The Bulletin Magazine - March 2016

Journal of the Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration

The Bulletin

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March 2016

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Chairman’s Report

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Brian Humm

Editor’s Report

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Editor

Bulletin Information

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General APEA Information

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Business Manager’s Report

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84 Dunblane Road Eltham London

New APEA Members

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APEA 2017 Yearbook and Website - How to complete your entry

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2016 Membership Renewal - Final notice

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News

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Press Releases

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SE9 6RT Mobile: +44 (0) 7507 478533 email: b.humm@outlook.com

Louise Morgan Chairman of Publishing Committee

Articles Forecourt Equipment Federation (FEF) produce a guidance document on the use of mobile phones on petrol forecourts

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Introducing the APEA Charity for 2016 - Alzheimer’s Society

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Rainford Road

Fireworks Enforcement Liaison Group (FELG)

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Bickerstaffe

Interview with Mark Orr, LCM Environmental Ltd

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Ormskirk

Hydrogen Storage on an Existing Petrol Filling Station, An Enforcers View

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APEA Live 2016

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Ask the Experts

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An Innovate Filling Station Design

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A Faster, Safer, Greener Method of Tank Degassing - presentation from APEA Live 2015 Conference

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Station Manager 365 – reducing queues on forecourts

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Petrocom

Lancashire L39 0HB Tel/fax: +44 (0) 845 678 0790 Mobile: +44 (0) 7789 744281 email: louisemorgan@petrocom.co.uk

Jane Mardell

Branches Branch reports

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Business Manager PO Box 106 Saffron Walden

Training Training course photos 2016 course dates and booking details

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Essex CB11 3XT Tel/fax: +44 (0) 845 603 5507 Mobile: +44 (0) 7815 055514

NB. The technical content is not an official endorsement by or on behalf of the APEA and are entirely the views of the author’s

email: admin@apea.org.uk

Find us on LinkedIn

Front Cover - Canopy in Spain for CESPA

Published by the Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration A company Limited by Guarantee registered in England No. 2261660.

Opinions expressed in this Journal are not necessarily the views of the Association.

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CONTENTS AND EDITORIAL

Wash Farm Office

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CHAIRMAN’S REPORT/EDITOR’S REPORT

Hello and welcome to the first edition of The Bulletin in 2016. It is, as always, packed full of news and stories reflecting our own industry.

We hope there is something for everyone inside this edition. This year is different as we start the year with our new Bulletin Editor, Brian Humm, at the helm and with the ever dedicated group of helpers to keep The Bulletin to its continuing high standard that people have come to expect. Brian will be every bit as keen to receive articles or stories for publication. If you have anything that you wish to share, particularly something technical, please send it in. These can range from articles about technical problems and how they were resolved to good news stories and press releases. I regularly state my view that we are a wonderfully diverse industry and we should never take this for granted but let’s tell each other what is going on!

At our annual awards dinner I stood before our members half way through my two-year tenure as APEA Chair. We had a record attendance that night and it was a

wonderful demonstration of the strong health of our association.

However I have always believed that the APEA does not stand still and the APEA should never stand still. Our industry is changing, and change is good. Change in technology, change in people. Next year’s conference, exhibition and awards dinner will bring greater changes than we have probably ever seen before. My thanks as always to Alex Boudry the events chairman for his passion and commitment.

As always the only way for any association to work properly is with the active involvement of its members and for the committees to ensure the opportunities for this are there.

With more forecourts diversifying, new players entering or leaving the market and sites either becoming larger retail environments or going to the other extreme and becoming unmanned the trick is enticing the customer with a top quality product and a fast service.

Drivers want to get their fuel, grocery or food-to-go and move on as quickly as possible, which also allows

for more throughput for the forecourt. Forecourt retailers, their suppliers and their regulators must keep up-to-date with the latest technology and developments that are introduced to improve customer experience to ensure we deliver these improvements or changes safely. If you are currently a nonmember or you know someone who should be a member, join up and get involved at www.apea.org.uk.

If you have any ideas or suggestions you believe could help the association please do not hesitate to contact me at Killiantallon@apea.org.uk.

When I was approached last year with the initial enquiry to become the editor of this fine publication I must admit that I was a) a little bit surprised, b) a little bit scared and c) somewhat excited at the prospect.

One of my very first thoughts was “how do you follow that?”; Brian Baker has done an amazing job over all these years producing a fine publication which I know all members await delivery of with anticipation and enjoy, as I have done over the years, the wonderful stories, articles and news items that are always topical and relevant to the industry. It will be extremely hard to carry on this tradition but I will give it a try. Thank you, Brian, for all your hard work over the years.

As I am writing this the festive season has gone and we are progressing into 2016, a busy time for the APEA as this year will see the start of the review of the leading publication known as the Blue Book; the 4th Edition is now being considered and committees will be set up in due course to discuss the

revision of the original chapters and the addition of new ones covering other alternative fuels etc. As you may be aware this is a very time consuming business which is planned like a military operation as many people are involved and various factors need to be taken into account, such as room bookings, travel and obviously diary space for the participants; you may not be aware but all the people involved in the review give their time completely free, so I would like to thank everyone in advance for their time and effort in continuing to produce the industry “Bible” which quite frankly we all rely on from time to time.

Obviously we can only produce this quality publication with the help of you, the members, that submit topical questions and articles for consideration; on that note could I ask that you all consider submitting anything that you believe could be worthy of inclusion, as I have found out editing this first edition of my tenure, information is hard to come

by, research is obviously key and also heavily cajoling people who have expressed an interest in contributing. My contact details are listed in this Bulletin so feel free to contact me if you have anything that you consider would be good to publish, no matter how small an item, all is welcome…on that note can I say I hope you enjoy this edition of the Bulletin and continue to support the association in every way that you can. Until next time…

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APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

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Bulletin information and how to submit copy for the Bulletin • The Bulletin is published four times a year with a print run of 2200.

• Free issue to APEA members (approx 1200 members worldwide) • Has international distribution and readership • Respected source of industry specific news and information • Contains relevant news items and reports from overseas

• Individual, Fellow and Retired members receive one copy each and Corporate members receive 5 copies each per quarter.

The editor of The Bulletin, Brian Baker, is always on the look out for new material, so if you have something you want to be included, please email it to the APEA office at admin@apea.org.uk and it will be forwarded to Brian for approval.

Please email the text in Word format and any images as separate high resolution pdf or jpeg files to admin@apea.org.uk.

We are always pleased to receive contributions from our members and it ensures that the Bulletin remains an interesting and informative read.

Please ensure you send your copy to admin@apea.org.uk before the dates below: Copy deadline dates 2016 June - 25th Mar (posted 13th May) Sept - 10th June (posted 19th Aug) Dec - 26th Sept (posted 11th Nov) 2017 Mar - 3rd Jan (posted 17th Feb)

Bulletin Advertising for advertising in the annual Yearbook.

If you would like to book advertising in the Bulletin, please email your requirements to admin@apea.org.uk or call the office on 0845 603 5507. Please ensure you send your artwork to

admin@apea.org.uk.

Artwork deadline dates 2016 June - 25th Mar (posted 13th May) Sept - 10th June (posted 19th Aug) Dec - 26th Sept (posted 11th Nov) 2017 Mar - 3rd Jan (posted 17th Feb)

Size of advert

Advert in 1 issue exc vat

Advert in 4 issues (includes 25% discount) exc vat

Full page (A4) (10mmw x 297mmh, with 10mm border or with bleed)

£498.00

£1494.00

½ page (185mmw x 125mmh)

£249.00

£747.00

¼ page (90mmw x 125mmh)

£125.00

£375.00

BULLETIN INFORMATION

Discounts are available for booking in more than one issue, please contact Jane Mardell at admin@apea.org.uk for more information.

In addition Bulletin advertisers that book in 3 or more issues in one year also receive a 50% discount off rates

3rd Edition of the Guidance for Design, Construction, Modification, Maintenance and Decommissioning of Filling Stations - ‘Blue Book’ (Revised June 2011) ‘Publications’ page. You can select to pay by credit/debit card or by cheque or bank transfer. If you pay by cheque or bank transfer your order will be sent out once payment has been received. All card payment orders are sent out next day.

Pricing as follows: APEA Member Hard back £70, pdf £70 plus vat Non APEA Member Hard back £140, Pdf £140 plus vat

The guide is available in hard copy and also as a pdf download.

If you wish to purchase the guide please go to the APEA website at www.apea.org.uk and click on the

Postage is free for orders to the UK and Europe up to a value of £500.00.

For orders over this value and for deliveries to countries outside the UK and Europe, the postage will be calculated when the order is placed.

There are also discounts available

for bulk purchases of the hard copy version which will be calculated with your order as follows: 5 - 9 copies = 10% 10 - 49 copies = 20% 50+ copies = 30% To benefit from the APEA member discount you will need to log on to the website before purchasing. If you do not know your log on details you can click on the ‘Member log in’ icon on the top right of the page and request your username and password or you can contact me at admin@apea.org.uk.

The APEA also publishes the Code of Practice for Ground floor, multi storey and underground car parks.

This can be downloaded directly from the APEA website and is available to members at £11.00 and £21.00 to non APEA members.

APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

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APEA Website The site features: • A resource centre - useful information and links to other web sites and downloadable PDF’s

• An easy to use site search page

• An events calendar – see what is happening in our industry and Association throughout the year

• View your Branch committee contact details (link on the home page)

• A contacts library - contact details for companies and organisations and licensing authorities

GENERAL APEA INFORMATION/BUSINESS MANAGER’S REPORT

• You can purchase publications – including the 3rd Edition of the Blue Book • View and book training courses for the year I hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year. I spent it doing yoga on Patnem Beach, Goa, India which was fantastic and met people from all over the world, a wonderful experience, totally relaxing and great fun.

I am now working on the June issue of the Bulletin, the 2017 Yearbook and the APEA awards for 2016.

If you have any press releases or technical articles for the Bulletin please do not hesitate to email them to me at admin@apea.org.uk and I will forward them onto the editor Brian Humm for approval.

2017 Yearbook - Free entry On page 12 of this issue of the Bulletin you will find instructions on how to enter your contact details in the 2017 Yearbook.

Anyone who entered online for the 2016 Yearbook will be able to update their details from this entry.

Please remember that only members that complete the online entry process will be included in the Yearbook. Full instructions on how to be included are detailed on page 12 of this issue.

You can also benefit if you wish to advertise in the Yearbook as follows: • All existing ‘Bulletin’ advertisers booked in 3 or more issues, receive a 50% discount off the 2017 Yearbook rates • Any advertiser taking out a full 8

• Members access to past Bulletin articles on line

As a member of the APEA you have access to some of the restricted content on the site as a benefit of membership. To access this content you will need to log on with your personal details.

Go to the website at www.apea.org.uk and click on the member log on link at the top right of the page. If you wish to change your password or contact details at

any time please click on ‘My Account’ on the top right of the home page.

If you do not know your username and password, please click on ‘Member Login’ on the top right of the home page and you can click to request these details, they will be emailed to the email address you entered when joining the APEA or you can email a request to the APEA office at admin@apea.org.uk.

Website banner Advertising You can now place your banner on the APEA website. This is £200 plus vat for one year, please contact me at admin@apea.org.uk if you wish to make a booking.

page advert in the 2017 Yearbook is entitled to a website banner free of charge on the APEA website for one year • All APEA members are eligible for one free entry in the ‘Petroleum Industry Company’ name listings and one in the ‘Industry Sector section’, please select the relevant Industry Sector heading when registering 2016 Membership Renewals You were sent instructions with the December issue of the Bulletin and by email on how to renew your membership for 2016.

The membership for any member that has not paid by 28th February will be discontinued. You will still be able to renew your membership which you can do by logging onto your online account at www.apea.org.uk.

Further information is on page 15.

APEA Live 2016 There are some changes in place regarding the venue for APEA Live 2016 as you will see on page 51 with a move to Stadium MK. Additionally Alex Boudry, the Events Committee Chairman, is also progressing the event by introducing some excellent changes to the awards which will implemented this year. Alex is making a major contribution to APEA Live and I am sure we will all benefit from his expertise and time spent working on the event.

Members email addresses Most APEA communication to members is now carried out by email. If you have not added your email address to your membership record please can you either email me your address to add, or you can log on to your account and add it yourself. This will ensure you do not miss out on information about APEA activity.

New Members There have been 38 new members joining during October, November and December and details can be found on page 11.

General Assistance If you need any assistance with general or technical matters, please do not hesitate to contact me at admin@apea.org.uk or on 0845 603 5507.

Regards Jane

APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

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October Chris Barnes Key Electrical Contractors and Storefitters Limited Unit 5C Roundwood Industrial Estate Ossett West Yorkshire WF5 9SQ Erol Erturan Adept Consulting Engineers Ltd 14 Festoon Rooms, Sunny Bank Mills Leeds West Yorkshire LS28 5UJ Mario De Luca Woodgreen Construction Ltd Unit 3 Oakwell Industrial Park Oakwell Way, Birstall West Yorkshire WF17 9LU Zoe Phillips Merthyr Tydfil Trading Standards Civic Centre, Castle Street Merthyr Tydfil CF47 8AN Stephen Faulkner Suresite Health and Safety 4A Millenium City Park Barnfield Way, Preston Lancashire PR2 5DB David Chinejani Platinum Projects Europe Ltd Crown House 22 Walmesley Road, Leigh Gtr Manchester WN7 1YE Kevin Gardiner Motor Fuel Group Lynwood Parc-Y-Brain Lane Penperlleni Pontypool Monmouthshire NP4 8SJ Tung Ming Wong Manthon International Limited Unit 02, 22/Fl., 704 Prince Edward Road East San Po Kong Kowloon Hong Kong Michael Garlinge 66 Reeves Way Armthorpe Doncaster South Yorkshire DN3 2FD Lee Roberts City fm 3 Cavalry Close West Derby Liverpool L12 4ZF

Neil Sheehan ASDA MCE Old Carlsberg Bottling Plant Hunslet Road Leeds West Yorkshire LS10 1JQ Mark Roberts 11 Longacres Drive Whitworth Rochdale Lancashire OL12 8JT Claude Farrugia Resolve Consulting Limited 161A, Labour Avenue Naxxar NXR9025 Malta Stephen McKinlay Hulley & Kirkwood Consulting Engineers Watermark Business Park Govan Road Glasgow G51 2SE November Peter Ash PMA South West Ltd 60 Castle Mead Washford Watchet TA23 0PZ Chris Powell States of Jersey Fire & Rescue Service Rouge Bouillon St Helier JE2 3ZA Jersey Ian Maclachlan IKM Consulting Ltd Park House, 39 Bo’ness Road Grangemouth FK3 8AN Trevor Milner Napit Inspections Ltd 4th Floor, Mill 3 Pleasley Vale Business Park Mansfield NG19 8RL Amy Alt Shell International Petroleum Co Ltd Shell Centre, York Road London SE1 7NA Brian Mosley Pneumatic Components Limited Holbrook Rise Sheffield S20 3GE Keith Goddard K A Goddard Wessex House Suite 15 St Leonards Road Bournemouth Dorset BH8 8QS

James Haigh Experian Ltd 3110 Great Western Court Hunts Ground Road Bristol BS34 8HP Edward Eaton Leinster Fire Safety Ltd 36 Sallins Bridge Sallins Kildare 1 Ireland Nick Quirk MSi Signs Unit 1c Southpoint Business Park Charvery Lane Rathnew Wicklow Co Wicklow Ireland Emma Graves Lynx Forecourt Limited Unit 4 Blue Prior Business Park Redfields Lane Church Crookham Hampshire GU52 0RJ

NEW APEA MEMBERS

Detailed below are new members that have recently joined the APEA during October, November and December 2015.

