In the February 2000 edition of Petroleum Review there was an article in the Dow ...

In the February 2000 edition of Petroleum Review there was an article in the Downstream news pages looking at the benefits of bottom loading. Reference was made to 'new 'sealed parcel' regulations requiring all road tankers to be bottom loading which came into effect in January 2000.' In reality, the current requirements on the industry are that: · all road tankers that could carry petrol brought into service since September 1996 must be capable of being bottom loaded, and · the release of vapour due to dipping is no longer permitted on road tankers new since the beginning of this year when petrol is being carried in any of the compartments. These requirements are set out in the Approved Tank Requirements under the Carriage of Dangerous Good Regulations and Guidance Note AQ10(99) published by HSE and DETR respectively. The Petrol Vapour Recovery Regulations 1996 (SI 2678), amending the Environmental Protection Act Regulations 1991 (SI 472), states that petrol will have to be bottom loaded onto road tankers (and other mobile containers) at all non-exempt existing terminals (ie where throughput of petrol exceeds 10,000 Te/y) from the end of 2004. None of the requirements for road tankers as set out in the Approved Tank Requirements applies to vehicles first used before September 1996, unless retrofitted for bottom loading and vapour collection. However, effective vapour collection at service stations, as required by the Secretary of State's Guidance PG1/14(96) to the Regulations, can only be achieved using tankers with vapour-tight collection facilities. The industry is currently discussing with the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) the implications of its proposal to move the point of sale from the delivery point - where dipsticks have been used in the case of petrol filling stations - back to the road loading meter at the distribution terminal. In some cases it is expected that 'sealed compartment delivery systems' will be fitted to road tankers to provide evidence to recipients that the metered volume of product being delivered has not been subject to interference. Dipping of road tankers brought into service before the beginning of this year may continue throughout the life of the vehicles, even where petrol is carried. Where petrol is not being carried, dipping of new tankers will also be permitted. However, there is an industry drive to remove the need for drivers to climb on top of tankers at delivery points. This would ensure compliance with The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. The alternative is likely to be the fitting of handrails on top of vehicle cargo tanks. Bottom loading does not guarantee a reduction in risk of electrostatic discharge. A central conductor should still be provided in each tank compartment (particularly where greater than 5000 litre capacity) to encourage rapid dissipation of any electrostatic charge generated (a secondary function of dip tubes). Deflector plates on compartment inlet valves also need careful design in order to minimise turbulence during filling. Andrew Sangster IP Technical Manager, Marketing & Safety