre - Dinner drinks

8.00

Dinner with after dinner speaker

What to do if you wish to attend? Conference - If you wish to attend the conference and exhibition please contact Jane Mardell on 01799 541816 or by email at admin@apea.org.uk at the APEA office to register. Named badges will be available on the day. Exhibition stand booking/Dinner bookings - Please complete the enclosed booking form, accompanying this issue of the Bulletin and either post or fax to the APEA office or call Jane Mardell on 01799 541816. 31

Articles

Petrol Tank Explodes After Lightning Strike By Ernest Roggelin State of Florida Regulator Let me preface this summary by

fiberglass underground storage tanks.

• The tank pad rose between 3-5 feet

informing you that West Central Florida

The 10,000-gallon USTs contained

(The pad is 36 x 40 x 1 feet of

has the sobriquet of “Lightning Capital

diesel, regular unleaded gasoline, and

reinforced

of the USA.” On June 28, 2005 an early

premium unleaded gasoline. The vents

evening intense rain and lightning storm

for this station are located within the

delivered a lightning strike to the canopy of a Circle K convenience store in Pinellas Park, Florida. The station had three single wall

canopy structure. Based on observers present at the

concrete,

with

approximate weight of 63 US tons). The pad partially slumped into the tank

excavation.

station the following initial sequence of

explosion

events took place:

movement.

would

subsurface

support

this

Articles It has been theorized that the lightning strike delivered a spark to the vapor near the dual atmospheric vents. (The diesel and premium are together, and the regular is separate). The spark followed a vapor trail back to at least the premium unleaded tank. At the time of the event the premium tank (9816-g actual volume) contained approximately 3000-g of product; and the diesel contained approximately 5800-g. Later estimates of combined 9,300-g in tanks. Initial response was by elements of the Pinellas Park Fire Department, Pinellas County Hazmat, Bureau of • There was a flash fire on the surface of the pad. • A 36-inch circular sump traffic lid was blown 60-70 feet into the air, and sliced down through the canopy. • A

customer

dispensing fuel into their immediately

vehicle drove

off – disconnecting the nozzle at the breakaway fitting.

Articles regular tank into and to begin vacuum truck (SWS & US Filter) removal of free product from the groundwater surface. The depth to groundwater is 5-feet at this location. The tanks were installed within a crushed rock backfill material. Circle K’s consultant, Environmental Compliance

Services

installed

observation wells outside the concrete perimeter. Adams Tank & Lift, a Pollutant Storage System Contractor, began securing the station equipment.

Emergency

Response,

and

representatives of Circle K. Circle K’s construction manager, Daryl Gottilla, and their remediation manager, Alan Cubberley,

provided

direction

throughout the initial and following days. Circle K was proactive in their response Department

fully

meeting of

the

Environmental

Protection’s “contain, remove, abate” criteria following a discharge event. Circle K arranged for a 20,000-g fractank to transfer the contents of the On June 29th – efforts to recover additional free product took place. Adams Tank removed a portion of the pad above the turbine enclosures and extracted the submerged pump units. The removal of the slab sections allowed the observation that the center portions of premium and diesel tanks between the turbine sumps and the opposite end-cap were “missing” above the groundwater level (about 25-feet). The Pinellas Park Fire Dept positioned an engine and two firefighters with foam at the facility. Frequent monitoring of

This shows part of the inside of the GRP Tank blackened by the explosion following the lightening strike

Articles LEL took place. The weather was hot

contractor was onsite to install

and humid with little wind to disperse

permanent and temporary wells.

the strong vapor presence. Later in the

Scraps

day, the complete removal of the

removed by trackhoe.

concrete pad took place.

of July

remaining 1st

–

tanks

contractor

On June 30th – the regular unleaded

backfilling excavation with clean

tank was exposed and removed intact

fill material, along with placement

from the excavation. A well drilling

of four 6-inch product recovery

wells. During the cleanup of the concrete and steel rebar scrap, sparks from a quick-cut saw ignited crushed fiberglass tank parts in the construction dumpster necessitating a visit by the Fire Department.

Facility will be re-built within next 3-4 months.