Ross Bennett Elecforce Ltd Units 10-11, East Riding Business Centre Annie Reed Road Beverley East Yorkshire HU17 0LF Richard Pike 46 Glen Street Sutton in Ashfield Notts NG17 2DP Christopher Havill HavMain, Unit 4A Aspen Way Paignton Devon TQ4 7QR Wayne Blatchford Wales and West Services Unit 1 Sully View Ty Verlon Industrial Estate Cardiff Road Barry Vale of Glamorgan CF63 2BE December Steve Perrin Environment, Health and Safety Consultant 1 Bethell Court Hedon Hull, East Yorkshire HU12 8PJ Barry Jenner Cameron Forecourt Limited Unit 3 Redan Hill Estate Aldershot Hampshire GU12 4SJ

APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

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Michael Dewberry 33 Southall Close Ware Hertfordshire SG12 7PE

Grove Rd Stoke-On-Trent Staffordshire ST4 4LZ Mike Parry Hartle Limited 18 Chestnut Court Jill Lane, Sambourne Redditch B96 6EW

Paul McParland Lanes Group Plc 300 Lansdowne Road EcclesManchester M30 9JP

Michael Jnr Hartle Hartle Ltd 18 Chestnut Court, Jill lane Sambourne Redditch B96 6EW

Neil Worthington Safefill Unit I Great Fenton Business Park

Peter Fear Northamptonshire County Council Trading Standards Service Wootton Hall Park Northampton Northamptonshire NN4 0GB Bryan Edgar Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Riada House 14 Charles Street Ballymoney Co Antrim BT53 6DZ

APEA 2017 Yearbook and website entry How to complete your entry

you have entered on the membership database.

Once you have completed your entry, if you wish to make any amendments please contact me at admin@apea.org.uk.

By Jane Mardell, APEA Business Manager

Advertising in the Yearbook The rates have remained the same as for the 2016 Yearbook, all adverts are on right hand pages.

You can also benefit from the following if you wish to advertise in the Yearbook:

NEWS

In order to ensure that your details are included in the 2017 Yearbook and on the APEA website it is essential that you complete your online entry by 31st March.

If you completed an entry for the 2016 Yearbook you will be able to use the same entry or amend if required, but you must complete the process for your entry from the start.

With this issue of the Bulletin I have enclosed an instruction letter to all members that are eligible for an entry in the Petroleum Company Contacts and Industry Sector sections in the Yearbook. Licensing and Enforcement Authorities will be contacted separately for their sections of the Yearbook.

Entry Instructions Even if you do not wish to advertise in the Yearbook, to be included you should complete your entry as follows: 1. To start your entry go the APEA website home page at www.apea.org.uk 2. Click on the link on the home page called ‘Member Registration’ and you will be asked to log in using your APEA membership userid and password. If you completed an entry for the 2016 Yearbook this will be displayed.

3. You will then be asked to complete your contact details 12

and then select the Industry Sector or Industry Sectors that you wish to be listed under. And that is it!

Once you have completed the online entry form you will be sent a confirmation email if you have entered an email address on your entry.

Each member is entitled to one FREE entry in the Petroleum Company Contacts section and one FREE Industry Sector entry per company in the Yearbook.

Any additional company contact detail entries or industry sector entries are charged at £26.00 plus VAT. The system will total up any costs due, if you have selected additional Industry Sectors and you will be directed to pay via Paypal or Worldpay.

The entry system will notify me of your entry and I will then record that

• All existing ‘Bulletin’ advertisers booked in 3 or more issues, receive a 50% discount off the 2017 Yearbook rates • Any advertiser taking out a full page advert in the 2017 Yearbook is entitled to a website banner free of charge for one year APEA website If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me at the APEA office on 0845 603 5507 or by email at admin@apea.org.uk. If you wish to book advertising please email me the size of advert space you wish to reserve.

Advert sizes (artwork due by 27th March)

Fee (plus vat)

Full page (page size 210mmw x 260hmm)

£1483.00

½ page (185mmw x 115mmh)

£786.00

¼ page (89.5mmw x 115mmh)

£420.00

1/8 page (89.5mmw x 55.5mmh)

£268.00

APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

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2016 Membership Renewal Final notice

You can select to pay by PayPal or by credit/debit card via Worldpay or select to pay by ‘cheque/bank transfer’.

By Jane Mardell, APEA Business Manager

Payment by bank transfer Account Name: APEA Bank Name: Barclays Bank PLC Account: 93816672 Sort code: 20-59-42 VAT no: 566 1295 26 IBAN: GB90 BARC 20594293816672 SWIFT: BARCGB22

Membership Rates Individual membership - £50.00 Corporate membership - £175.00 Retired membership - £15.00 The membership represents fantastic value for money and the APEA continues to offer members technical advice, training courses, publications, networking and an excellent forum for exchange of information in the industry. We thank you for your continued support.

Due to ever increasing costs the APEA would prefer all members to use the online payment facility as

UK, HKS Holdings continues expansion plans with more sites British fuel retailer HKS Holdings Ltd has completed the acquisition of Brobot Group Ltd. as part of a number of recent gas stations acquisitions.

Following the addition of 23 sites from Brobot to the family-owned HKS group, the company now stretches from Yorkshire to Surrey.

“We look forward to welcoming the new members of our team on board to work alongside our existing committed team of individuals, who provide the strength behind our growth strategy,” Shane Thakrar, Chief Executive at HKS Holdings.

After the recent purchase of seven Shell sites, the group has now acquired 30 filling stations in three months, taking the total number of

this is the quickest and most efficient method of payment. You can pay securely by credit/debit card using Worldpay or PayPal on the APEA website.

To raise an invoice on your account please complete the renewal process detailed below.

Once payment is received an email will be automatically sent to you to with a link to download your receipt from your account.

By using the online service, this keeps what is already a very low membership fee to remain at these prices. Renewals by other methods incurs greater cost to the APEA and will result in possible increase in fees for future years, with already 85% of members paying online we wish everybody to use the online method so please use it this year.

If you have not renewed please follow the instructions below.

Go to www.apea.org.uk Click on ‘Renew your membership’ Enter your log on details.

Click on ‘renew your membership’ and follow the instructions to the checkout. sites to just under 60 units.

The new sites will be taken over by HKS Holdings Ltd with immediate effect and the development of the filling stations will begin as soon as possible.

UK, London Fire Brigade unveils new 999 call system The new system, supplied by Capita Communication and Control Solutions, is used by 999 control officers to deal with emergency fire calls and assign fire engines to emergencies. London Fire Brigade (LFB) believes the system will lead to a more streamlined and quicker call handling process when people call 999 to report a fire, which equates to more than 170,000 calls per annum.

The system uses GPS tracking technology, similar to taxi apps like

Please include your invoice number and surname as the bank reference on the bank transfer payment.

Remittance advices to be emailed to christine.cook@ensors.co.uk Payment by cheque Please post cheques to the address below: Christine Cook Ensors Cardinal House, 46 St Nicholas Street Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 1TT If you are paying by bank transfer or by cheque, once payment is received an email will be sent to you to with a link to download your receipt from your account.

Payment must be received by the APEA by the 28th February in order to maintain continuity of membership.

Uber, and allows control officers to track all of London’s 155 fire appliances on screen and mobilise the closest available appliance to an emergency. This is a change from the previous system, which mobilised appliances from the nearest fire station rather than deploying the appliance in closest proximity to the incident.

London fire commissioner Ron Dobson said: ‘It is incredible how far technology has come since the 999 system was first set up in 1937. It [the new system] uses the latest technology to allow us to deal with emergency calls efficiently and get fire engines to incidents more quickly. This could ultimately lead to more lives being saved.

‘Fortunately the vast majority of people never need to call 999, but when people are in need of assistance from the Brigade I hope

APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

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NEWS

If you have not renewed your membership for 2016 please read the information below.

Instructions were sent with the December issue of the Bulletin and by email to members on how to renew your membership for 2016, due by 1st Jan. Any membership record that has not been renewed by 28th February will be discontinued. If you wish to renew your membership after this date you can do this by logging onto your online account at www.apea.org.uk.

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they will now receive the help they need more quickly than ever.’

UK, Police and retailers welcome anti-fuel theft app

NEWS

A new online app is helping police forces and gas station operators tackle fuel theft by sharing information and images on a platform, reported Security News Desk.

Strained by a shrinking budget, Britain´s police forces have welcomed the app ‘Forecourt Eye’, a technology which allows retailers to instantly send digital evidence (footage and information) to police systems.

The app also creates an intelligent database which generates statistics and allows the tracking of repeat offenders. With most of the forecourt crime perpetrators, in this case fuel theft in the form of drive-off or “no means of payments”, being repeat offenders, the new system proves very useful to gas station operators.

“Forecourt Eye has helped us reduce both drive offs and share information with other retailers to track suspects operating in our area,” said Farook Asmal of BP Linden Service Station, the first to use the system.

Fuel theft is a huge issue for retailers which CCTV helped to reduce, but has not stopped. During 2014 British operators lost £31.4 million due to this issue, according to a survey by the British Oil Security Syndicate.

UK, Central Convenience Stores appoints new operations director Central Convenience Stores, a fast-growing English c-store chain, has appointed Dave Lenz as Operations Director with the company pursuing ambitious growth plans.

UK convenience stores associations publish guidelines to help retailers faced with authorities seeking to curb alcohol sales.

The company currently has more than 60 c-stores across the south and south-west of England. Its ambitious expansion plans will start by opening another 60 stores by the end of 2016, with the final goal of 16

having 300 stores over the next five years.

David Lenz boasts 30 years of experience in the convenience store sector, most recently as regional manager for McColls. “I’ve virtually worked at every level in the business including store manager so I know what it takes to deliver success,” said Lenz.

Ringwood-based Central Convenience Stores was founded in 2012 and has three offers – a traditional convenience store, a garage forecourt operation and a newsagent format.

UK, BP to adopt Gilbarco Veeder Root Insite360 System Oil company BP will adopt Gilbarco Veeder-Root’s Insite360 at all BP-owned gas stations in the United Kingdom early next year, according to a company release.

Under the same agreement, BP will offer Insite360 to all its UK dealers as part of the standard fuel contract agreement.

Insite360, an advanced cloudbased system used for effective wetstock management, provides monitoring capability through realtime analysis, sudden loss detection, and 24/7 alarm management. It also offers highly-precise AccuChart™ tank calibration, meter drift detection, and delivery reconciliation.

Another functionality is the new Price/Margin Management module, which aims to increase fuel retail margins and provide up-to-date competitor price information.

It also offers Inventory Planning, which helps in automated fuel orders creation, and Inventory Forecasting, which has various functionalities such as Delivery, Plan Analysis, Retain, and Run-out Forecasting.

The program can be accessed on most mobile services and technical support is available 24/7.

“We are delighted to partner with BP UK and bring our vast know-how in wetstock management to improve its forecourt operations. This milestone illustrates the solid growth Insite360 is seeing across Europe, where we expect other important partnerships to be forged next year,” comments Patrick Forsythe, WSM Managing Director at Gilbarco

Veeder-Root.

Gilbarco Veeder-Root is a technology solutions company specialising in retail and commercial fueling operations.

UK, Tanks & Pipeworks pass HSE inspection Tanks and Pipeworks limited were recently visited by an Inspector from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), following an erroneous complaint from a neighbour with regards to the manufacture of the glass fibre sheeting used in conjunction with the award winning Tri-Line tank lining system. An initial visit was carried out by the Local Authority Environmental Health Officer (EHO) but on looking into the complaint the EHO realised that they did not have the appropriate knowledge and powers to enforce on the levels of Styrene that may be present during the use of glass fibre as a material. Tanks and Pipeworks had already supplied the appropriate information to the EHO regarding the process and the risk assessment required for this type of work and the EHO initially commented that in his opinion the company complied but he had to inform the HSE. The HSE inspector made an appointment and informed the company that he would not only be looking into the exposure to styrenes during the manufacturing process but into all the aspects of Health and Safety at the Company’s premises in West Kingsdown, Kent.

The Inspector duly arrived at the premises and was met by a Company representative, the Health and Safety advisor and the Fire advisor employed to look after the company’s interests within these areas of expertise.

Tanks & Pipeworks are proud to announce that following an exceptionally detailed and prolonged inspection of all company documents that are produced, both for the Company HQ but also in use at the various sites and premises that we attend during the normal course of business and also covering every single service to the Industry that we provide, also an inspection of the entire premises and all equipment in use (fork lifts, flammable/cylinder storage etc.)

APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

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The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority has opened a public consultation on proposals to implement £6.4m of budget savings for 2016/17 Members of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority approved two proposals for consultation both of which would ensure that no fire stations close and no fire-fighters would be made compulsorily redundant. Members also agreed to stand down the Brigade’s contingency arrangements in light of the Fire Brigades Union’s decision to suspend their strike action over a dispute with the Government on pensions. Standing down the contingency arrangement saves London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority £1.7m and reduces the budget gap from £8.1m to £6.4m.

Option A is the proposal preferred by the majority of members of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. It recommends putting the 13 fire engines back into service but making savings by establishing alternate crewing at stations with some special appliances. This option would see two fire rescue units, five aerial appliances and two operational

support units being alternately crewed.

Option B is recommended by the Commissioner of London Fire Brigade.

It recommends the permanent removal of the 13 fire engines and re-invest some of the savings into increasing the number of staff available to crew fire rescue units.

The Brigade claims that reintroducing 13 appliances would reduce attendance times by around four seconds for the first engine and by around 18 seconds for the second fire engine. The 13 fire stations that had one of their two fire engines removed in August 2013 were: Chelsea, Ealing, Erith, Forest Hill, Holloway, Old Kent Road, Plaistow, Poplar, Romford, Shoreditch, Stratford, Wandsworth and Willesden.

The consultation is open for eight weeks and closed on 1 February 2016. As part of the process four public meetings were held across London and for the first time the Brigade organised online public meetings.

London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority chairman Gareth Bacon said: ‘The consultation is a chance for Londoners to have their say on our budget proposals and how the authority can save £6.4m.

Over the next eight weeks we’ll be holding public meetings and talking to a variety of stakeholders to get their opinions. If you want your voice heard I urge everyone to visit our website and tell us what you think.”

‘Last year the number of fires fell below 20,000 for the first time since records for Greater London began in 1966. Fire deaths have steadily declined since the 1980s. In 1987, there were 28.5 fire deaths per million residents compared to 3.4 per million in 2014’.

UK, Man banned from all UK filling stations following thefts A 60-year-old man from Kent, England has been prohibited from entering all 7,111 gas stations in England and Wales for the next two years after Canterbury Crown Court found him guilty of stealing £3,690 ($5579.74) worth of fuel across two countries.

Paul Fagg was also given a 12month sentence suspended for two

years and ordered to wear an electronic tag for the next four months and stay at home between 9pm and 7am.

Fagg, unemployed and carless, committed thefts on 41 occasions in a four-month period to carry out a fuel-to-order scam. After refilling, he would claim that he forgot his wallet, promised to settle the bill in a week, left a fake address and would never return.

“He had gone into the stations in a Range Rover, a Daimler and at the other end of the spectrum, a Renault Scenic. They were not his vehicles and he is believed to have been used by others,” said Prosecutor Harry Hewitt.

The judge explained to him the suspended sentence: “Firstly you have pleaded guilty, secondly because of your serious health problems but finally because I believe I can prevent you from committing this particular type of offence again.”

UK, HSE Flammable Liquids publications review and update 11-11-2015 HSE has completed a review of its publications dealing with fire and explosion hazards associated with flammable liquids.

The following publications are now available for purchase or free download from the HSE website, www.hse.gov.uk: HGS176 - The storage of flammable liquids in tanks http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/book s/hsg176.htm HSG51 - The storage of flammable liquids in containers http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/book s/hsg51.htm HSG140 - Safe use and handling of flammable liquids http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/book s/hsg140.htm Please also be aware that the publications listed below have been withdrawn: HSG113 - Lift trucks in potentially flammable atmospheres HSG158 - Flame arresters: Preventing the spread of fires and explosions in equipment that contains flammable gases and vapours HSG178 - The spraying of flammable liquids.

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we were given a clean bill of health and received the comment from the Inspector that it was extremely encouraging the level of compliance to Health and Safety that he had identified during his investigation and that he was impressed with the scope and management involvement of Health and Safety information that the Company produce/carry out during the normal day to day procedures.

We obviously pride ourselves in the way that we carry out all the services that we supply to the oil industry and will continue to maintain this level of health and safety compliance and to continue to offer the exceptional level of service that we provide to our clients that has become our company’s commitment.

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Ireland, Topaz wins 6 awards including forecourt retailer of the year

NEWS

Irish fuel retailer Topaz bagged six awards at the Shelflife C-Store Awards, including ‘Best New Convenience Store Format’ for its new food and coffee concept Re.Store.

The Shelflife C-Store Awards celebrates Ireland´s best convenience store retailing concepts and operators.

