	Safety and Licensing
	Torbay Council
	Roebuck House Abbey Road Torquay TQ2 5TF
	licensing @torbay.gov.uk
	01803 208126
	01803 208854

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Underground Installations

Underground Installations at Private and Public Filling Stations

Introduction

Under the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928 Torbay Council is the petroleum licensing authority for premises in Torbay where petroleum spirit is stored. In most premises where petroleum spirit is stored or used for commercial reasons a petroleum licence will be required. Subsequently you are advised to contact the Safety and Licensing team for advice on this matter and an application form if you have not already done so.

If your premises are subject to the provisions of the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928 a licence, including conditions for the safe keeping and use of petroleum spirit will be issued by the Authority.

The content of this Guidance Note outlines the Authority's requirements in respect of the keeping of petroleum spirit in underground installations at private and public filling stations. You will need to comply with these requirements before a petroleum licence can be issued for your premises. The site and equipment arrangements must be as specified in the requirements in order to minimise the possibility of spillage, leakage or outflow of petroleum spirit from the installation(s).

Authorities you may need to consult

In addition to requirements made by the Authority under the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928 there are other interested parties who have legislative control over particular premises and therefore may need to be consulted depending on the use of the premises.

They include :-

Environmental Health Office (local authority)
Building Control Office (local authority)
Insurers of project
Planning Officer (local authority)
Environment Agency

Tanks and pipes in general

Tanks and pipes manufactured of material subject to corrosion shall include the following:-

means to contain any uncontrolled escape of product
means to detect any perforation
corrosion prevention techniques

Tanks and pipes manufactured of other material shall include :-

means to detect uncontrolled release of product (tanks only)
adequate protection against mechanical damage (tanks and pipes)
1. in transit;
2. during temporary storage; and
3. during installation and operation

Tanks shall be installed to facilitate easy removal.

Adequate provision against flotation of tanks shall be provided.

Means shall be provided to prevent accidental overfilling of a tank.

Suction systems to be designed and installed so that all of the product lines will drain back into the storage tank in the event of failure.

Pressure systems to be designed and installed so as to prevent uncontrolled release of product in the event of a failure of the product lines, or the dispenser or pump.

All tank and pipework manhole chambers to be leak proof and contain product spills.

Arrangements to be provided such that in the event of an above ground escape of petroleum product it is captured and routed to an oil separator having a minimum capacity of 8 000 litres.

Forecourt and tanker standing surfaces to be designed to prevent any spillage penetrating into the environment.

Arrangements to be provided so that any car wash effluent shall not pass into the oil separator.

The Authority's local Petroleum Inspector is to be satisfied with all details of the installation and its performance, including appropriate inspection and testing before the system is passed fit for use.

Underground storage tanks

Each storage tank shall be installed underground. All tanks manufactured of materials subject to corrosion shall incorporate means to contain any uncontrolled escape of product, means to detect any perforation in the tank containment and means to detect uncontrolled release of product. Additionally adequate protection against mechanical damage in transit, or during temporary storage or during installation and operation shall be provided. The manufacturers of the storage tank shall satisfy the Authority that the construction requirements meet agreed standards.

Steel tanks are required to be provided with secondary containment (e.g., double skin steel tanks) and constant monitoring of the interstitial space. Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) storage tanks are also required to be provided with constant monitoring of the tank installation.

Observation wells

Observation wells are required on all new tank installations, they may be used for the following :-

Detection of petroleum spirit released into the ground.
To provide a point for product recovery.
To provide a means of monitoring for either liquid or vapours, caused by leaks from tanks, pipes or spills from overfills. Monitoring sensing devices are required on all GRP tank installations.

Observation wells shall be positioned to ensure that any leakage or spillage from the site will be detected.

Four wells are required, one at each corner of a GRP tank installation. One well is required for a double skin steel installation.

Petrol dispensers

Petrol pumps and dispensers shall comply fully with BS 7117 : Part 1 : 1991 and shall be certified to that effect by BASEEFA.

The pump/dispenser shall be installed in accordance with BS 7117 : Part 2 and be provided with a leak proof membrane under the dispenser.

Any self service system shall be of an approved type and details shall be deposited with the Authority before installation.

Vapour recovery

All tank installations shall be provided with a vapour recovery system. Under the Environment Protection Act 1990, local authorities have a duty to control emissions from premises. As such, authorisation must be obtained from the Borough Environmental Health Officer prior to the installation of a vapour recovery system.

Locations of tanks, off-set filling pointsand pipelines

Petrol storage tanks should be located underground, clear of the foundations of buildings and not within buildings. The centre lines of any tank openings or off-set filling points should be not less than 4m from the public thoroughfare or any other boundary of the filling station; but where there is an imperforate wall at the boundary extending sideways not less than 6m from any filling point and not less than 3m in height, filling points may be located close to the boundary.

The locations chosen should allow for tank openings or off-set filling points to be in the open air to ensure adequate ventilation for dispersing accumulations of vapour; and to be separated from occupied buildings by a distance sufficient to minimise the effect of radiant heat on buildings, 12m from living accommodation and 6m from other types of occupied buildings, unless the openings to such buildings are themselves adequately protected (i.e., to a minimum standard of half-hour fire resistance). The locations of offset filling points should also allow for some form of protective construction.

Separation distances from petrol dispensers and tank fill points to openings in buildings

The Authority has adopted as its policy the distances given as guidance by the Health and Safety Executive. In brief the distances are :-

.4m from the public way
.12m from living accommodation
.6m from other types of occupied buildings.

Electrical hazard zones on forecourts

Electrical installations shall comply with the current edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations, including any amendments, at the time the work is carried out. Equipment shall be constructed to an explosion-protected standard suitable for the zone in which it is to be installed and used. Equipment used shall be of the type certified as suitably explosion protected by an accredited testing and certifying body. (BASEEFA or one of the other organisations listed in Appendix 1 of HSE Guidance Booklet HS(G)22).

Additional guidance

The above information is intended to outline in general terms the Authority’s requirements for the keeping of petroleum spirit in underground installations at private and public filling stations.

If you intend to proceed with your application more detailed guidance will be made available on each of the above subjects during the necessary approval process. If, however, any further clarification is required at this stage please do not hesitate to contact the Trading Standards Department dealing with your premises