Articles

I.C.E. – In Case of Emergency A Cambridge-based paramedic has launched a national campaign with Vodafone to encourage people to store emergency contact details in their mobile phones. Bob Brotchie, a clinical team leader for the East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust, hatched the plan last year after struggling to get contact details from shocked or injured patients. By entering the acronym ICE – for In Case of Emergency – into the mobile’s phone book, users can log the name and number of someone who should be contacted in an emergency. The idea follows research carried out by Vodafone that shows more than 75 per cent of people carry no details of who they would like telephoned following a serious accident. Bob, 41, who has been a paramedic for 13 years, said: “I was reflecting on some of the calls I’ve attended at the roadside where I had to look through the mobile phone contacts struggling for

information on a shocked or injured person. “It’s difficult to know who to call. Someone might have “mum” in their phone book but that doesn’t mean they’d want them contacted in an emergency. “Almost everyone carries a mobile phone now, and with ICE we’d know immediately who to contact and what number to ring. The person may even know of their medical history.” The campaign was launched this week by Bob and Falklands war hero Simon Weston in association with Vodafone’s annual Life Savers Awards. Vodafone spokesperson Ally Stevens said: “The Life Savers Awards already demonstrate, through practical example, the important role a mobile phone can play when minutes matter in an emergency. “By adopting the ICE advice, your mobile will now also help the rescue services quickly contact a friend or relative – which could be vital in a life or death situation.” The campaign is also asking people

to think carefully about who will be their ICE partner - with helpful advice on who to choose - particularly if that person has to give consent for emergency medical treatment. Bob hopes that all emergency services will promote ICE in their area as part of a national awareness campaign to highlight the importance of carrying next of kin details at all times. He said the idea was for the benefit of loved ones as well as the patient. “Research suggests people recover quicker from the psychological effects of their loved one being hurt if they are involved at an earlier stage and they can reach them quickly," he added. He said he hoped mobile phone companies would now build the ICE contact into future models, adding: "It's not a difficult thing to do. As many people say they carry mobile phones in case of an emergency, it seems natural this information should be kept there."

Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 Statutory Instrument S.I. 2005/1541 THE Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 passed on 7 June 2005 and has the aim of simplifying the law regarding fire safety in the UK. The Regulations will be coming into effect on 6th April 2006. The Order imposes duties upon “responsible persons” (which is defined in Section 3) to take necessary general fire precautions to ensure the safety of employees and the general public in non-domestic premises. In addition, the responsible person is required to undertake suitable and adequate risk assessment exercises for the purposes of identifying the necessary general fire precautions. Regarding dangerous substances, risk assessments must take into consideration issues identified in Part 1 of Schedule 1, with the added requirement of eliminating or reducing the risk from the dangerous substances as far as reasonably practicable (Section 12). Part 2 of Schedule 1 deals with issues relating to risk assessments when young persons are employed on the premises.

Preventative and protective measures implemented should be done so on the basis of specified principles (Part 3 of Schedule 1). Records should be kept in relation to risk assessments undertaken and the protective measures taken. Appropriate fire-fighting equipment and fire detection and alarms should be provided, where necessary (Section 13). Routes to emergency exits should be kept clear at all times (Section 14). Section 14 also details other specific issues regarding the emergency routes. Appropriate safety procedures should be established for use in the event of serious and imminent dangers to occupiers (Section 15), and additional emergency measures may be required in respect of dangerous substances (Section 16). The premises, its facilities, equipment and devices should be adequately maintained so that they are kept in efficient working order and in good repair (Section 17). Responsible persons must appoint 1 or more competent persons to assist in

the undertaking of preventative and protective measures (Section 18). Employees should also be provided with comprehensible and relevant information relating to, amongst other things, particular risks identified and safety procedures (Section 19). Adequate safety training should be provided to new and existing employees, where a new risk is identified (Section 21). Co-operation between 2 or more persons responsible for the duties under the Order may be required to ensure jointly compliance (Section 22). Employees have general duties regarding their own reasonable safety and the safety of other employees (Section 23). The Order also has provisions regarding safety measures relating to fire-fighter’s switches to luminous signs (Section 37), the necessity of maintenance measures for licensed premises (Sections 42-43). The reform repeals the Fire Precautions Act 1971 and amends or removes wherever possible the many other provisions dealing with fire safety contained in other legislation. 39

Articles

The European Station - Are We There Yet? By Jamie Thompson

For

Project

engineers

and

on the other side! We know now that

reached a better understanding of the

construction companies to implement

this was because we had to conform to

European objectives and learned to

the same design and the same methods

different regulations as this was in the

produce standards more in line with the

of construction and installation, using

days before the European standards

time frame first envisaged by the EU.

the same equipment on petrol filling

were written and adopted. It would be

When a new European standard is

stations across Europe still remains

nice to see him once again now that I

published

difficult - but believe it or not it is now far

can report that this vision is closer to its

standards are withdrawn and the new

easier than it was a decade ago!

goal.

Standard applies throughout the whole

all

associated

national

of Europe. The oil industry in the past often complained

about

the

differing

On the UK’s entry into Europe, work had already started in the Technical

The Standards

regulations in some parts of Europe.