The 15th edition of the awards saw the country´s leading fuel retailer, Topaz, take 6 awards including Forecourt Retailer of the Year, Best Convenience Store (in the under 1,500 sq. ft. and above 4,000 sq. ft. categories), and the Supreme Champion: National Convenience Store Winner 2015.

“We were delighted to receive so many nominations and win so many awards. Whether it’s our exciting Re.Store concept, the excellent service our dealers provide, or the quality of our products and services, Topaz always aims to enhance the customer experience,” said Topaz Network Director Jonathan Diver.

The Obama Plaza, the Topaz forecourt in Moneygall, won the ‘Community Initiative Award’ after raising over €35K for the children’s national ambulance service.

Topaz has recently made the headlines after it announced Canadian retail giant Couche-Tard was to acquire the company.

Topaz´s CEO, Emmet O’Neill, described the deal as a “game changer”, stating the deal would take the company to the next level.

Ireland, Topaz-Esso merger accepted by competition body Ireland’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has approved the purchase of oil company Esso by Irish gas station chain Topaz, reported RTÉ News.

The acquisition has expanded the Topaz network to 425 service stations nationwide, raised the number of its employees to 2,000, and has given it a 35% share of Ireland’s fuel retailers market.

An annual revenue of around EUR 3.5 billion is also what the new entity 20

is expected to gain making it one the 10 largest companies in the country.

This is the third time Topaz has purchased a large oil company as it bought Shell’s Irish operations in 2005 and Statoil’s in 2006.

Commenting on the approval, Chair of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Isolde Goggin said, “Our role in reviewing mergers and acquisitions is to ensure that they do not substantially lessen competition in any market for goods or services in the State.”

The Commission, moreover, directed Topaz to dispose of three Esso service stations in the Dublin area and divest Esso’s 50% share and interest in a sea-fed terminal located at Dublin Port.

The deal took place on December 1st 2015.

Ireland, Ireland to phase out fossil fuel by end of century The White Paper on Energy, published by Ireland’s Minister for Communications and Energy Alex White on December 16 2015, has announced a long-term plan to make the country fossil fuel-free by the end of the century.

The recently released energy policy paper outlines solutions to replace fossil fuels and sets out long term goals for energy use in the country, reported The Irish Times.

White said that currently 92 percent of energy in the country comes from fossil fuels. By 2050, the share of non-carbon and renewable sources would be between 80 per cent and 95 percent, and by the end of the century, Ireland would be fossil fuel-free.

The plan is in line with climate change commitments made by world leaders in Paris last week.

In separate The Irish Times news, Gas Networks Ireland proposed the establishment of 70 filling stations that supply compressed natural gas (CNG) as CNG emits 22% less carbon dioxide than diesel.

Gas Networks Ireland, which operates the first CNG filling station in Cork, also calls for tax incentives to CNG vehicles.

“If Ireland were to convert just half the national bus and HGV fleets to CNG there would be a fuel cost-

saving of €524 million and an emissions saving of 165,000 tonnes of CO2 per year,” told Liam O’Sullivan, Gas Networks Ireland managing director, to the country’s deputies and senators.

Spain, Ballenoil looks to open 32 new gas stations Low-cost operator Ballenoil will open 32 new gas stations in Spain during the next 18 months, hoping to beat the 90-unit mark by 2017.

During the previous six months, Ballenoil has opened 6 new service stations, bringing its Spanish network to 60 sites, informed the company through a press release.

Future inaugurations include 13 new gas stations in Madrid, a further 13 sites in Andalucía (3 in Seville, another three in Málaga, five in Cádiz, and 2 more in Huelva), 5 more located in the Alicante and Valencia areas, and another in Guadalajara.

“We chose these new locations due to geographical and competence reasons. With them we hope to increase our size by 50%.

Our model has been supported by our clients,” said sources from Balleoil´s board.

Spain, Repsol considers selling its entire gas station business Repsol is considering the option of putting its huge fuel retailing network up for sale in order to reduce its debts and pay-off shareholders.

Chief Executive Josu Jon Imaz is willing to sell major parts of the energy giant to balance the books, including its high profile gas station network. According to information from El Confidencial, an important sector of Repsol considers the downstream line of the company “non strategic.”

Suffering the collapse of oil prices, Repsol has already taken steps towards reducing its size, such as putting its Asian oil fields up for sale, as well as assets in Perú and Ecuador.

Repsol has a network of 4,649 service stations, of which 3,585 are located in Spain and account for 46.5% of the market share.

APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

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Germany, Shell commits to 400 hydrogen filling stations in Germany Shell will install a nationwide network of hydrogen fuelling pumps at retail sites in Germany from 2016.

The company, which opened its first hydrogen fuel station in Germany in 2011, has signed a declaration of intent with joint venture partners and Germany’s federal transport minister, Alexander Dobrindt. It will lead to hydrogen fuelling pumps being available at around 400 locations across the country by 2023.

In Germany, Shell is part of a joint venture called H2 Mobility Deutschland, between Air Liquide, Daimler, Linde, OMV, Shell and Total, which has an aim to progress the commercialisation of hydrogen.

“Hydrogen-fuelled electric vehicles could play a key part in a low-carbon, low-emission, future” said Oliver Bishop, general manager of hydrogen at Shell. “It will take technical innovation and bold policies to transform the global energy system into a progressively cleaner, less carbon-intensive one.

H2 Mobility Germany shows what we can achieve through close collaboration between governments and business. The next step is for consumers to embrace this opportunity and consider buying hydrogen vehicles as they become available.”

Shell currently operates three hydrogen stations in Germany, including one in Berlin and two in Hamburg. Shell anticipates the first four new fuelling points will be installed at existing retail sites in

Frankfurt, Wuppertal, Geisingen and Wendingen.

The pumps at these sites will refuel hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) in a few minutes. The cost of charging a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is comparable to filling a car with gasoline or diesel and they can travel similar distances to vehicles with conventional combustion engines.

Shell has another two demonstration hydrogen filling stations in Los Angeles that allow the company to evaluate a range of technologies, drive down costs and better understand consumer behaviour.

The company announced it would be introducing hydrogen filling stations at three sites in the UK, in collaboration with ITM Power.

Shell said it is assessing the potential for more stations in the USA, UK, Switzerland, Austria, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Spain, Cepsa unveils its new modern service station design Cepsa, a leading Spanish fuel retailer, presented its new model for its service stations in Las Palmas yesterday, revealing a new, modern outdoor design built with high-tech materials.

After months of construction, the new Cepsa service station ‘La Esmeralda’ reflects the company´s new model of efficiency and sustainability, according to Cepsa.

The modern design of the service station reveals a new roof, supported by a technologically advanced structure that helps to drain water, as well as the smaller canopies above the petrol pumps that improve lighting.

Cepsa developed high-tech materials for the new design including the ETFE cushion shaped roof (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene), a very strong transparent polymer that remains stable with changes in temperature.

The ETFE also allows for a better use of natural light, reducing energy consumption. Additionally, all of the service stations have LED lighting, which reflects the energy efficiency plan at the company’s service stations.

The new service station model

forms part of Cepsa’s new positioning project. The company currently has more than 1,700 service stations across Spain and Portugal.

Armenia, Russia’s Rosneft buys Armenia’s petrol market Russian state oil giant Rosneft has acquired Armenia-based gas station chain Petrol Market for $40 million, reported Arka News Agency.

Rosneft finalised the deal acquiring 100% share of Petrol Market in August 2015, detailed a news am report.

Petrol Market owns and operates a network of 22 gas stations and three tank farms in Armenia.

According to a separate report by Interfax Russia, the deal is in line with Rosneft’s plans to expand its presence in the Caucasus and Central Asian markets.

Rosneft, the largest oil and gas company in Russia, lists state-owned Rosneftegaz as its main shareholder owning 65% of the company and BP which controls a 19.75% stake.

Dubai, First 7-Eleven store in Middle East opens in Dubai Popular US c-store chain 7-Eleven inaugurated its first store in the Middle East in Dubai last October, reported the Gulf Business News.

The new 2,000 square foot store is located at Bay Square, Building #4, near downtown Dubai and the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa Tower, according to PRNewswire.com.

Operated by Seven Emirates Investment LLC, the store offers 2,500 products consisting of popular 7Eleven brands and fresh-daily foods that suit local palates.

“Guests to this store can find 7Eleven favourites like Slurpee® and Big Gulp® beverages, fresh foods and high-quality, value-priced 7Select™ snacks,” said Chris Tanco, 7-Eleven executive vice president and head of International.

Arabian, Indian, and Asian treats such as rice balls, samosas, curries, hummus, orange date muffins, and Umm Ali are also available in the store.

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El Confidencial explains Imaz is weighing up different options to selloff their downstream business. The board would be considering three options: selling to another operator, to an investment fund or launching an initial public offering (IPO).

Repsol has suffered some major set-backs in recent months other than low oil prices. In June this year, Spain´s National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC in its Spanish acronym) imposed a €22.6 million fine (USD 25.1m) on Repsol for anti-competitive practices.

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It also offers other amenities, which include an ATM, a photocopying machine, and an area where customers can eat and recharge their mobile devices.

The store is expected to be franchised after the infrastructure that supports 7-Eleven stores is fully developed, which includes partnerships with third party suppliers.

A second 7-Eleven store in Dubai is also in the works as Seven Emirates plans to open another one in upscale Dubai Marina neighbourhood in December.

Malta, Gas station owners receive € 242,000 compensation

NEWS

Owners of a gas station in Malta, which had been banned from allowing customers to pay at the counter if they had automatic pumps, have been handed €242,000 in damages for loss of sales.

According to the owners Hompesch Petrol Station of Zabbar, energy company Enemalta forced the previous owners to install fullyautomatic pumps, which proved to be less popular among drivers in Malta.

During the first years the owners allowed customers to fill-up and pay at the counter, which saw their sales increase significantly. However, Enemalta started to counter such actions by threatening operators with lower commissions or having fewer opening hours, reported Malta Today.

According to the former owners of the station, the introduction of automatic pumps resulted in a decrease in sales of 1,955 litres of fuel per day, which translated into €32,700 per year. Hence they said that over a seven-year period they had suffered €242,000 in lost sales.

Now the court has ordered Enemalta, the Malta Resources Authority, the Energy Ministry and the GRTU to pay the owners €242,000 in damages.

China, Chinese company acquires KMGI, plans to open 2,000 gas stations China has taken a huge leap into 24

the European fuel retailing market after CEFC China Energy Company Ltd agreed to acquire 51% of KMG International (KMGI), which owns over 1,000 gas stations in the continent, reported Reuters.

The agreement was signed between CEFC and KazMunayGaz, Kazakhstan state oil and gas giant and parent company of KMGI, as part of an agreement package of deals worth around $4 billion, reported Reuters.

KMGI has around 1,000 gas stations across Europe, with most of them operating in the Eastern corner under the Rompetrol brand. They have also controlled the Dyneff brand since 2005, which operates in Spain and France and was sold to CEFC last October.

According to Reuters, the Chinese company plans to invest billions to expand the retail network to more than 3,000 gas stations.

The deal was part of a larger agreement to exchange and acquire assets in sectors including oil and gas, telecommunications and nuclear power, as China tries to invest in the development of the Silk Road and the European fuelling industry.

Other important KMGI assets include 100,000 barrels per day refinery and 400,000 tonnes per year fertilizer plant in Romania.

It is still unclear if CEFC will be more interested in the downstream or upstream segments of KMGI. However, their declared intentions of expanding the gas station network reveal a special interest in the fuel retailing sector.

Qatar, Qatar Fuel to launch new gas pump model to ease station build-up State-owned Qatar Fuel (Woqod) will introduce a new type of gas dispensing machine that allows a vehicle to refuel regardless of its tank’s location, reported Doha News.

Since most vehicles in Qatar have the tank on the left side, the left bay of gas stations is usually congested while lines are shorter for vehicles with tanks on the right side.

The new pumps, which have hoses on top and are already being used in other countries, promise to de-

clog traffic at gas stations, reported menafn.com.

To further solve station congestion, Woqod is also planning to introduce an e-payment system called ‘Fill and Go’ by the end of the year, disclosed chairman Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani.

The automatic payment will link the vehicle plate number and the owner’s mobile number allowing consumers to monitor purchases and manage spending.

Woqod also plans to open more gasoline stations to meet the growing demand. Forty stations were set to be opened by the middle of 2015 and 150 stations by 2022.

India, Diesel cars banned in New Delhi India’s Supreme Court has imposed a temporary ban on large diesel cars in New Delhi as a measure to curb worsening air pollution in the capital, ranked as the world’s worst in a 2014 World Health Organisation (WHO) survey.

Chief Justice T.S. Thakur ordered the ban on registration of new vehicles with engine capacity of two litres or more affecting sport utility vehicles, jeeps, and other luxury cars in Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region.

The ban will take effect until March 31, 2016. The court also prohibited trucks, especially those which are more than 10 years old, from passing through the city.

“Diesel vehicles of 2,000cc and above and SUVs are generally used by more affluent sections of our society and, because of the higher engine capacity, are more prone to causing higher levels of pollution. A ban on registration of such vehicles will not affect the common man or the average citizen of Delhi,” the court said.

In line with this, light commercial vehicles are exempted “on account of the dependence of the public on such vehicles for supply of essentials”, the court further said in a report published by The Times of India.

The Supreme Court decision has raised concerns among carmakers like Daimler AMG’s Mercedes-Benz which considers that such a ban would “severely impact” growth plans and future investment in India,

APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

reported Reuters.

India’s top carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra also saw its shares fall following the ban. Nonetheless, Mahindra’s chairman Ananda Mahindra said the company would honour the court decision.

The era of illegality is gone,” added the DPR engineer.

Meanwhile, around the city of Lagos motorists have been suffering severe fuel shortages, with huge queues forming around any gas stations with fuel available.

India, Essar, RIL capture 3% of India’s fuel market

Nigeria, Hoarding gas stations forced to give free fuel

A year after India decided to stop regulating diesel prices, private operators Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and Essar Oil Ltd have managed to capture 3% of the country´s fuel retailing market.

Subsidized diesel prices made it almost impossible for private retailers to compete against state-owned operators, according to online newspaper Live Mint. The drop in fuel prices due to the collapsed oil market has seen diesel become 18% cheaper, increasing the demand and benefiting private retailers.

RIL and Essar Oil currently operate 1,400 and 1,700 gas stations, respectively, which are similar figures to that of 2003-04, before the government implemented the heavy subsidies which shrank their businesses.

Essar Oil´s chairman Prashant Ruia said India´s second largest private oil firm plans to more than triple its network of gas stations to 5,000 by the end of 2016.

Fifteen gas stations, which were caught hoarding petroleum products in the Nigerian state of Akwa Ibom, were ordered by the country’s Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to dispense fuel free of charge, reported ynajia.com.

The erring gas stations located in Uyo, Eket, Mbo, Oron, Abak, and Ikot Ekpene were also guilty of selling fuel above the governmentapproved pump price.

“They buy these products at the approved ex-depot price of N77.66 and some lifted from NNPC at the approved price, but turn around and sell at N170 per litres. It is not acceptable; they must sell at the government approved retail price of N87 per litre,” said Asuquo Antai, DPR Operations Controller, Akwa Ibom and Cross River.

In a separate report by the Daily Trust, a gas station in the Kaduna state was also found hoarding 19,500 litres of fuel and selling above the approved pump price. It was closed down and ordered to distribute the hoarded fuel for free to motorists.

Nigeria is currently facing aggravating fuel scarcity causing long queues at gas stations or leaving consumers at the mercy of black marketers’ exorbitant oil prices.

Nigeria, DPR shuts 6 gas stations for selling above price Nigeria´s Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has shut down 6 gas stations in Minna in an effort to tackle marketers selling fuel above pump price.

“Some petrol stations in Minna are not selling petroleum product at the government approved price while those who claim to be selling at the approved price have adjusted their pump,” told a DPR engineer to Daily Times.

After decades of independent fuel retailers setting their own prices, legally or illegally, the DPR is toughening their stance as they try to impose the government set fuel prices.

“If you are not ready to do business in line with the guidelines, leave and go into another business.

Nigeria, Boko Haram attempts to blow up a crowded gas station A member of Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram was arrested by Nigeria’s Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) before he could blow himself up in a crowded gas station in the Borno state capital of Maiduguri, reported the Daily Post Nigeria.

The suicide bomber, who was pretending to buy fuel, had attempted to stab one of the boys controlling the crowd after the latter

prevented him from entering with a gallon.

