Petrol filling stations

HS(Gj41 Petrol filling stations construction and operation... 

Petrol filling stations control and safety guidance for employees... 

It should also be pointed out here that significant inhalations of hydrocarbons are possible in the vicinity of petrol filling stations. 

They define a hazardous area as any place in which an explosive atmosphere may occur in such quantity as to require special precautions to protect the safety of workers . Clearly these regulations affect the petroleum industry, but they also apply to petrol filling stations. 

Various approaches have been suggested to reduce the number of fires at petrol filling stations caused by static electricity. One suggestion is metal door handles. Conducting additives are used to provide static dissipation in fuel systems, but there are difficulties in achieving adequate mechanical properties in polyethylene fuel tanks when carbon black is used as a filler. Doubts have also been raised in some quarters about whether some plastic fuel tanks will be able to meet the requirements for PZEVs , or partial zero emissions vehicles, required by California s new emission standards. Inergy Automotive recommends capless filler systems with locking mechanisms. Carbon nanotubes are likely to find a role in antistatic protection. 

On rural dual carriageways the relationship extends to petrol filling stations. 

The content of HS(G)41 relating to the operation of a petrol filling station remains current, although it is intended that updated guidance will be published in due course. However, the HSE has published Guidance Note... 

Individual companies, trade associations and professional bodies have issued guidance on area classifications for their particular sectors. For example, the Institute of Petroleum s and the Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration s publication Guidance for the design, construction, modification and maintenance of petrol filling stations contains, at Chapter 3, comprehensive guidance on hazardous area classification at petrol filling stations. For petroleum and other flammable liquids in containers and bulk storage, reference should be made to HSE booklets ... 

Vapours can be produced in landfills but probably the most common cause of vapours in the groimd is the presence of hydrocarbon contamination from fuel and chemical spills or leaks in locations such as petrol filling stations or industrial sites. In these cases the vapours are present as a result of volatilisation from contamination of the soil or groxmdwater. 

Filling stations for petrol often have volumetric flow rates of 1,000 1/h. If the petrol is spilled on the ground (e.g. because of an operator error), a pool is formed. Immediate ignition is assumed. 

The gases given off by petrol and diesel fuel stations when vehicle fuel tanks are being filled, the exhaust fumes of vehicles in urban areas, the gases released by domestic and industrial thermal stations, by incineration plants and certain chemical factories are likely to react with air under the action of the sunlight to give rise to photochemical smog. 

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