Committees

For example the construction of a

(CENELEC) and technical standards

canopy differed tremendously between

(CEN) with the aim of producing

Germany and the UK, and tank

common standards across Europe. The

improvements seen in the UK saw was

construction and installation used to be

main objective behind this was to

in forecourt drainage and much was

governed and regulated by different

reduce or remove barriers to trade

learnt from Germany who had a

national standards. (The UK after all

between countries and give equipment

different

was the only European country that

users confidence in the knowledge that

interceptors or “Separators” as they are

used to insist on surrounding tanks with

these standards would equally apply

now

concrete!)

throughout the whole of Europe.

interceptor which had traditionally been

for

both

electrical Drainage Perhaps

one

approach

known.

The

to three

the

oil

first

water

chamber

installed on many UK forecourts was The selection and installation of

In the field of

equipment also proved difficult as

Petrol

manufacturers

Stations

had

seek

the

work

individual approval of each country into

had started on a

which their systems were to be

number

installed.

standards in the

significant

This

obviously

expense

added their

late

of 1980’s.

development costs and could prove

A l t h o u g h

unnecessarily time consuming.

progress initially

I once recall trying to explain to an oil

Filling

has

was slow

since

company engineer why the construction

speeded up as

of a service station at one end of the

n a t i o n a l

Channel Tunnel cost far more than one

committees

Articles programme

because

not

enough

interest was expressed to complete the work, and this is unfortunate. Dispensers/Pumps EN 13167 – 1 2004

first designed around 1900 and while

governing underground petrol tank

once

became

construction. This standard had a

apparent that as filling stations got

adequate,

soon

difficult start as each country had their

larger the design could not cope with

own national standard and each had its

the flow rates, and as a consequence

own ideas on construction methods.

could not efficiently separate the

After initial difficulties the standard was

oil/petrol in high flow situations.

produced

with

classes

Germany

had

preference

tank, for

This is perhaps the standard that provides

the

manufacturer

and

A retention time of 6 minutes is

explosion proof tanks (subject to 10 bar

purchaser the greatest freedom from

necessary for the effluent to effectively

pressure) while other countries did not.

local regulations or requirements. The

separate the oil and water, therefore the

Common corrosion resistant coatings

dispenser standard is a safety standard

units became larger, utilising just a

were agreed using products which

but

single separating compartment. In

could demonstrate excellent experience

performance

addition coalescing filters improved

in underground use.

efficiency. Apart from the performance

performance

the

separating

does

not or

consider vapour

meter recovery

requirements of parts of the dispenser it

technique and the standard included

The application of the underground

provides guidance on hazard areas,

the need to provide automatic closure

double wall steel tank across Europe

which will assist in dispenser design.

devices

was one of the most successful

This standard now replaces BS 7117

safeguard the environment. However,

applications of a standard within this

part 1 which has been withdrawn.

some national traits still seems to exist

field and has been adopted by all the

when purchasing separators, with the

major users in Europe. The main

Germans tending to use equipment

advantage of this is that a double wall

constructed from concrete or steel,

tanks with leak detection will

which are delivered in parts for

prevent any fuel from leaking

assembly on site, whilst in the UK and

into the environment.

and

warning

alarms

Automatic Nozzles EN 13012 2001

France we tend to use single units constructed of GRP. The UK also has a

Steel Tanks Above ground

preference to use larger oil capacity

EN 12285-2

separators than some countries in order to accommodate accidental spillages,

This

standard

was

completed in 2005.

but essentially they are all constructed to the same standard EN 858-1 and EN

Tanks GRP single wall

858-2 which refers to the selection of

below ground BS EN 976-1

size,

& 2 and EN977 and EN978

installation,

operation

and

maintenance of separators.

This standard was one of the first

adopted in this series and covers the

completed and although the GRP tank

construction and performance of the

Tanks Steel underground EN 12285-1

is not now commonly used in European

piece of equipment the general public handles - the automatic nozzle

Personally, I believe that one of the

petrol stations, the standard has been

most important single improvements in

published for those who may wish to

underground service station design was

use it. A draft for the double wall GRP

the development of the standard

tank has now been withdrawn from the

Safe Break EN13617- Part2 This covers the performance of the 41

independent of the tank truck

Automatic Tank Gauges EN

The other is Truck mounted with a sensor in the storage tank

13352:2002 This

standard

deals

with

the

performance of automatic tank gauges Leak Detection Devices EN 13160 Part 1 General Principles

Submersible pumps prEN 15268 This

standard

relates

the

performance of the submersible pump and the safe installation methods. It is at present in the public comment stage and should be ratified as a full standard early next year.

safety breaks on dispensers and is situated in the hose assembly or

Details on the exact titles for the

incorporated as an integral part of the

standards can be obtained from the

nozzle swivel.

