Doubtful Definitions

a recent fire in the U.S.A., which involved a distribution depot, at the rear of the premises, and a retail outlet at the front of the premises, the underground tanks were subjected to intense heat from the above-ground which were ruptured, at the rear of the premises, and after all the fire had been extinguished, it was discovered that not one ounce of petrol in the underground tanks had been destroyed during the intense hear of the fire. So when one gets a situation of tanks that are in a dangerous area, or within a building, what are the objections to sealing up the existing inlets and openings into the tank, and filling the tank manholes with sand, fitting offset fills and hydro-static guages rather than, perhaps, closing the premises down or subjecting the occupier to large expense or redevelopment.

When tanks that are rather old and, perhaps, due to acidity in the soil are more to leakage than perhaps ones which have been set in sulphate resistant concrete, it is perhaps wise not to take any chances on its reliability. But why not first of all check by physical means, that is ullage tests, that the tank itself is quite sound. After all, at today's prices who can afford to keep losing petrol? If there is then some doubts about its reliability then a pressure test can be arranged, but as we know 10 lbs. p.s.i. can, in fact, act upon the flaking that occurs within a tank and these flakes can seal up any leakage. Perhaps a reduced pressure would achieve the same objective.

Pumps

The old fashioned over the pavement or public highway swing arm type pump has caused no end of problems to present day Licensing Authorities. Some of the objections being somewhat emotive. The point concerning danger areas has, perhaps, been elaborated upon and whilst one accepts that the licensee cannot control the public highway, for many years now over the pavement fills have been operating with no mishaps. Whilst not trying to remove any of the obvious dangers and hazards associated with petroleum spirit, are we not, perhaps, seeing too many skeletons in the closets? After all, when a vehicle pulls up to fill its tank with petrol, no control is placed upon the standards of safety of that vehicle and an explosion or fire can just as easily be started by a vehicle as it can by anything else that we find on petroleum forecourts. Therefore, perhaps the siting of pumps with all the strict distances that are laid down, can be nullified by a vehicle that has, perhaps, a defective electrical system.

When we find a manual petrol pump sited within a barn which, perhaps, has a dual role, that is, it is used to garage a tractor or piece of farm machinery and providing the nozzle can be terminated outside the barn, is it really necessary to ask the licensee to resite his pump because it is within a building.

In conclusion, I accept that it is perhaps difficult to assess every situation with a different set of standards but perhaps the time has.come when all the interested parties should get around the table and talk as to what and which way we should proceed in the future, in the light of the experiences which have been gained over the recent years.

ON THE FORECOURT - DOUBTFUL DEFINITIONS

Fire Extinguisher

Fireman's Switch

Master Switch A fireman

For turning on a fireman

A mistress

Fitted to king size pumps Pump Island Not the ideal place to be marooned with only eight gramaphone records for company