“In the process, a member of the Civilian JTF noticed that the bomb was tied round him and he quickly grabbed him before he made any attempt to detonate it,” recounted Garba Hussain in an interview with the Daily Post Nigeria.

The incident took place on December 1st at an unnamed station, where more than 500 people and 100 cars were in waiting in line to refuel.

“We did not hear what he was saying until we heard “bomb! bomb!!” then everybody began to run away. They said he was carrying bomb. For me, I took to my heels when I saw people running. I don’t associate myself with crowds since Boko Haram started bombing people. But this one would have been another catastrophe,” Mohammed Umar told the Daily Post Nigeria.

Gas stations, plagued with long queues due to persisting fuel shortage in the country, have been a common target for the terrorist group that pledged allegiance to Daesh or the self-proclaimed Islamic State.

Vietnam, Vietnam encourages operators to sell ethanol-based fuel Vietnam´s Industry and Trade Ministry will take steps to ensure supply of E5 grade biofuel for the domestic market from November.

Deputy Minister Do Thang Hai said state officials will have to encourage gas station operators to sell 5% ethanol-based E5 fuel, as well as promoting the product among customers, reported Vietnam News.

Vietnam currently has seven factories capable of producing ethanol, with four of them being able to meet E5 fuel standards. The other three still need improvements in order to meet those standards, announced the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

There are three fuel retailers capable of selling E5 fuel: Viet Nam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), the Viet Nam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex), and PetroVietnam Oil Corporation (PV Oil).

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USA, Shell opens new liquefied natural gas (LNG) station in California

NEWS

The new station, located in Santa Nella, California, is part of a partnership between Shell and TA which started in 2012 and focuses on the creation on LNG fuelling stations, reported Trucking Info.

This is the second project they have carried out in California, and it follows the opening of LNG fuelling sites in Texas and Louisiana earlier this year.

“I am excited by the progress we have made in developing the LNG fueling network in the U.S.,” said Elen Phillips, Shell’s vice president fuel sales and marketing for North America. “LNG is a viable fuel option for truck owners and more are making the switch to LNG.” As the demand for LNG grows in the United States, Shell and TA plan to open more stations in various states.

“Shell is committed to developing LNG as a fuel option for marine and road transport, and we continue to look at supply opportunities in the region in balance with demand,” said Christian Buelow, Shell’s general manager of downstream LNG for the Americas.

USA, Republic Services to switch its truck fleet to CNG Nationwide, Republic Services is one of the most active CNG users with a fleet of more than 2,200 CNG vehicles and 38 fuelling stations.

According to the company, its efforts to switch to alternative energy roughly save 18 million gallons of diesel fuel annually.

“These new vehicles support our efforts to reduce carbon emissions from our fleet vehicles,” said Ron Krall, area president of Republic Services. “It means that almost 200 of our collection vehicles serving the Gardena and surrounding areas are fueled by CNG, which aligns with Republic’s long-term sustainability strategy.”

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), each new CNG collection truck deployed is equivalent to planting over 600 mature trees each 28

year.

Republic Services, an industry leader in U.S. recycling and nonhazardous solid waste, was among the top companies in the CDP S&P 500 Climate Change Report 2015, which selects companies for their ‘green’ efforts.

USA, 39,000 natural gas fuelling stations expected by 2025 The global number of natural gas fuelling stations is expected to grow to almost 39,000 by 2025, according to a report by Navigant Research.

Reduced operational costs and abundant supply could be the key factors behind a boosted natural gas market for vehicles. According to the recent study, today´s 23,001 liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) stations, could increase to up to 28,887 in a ten year period.

“In the arena of alternative fuels for transportation, natural gas has proven to be one of the most popular alternatives to traditional liquid fuels in many global markets, either in the form of CNG or LNG, with the former being by far the more common,” said Sam Abuelsamid, Senior Research Analyst with Navigant Research.

“However, in order for any alternative to gasoline or diesel to be viable as a transportation fuel, readily available refuelling infrastructure is an absolutely necessary component of the ecosystem,” he added.

The report finds that the development of a national market also depends on government policies towards alternative fuels.

Either governments or automotive manufacturers will have to help reluctant filling station operators with the costs of installing natural gas dispensers and adapting existing infrastructure.

USA, Florida, Wawa to open 120 stores in South Florida Wawa is planning to launch 120 stores or more in South Florida between 2017 and 2022, reported the CSP Daily News. The first ones will open in Palm Beach and Broward counties, with Miami-Dade County to follow in 2018.

Currently, there are 79 Wawa stores in the Sunshine State, the first of which opened in Orlando in 2012.

“Our plan was always to have a presence across most of the state,” said Chris Gheysens, Wawa’s president and chief executive, in an interview with the Sun Sentinel.

The Wawa, Pennsylvania-based cstore chain currently owns and operates more than 700 stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Florida.

Wawa was recently awarded by Convenience Store News as Retail Innovator of the Year for its application of technological innovations in its stores, reported the Sun Sentinel.

Touch screens, where customers can choose their orders and select ingredients, and their popular fresh food offerings are what customers can expect from the South Florida stores.

The expansion is also expected to create jobs with each store hiring about 40 part-time and full-time employees offering them a health plan and a chance to participate in the company’s stock ownership plan.

USA, Phillips 66 to invest US $170 million in fuel marketing next year Phillips 66 plans to invest throughout next year US $170 million for growth and sustaining capital as part of its continued plans “to expand and enhance its fuel marketing business”, the company said in a press released published December 5.

“Our plans for significant growth in enterprise value are supported by our 2015 capital budget and our commitment to a 60/40 ratio of reinvestment to distributions,” chairman and CEO Greg Garland was quoted as saying in the statement.

Of that amount, $78 million is sustaining capital and $92 million is growth capital, the company said.

An additional $1.1 billion will go in capital expenditures in refining, the company said. Part of the refining spending will be used to meet new fuel specifications, the company added.

The total 2015 investment

APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

announced for all areas of Phillips 66, including Natural Gas Liquids, transportation and petrochemicals, is $4.6 billion. When joint investments with Chevron Phillips Chemical

Company and WRB Refining are included, the total capital program rises up to $6.8 billion, it said.

Phillips 66 markets fuels under the brands Phillips 66, Conoco and 76 in

America. In Europe, the company sells primarily under the Jet brand in the UK, Austria and Germany as well as the Coop brand in Switzerland, the company said in its web page.

UNITI expo trade fair marketed all over the world

companies. The response to our presence was positive across the board. We welcomed numerous new faces to our stand, but also many visitors that had been at the UNITI expo in 2014 and were looking forward to the 2016 event. All in all, a clear indication that our efforts to attract prominent visitors are paying off.”

exhibitors that despite their current problems, viewed in the long-term, Russia and the GUS states are a strategically important market. Our aim is therefore to personally invite the top visitors from these markets to the UNITI expo; and Autocomplex is an ideal platform to do just that.”

As the leading European trade fair of the industry, the second UNITI expo will be opening its doors from 14 to 16 June 2016 in Stuttgart to inform the retail petroleum and car wash sectors of the latest products, trends and market developments.

Marketing is working flat out in the run-up to the event, as ultimately many high-profile national and international trade visitors are expected to return in 2016.

Top decision makers and trade visitors from all over the world were part of the success factor for UNITI expo 2014. “Success depends on international participation. UNITI expo has consequently become a well-known name overnight,” summed up Dr. Max F. Krawinkel of PWM. To once again attract an international trade clientele to the trade fair in 2016, the organisers have arranged a global marketing campaign together with numerous media partners and in cooperation with international associations. In addition, the UNITI expo team members are presenting the trade fair at important industry events around the globe. The following is a brief presentation of four of these events.

NACS Show in the USA In October, UNITI expo representatives participated in the NACS Show. Every year the trade fair organised by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), the Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI), and the Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMAA) gathers well over 20,000 trade visitors from more than 70 countries. The NACS Show is consequently the most important trade fair for the convenience and retail petroleum sectors in the United States. Our UNITI expo team grasped this opportunity to present the leading European trade fair in the industry to the American public in Las Vegas, Nevada. The interest was great and the organisers have already registered twice as many American exhibitors as was previously the case. They also anticipate a significant increase in the number of trade visitors from the U.S. for the 2016 event in Germany.

PetroForum in South Africa and Oman UNITI expo kicked off 2015 by installing a stand at the PetroForum event in Johannesburg in March.

The second PetroForum event which UNITI participated in took place in Oman in September. Both events were visited by prominent representatives from the oil industry and attracted primary decision makers from the respective regions.

Bruno Boroewitsch, co-founder of the UNITI expo and responsible for international marketing, explained: “These conferences are very interesting from our perspective because they provide us with the opportunity to approach top decision makers in the oil

Autocomplex in Russia In Russia, too, UNITI expo has become a crucial date in the industry calendar, with Russian trade visitors representing the fourth largest visitor group at the 2014 trade fair. In order to show Russian industry professionals the new features of UNITI expo 2016, the organization was strongly represented at Autocomplex – the flagship retail petroleum trade fair in Russia. In addition to the UNITI expo stand at the trade fair, the organization held a presentation as part of the conference programme.

Ben Boroewitsch, responsible for exhibitor marketing at UNITI expo, explained why Autocomplex plays such a key role: “I know from our

APEA Live in the UK November then saw the UNITI team attend APEA Live in the United Kingdom, again with an exhibitor stand.

The exhibition and conference one-day event is one of the most important forecourt equipment events in Europe. A venue where every year internationally recognised experts give talks on key technology and market developments.

Numerous discussions with interested parties took place at the UNITI expo stand, confirming that the international trade clientele hold the trade fair in high esteem; primarily for bringing under one roof a broad range of exhibitors that covers every area in terms of retail petroleum and consequently provides a comprehensive overview of the market. In this respect, UNITI expo is not only the biggest retail petroleum and car wash trade fair in Europe, but is also unique within the sector.

Many trade visitors also welcome the international alignment and excellent accessibility of the UNITI expo, which is held directly across from Stuttgart Airport. As such, not only is the inbound journey comfortable and fast, but the visit to the trade fair is managed with a high level of efficiency.

This year too, interested parties will once again be able to acquire direct information on the UNITI expo at a whole host of events. For example, in March the team will be visiting PetroForum Asia in Bangkok (Thailand) and will participate in Branschdagen in Stockholm (Sweden) in April. Trade visitors can also register now for the event free of charge via the website.

Interested exhibitors will find all the relevant information and contacts at www.uniti-expo.com.

APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

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NEWS/PRESS RELEASES

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Topaz Energy Group sold

PRESS RELEASES

In a press release, Couche-Tard said they have signed the agreement to acquire 99.86% of the Topaz Energy Group Limited and of Resource Property Investment Fund plc. The deal also includes Topaz´s recent acquisition, Esso Ireland Limited. Couche-Tard will become the country´s leading fuel retailers after this acquisition.

All parties have agreed to not disclose the purchase price of the acquisition. The transaction is anticipated to close in the fourth quarter of Couche-Tard’s fiscal year 2016 and is subject to the usual regulatory approvals and closing conditions.

“This agreement to acquire Topaz’s network and assets, our second announcement in Europe this year following the Danish Shell deal, would allow us to add yet another high quality network to our operations,” says Brian Hannasch, President & CEO of Couche-Tard.

“We have been looking at this market [Ireland] for several years.

With the addition of Topaz, we would expand our geographic footprint into what, today, is one of Europe’s best performing economies,” added Hannasch.

Topaz is the leading convenience and fuel retailer in the country, made up of 464 stations across the island of Ireland including its recently acquired Esso station network. Of these stations, 162 are owned by Topaz and 302 by dealers. The agreement also encompasses a commercial fuels operation, with over 30 depots and two owned terminals.

The European refining industry (FuelsEurope) launches its “Save more than fuel” campaign The campaign offers ten easy tips to consumers to drive more efficiently, reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

The EU-wide campaign can be found on a dedicated website and has been has been translated into twenty-two official EU languages.

Chris Hunt, UKPIA’s Director 32

General, commented: “These ten easy tips can help motorists reduce fuel consumption and contribute to reducing CO2 emissions and improving air quality.”

For more information, videos and tips, visit http://www.savemorethanfuel.eu/

Clugston Distribution invests in £50,000 fuel island upgrade Clugston Distribution recently commissioned Cameron Forecourt to design a full rebuild of the fuel island at its headquarters in Scunthorpe, for a project worth £50,000.

The rebuild involved the installation of four new fuel pumps, a fuel management system,

approved fuel management units, to provide live data to the webbased fuel monitoring site.

The new facility allows Clugston not only to provide fuel to their own fleet, but also to sell fuel to other linked businesses such as Clugston’s approved sub-contractors.

The web-based Eclipse fuel management system will enable Clugston to monitor the fuel stock in a live capacity, seeing each transaction as it happens, while accessing multiple reports on the status of tank stock.

Other benefits of the system are the ability to see each transaction as it happens; accessing multiple reports on the status of tank stock including low stock and possible leak or theft alarms; and who has taken how much fuel and when.

The Cameron Forecourt Fuel Island at Clugston Distribution

electronics and over 200 metres of associated pipe-works. The pipework section includes leak detection monitors in the underground trench leading to the fuel islands. The new pumps are dispensing at twice the speed compared with the old system and this change has received great feedback from the Clugston drivers.

As part of the build, Cameron Forecourt installed a new weights and measures approved system for a resale refuelling island. This comprised of four C Series Pumptronics Road Diesel Fuel Pumps and two Cameron Eclipse W&M

David Heath, head of logistics at Clugston Distribution, commented, “We were very satisfied with the professional job that Cameron Forecourt did during the rebuild. The future savings and added benefits provided by the Eclipse web-based fuel management system made Cameron Forecourt the logical choice for our Scunthorpe headquarters.”

The Cameron Forecourt on site team maintained a high safety standard throughout the build programme, which fits in well with Clugston’s safety ethos.

Explains Cameron Forecourt sales and marketing director Martyn

APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

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Gent: “We are pleased to have worked closely with Clugston to achieve a fuel management solution that meets their needs. Our expertise in fuelling management can pay dividends for many of our customers very quickly, in both future savings and additional benefits, as seen with this particular system.”

Morrisons to partner with Motor Fuel Group in forecourt convenience pilot Morrisons is to pilot a convenience food offer in five petrol filling station shops owned by Motor Fuel Group (MFG).

The pilot will start by the end of the year and will allow Morrisons to supply branded and own-brand food to the forecourt stores.

The shops, all above 1,200 sq.ft, will be branded Morrisons and will receive deliveries of fresh and ambient food through Morrisons logistics network.

David Potts, Chief Executive of Morrisons, said: “As we said at our recent interim results, we want to 34

consider new opportunities to Serve Customers Better in the convenience market where the capital commitment is low and the Morrisons resourcing is light-touch.

This pilot in Motor Fuel Group filling stations will allow us to trial one opportunity in this growing channel.”

MFG has 373 stations operating under the BP, Shell, Texaco and JET fuel brands. This makes them the second largest independent forecourt operator in the UK.

Wayne Fueling Systems expands fuel management services by reaching agreement to acquire Simmons Sirvey • Wayne to acquire Simmons Sirvey, a business focused on Fuel Management Services and Statistical Inventory Reconciliation.

• Along with the recently announced Vianet acquisition, Simmons will further help Wayne

achieve its strategic goal of becoming a global leader in Fuel Management Services to the retail fuel industry.

• The transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2016.

AUSTIN, TEXAS - December 15, 2015 - Wayne Fueling Systems (“Wayne”), a global provider of fuel dispensing, payment, automation, and control technologies for retail and commercial fuel stations, has announced that they have reached an agreement to acquire Simmons Sirvey (“Simmons”), one of the largest providers of real-time Fuel Management Services (FMS) and traditional Statistical Inventory Reconciliation (SIR) in the retail fueling industry.

Through this agreement, Wayne will acquire all of Simmons’ products and technology solutions including the ClearView™ software which provides real-time fuel monitoring and analytics for fueling station owners; Simmons SIR, an established SIR that meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements for fuel

APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

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Wayne Fueling Systems reaches agreement to acquire Vianet Fuel Solutions, a subsidiary of Vianet Group plc • Vianet plc to divest Fuel Management Services and Construction and Forecourt Services to Wayne.

management services, and actionable data for the leisure and vending sectors, to acquire their fuel management subsidiary.