“Blue standard

covers

the

standards

British Standards Institute by either

the

performance of shear valves (or impact

This standard has an important role to

phoning +44 (0) 20 8996 7001 to order

check valves) commonly used where a

play for regulators and users alike. The

standards or through the web site

dispenser may be attached to a

confidence of early detection of leaking

www.bsi-global.com

pressure pumping system.

tanks or pipes is essential to provide both

Swivels EN 13617 Part 4 This

standard

covers

the

environmental

You may be interested to know that

protection. The standard is divided into

safety

and

the European Countries which have

classes and they are as follows:

adopted these standards are as follows: - Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech

performance of the swivel, which is situated between the nozzle and the

EN13160 Part 2 -

Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,

hose and allows the nozzle to swivel

Class 1 Air-pressure and Vacuum

France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,

without kinking the hose. Hoses for Fuel Dispenser EN 1360

EN13160 Part 3 -

Luxembourg,

Class 2 Liquid systems for Tanks

Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia,

EN13160 Part 4 -

hoses

and United Kingdom

Class 3 Sensors for vapour and liquid Overfill Prevention Devices EN EN13160 Part 5 -

13616 2004

Class

Tank

Gauge

Leak

Detection Systems EN 13160 Part 6 Class 5 Sensors in monitoring wells EN 13160 Part 7 Covers -Interstitial spaces, jackets or liners Underground pipe for petrol stations EN 14125:2004 This

standard

covers

the

manufacture, performance and testing Two types are included one the mechanical

type

which

works

Malta,

Netherlands,

Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland

with prEN 13483 for vapour recovery

and

themselves can be purchased from the

Shear valves EN 13167-Part3 This

Book”

thermoplastic

and

flexible metallic underground pipe for petrol stations.

Articles

Tank Linings -The Need and Advantages By Bob Taylor, King Tanktechnic Without doubt, owners and operators of Retail Fuel Sites in the UK have a huge and onerous responsibility to the Environment. It is a mandatory requirement that site owners and operators carry out a full and detailed risk assessment of their fuel storage and dispensing infrastructure to ensure that they do not contaminate the environment with leaked fuel. Such risk assessments must be regularly carried out and updated with their outcome being properly recorded for presentation to Environmental Officers on demand. In order to carry out a meaningful risk assessment, common sense dictates that it is of course imperative that those conducting the assessment are aware of any possible risks to the environment. With huge clean up costs following environmental pollution, (sometimes in excess of £100,000) together with substantial fines being imposed by the Courts, it means that the importance of getting it right first time cannot be over stressed! This paper is intended to inform the reader of one of the root causes of tank perforations and to attempt to advise and assist in devising a course of action aimed at preventing an environmental incident. The advent of “Clean” fuels which have been developed to maintain a cleaner running engine for vehicles using these fuels, has in turn resulted in less carbon dioxide being discharged to atmosphere. The detergent component of these products has a cleaning effect on the internal walls of storage tanks which results in rust particles being dislodged from the tank interior, these particles then fall to the bottom of the tank to produce sludge.

recently become widely discussed but its existence has been recognised for a long time. It always was considered a problem within diesel and kerosene tanks but it is now known to be non selective, affecting nearly all storage tanks holding product. The presence of water within a tank is known to exacerbate its affect. Initial growth occurs at the fuel/water interface. As the microbes feed off this interface the result is the production of weak organic acids which once formed, will produce the corrosion pattern shown in the accompanying photographs. Briefly MIC is a result of the formation of Sulphate Reducing Bacteria (SRB.) These microbes are formed by the combination of a number of factors: Contamination of the delivered fuel. Nutrients derived from the fuel additives and contaminating water. Water is considered to be the key requirement for microbial growth. The combination of both sludge and SRB working in tandem gives each element the ability to help the other to gain a significant foothold which begins the process of corroding the internal surfaces of the tank. The SRB feed on nutrients extracted from the biodegradable material present in hydrocarbons i.e. petrol or diesel etc., fuel additives and contaminated water.

In our opinion, the primary source of microbes is contaminated fuel delivered into the storage system, with the presence of water being the main catalyst for microbial growth. It can take months for microbes to grow, with the timescale being dependent on the available nutrients within the storage infrastructure. The sludges on the bottom of tanks make an ideal environment for the SRB to survive and proliferate without being disturbed by liquid turbulence during fuel loading. The excrement produced by the SRB is acidic slime and, which when trapped in the sludge or beneath the striker plate, baffle plate or dished ends of a tank where the welding has not been fully completed gives rise to very severe corrosion patterns. This corrosion pattern is intense and more rapid than conventional corrosion.

This sludge can give rise to major problems in the efficient operation of all types of pumping equipment, (suction or submersible pumps) and can lead to various filters within the system becoming blocked. The resultant equipment down time and the cost of replacement filters cannot be an acceptable running cost to forecourt operators.

The first indication of a problem within a tank is a degrading of the fuel stock being dispensed often causing the blockage of nozzles and pump filters. In some circumstances the filter blockage becomes endemic and the retail outlet can spend many thousands of pounds in futile efforts to keep the system running by repeated filter cleaning or renewal.

In addition to sludge problems another phenomena has now come to the fore – “Microbial Influenced Corrosion” (M.I.C). MIC has only

The first step in the remediation process is to eliminate any water ingress into the tanks.

Articles perforations. This type of corrosion is reduced where tanks have been correctly encased in sulphate resistant concrete because any installation damage is immediately covered and not allowed to progress.

SRB and MIC can only occur if there is water in the tank and the conditions are conducive to supporting and encouraging their production. The next step is to clean the tank. Once this decision has been made it is necessary to enter the tank and carry out a thorough cleaning process. This must be undertaken safely and in a manner that completely eradicates the microbe bio films. The cleaning process must be aggressive and is generally carried out using high pressure water jetting with detergent additives. Dependant on the degree of corrosion found, the tank may be returned to service without further remediation but only if use is accompanied by periodic preventative treatment by biocide. Internal inspection will identify the corrosion pattern and depth. Tanks with corrosion patterns in excess of 40% of the nominal tank shell thickness i.e. 6mm plate with recorded corrosion pits in excess of 2.4mm should be considered for remediation by tank lining. Currently in the UK we do not have a standard for tank downgrading but there is a “European Committee for Standardisation” C.E.N. rule based on the TuV (German Technical Surveyance Association) and the TRbF 503 and 401 Germany standards. These state “Tank corrosion of a depth of more than 40% of the tanks wall thickness shall not be used any longer without repair and installation of a leakage protection lining and control.” External corrosion to underground storages tanks is often caused by damage to the outside protection coating due to incorrect handling during the installation process. Where tanks have been installed with sand or pea gravel back fill this damage can be the cause of localised areas of corrosion, which can result in tank wall

As external corrosion cannot be detected by visual examination it is recommended that a full grid pattern Ultrasonic wall thickness test should be undertaken from the tank interior. By employing this method it should be possible to detect and record any wall thickness loss from the exterior surface of the vessel. Where such a loss is identified it is recommended that the same rules are adopted for remediation by protective lining, i.e. 40% wall thickness loss. Once it has been established that a tank requires remediation how do you now select a suitable lining contractor to carry out the work? Tank lining is the easiest way to afford protection from leaks and in the opinion of the writer, tank lining should not be considered a temporary solution but a as a long-term permanent upgrade system. There are Adisa lined tanks in Germany & Switzerland which are still in trouble free service after over 25 years. It must be remembered that tank lining will not destroy or remove SRB. The formation of SRB microbes will still occur in any tank whether lined or unlined irrespective of whether it is single or double skinned given that the conditions are correct for the growth to develop. However, tank lining will protect the tank fabric from further corrosion and, in the opinion of the author, it is the most effective route to tank remediation be it leaking or severely corroded. There are a number of lining systems available today. To enable you to understand them I have prepared the following synopsis of the most commonly used systems. Single Skin Systems The system can be applied both by the hand rolling method using laminating techniques or spray application. The most commonly used lining materials are vinyl-ester or polyester glass flake composites, glass fibre laminates and advanced solvent free epoxy systems. The lining system is bonded to the existing internal steel tank wall,