The UK based Vianet Fuel Solutions Limited (VFS) includes two main product lines as part of the Wayne acquisition: Fuel Management Solutions (FMS) and Construction and Forecourt Services (CFS). FMS is comprised of real-time wet-stock management, asset management and compliance monitoring services. CFS aligns with Wayne’s current UK services business, although provides additional services including forecourt construction, electrical compliance services and tank lining.

“The decision to acquire Vianet Fuel Solutions is a natural fit for the Wayne business as it helps further our goal to offer fuel management capabilities to our customers,” said Neil Thomas, Wayne Chief Executive Officer. “The Vianet business already has existing customers in the UK, has a knowledgeable team, and has competitive and comprehensive Fuel Management solutions which complements our product and services offerings.”

“Over the past two years, VFS has made significant commercial progress and has established a strong reputation in the UK forecourt sector. This transaction recognizes the value which has been created,” noted James Dickson, Chairman of Vianet Group plc. “Whilst it will be sad to say farewell to the VFS team, I am pleased that there is a great fit with Wayne who will take VFS to the

next stage of development and growth in a competitive landscape increasingly dominated by major global players such as Wayne.”

The closure of the acquisition is anticipated to occur in first quarter of 2016.

PLX close fit goes large Durapipe UK is expanding its specialist fuel conveyance system, PLX, with the addition of larger diameter sizes to its close-fit range, offering customers further flexibility when specifying pipework for forecourt applications.

Launched in response to market demand for a large bore, dual contained close-fit pipe, the new sizes have been introduced to offer a more compact and streamlined pipe system for the fill and vent aspect of forecourt installations.

Currently available in sizes up to 63#75, PLX Close-Fit has been expanded to include two new sizes; 90#110 and 110#125, helping to significantly reduce the time it takes to install the product.

While PLX already offers a dual contained pipe-in-pipe option in larger diameters, a need was identified to produce large bore close-fit pipe for fill and vent applications that have less space and require a smaller, more compact system. The lighter nature of PLX Close-Fit also makes it easier to handle on site, aiding installation when fitting the pipe in confined spaces.

• Fuel management subsidiary of Vianet aligns with Wayne’s strategy to develop fuel management capabilities.

• The transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2016.

AUSTIN, TEXAS - December 8, 2015 - Wayne Fueling Systems (“Wayne”), a global provider of fuel dispensing, payment, automation, and control technologies for retail and commercial fuel stations, has announced that they have reached an agreement with Vianet Group plc, a leading provider of real-time monitoring systems, data APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

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reconciliation; an Underwriters Laboratory (UL) certified wet-stock measurement probe; and other hardware components that are used in the tank monitoring and FMS process.

“We are excited to reach this agreement with Simmons,” noted Wayne Chief Executive Officer, Neil Thomas. “Coupled with our recently announced Vianet Fuel Solutions acquisition which also provides fuel management services, Simmons will help complete Wayne’s vision of providing a comprehensive fuel management solution to our customers around the world.”

“We’re pleased to divest our products and services to a company with such a robust history of retail fuel innovation,” said Myra Canterbury, Simmons President.

“We’re confident that the technologies developed by Simmons will fit well into Wayne’s portfolio and will have a very strong future.”

The closure of the acquisition is anticipated to occur in first quarter of 2016.

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Commenting on the range expansion, David Naylor, PLX brand manager, said: “We continually review our product portfolio and seek industry feedback to ensure we are offering a product range that meets customers’ needs. With more efficient operations being sought in all areas of forecourt applications, we have been asked for a large diameter version of our popular PLX close-fit product.

“Our close-fit option already offers time and cost saving advantages to the installer, while the larger diameter pipe can now save considerable space compared with pipe-in-pipe options.”

Durapipe PLX is a below ground pipework product range specifically developed to fulfil the application needs of the forecourt market. The PLX range consists of both single wall and dual contained pipe and fittings and is purpose-designed for the safe transfer of liquid fuels and their vapours. Providing exceptional resistance to rapid crack propagation and long term stress cracking, PLX comprises a protective liner, which increases permeation resistance against many types of fuel blends ensuring there is no permeation of fuel through the pipe wall into the environment.

For further information on Durapipe PLX or any other products within the Durapipe UK portfolio please call 01543 279909 or log onto www.plxpipe.co.uk.

A leading manufacturer of plastic pipework solutions, Durapipe UK has seen its systems successfully installed for building services and industrial applications in projects worldwide for 60 years.

Durapipe UK is a proud member of the British Plastics Federation (BPF) Plastic Pipes Group (PPG), the leading trade association representing manufacturers and material suppliers of plastic piping systems in the UK. PPG Member companies have a responsibility to the industry to ensure products manufactured meet the needs of the application they are intended for, in addition PPG members fully support compliance with standards so installers and end users can assume BPF membership is a sign of quality 36

assurance and compliance with these standards.

Hytek Diesel Alpha Pumps approved to ATEX directive The ATEX Directive 94/9/EC is a European directive which ensures that any products sold in the EU and intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres are fit for purpose and the use of which will not result in an explosion hazard.

An explosive atmosphere occurs where there is a mix of a flammable substance (e.g. petrol vapour), heat and air in normal atmospheric conditions. If one of these isn’t present – no air for example - there isn’t a risk.

On 1st June 2015 the temperatures at which certain liquids become “hazardous” were revised in the CLP regulation. This meant that diesel, which was previously considered to be fairly safe with regard to ignition, has now been reclassified to be treated as flammable in a similar

way to petrol, although it is still accepted that petrol has a higher risk of ignition.

Cabinet fuel pumps used for dispensing diesel, such as the Hytek Alpha, require ATEX certification due to the possibility that diesel could leak unnoticed inside the cabinet.

Ignition of diesel can only occur when it is heated to a high enough temperature for it to vaporise as it is only diesel vapour which can ignite, not the liquid itself. This could occur as result of diesel leaking onto a hot motor for example.

ATEX approved versions of the Hytek Alpha Diesel pump are available, including pumps with “Right”, “Left” or “Front” nozzle positions to suit any installation configuration and the twin range of pumps that has two pump units and meters, housed in one stainless steel rust free cabinet.

For more information on our Alpha pump range, please email us at info@hytekgb.com or call +44 (0) 1279 815 600.

APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

OPW’s Aqueous Ethanol Float Sensor Offers Sites Defence against Phase Separation OPW and a global leader in fluid handling solutions, is proud to introduce the Aqueous Ethanol Float (AEF) Sensor that delivers industry-leading detection of water in fuel storage tanks for the prevention of fuel contamination.

It takes as little as 40 gallons of water in 10,000 gallons of E10 gasoline for the ethanol to become saturated to the point that it can no longer be suspended, and falls out of the gasoline and settles at the bottom of the tank.

This condition is known as phase separation.

Fuel that has undergone phase separation can

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PRESS RELEASES

cause significant damage to vehicle engines.

“Water is the enemy of fuel.

Contaminated fuel causes serious damage to engines, which is not only expensive to repair, but poses a significant customer loyalty issue for fuel marketers,” said Pete Neil, Automatic Tank Gauging Business Development Manager at OPW Fuel Management Systems.

OPW’s AEF Sensor, which can monitor ethanol blends ranging from E10 to E85, detects product density fluctuations at the bottom of the tank in real time. If the sensor detects density fluctuations, the sensor will first signal the tank gauge to activate a warning, followed by an alarm, which will initiate a motor shutdown. Programmable density thresholds enable operators to address phase separation before contaminated fuel is distributed and fuel inventory is ruined, allowing them to make adjustments in a time frame that offers maximum operational uptime.

Many fuel sites that utilize competing aqueous ethanol detection devices are challenged by false phase separation alarms.

OPW’s AEF Sensor provides realtime, temperature-corrected product density readings, which helps to prevent false phase separation alarms.

“Imagine adding fuel from a hot delivery tanker on a 100-degree day to a much cooler below-ground storage tank. These temperature swings affect the density of the fuel and can cause false phase separation alarms. OPW’s AEF Sensor net-corrects for the thermal changes and eliminates false phase separation alarms,” Neil said.

Berrys EROS reaches milestone in Malaysia Berrys Technologies has reached a milestone with its EROS (Easy Riser) Vent system with the 3,000th unit having recently been sold into Malaysia. The EROS was brought to the UK market in 2004 and since its inception has been specified by 95% of the UK market.

The EROS system allows the vent pipe for fuel storage tanks to be hinged and the vent pipe brought down to a height on the forecourt where the maintenance operative 38

Berrys EROS in action - bringing valve changing down to earth

can easily inspect or change the pressure vacuum valve without the need to work at height. The EROS system has been hailed by the HSE (Health & Safety Executive) as a major contributor to decreased incidents of injury associated with working at height. From an

operations perspective the EROS can be operated by the nominated maintenance company or even site personnel if required.

The costs and time normally associated with the annual inspection of the pressure vacuum (PV) valve are completely

APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

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Dover completes acquisition of Tokheim dispenser and systems businesses

Jump, Liquip) of category-leading brands outside the North American market.

“OPW’s goal is to bring the very best solutions to our customers in all regions of the world,” said Keith Moye, OPW VP of Global Marketing.

“Our combined product portfolio now comprises the industry’s broadest product offering, enabling us to bring a more complete solution to our customers.”

OPW’s deployment of this unique end-to-end solution strategy encourages customers to select and customize a fueling system from OPW’s full line of underground storage tank equipment, piping and containment systems, and above ground products – including the newly acquired line of Tokheim dispensers and automation systems – fulfilling almost every equipment need for a fueling station, while utilizing just one supplier.

To learn more, visit: http://www.opwglobal.com/opwretail-fueling/tokheim-microsite#.

ZVA Slimline 2 Technical Modifications Elaflex ZVA Slimline 2 nozzles are now supplied with a modified shape.

The nozzle body now has a lip (1) to reinforce the integrated Diesel Drip Catcher safeguarding its function even if the nozzle is exposed to rough handling. This improvement also enhances the fit of the scuffguard and coloured product sleeve.

A new notch position (2) on the spout optimises fixation to larger filler necks on vans and light commercial vehicles during refuelling.

Within the modular system of the ZVA Slimline 2 nozzle these parts are fully backwards compatible.

ELAFLEX LTD Contact: Anton Martiniussen Tel: 01992 452 950 E-Mail: sales@elaflex.co.uk www.elaflex.uk

PRESS RELEASES

eliminated, thereby ensuring a quick return of investment in year one. The EROS is offered in three variants; 2”, 3” and the “cranked” (off set) design, which allows installation close to a boundary or building but “cranks” the vent and PV valve away from the boundary and back into the forecourt zone.

The EROS is used globally by various oil companies and supermarket groups as well as being on the Shell Global Design Specification as standard equipment for both new builds and existing sites. EROS has been installed in a number of countries across Europe, the Middle East and Asia and in Australia and South Africa with constant interest from new territories almost on a daily basis.

Acquisition expands OPW’s and Tokheim’s market reach and product offerings to deliver the industry’s only single source end-toend fuel site solutions.

January 7, 2016 – OPW, a Dover Company (NYSE: DOV) and a global leader in fluid-handling solutions, announced that Dover Corporation has completed the acquisition of Tokheim Group S.A.S.’s dispenser and systems businesses and they are now part of OPW. Tokheim is a leading manufacturer of fuel dispensers, retail automation systems and payment solutions. With a presence in Europe, Middle East, Africa, South America and AsiaPacific, Tokheim is one of the most recognized brands in the retail fueling industry.

“Both Tokheim and OPW have been leaders in the retail fueling industry for more than a century,” said David Crouse, OPW President.

“By integrating Tokheim’s advanced line of dispensers and automation systems, the combined business will be able to offer our customers an unparalleled end-to-end fueling solution.”

Tokheim is the fifth major acquisition for OPW in the past twoand-a-half years, and matches previous acquisitions (Fibrelite, KPS, APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

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Forecourt Equipment Federation (FEF) produce a guidance document on the use of mobile phones on petrol forecourts The FEF is a UK based organisation which was originally formed to represent the manufacturers of all aspects of retail fuel delivery equipment; this also includes companies that provide service and ancillary equipment to the downstream fuel market.

The objectives of the FEF are as follows: • To provide a forum for senior management to share and exchange information and promote a spirit of co-operation.

ARTICLES

• To represent its members in interacting with other bodies and lobbying on industry issues: covering legislation, standards, quality, innovations, education, technical, safety and environmental issues.

• To maintain a broad monitoring role of developments in the fuel delivery process.

• To provide a technical forum for the industry and to filter appropriate issues to members through its technical committee.

• To provide market and market share data to members.

• To handle media/PR issues on behalf of its members. And to be an authoritative voice on issues that affect its members.

To this end the FEF have recently produced guidance for the use of mobile phones on forecourts; this technology is already in use with the in car payment app. introduced recently by Shell Oil UK Limited and will no doubt develop over a short space of time so inevitably we will see the introduction of other types of payment options using mobile technology. The advice is as follows: We have entered a world of contactless payment and online payment; a world where a large percentage of the population carry 40

a mobile device which can perform significantly more than just make phone calls. It is hardly surprising that some of this technology is heading towards petrol filling stations, and is becoming available at the pump.

Mention the use of mobile phones near petrol pumps, and the conversation quickly turns to explosions, and whether it is really possible to ignite petrol with a radio signal. Followed by the discussion on the risks associated with the phone vibrate function, the backlight switching on, and the risk of the battery falling out and sparking as it hits the floor. Plus of course reference to various video clips available on the internet, including the one which demonstrates how to ignite a dash of petrol using a mobile phone, a frying pan, cotton wool, and some crumpled tin foil.

(The FEF would advise not to try this at home).

Many within the industry also understand that the prime risks of using mobile phones on a petrol filling station are those associated with distraction, for example the motorist not paying full attention whilst refuelling, or not paying attention to moving vehicles, whether it results in them filling their shoes with petrol, or being hit by a moving car.

For many years, petrol pumps in the UK have carried a warning sign indicating not to use mobile phones on the forecourt. So now the industry is potentially heading to a position where the public will be encouraged to use their mobile phone/device just a short distance away from the very same warning sign. So how can that suddenly be ok?

In the absence of any other UK guidance on the subject of payment at the pump using some of the “21st Century” payment methods, the FEF opted to create its own guide: www.fef.org.uk/. The intention is that this will help manufacturers, installers and operators of such payment systems

in performing their own risk assessments.

We have seen some internet articles which simply dismiss the explosion risks associated with the use of mobile phones on forecourts.

The FEF does not take this approach.

The FEF do not endorse the use of any non-explosion protected devices within potentially explosive atmospheres – but what we have done is spend considerable time in conjunction with the European Trade Association, CECOD, working on a careful review of the hazardous areas which are likely to exist before, during and after dispensing fuel into a vehicle. Most other existing UK guidance has only focused on the explosion safety requirements for fixed electrical equipment on forecourts – effectively looking at the overall average periods for which vapour may be present.

The FEF guide also brings to the attention of the reader additional distraction risks which payment at the pump with a mobile device may bring, and possible steps that could be taken to reduce these risks. These include performing an assessment of phone signal coverage on the site prior to purchasing/installing a system which requires such communication, or to avoid the use of an application where the motorist would be targeted with advertisements on their mobile device whilst refuelling.

The FEF does not in any way endorse that it is now ok to make calls or use a mobile device whilst dispensing fuel. We believe that the FEF guidance does not conflict with anything currently written in the Blue Book or the Red Guide, and that all current guidance on the use of mobile phones on petrol filling stations remains valid.

Just the icon of a mobile phone with a red cross through it may need a little more explanation to the general public.

Some extracts from the FEF guidance: Whilst it is difficult to predict the type of systems which will be introduced, the Code of Practice relates to payment by mobile devices based upon: • Barcode/QR code scanning.

APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

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• Bluetooth, near field communications, RFID, or similar radio signal based systems.

• Communications with a remote host by phone call, text message, email, or applications (Apps).

The Code of Practice aims to provide guidance to promote: • safe system designs which continue to acknowledge the safety considerations that the current mobile phone warnings on fuel dispensers address today; • that the use of any additional equipment is compliant with all relevant regulatory requirements; • that any modifications to existing dispensers ensure their continued compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements;

• to highlight some areas for consideration in the design of systems, beyond those related to public safety.

Existing industry guidance on attended site operation, and unmanned site operation, remains valid and must be consulted.

Early systems in other parts of the world have exhibited problems. It is important that systems’ designers consider carefully: • How to clearly define which dispenser will be involved in the transaction.

• How to deal with motorists moving to a different dispenser.

• How to deal transactions.

with

any

zero

• How to deal with any “nozzle fumbling” during grade selection.

• Consider timeouts at the end of a transaction to prevent the next motorist’s transaction being charged.

• Systems should provide facilities or data that assists in resolving disputes. Consideration should be made as to what logs may need to be kept, and where, as disputes are more likely to occur at some significant time after a transaction took place.

With the combination of advice and joined up thinking from the FEF, APEA, Energy Institute, PRA etc. we are sure that the correct solutions and procedures will be found.

ARTICLES

Introducing the APEA Charity for 2016 - Alzheimer’s Society

By Mark Orr, APEA Honorary Secretary Each year the APEA choose a charity that we collectively work to promote and support by fundraising.

Last year we raised £3056 for Action for Children which will help the charity improve the lives of children that they support.

This year we have chosen the Alzheimer’s Society, the UK’s leading dementia support and research charity. It is always there for anyone affected by any form of dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

According to the charity, there are 850,000 people in the UK living with a form of dementia and in less than ten years a million people will be living with the condition. This will soar to two million people by 2051. A total of 225,000 will develop dementia this year - that’s one every three minutes.

The word dementia describes a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. These changes are often small to start with, but for someone with dementia they have become severe enough to affect daily life. A 42

person with dementia may also experience changes in their mood or behaviour. Dementia is caused when the brain is damaged by diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease or a series of strokes.

Dementia is progressive, which means the symptoms will gradually get worse.

Alzheimer’s Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and the millions of people who care for them and provides services such as the National Dementia Helpline (0300 222 11 22), Talking Point – an online forum (http://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/), as well as a multitude of face-to-face services. These include Singing for the Brain, Dementia Cafes, peer support groups and Dementia

Advisors.

Alzheimer’s Society has a National team of specially trained Dementia Support Workers who help people take control of their lives and make sense of what is happening throughout their journey of dementia. From understanding benefits to how dementia progresses and the importance of getting your financial affairs in order – Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Support Workers are there to explain about the condition but also signpost people to the support services available.

Alzheimer’s Society supports people to live well with dementia today and funds research to find a cure for tomorrow.

I hope that we can all do our bit to support this well known and highly professional charity. We all know someone whose life is challenged by dementia and is improved by contact with Alzheimer’s Society which relies on voluntary donations to continue its vital work.

You can donate now by calling 0330 333 0804 or visiting alzheimers.org.uk.

APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

Fireworks Enforcement Liaison Group (FELG)

By Lawrence Black, FELG Chair Aims and Objectives FELG used to run in parallel with PELG (Petroleum Enforcement Liaison Group) and was facilitated

by LACORS. When LACORS ceased to function there was no desire from anyone in the enforcement environment to continue with running FELG although PELG continued and has gone from strength to strength.

The Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005 had been tried and tested and accepted by all. Following an EU directive in 2007 each European member state had to encompass the directive into is own legislation, which involved the CE marking of pyrotechnical articles and any transitional period that the individual member state would allow. The new legislation ‘The Pyrotechnical Articles (Safety) Regulations 2010’ was introduced. This new legislation appeared to cause problems with interpretation both by enforcement authorities and the fireworks industry alike. This was mainly due to the fact that the UK had no notifiable body and the different interpretation of the directive against each member states’ own legislation by the European Notifiable Bodies. This prompted the reforming of FELG. FELG was reformed in September 2013. In 2013 the Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers (ACTSO) became the supporting organisation for FELG. The Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers (ACTSO) is the leading professional body for Trading Standards Authorities and recognises the important role FELG plays in supporting the retail industry.

FELG meet quarterly and is a selffunding group.

The aim of FELG is to facilitate appropriate and consistent enforcement by FLAs (Fireworks Licensing Authorities) through the dissemination of advice, guidance and good practice.

FELG’s objectives are; Discuss the need for advice and guidance (including on technical

issues where there is a need for a consensus view among FLAs and HSE); to commission and agree such advice and disseminate it to FLAs; Assess the implications for enforcement of new developments in industry practice and procedures; Liaise with Police Forces regarding the exchange of intelligence for the purposes of anti terrorism, crime reduction, anti social behaviour and the maintenance of law and order; Liaise effectively with HSE, Local Authorities, CFOA, British Fireworks Association (BFA), British Pyrotechnics Association (BPA) and the Explosives Industry Group (EIG) on matters within its remit; Assist in finding solutions to general problems that might otherwise incur costly and time consuming appeals and ensures the principles of the Regulators’ Compliance Code; Statutory Code of Practice for Regulators as issued by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) is being followed.

FELG consists of representatives from all 12 Trading Standards Regions together with representatives from the Police, Chief Fire Officers Association and the Health and Safety Executive.

Co-opted members as required include representatives from the British Fireworks Association, British Pyrotechnic Association and the Explosives Industry Group.

Over the last 2 to 3 years as fireworks legislation has changed with enforcers and other interested parties have become more proactive in the manner in which they deal with fireworks. This has been brought about by the rise in the illegal storage of fireworks and the use of the explosive content of fireworks in acts of terrorism.

Areas that FELG are working on at present to give a consistent approach to the enforcement of fireworks/pyrotechnic legislation include: Selling of fireworks via the Internet and Facebook. Selling fireworks from the internet is always a thorny problem both with enforcers and industry alike. Many of the internet

sales are perfectly legal but there is a problem with some of the wellknown selling sites and other such websites, which allow the sale of fireworks through their sites without realising what the implications are.

The fact that many of these sellers sell the fireworks and then send them through the Royal Mail, which is illegal. As a result of this FELG are working with the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) who oversee the transportation of goods.

Many of the sellers have a onestop shop on their website which allows them to sell in a safe and appropriate manner. Facebook selling is a different issue altogether and poses many problems for enforcers. This is being looked at in conjunction with both the Police and CFOA as to the most appropriate way forward as this situation is only going to get worse.

Issues have been raised by the BFA re the inconsistency of labelling required by Notifiable Bodies for selection boxes, it would appear that different NB would require different types of labels and different wording. It is laid down in BS EN 15947 exactly what is required but the NB’s interpretation of this varies. In an effort for consistency for both the industry and enforcers when they are conducting inspections the BFA have agreed on a standardised label for all their members to use.

Another major issue that FELG have been dealing with relates to the self-linking of fireworks.

The problem with the product shown on page 42 is that each individual firework has been tested its own right and is compliant. Each firework has a secondary fuse, which is perfectly legal under BS EN 15947, but it is not intended as a linking fuse but purely a safety fuse should the initial fuse fail. Each firework has the correct CE compliance certificates in its own right. The firework is marketed as a display kit and fired in the sequence 1, 2 and 3 so as to gain the best effect. However there are videos on YouTube produced by various suppliers of this product showing people how to link the fuses i.e. the secondary fuse (safety fuse) on Item 1 to the initial fuse on item 2 and the same again from item 2 to 3 meaning you only have to light the

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initial (primary fuse) on firework No.1 in order for all three fireworks to fire in sequence. This then creates another firework. This fourth firework has not been tested to any standard.

The question arises: is linking the four fireworks together the primary process or a manufacture of a new product. The main issue is if the supplier of the product is only advising the consumer that the product can be linked in this way if they should wish to do so but leaving the onus on the consumer to make that decision. Potentially by selflinking the fuses you could be producing an unsafe firework. In the hands of a novice or inexperienced person using fireworks this has the potential to create a very dangerous situation. (Guidance on this product will be produced early in 2016).

The British Fireworks Association members have agreed not to manufacture or import this type of product as they feel it does project the image that the British Firework industry and the safe products that they strive to produce.

Another issue being dealt with is the fireworks of erratic flight/movement.

The tank shown above is one such product, which is a CAT 2 product, therefore has a safety distance of 8m.

Fireworks of erratic flight (erratic movement/ground movers) FELG has been asked to clarify the legality of a particular product initially offered for sale in October 2015 but subsequently withdrawn from sale until a definitive position is 44

received.

The item, known as Stryker Tank, is a Category 2 CE certified device, which emits flames and sparks. It is mounted on wheels and uses a jetting effect to propel itself across the ground.

The question of legality arises from different statements within older legislation that clearly banned this type of item (The Firework (Safety) Regulations 1997) and seemingly contradictory statements within more recent legislation (PASR 2015 and EN15947).

The definition “firework of erratic flight”: Means a firework whose functioning involves it following a random trajectory or a random path along the ground, whether or not it functions within a pre- determined range.

It went on to state in the section “Prohibitions on supply of certain

fireworks and assemblies”, Para 4.

(1)(a) …no person shall supply – any firework of erratic flight..

Therefore under the terms of The Firework (Safety) Regulations 1997 this type of product was clearly illegal in the UK. However, The Firework (Safety) Regulations 1997 have been replaced by The Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 and herein lies the problem. This document states in Schedule 2 (Essential Safety Requirements), Section 2 Fireworks 2. (7): Fireworks must not move in an erratic and unforeseeable manner.

Note that there is no additional definition of the term erratic, and there is no mention of any predetermined range. Also fireworks of erratic flight are not present in the list of prohibited items within that shown as part of regulation 33.

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The confusion is compounded by further references within EN15947: EN15947: 5 Table 1 Ground Movers: Category 2: Not more than 25g, each pyrotechnic unit not more than 3g, no report charge allowed.

And 7.2.4 Motion For ground movers: while functioning, the ground mover shall not move more than 8.0m away from the testing point.

And EN15947: 4 6.4.3 Ground movers, ground spinners and jumping ground spinners shall not move outside the relevant distance.

Note, as these are Category F2 items, with a minimum safety

distance of 8 metres, there is potential for an item and a spectator to be at the same point on the ground.

Directive 2007-23-EC (16) states: In line with the ‘New Approach to technical harmonisation and standardisation’, pyrotechnic articles manufactured in compliance with harmonised standards should benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential safety requirements provided for in this Directive.

The path to certification starts with the Essential Safety Requirements followed by conformity testing and finally certification. If an item fails to meet the Essential Safety Requirements then it would not be put forward for compliance testing.

In this instance the item fails to meet the requirements of the Essential Safety Requirements but is apparently legitimate as EN15947 allows it and there is the presumption that in passing conformity testing, it has met the Essential Safety Requirements.

These are just a few of the issues currently being dealt with by FELG mainly revolving around interpretation of the legislation.

Lawrence Black FELG Chair North Yorkshire County Council Trading Standards Tel: 01609 534842 Mob: 07779 141671 Email: lawrence.black@northyorks.gov.uk

Interview with Mark Orr LCM Environmental Ltd ARTICLES

By Brian Humm, Bulletin Editor Hi Mark and thank you for being the subject of my inaugural interview for the APEA Bulletin, as I am new to this role please be gentle!

Firstly could you tell me a little about your company and your position within the heady world of petrol filling stations?

LCM Environmental was formed in 1987 and has since worked in the downstream fuel industry. Initially tank cleaning, then decommissioning filling stations and since 2006 we have broadened our product range considerably until now we do just about anything to do with fuel be it on filling stations or with commercial and industrial fuel users. We are slowly turning ourselves from being a leading contractor to a technical solution provider using some products and processes that we have developed in house and are unique to us.

We are an innovative problem solving company and that attracted me to it when I chose to invest in LCM in 2006. Our staff and their positive attitude is why I have sold off my other commercial interests since to concentrate full time on developing LCM. We still have more road to travel before we are where I 46

want the business to be.

Fuel takes me back to where I started as a transport and logistics officer in the Army where we hauled anything the Army needed but most of that was fuel!

I am the Joint MD and one of the two owners.

Great, and what services, equipment do you supply?

Well there are lots but we proudly work with any company for whom fuel is a critical asset. This takes us into lots of different business sectors; retail and commercial fuel distribution, fuel storage, rail, aviation, marine, defence, emergency power, logistics etc. Its great fun and more recently we have been fuel facility managing, providing fuel quality management and even consulting both at home and abroad which has been fun.

Thank you for that. You are a relatively new member of the APEA national council; can I ask what made you want to contribute?

I am a great believer that you only get out what you put in. The industry has been kind to LCM (we are still here!) and it is important that we

contribute our body of knowledge to its development – be that technically, through our experience of safely working with fuels and hazardous substances, to some of the more novel techniques we have for maintaining fuel quality or remotely monitoring fuel quality.

Fuel is dangerous, its additives are corrosive and chemically complex, its composition has changed considerably. It is no longer as stable and reliable as it once was. Industry needs support in managing fuel and we are there to provide it in a cost effective customer friendly manner.

Equally we have staff with decades of experience in these

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Great, and now you find yourself elected as the new Secretary of the association. How do you feel about that and what do you see as the challenges if any, particularly as the new revision of the Blue Book is due to start this year?

I was chuffed to be asked by a number of council members to put myself forward for consideration by the members to be the Secretary of the Association.

Having been on the Council for the last year they did not expect me to just sit in the corner and take notes!

So I am keen to see the APEA continue to modernise the way it works, be closer and more responsible to its member for what it does, do all it can to serve it members well and to continually evolve to suit the industry from which its members are drawn and those who seek advice from us.

The Blue Book represents the excellent technical work the APEA can do. The Blue Book gives guidance that is adopted all over the world. The consultation it has with a wide range of bodies is impressive. However a narrow group of very experienced individuals contribute that technical work and we need more to come forward and join in so that the knowledge

trickles down and when some of our members retire there is competence available to fill their boots and continue the good work. I do not see that happening now and wish to address that.

Moving on, I must congratulate you on LCM’s award at the APEA live event last year; what was your reaction to winning?

For all involved I was delighted that the hard work was publicly recognised.

Firstly Tim Brown who won the Outstanding Employee award thoroughly deserved it as he has done so much for LCM, the industry and for our clients.

Our Fuelling Installation at Swanwick Marina was novel and we brought together a project team who delivered a first in a number of areas: 24/7 pay at pump, remotely delivered petrol deliveries, comprehensive spill protection and complete integration into the marina’s accounts management system. Our client, Premier Marinas, was bold to go for it as at the start we could see it work in theory but as we know it’s hard sometimes to make it work in practice!

Other recipients often tell us that they feel proud of receiving one of the awards; what do you think it tells us about your Company?

We had an idea, did our research and backed ourselves to succeed in delivering the innovation and competitive advantage that our client wanted to have.

Would you encourage others to enter the 2016 awards?

Yes; there is so much excellence in our industry but we are so very poor at telling people about it!

Awards are not just for the company owner; they are for everyone in our company, and our clients, to feel proud about.

You never know - people may like it, buy it and we may make money out of it! That is good for our company, our staff and the industry as a whole!

So what’s to be lost by entering the Awards and sharing with the industry what you do.

Great, that old saying that you have to be in it to win it really rings true for the APEA live events. Finally, Mark, could you inform the readers how an extremely busy businessman like yourself relaxes and spends your leisure time away from the hectic office environment?

As a family we love sailing and most down time involves supporting our son’s dinghy campaigns, playing with our own yacht or writing about sailing which I do for websites or magazines all over the world.

Thank you Mark, it really has been a pleasure talking to you and I must say thank you for being my first willing victim for the interviews.

Good luck in your role, Brian Baker’s are very big shoes to fill, but you are a big guy and will do a great job!

Hydrogen Storage on an Existing Petrol Filling Station, An Enforcers View

By Brian Humm, London Fire Brigade Following the exceptional presentation at APEA Live 2015 by Dr Emma Guthrie, Business Development Manager from Hydrogen Energy, with regards the storage of Hydrogen (H2) and dispensing on filling stations, I thought that I would share with the readers the process that was experienced by the Petroleum department of the London Fire Brigade (LFB) when approached by

a company to install hydrogen on an already established petrol filling station in North West London.

Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Limited, one of the LFB Primary Authority Partners, approached the Brigade around mid-2013 to enquire about the feasibility of supplying hydrogen on the forecourt of their existing installation in Hendon. This came as something of a shock to us and we started to do some investigation into

how this could be achieved; we were astonished to find that there was no published guidance anywhere in the world that included the petrol installation and hydrogen together. Without the existence of this guidance we were reluctant to approve the installation and rejected the proposal. Sainsbury’s as a company were keen however to persevere with this idea along with Hydrogen Energy as the onus on cleaner fuels is a topic high on the political agenda. The Government

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areas who can contribute to policy to help guide those new to the industry or to these products so that they can handle, store, and use fuel safely.