therefore building a “tank within a tank.” The final thickness of this fully cured lining should be between 1mm and 3mm thick dependant upon the system used. Double Skin Systems After the completion of the single skin system (the first stage of a double skin system) the second stage is to build an interstitial space which will form the foundation for the final stage of construction – the forming of the secondary tank using similar materials used in the application of the single skin system. This system is constantly monitored by an explosion proof fully approved alarm control which monitors the integrity of the interstitial space and sets off both visual and audible alarm in the event of leak being detected. Because the interstice is being monitored it is possible to detect a leak from either the interior or exterior surfaces of the tank. Bladder In-liner This system employs a flexible leak protection lining called a “Bag Liner” or “Bladder” which is fabricated from PVC or other approved fabric. The donor tank has a fleece or polystyrene honeycomb fabric installed to form an interstitial space after which the bladder/bag is installed and a vacuum is generated between the tank wall and interior liner. Once installed the system is linked to a leak monitoring system. For the successful installation of interior liners it is a requirement that the donor tank must be sound and able to withstand a pressure test. For the leak detection system to be effective this may require single skin tank remediation prior to installation of the interior liner. At KTL we have had installation experience of the typical systems mentioned. These experiences led us to the decision to select the KTL-Adisa system as our preferred product (A) The materials used are advanced solvent free epoxy. In our opinion the use of advanced composite materials ensures long term protection and excellent chemical resistance. When used on petroleum storage tanks the overall protection is suitable against present and future products that will contain octane boosters such as Methanol, Ethanol, Isobutanol and a range of Ethers capable of replacing toxic lead compounds. The resin and lining materials have been subjected to approval certification tests by Swiss Standards Organisation

Articles and the German B.A.M and TuV in order to determine the degradation of the mechanical properties due to chemical attack. The test liquids chosen were to cover a wide range of possible applications and, in the most critical case, for petroleum storage, the composition of the C.E.N. future unleaded mixture was used. The test series showed that even after severe exposure of the laminate to the range of chemicals the mechanical strength remained intact. The system is equally effective when used in above ground flat bottomed tanks as cylindrical UST’s. We have undertaken mechanical tests to the KTL Adisa lining system to prove the structural properties using the National Approved Measurement Accreditation Services (NAMAS) organisation Material Testing Services Manchester. The results of these destruction tests record that a minimum 240 bar to a maximum 400 bar hydrostatic pressure was required to burst the linings through artificially created tank shell perforations. The maximum external pressure level which could occur through a corrosion hole in an underground steel tank is at most 0.5 bar. Typically, this would be at the bottom of a tank with a high ground water level. The lining system, therefore, has structural properties capable of withstanding any future external hydrostatic pressure caused by

possible on-going external corrosion perforation. (B) We found the use of the vinylester and polyester in the process gave rise to major safety and COSHH concerns due to the styrene emissions during application with personnel exposure limits being far exceeded at all times and, therefore, stopped using this system. Our opinions caused us doubts in respect of the chemical resistance to future fuels. (C) It was not found possible to obtain a German TuV approval for soft linings for its use on petrol storage. Although there are many thousands of soft liners in service storing diesel and heating oils on a fully approved system. The preparation work to the donor tank precluded economic use and was restricted to diesel use only. Using the KTL-Adisa system we have to-date lined some 600 tanks within the UK for both the dealer market and the major oil companies. The system we use has been proved over a 25-year period by the manufacturers and developers, ADISA AG of Switzerland and is, we believe, the only system being used in the UK with full European approval. Our opinion is that coatings and linings are the only protection to stop MIC attacking the tank shell and to provide a chemical barrier by sealing the surface from contact with the local environment and SRB.

Tanks damaged by MIC to a level in excess of the parameters quoted earlier in this paper (pits in excess of 2.4mm in 6mm plate) have been repaired and relined by KTL using the Adisa system up to twelve years ago, to our knowledge there has been no necessity to revisit any of them due to the recurrence or SRB/MIC damage. KTL/Adisa lining offers total product resistance for all present and future fuels and is impermeable to water. This isolation of the steel surface provides effective protection of the underlying metal provided that the lining has been applied without defect. The coating material does not degrade in service and the lining remains strongly bonded to the donor tank shell surface. Obviously, it is imperative that the tank owner selects a lining contractor who has all the qualifications, approvals and certification necessary to safely and effectively use the system selected. Careful questioning, sight of approval certificates and taking up references can help you make the right decisions! Correct selection of a lining system and its application are critical to the ongoing successful protection of an underground storage tank, the writer advises that you make your decisions carefully. Further to the above, information can be found on the KTL website at www.kingtanktechnic.co.uk

Articles

Tank Lining – A View By Graphite By John Keough In our opinion tank lining can be a very practical method of refurbishing existing storage vessels, causing the minimum

disruption

site

operations, therefore avoiding the subsequent loss of trade whilst the work is in progress.

One of the obvious benefits of lining tanks is that there is not the necessity to dispose of possible contaminated waste from the existing tank farm. Also the old tanks do not have to be disposed of as in effect they are being recycled.