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at present is looking at creating a hydrogen superhighway down the entire country so that the ownership of a vehicle powered by hydrogen will eventually not be a niche market and will be attainable for all motorists that would like to make a significant contribution to a cleaner environment; also a fact that we learned, as a group, is that the Greater London Authority (GLA) run by the Mayor, Boris Johnson, and which is part of our “family”, has had a hydrogen department for many years!

With this in mind we entered into lengthy discussions with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as to the possibility of making this project happen. Much scratching of heads ensued, many meetings were had and more and more research was carried out into the storage and dispensing of hydrogen as a fuel, gathering information in particular from Germany and the USA where the installation of hydrogen as a stand-alone fuel is quite commonplace, especially on the West Coast of the USA in California where the Governor of the state is extremely proactive in the environmental issues that we face today.

Eventually the HSE came up with a solution that could satisfy all parties in the fact the installation could look a part of the petrol filling installation but would not be enforced by the Petroleum Department of the LFB but by the HSE/Local EHO under the Health and Safety at Work Act. What had occurred is that the HSE had given the project the go ahead and had produced a demarcation line that meant the installation could be deemed to be far enough away from the PFS that it could be deemed as a separate premises, this was acceptable to all parties because guidance does exist for stand-alone hydrogen so everyone was happy. We still, however, had to approve the installation in the fact that it would be far enough away from the petrol and that it shared no part of Sainsbury’s operation; one meeting could have possibly caused a problem as it was intended to utilise the petrol filling station Emergency switch for the hydrogen and also the Sainsbury 48

Hydrogen Compound with blast wall

Hydrogen dispenser with protective bollards

H2 Dispenser

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Hydrogen nozzles

ARTICLES Petrol filling station offset fills in the foreground with hydrogen installation in the background with the dispenser visible giving the impression that they are connected

Hydrogen safety signage

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colleagues from the PFS shop to carry out the daily and safety/security checks that were necessary for the safe operation of the facility. In the minds of the LFB this was somewhat tying the H2 facility to the Sainsbury’s PFS so therefore could be classed as the same premises, something that we, as enforcers, did not want to chance that someone could determine this as fact. We therefore strongly advised against this scenario and the facility was built with the supply of its own emergency stop arrangement and the daily checks are carried out by the Sainsbury colleagues from the main store which takes the onus

completely off the petrol filling station.

The project was completed a little later than anticipated, mainly because the sourcing of some components was extremely difficult.

Once it was built though it was opened without any dramas and is now happily sitting alongside the PFS and operating for well over a year now with no problems, from a safety or security point of view, reported.

As you can see from the following pictures this is a stand-alone facility which receives deliveries of H2 and does not manufacture its own fuel. It has one dispenser that operates at two pressure settings through the two separate nozzles for different sizes of vehicles (350 and 700 bar respectively). Any person that wishes to use this facility has to register and receive the appropriate training in order to be issued with a card which allows them to refuel.

Safety features that are built into the system are pressure relief, emergency shut down, emergency switch, heat detectors for the storage compound, blast walls, appropriate ventilation and obviously appropriate signage.

One good outcome of this is that the EI/APEA in conjunction with the British Compressed Gas Association (BCGA) along with other stakeholders and industry safety professionals have been extremely busy having set up a working group to produce written guidance to allow the keeping and dispensing of hydrogen as a fuel alongside petrol.

Work is well under way which includes, among other topics, safety distances, hazardous areas, canopy designs etc. This has proved to be an extremely difficult topic to comprehend and has produced a lot of lengthy discussions and heated debates, however we are extremely near to the final document being produced and it is anticipated that it will be ready for inclusion within the 4th Edition of the Blue Book. This is one of the reasons that I still enjoy being involved within this industry as new innovations and practices are being introduced all the time and in my opinion is of great interest to everyone.

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new venue new date new…

2012

2013

2014 2015

2016

StadiumMK MK

Milton Keynes 24 Nov. 2016 apea.org.uk

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EXHIBITION CONFERENC AWARDS DIN

BE THERE in 2016

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Ask the Experts I have just purchased a filling station which I still intend to operate.

However, it has a semi buried LPG vessel and associated pipework and dispenser.

I have no experience of LPG and was wondering if you could inform me of the following: 1) What is the testing regime for LPG vessels and pipework?

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Inspection & Maintenance Under the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) the site occupier is responsible for the safe operation of an installation, and the Regulations reinforce the requirements of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, which requires “every employer to ensure that where work equipment is likely to involve a specific risk, the use of that equipment is restricted to those persons given the task of using it and repairs, modifications maintenance or servicing that work equipment is restricted to specifically designated persons whom the employer must ensure have received adequate related training.”

It is recommended that the occupier, or someone delegated by the occupier, have the following inspections and maintenance carried out: • Routine Inspection, each day the equipment is used; • Periodic Inspection Maintenance

&

Routine Inspection Each day the equipment is operated, prior to use, the person responsible for the site shall ensure an inspection of the installation is made to confirm:-

• Within the vicinity of the vessel and dispensing equipment, there are no combustible materials (except those permitted by UKLPG COP1 Part 1), excessive vegetation, parked vehicles, or stored materials; • Warning signs are legible and in place.

It is recommended that these inspections are documented.

Periodic Inspection, Examination and Maintenance The mechanical parts of the installation under pressure are covered by the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations.

These Regulations require the user/owner to ensure that a Written Scheme of Periodic Examination is drawn, or certified as being suitable, by a “competent person”. Examination shall then be carried out in accordance with that Scheme. The parts of the installation not subject to the Written Scheme shall be inspected and maintained so as to prevent “danger”.

Electrical parts This is similar to normal forecourts so the electrical part of the installation shall be inspected & maintained, by technicians competent to work on electrical equipment in potentially hazardous areas, to ensure continued compliance with BS7671 and the relevant sections of BS EN 60079.

Guidance can be found in: • EI Model Code of Practice, Part 1 (Electrical); • BS EN 60079; • UKLPG UIS008;

• There are no leaks (smell of gas); • There is no visual damage to equipment; • Impact barriers (where provided) are in place and have not been damaged in such a way to render them ineffective or in a dangerous condition; 52

• EEMUA Publication No. 186; “A practitioner’s handbook – Electrical installations in potentially explosive atmospheres”; and • EI/APEA “Guidance for the design, construction and modification of petrol filling stations” (often referred to as the “Blue Book”).

Dispenser measure checks It is not mandatory for dispenser checks to be carried out. However it is recommended that this be done at least once a year and for resale UKLPG Code of Practice 19 Pt1 requires the difference between the dispenser and any proving meter to be within ±1%, over the specified flow range, at the time of commissioning or within ±2% at the time of any retest. In all cases the span of readings should not exceed 1%.

2) If I were to mothball the LPG installation how would I go about making the vessel safe so it could possibly be used in the future?

The main difference between LPG and petrol/diesel is that the LPG installation is a closed system that is always under pressure even if there is no liquid in the vessel.

The installation should be fitted with remotely operated isolation valves (ROSOVs). For short periods the valves could be closed and the power to the pump isolated. Any detection/monitoring/ventilation systems should be left operational.

For longer periods the LPG liquid should be removed from the vessel/pipework/dispenser, the residual pressure reduced and then the remaining vapour displaced with nitrogen. The contents should be checked to see that sufficient vapour has been removed to prevent a flammable atmosphere forming should there be loss of containment; note this check cannot be carried out using a standard gas detector.

The tanker fill coupling should be removed with the associated isolation valve blanked off. The isolation valves should be closed and the power to the detection/monitoring/ventilation/ pump systems isolated. Signs should be placed round the vessel and at the POS indicating that the installation is purged.

Richard Wigfull John Wigfull and Co Ltd

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Whilst carrying out an inspection on a 10 year old petrol installation on looking at the electrical certificate I noticed that the electrician has classified the site as a B category with a few recommendations but has then added that the next test should be scheduled for 3 years; is this acceptable?

The third edition of the publication Design, Construction, Modification, Maintenance and Decommissioning of Filling Stations (APEA/EI Blue Book), clearly indicates in Section 14 and Appendix 14 the classifications stated on the electrical certificate and decided solely by the electrical inspector who carried out the inspection. The “B” classification means that the electrical installation associated with the safe delivery, storage and dispensing of petroleum is satisfactory except for those items listed as defects which according to the inspector should be rectified within the time period listed for each defect. It is therefore up to the site duty holder to arrange for the recorded defects to be corrected within the time period listed and to retain all paperwork and certificates as necessary to prove to the Petroleum Enforcement Authority that the defect no longer exists and has been suitably rectified.

If the site duty holder ignores the defects or does not carry out the recommended work in time, as clearly stated on the certificate, this may lead to possible prosecution of the Duty Holder under various statute legislation, possibly the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations 2002 and The Petroleum Consolidation Regulations 2014.

I would also highlight that if any electrical work carried out is for a new site or where work is deemed a major refurbishment, no electrical certificates should be issued with any defects listed. Any historical issues regarding upgrading of the electrical installation should have been discussed, agreed and included within the works program at the very beginning when the scope of works was being discussed.

Unfortunately this is not always the case and just leads to problems 54

between all parties and the Petroleum Enforcement Authority, so please make sure the full extent and details of work to be carried out including upgrading is agreed at the start.

Your specific question related to a three year interval until the next periodic inspection. In accordance with the “Blue Book” and BS 7671:2008(2015) IET Wiring Regulations 17th Edition Amendment No. 3 there is technically nothing wrong with this.

What I would ask that particular inspector is how can he make a sound judgement that they feel the electrical installation is safe for another three years as that is what they have basically declared? As we know filling stations have a large throughput of customers, equipment is constantly being used, and sites are prone to vandalism, weather, vehicle impacts, and varying ages of equipment and cabling plus customers that don’t treat things well. Site operators are not electrical engineers so how would the duty holder necessarily know if things are degrading or something is now unsafe or downright dangerous or lethal? Sites often have multiple contractors involved in the electrical installation or parts of it, plus dispenser contractors who may remove accident damaged units and replace with new, so for an electrical inspector to declare something is safe for the next three years and to say the core installation is safe for three years and all emergency devices will operate satisfactorily and in time is in my eyes being very optimistic. Agreed they can’t be held responsible for a future act of vandalism on electrical equipment.

The 1928 Petroleum Consolidation Act stated and right up until Petroleum licensing was reviewed I think in early 2000 it was always a requirement that the electrical inspection was once a year; personally I very much still believe that should still be the case.

I would expand by indicating if you have a 100% new filling station then I would put two years on the original installation certificate since everything is new and a site can’t have any defects but thereafter I would put a year between periodic

inspections.

Before some readers start writing in to say I’m wrong let’s be clear who the standards state are the only persons that determine the intervals between inspections. For a new site it is the “Designer” that declares the interval until the first periodic inspection as everything is new, with no defects and equipment and installation appropriate for intended use and location. Thereafter it is only the actual inspector carrying out the electrical inspection that declares the period to the next periodic inspection, not his qualifying Manager, owner of the electrical contractor nor indeed an Oil Company engineering department or Facilities Management company, only the actual inspector. It is based on what the inspector sees, results he gets, that he then declares the interval to the next inspection and that the installation should be safe for a stated period of time, so if they want to make it a year, three years or even six months if they feel site condition and operation of maintenance on site is poor that is their decision to make. I understand that “Commercial” pressure or indeed some maintenance contract tenders may indicate longer periods between inspections to save money and to save downtime on site, but these documents or writers of these documents have failed to take into account what the Standards say about inspection intervals.

Gareth Bourhill Gareth Bourhill Consulting An old site that I regulate on has proposed some new dispensers to be fitted and I have checked with the manufacturer and am satisfied that they comply, as per the Blue Book, with the current European standard. My question is that the site has check valves at the tank access chamber end so should I get them to leave these in as an added level of protection?

The installation of any new suction dispenser should have the nonreturn or check valve situated under the dispenser.

The poppet valve should also be removed from the old angle check

APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

There were disadvantages in this arrangement as each time the valve needed maintenance or needed to be cleaned the suction line had to be removed from the tank.

The industry then installed the angle check valve in the tank chamber allowing for easier maintenance and allowed the line to be drained from the chamber.

Although this was an improvement on the foot valve it became clear that if a line leaked between the tank chamber and the dispenser the valve, or the body replaced with a test shut off fitting so that the lines can be tested easily from the under pump valve without disturbing pipe work.

This is the most efficient way to provide an early indication of a leak on a line.

In the very first installations a foot valve was situated at the bottom of the suction line inside the tank. This enabled the line up to the dispenser to be kept full of fuel. Foot valves work by ensuring that the fuel in the tank only flows in one direction. After each delivery of fuel the valve closed preventing the line from draining back into the tank.

line was soon primed when the pump started, sometimes causing a great deal of pollution and product loss, before the leak was noticed.

To ensure an even safer arrangement it was decided that the best arrangement was to place the non-return valve under the dispenser.

The moving of the non return valve to under the dispenser meant that any hole in the line would allow air to enter the suction line, the seal would break and the fuel would run back into the tank. This would ensure investigation of the problem, but if the problem was not investigated and fixed, at least losses were minimal.

You can demonstrate the effectiveness of this by sucking liquid up a straw placing your finger on the end.

The liquid is held in the straw, once the finger is taken away the liquid falls back into the glass.

APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

Jamie Thompson Jamie Thompson Associates

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An Innovate Filling Station Design

By Jamie Thompson

essence of its brand, so we encapsulated them in the brand idea “Adaptable Energeering”.

The conundrum then was how to communicate this, so creating a new and relevant service station concept seemed essential to: - Improve the experience to be really service oriented - Reduce the cost of maintenance through using the latest technology - Create visual impact and represent Cepsa in a new and meaningful way Saffron, together with partners Tangerine and Malka & Portús went through rethinking every brand touch point that customers interact with within the station: canopy, shop, pumps, lighting and signage.

The forecourt canopy was

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Occasionally the design and construction of filling stations break new ground and I can certainly think of many excellent concepts that have been introduced by oil companies over the years aided by architects and marketing companies.

One such breakthrough in my opinion is a design that has been produced in Spain for CEPSA. The team that produced this concept are:Creative Direction: Saffron Brand Consultants Architects: Malka+Portús User experience & Industrial design advisors: Tangerine Lighting design: Aureolighting Steel contractor: ANRO ETFE contractor: IASO Lighting: Philips & SAKMA Photography: Montse Zamorano Cepsa is one of Spain’s largest industrial groups operating for over 80 years. In recent years it has become a major player in the global energy market. Yet it is their petrol stations that are the crucial touch-point that connects the brand with its customers.

During the brand strategy process Saffron identified the highly technical and service orientated aspects of Cepsa as being the 56

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The signage system, inspired by Cepsa’s logo shapes and angles, complements the powerful visual language of this state-of-the-art service station. This reflects a powerful collaboration from brand, architecture, product and service design. In addition well designed wind generation being an added advantage to the site.

It will be interesting to see if this design is replicated into the CEPSA sites across Europe; too often the cost factors come into the equation – but I hope that good design will win!

The design consultants can be contacted through their web site www.saffron-consultants.com.

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transformed using a high tech ETFE material that is self-cleaning, lightweight and recyclable. Its structure is assembled in a modular fashion to be adapted to varied station formats. ETFE’s 100% transparency delivers a reduction in the use of artificial lighting thereby reducing station costs.

The innovative plastic cushions also transform the forecourt into a light and airy place.

At night, flooded with a red glow, ETFE cushions turn the canopy into the jewel of the concept. The bright red cladding of the C-store building also reinforces the beacon effect of the station, gently drawing travellers in.

With tangerine we revised the interaction that a customer should have at the refuelling island to improve the experience and thus proposed a vision for the future.

Proposed improvements, subject to Cepsa’s decision to implement them, include separating the display from the pump to allow a more intuitive and natural refuelling operation. Ultimately, should such improvements be implemented, customers would be able to view the shop attendant on-screen and know that their pump has been engaged.

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By Dr. Chad Unrau, Ph.D, Director of Engineering, NanoVapor Inc. NanoVapor’s revolutionary Vapor Suppression technology provides a faster, safer, greener method of preparing fuel tanks for inspection or maintenance.

Faster = Higher job throughput and asset availability Safer = Minimized risk of asphyxiation and explosive vapor buildup Greener = No hazardous waste water disposal and fewer emissions The Need Numerous inspection and maintenance operations are performed on hydrocarbon tanks every year. These operations are wide ranging from a simple inspection to gasket replacement to tank removal. The types of tanks are wide ranging as well including USTs, ASTs, barges, rail wagons, tanker trucks, and even aircraft fuel tanks.