It is the opinion of the writer that when compared with tank replacement, tank lining offers a cost effective solution. Obviously it is a quicker process to line an existing tank than it is to install a replacement. instances

the

In the majority of site

can

remain

operational and the works carried out in stages to keep site disruption to a minimum. The author contends that in many instances lining tanks can cost up to 50% less than replacing existing tanks with new. Graphite are able to provide three and five layer systems, with the three layer system being upgradeable to a five layer system should this be a future requirement. The five layer system is supplied complete with a modular tank integrity monitoring system which is also upgradeable at any time to cater for future requirements.

The monitoring system is supplied with varying levels of ‘intelligence’. In its most basic form it is supplied with localised alarms, but it’s capabilities can 48

Articles be extended to provide remote alarm conditions via links to most makes of contents gauges, pump controllers and point of sale terminals. It also enjoys the capability of sending alarm messages via SMS or e-mail to designated personnel or authorities to ensure that any emergency conditions are quickly responded to.

Obviously it is not possible to ascertain the condition of an existing tank without first entering it and carrying out a detailed inspection and report. Once this initial inspection and report has been carried out it is essential that the extent and scope of works is

for a site and should significantly extend its operational life.

All of the lining systems offered by Graphite are backed up with a warranty period of up to ten years and have an expected working life in excess of thirty years.

If for any reason a tank is found to be unsuitable for lining then the site operator and appropriate licensing authority will be notified and the work stopped until a suitable alternative course of action can be agreed. agreed, this should also include the preparation of a full risk assessment and method statement which should identify the nature and extent of any repairs or remedial works which may be necessary. If for any reason a tank is found not to be suitable to be lined then the site operator and appropriate licensing authority will be notified and the lining works stopped.

It is the opinion of the writer that lining tanks can be a proactive approach in the ongoing maintenance programme 51

Articles/Branches

UK- Health & Safety Executive Revise Petroleum Licence Fees By Brian Baker The Health & Safety Fees Regulations 2005 S.I 2005 No 676 came into effect on 6th April that sees a slight increase in annual petroleum licensing fees which are now; Not exceeding 2,500 litres £37.00 Exceeding 2,500 litres exceeding 50,000 litres £52.00

but

not

Exceeding 50,000 litres £105.00 Transfer of Licence £8.00 The increase is roughly in line with the annual inflation rate. UK-New Hazardous Waste Regulations The Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 S.I. 2005 No. 894 comes into effect in two parts on 16th April and 16th July respectively. These regulations set out a regime for the control and tracking of the movement of hazardous waste for the purpose of implementing the

Hazardous Waste These regulations repeal the Special Waste Regulations 1996 and replace the term special to hazardous. Parts 1 to 3 of the Regulations define hazardous waste and set out how the regulations apply. The definition of waste under Regulation 6 refers to the list of hazardous wastes set out in the List of Waste (England) Regulations2005 (S.I. 2005/895) Mixing Ban Part 4 bans the mixing of waste unless it is permitted as part of a disposal or recovery operation in accordance with the Waste Framework Directive. It also places a duty to separate different categories of hazardous waste where technically feasible. Notification Part 5 makes it an offence to remove hazardous waste from premises that has not been notified to the Environment Agency, unless they exempt the

Branches

Yorkshire & Humberside Nothing to report at present

Eastern Nothing to report at present

Midlands Nothing to report at present

Southern Nothing to report at present

North East Nothing to report at present

North West Nothing to report at present Scotland The Scottish Branch committee met in the Offices of D H Morris at Cumbernauld on Monday 13th June. The date, venue and theme for the next Branch Meeting was discussed and once again Stirling Council Chambers was picked for the meeting to be held on 27th September with the themes to be commissioning of new sites and the application of the new explosives regulations. All members and non members are welcome. Ian Hillier Branch Representative

Hazardous Waste Directive (Directive 91/689/EC). The Regulations extend to England and Wales.

Branch Representative Contact Details Ian Taylor - Eastern Hytek (GB) Ltd, Delta House, Green Street, Elsenham, Bishops Stortford, Herts CM22 6DS Tel: 01279 815600 Fax: 01279 812978 iantaylor@hytekgb.com Tom Hocking - Midlands D Berry & Co (PFS) Ltd Unit 130 Middlemore Ind Estate Kentish Road Birmingham B21 0AY Tel: 0121 558 4411 Fax: 0121 555 5546 enquiries@dberryandco.co.uk

premises or the waste has been flytipped. All premises at which hazardous waste is produced or removed must be notified by the producer of the waste or the consignor (the person who arranges for the removal) Notification lasts 12 months after which the premises must be notified again. A fee is payable to the Environment Agency. Movement of Hazardous Waste Part 6 requires documents to be completed whenever hazardous waste is removed from premises and sample forms are re-produced in Schedules 4 to 7. The ensure that an accurate description of consignments and any requirements of any special packaging or labelling. Records and Returns Part 7 requires producers, holders, carriers, consignors and consignees to keep records for a minimum of 3 years. Environment Agency's Functions Part 8 sets out the Environment Agency's functions in respect of inspecting producers of waste periodically who will enforce the regulations. Mike Silmon - North East W O Silmon Ltd Industry Road, Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear. NE6 5XB. Tel: 0191 224 0777 Fax: 0191 224 0707 associationtreasurer@apea.org.uk Geoff Oldham - North West Suresite Ltd, Slaters Barn, Whittingham Lane, Goosnargh, Preston. PR3 2JJ Tel: 01772 861400 Fax: 01772 861600 geoff.oldham@suresite.co.uk Ian Hillier - Scottish Inverclyde Council Municipal Buildings, Clyde Greenock PA15 1LY Tel: 01475 717171 Fax: 01475 712747 ian.hiller@inverclyde.gov.uk

Square,

Philip Monger - Southern Petrol Retailers Association Meadowside, West End, Sherbourne St John, Basingstoke, Hants. RG24 9LE. Tel: 01256 850164 Fax: 01256 851273 philmongerpra@ukonline.co.uk TBC - Yorkshire & Humberside

Training

2005 Course Dates Petrol Filling Stations Construction and Enviornmental Awareness 2005

Electrical Installations An Awareness

Fireworks and Explosives

20 Sep

Bristol

14 Sep

London

13/14 Sept

27 Oct

Canterbury

22 Sep

Edinburgh

24 Nov

Leeds 27 Sep

Birmingham

13 Oct

Manchester

Bristol

18/19 Oct

Birmingham

6/7 Dec

Glasgow

LPG Installations 29 Sep

Glasgow

25 Oct

Dublin

Petrol Filling Stations Audit and Inspection

06 Dec

Canterbury

27/28 Sep

Glasgow

Wetstock Management

25/26 Oct

Gloucester

15/16 Nov

Norwich

20 Sep

Edinburgh

11 Oct

Ipswich

08 Nov

Dublin

DSEAR 5 Sep

Cardiff

22 Sep

Exeter

29 Sep

Ipswich

6 Oct

Chester

Courses will be designed around the new TCB Document, Guidance for Design, Construction, Modification and Maintenance of Petrol Filling Stations. Please contact the APEA Business Manager on 01799 541816 or at admin@apea.org.uk if you wish to find out about purchasing a copy. APEA Members can purchase the guide at the discounted rate of £40 (non member rate £120). It is strongly recommended that attendees have access to this document during courses. All courses can be booked online at www.apea.org.uk on the ‘Training’ page. Bespoke courses can be made available provided the minimum number of Delegates is 8. This offers a discount. For details of this and any other training enquiry, please contact: Jane Mardell - Training Coordinator, (contact details on page 3) or Brian Humm, Training Chairman 84 Dunblane Road, Eltham, London SE9 6RT APEA Training Team

Mobile: 07818 097141

Gareth Bourhill

Phil Lambeth

Senior Incorporated Electrical

Senior Engineer

Jamie Thompson Independent Consultant

Engineer The DH Morris Group

Paul Craven

BP Global Alliance

Bob Conlin Director

Petroleum Officer Suffolk County Council

e-mail: brian.humm@london-fire.gov.uk

John Dallimore

Fairbanks Environmental

Independent Consulting Engineer Brian Humm Petroleum Officer

John Dallimore &Partners

Tom Armstrong Senior Project Engineer

LFEPA Richard Wigfull Brian Baker Fire Safety & Petroleum Officer Milton Keynes Council

Eddie Furniss

Consulting Engineer

Independent Trading Standards

J. Wigfull & Son

Consultant 53

Membership To join the APEA simply complete the form below and forward to the APEA office with a cheque or your credit card details completed below or fax on +44 (0) 1799 541816 or complete the online application form at www.apea.org.uk APEA, PO Box 106, Saffron Walden, Essex. CB11 3XT. United Kingdom Membership Types Individual membership: £30.00 includes one copy of the Bulletin per quarter and one copy of Yearbook Corporate membership: £100.00 includes five copies of the Bulletin per quarter and five copies of Yearbook (one representative per company) Full Name Company/Authority Position Membership type

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The Bulletin Magazine - September 2005

Articles inside

New APEA Members

Business Manager’s Report

WM Morrison Supermarkets plc - Petrol Filling Stations Delivery Procedures

Press Releases

Outdoor Payment Systems - The Forecourt Revival

Chairman’s Report