All of these tanks have one dangerous attribute in common: After the tank is drained of product, it still contains volatile organic hydrocarbons (VOC’s). VOC’s are toxic to humans and create a serious explosion hazard if not handled properly.

Current methods to remove VOC’s and make the tank safe for work include purging the tank with air, purging the tank with nitrogen, and filling the tank with water.

Purging the tank with air can be unpredictable, resulting in long degassing times and the potential for dangerous vapor buildup after degassing is complete due to evaporation of residual fuel.

Purging the tank with nitrogen can also be unpredictable and even result in death from asphyxiation.

Water filling the tank can result in high costs and environmental impact due to hazardous waste water disposal.

The NanoVapor Solution NanoVapor’s Vapor Suppression technology overcomes these challenges to quickly and predictably gas-free the tank and maintain that safe tank environment over the course of the job. This is accomplished without the risk of asphyxiation or the generation of hazardous waste water. The technology is implemented by degassing with our Vapor Suppression System (VSS). This system consists of the delivery unit and a proprietary chemical product, TankSafe™. The delivery unit contains an injection nozzle and a tailored air mover. The nozzle injects TankSafe™ into the inlet of the air mover and the tailored air stream generated by the air mover activates the chemical product and distributes it throughout the tank. Once the chemical product is activated and distributed,

it forms a molecular layer on all tank and fuel surfaces as shown in the illustration below.

This layer dramatically reduces the formation of additional fuel vapors, quickly making the tank safe and keeping it that way for the duration of the work. The TankSafe™ layer is non-reactive with tank materials and will not affect the fuel once the tank is refilled because of the extremely small amount added (0.5 ppm or less) and the hydrocarbonlike nature of the molecules.

TankSafe™ is derived from natural resources, readily biodegradable,

and non-toxic to humans.

Our primary delivery unit to form the TankSafe™ layer is the Model ST1000 shown above. The ST-1000 is portable, weighing ~100 lbs, and compact with a much smaller footprint than the equipment needed for nitrogen or water degassing. It is a completely pneumatic system powered by a standard twin tool compressor. It has no moving or electrical parts and it is

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A Faster, Safer, Greener Method of Tank Degassing presentation from APEA Live 2015 conference

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examine the atmosphere inside the tank. Even though the entrant sloshed the remaining petrol around with his boots, the percent of LEL remained at 0% everywhere in the wagon including just above the fuel surface. This is due to the resealing nature of the TankSafe™ layer.

Once the entrant exited the wagon, it was sealed for five days.

After that time period, the atmosphere was re-measured and even just above the fuel it was only 15%! This is in contrast to petrol without the TankSafe™ layer which ATEX rated for Zone 1. The ST-1000 also has a simple 5-step operation: 1. Ground the Unit 2. Connect the Chemical Supply 3. Connect the Air Supply 4. Connect to the Tank 5. Open Valves and Monitor % of LEL

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NanoVapor in Action USTs: NanoVapor’s VSS has been utilized on several USTs. In one case, the system was connected to a 44,000 litre petrol tank that had been drained of fuel and needed to be gas-free for a gasket replacement job. After a mere 45 minutes of application, TankSafe™ reduced the percent of LEL to 0% and it remained there for the duration of the 8-hour job, keeping the workers and the tank safe.

Rail Wagons: In addition to USTs, NanoVapor’s VSS has also been demonstrated on rail wagons. In particular, the system was connected to a 75,000 litre wagon with ~40 litres of petrol inside. After a short 15 minutes of application, the percent of LEL was reduced to 0%.

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Wagons typically take less time than USTs even though they are higher in volume because of the larger inlet and outlet available. This allows for better distribution within the tank due to higher flow rates.

Once the wagon was made safe, a man entry was conducted to

would have increased the vapor concentration in the wagon to over 100% of LEL in the same time period.

The difference is a testament to the ability of NanoVapor’s Vapor Suppression technology to remove vapors from the tank and significantly reduce the formation of new vapor.

Barges: Larger tanks have also been tested with NanoVapor’s VSS. For example, a 1.5 million litre cyclohexane barge of three equal compartments was degassed with our system. What would have normally been a 30 hour degassing time was reduced to 15 hours, resulting in 50% fewer emissions and flare costs, higher job throughput, and higher asset availability.

Aircraft: Downtime for aircraft is a significant cost to the aircraft owner.

Degassing an aircraft for maintenance can contribute up to 24 hours of downtime in the maintenance cycle.

A VSS

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system was simple to operate.

NanoVapor’s VSS is simply a faster, safer, greener way to prepare fuel tanks for inspection or maintenance. Contact NanoVapor today to make your tanks quickly and predictably persistently safe.

Contact: Tel: +1-832-220-6211 email: Chad.unrau@nanovapor.com

demonstration on a B747 showed that our technology can typically reduce this time to under an hour, resulting in much higher asset availability and significant value to the customer.

All of these results were achieved by adding ~0.5 ppm or less of TankSafe™ to each tank. There was no impact on the fuel or tank materials and the impact on personnel was highly positive in that the job time was shortened and the

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Station Manager 365 – reducing queues on forecourts

By Cheryl Ashton, Fairbanks The power of Station Manager 365 – Fairbanks’ online fuel management platform - comes from centralising and interpreting data from many sources. It can identify the strengths and weaknesses of an operation to give complete visibility and control, by delivering accurate information straight to the user’s fingertips.

Recent advancements in technology have seen a rise in customer expectations – they want instant access to information presented in an uncomplicated manner. Fuel retailers now demand more of an insight into consumer behaviour, pump activity, competitor pricing, margin management and historic sales trends. Station Manager delivers all this and more -but it’s not only the retailers who can benefit from this intelligent software solution.

Petroleum officers can request operators to provide them with wetstock records, service reports, compliance audits and risk assessments when completing a site visit. Through the Station Manager 365 system, documents such as these can be easily accessed, without the operator having to present detailed, written records.

Forecourt service providers can take advantage of Station Manager 365’s ability to identify potential problems, such as slow nozzle flow rates, ensuring that they can carry out the necessary, preventative maintenance before it becomes an issue. Early indication that a filter needs replacing or cleaning will help to minimise dispenser downtime, drive fuel sales and improve the customer experience.

Pump maintenance contractors will benefit from the ‘Nozzle Usage’

report, which details pump activity, highlighting any inactive pumps, showing the number of idle days and displaying the time they were last used. This invaluable information will help the contractors to react swiftly to problem pumps and therefore provide a better service to the forecourt owners. Similarly, by understanding the volume dispensed by each nozzle, contractors can ensure that pumps are serviced at the appropriate time intervals, which will help to reduce overheads and prolong the life of the units. Future developments will see Station Manager 365 responding to diagnostic codes from the pump and relaying them directly to the maintenance centre before the forecourt owner is even aware of the problem, hence allowing contractors to resolve the issue promptly and increasing the guaranteed percentage uptime.

Station Manager 365 can help operators and third parties to gain a thorough understanding of equipment activity on site, take any necessary action to prevent problems occurring and, as a consequence, reduce queues on forecourts.

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North West SAVE THE DATE. Next Branch Meeting and AGM to be 14th April 2016 - venue to be advised.

Eastern The APEA Eastern Branch Christmas meeting was held on Thursday December 3rd 2015 at Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge.

Trinity Hall is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.

The APEA had exclusive use of the college’s fantastic Graham Storey Room where around 40 guests enjoyed a great day of informative industry speakers, networking and good food and drink.

As usual guests were updated on the latest petroleum regulations by industry expert Jamie Thompson

Trinity Hall College

BRANCHES Claire Scawthorn - London Fire Brigade Enforcing Authority Jamie Thompson

and latest petroleum enforcement news by Clare Scawthorn of the London Fire Brigade’s Petroleum Enforcing Authority.

Delegates then had the opportunity to learn about Tower Transit Operations Ltd’s experience with running Hydrogen fuel-cell buses on their London bus routes from the company’s Training and Projects Manager David Yorke.

David’s presentation was very interesting and discussed the dayto-day challenges of operating and maintaining such buses in a safe and controlled way.

Doreen Pooley, Group Operations Manager at Premier Group then helped shed some light on the transition from national regulations 64

David Yorke, Tower Transit

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Doreen Pooley, Premier Group

Gareth Bourhill

furniture from when it was erected in c.1590. Originally built as a chained library the original lecterns still exist and contain the original locking mechanisms with a selection of very interesting chained books, manuscripts and ancient maps and publications.

After a buffet lunch delegates were taken (again, thanks to the generosity of Elaflex) on a guided tour of Kings College Chapel. The informative and entertaining tour guides walked the guests through the chapel, discussing its erection in phases by a succession of Kings of England from 1446 to 1515. This phased construction is evident from the style of the architecture and decorations with the early part of the chapel built by Henry VI in an

BRANCHES

Graeme Warnell, BP

to the new MID regulations for dispensing equipment on forecourts.

Doreen helped clarify some of the complexities of the transition and what they mean for retailers and equipment suppliers.

Gareth Bourhill, MD of Gareth Bourhill Consulting followed with a presentation on contractor competency with regard to hazardous area electrical installations.

In recent years experience has shown that a large number of contractors working in such environments are not adequately aware of their own competency requirements under law. Gareth discussed these requirements in detail, providing clarity to all those in attendance and highlighting that existing controls are in his opinion too lax.

Thanks to the generosity of Elaflex Ltd. delegates were then treated to a guided tour of the impressive Trinity Hall old Library which still maintains many original pieces of 66

Inside Kings College Chapel

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Adrian Beeby, Tokheim

Delegates

understated style and the last part of the chapel adorned with the ostentatious Tudor pageantry which one would expect from Henry VIII in 1515.

After the tour Graeme Warnell, Senior Project Manager at BP, discussed how BP are testing the use of a bio-remedial cleaning product ‘Bio Wizard’ to clean both the interior and exterior of their forecourts with great success. It was interesting to hear how bio-cultures within the cleaning product continue to work by remediating hydro-carbon molecules such as fuels and fats inside interceptors, grease-traps and drains long-after the cleaning has taken place – thus reducing fat odours and fuel deposits over the long-term. BP sees that this kind of bio-remedial cleaning product could offer significant benefits from a health and safety and cost perspective for forecourt operators.

The day was ended with a presentation from Adrian Beeby of Tokheim on the next generation of Automatic Temperature Compensation with monitoring.

Tokheim, along with their sister company Fairbanks, can now offer a comprehensive system of ATC and reconciliation to ensure full visibility of forecourt operator’s valuable wetstock.

Alan Morgan We were saddened to learn recently that our fellow APEA Eastern Branch member Alan Morgan had unexpectedly passed away. Alan was a Fire Safety Officer at Herts Fire and Rescue, a regular attendee of the branch and also a member of the Eastern Branch Events Committee. We will sorely miss Alan’s presence and contribution both as a key part of our association and as our friend.

Alex Boudry Branch Rep North East Nothing to report.

Yorkshire & Humberside Nothing to report.

Delegates

Ireland Nothing to report.

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Midlands Nothing to report.

Scottish Nothing to report.

Geoff Oldham - Sec

Andrew Wyllie - Sec

Suresite Group Ltd

North Ayrshire Council

5D Millennium City Park

Bridgegate House

Barnfield Way, Ribbleton

Irvine KA12 8BD

Preston, Lancashire PR2 5DB

Southern Nothing to report.

Tel: 01772 790901 Mobile: 07831 490352

Branch Representative and Secretary Contact Details

email: jgo@suresite.co.uk

Eastern Alex Boudry - Rep Franklin Fueling Systems Limited Olympus Close

Ireland

Rob Tunnicliff - Rep

Thomas Daly - Chairman and Rep

37 Victoria Park Road

Dublin Fire Brigade

Tunstall, Stoke on Trent

HQ, 165-169 Townsend Street

ST6 6DX

Dublin 2

Tel: 07909 141232

Ireland

email: rob.tunnicliff@stoke.gov.uk

Tel: 00 353 (0)1 673 4059

Falstaff House

Tel: +44 (0)1473 243 322/

Birmingham Road

Mob: +44 (0) 7825 798 953 email: Boudry@franklinfueling.com

Stratford upon Avon

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Tel: 01992 452 950 Mob: 07831 595620 email: elaflex@aol.com

Ronnie McArdle - Sec McArdle Doyle Limited Shanard House

CV37 0AA

Ardpatrick

Tel: 01789 414202

Louth Village

Fax: 01789 267741

Dundalk, County Louth

email:

Ireland

enquiries@adcockassociates.co.uk

Tel: 00353 42 9384792

Hoddesdon Herts EN11 0PA

andrewwyllie@north-ayrshire.gov.uk

Midlands

Adcock Associates

Suffolk IP1 5LN

Riverside House

email:

Graham Adcock - Sec

Ipswich

ELAFLEX Ltd

Tel: 01294 310116

email: thomas.daly@dublincity.ie

Whitehouse Industrial Estate

Anton Martiniussen - Sec

United Kingdom

Fax: 00353 42 9384792 Southern

email: mail@mcardle-doyle.ie

Philip Monger - Rep Petrol Retailers Association Meadowside West End, Sherbourne St John

Yorkshire & Humberside Craig Brocklehurst - Rep Brulines Fuel Solutions

North East

Basingstoke,

Mike Silmon - Rep and Sec

Hants RG24 9LE

W O Silmon Ltd

Tel: 01256 850164

Station Road

Industry Road, Heaton

Fax: 01256 851273

Sowerby Bridge

Newcastle upon Tyne

email: phil.psac@gmail.com

Halifax

Tyne & Wear NE6 5XB

The Former Post Office

West Yorkshire HX6 3AA

Tel: 0191 224 0777

David Sommers - Sec

Tel: 07703336264

Fax: 0191 224 0707

Hampshire Trading Standards

email:

email: Mike@silmon.co.uk

Montgomery House, Monarch Way

Craig.brocklehurst@vianetfs.com

Winchester, Hants SO22 5PW North West

Tel: 01962 833651/07718146033

Andy Myers - Rep

email: david.sommers@hants.gov.uk

Artelia UK

Terry Guthrie - Sec South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue The Lifewise Centre

26-28 Hammersmith Grove

Scotland

London

Ian Hillier - Rep

W6 7HA

26 Melrose Avenue

Tel: +44 (0) 208 237 1851

Balgonie Estate, Paisley

Rotherham

Mobile: 07500 442 573

PA2 9JA

South Yorkshire, S66 8LB

email:

Tel: 01505 352004

Tel: 0114 2532592

andy.myers@uk.arteliagroup.co. uk

email: i.hillier@ntlworld.com

email: tguthrie@syfire.gov.uk

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Kea Park Close Hellab

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TRAINING

Delegates from Manchester Fire and Rescue Service attending the 3 day combined Construction, Audit and Inspection course and 1 day DSEAR course

Delegates from ASDA attending the 3 day combined Construction, Audit and Inspection course in Leeds

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2016 Training Course Dates 3 Day Combined Petrol Filling Stations – Construction, Audit and Inspection Course Manchester Airport Solihull Stansted Airport

11th, 12th, 13th April 6th, 7th, 8th June 5th, 6th, 7th Sept

2 Day Combined Petrol Filling Stations – Construction, Audit and Inspection Course Ahtlone, Ireland

16th and 17th May

Electrical Installations - An Awareness Manchester Airport Swindon

17th March 27th Sept

Safe Installation and Use of LPG Manchester Airport Stansted Airport

14th April 15th Sept

Wetstock Management Manchester Airport Stansted Airport

5th April 20th Sept

DSEAR Manchester Airport Stansted Airport

18th April 10th Oct

Petrol Filling Stations Enforcement Procedures An Awareness Manchester Airport Stansted Airport

11th April 12th Sept

Petroleum Officers Workshop (on request) Please contact Jane Mardell at admin@apea.org.uk for a quotation Petrol Filling Stations Vapour Recovery Installations (on request) Please contact Jane Mardell at admin@apea.org.uk for a quotation Petrol Filling Stations Leak Investigation (on request) Please contact Jane Mardell at admin@apea.org.uk for a quotation

Explosives and Fireworks 14th Sept 20th Sept

PFS, Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014 To be announced

Course Fees (all plus vat) APEA Member Non member 3 day course with accommodation £1020.00 £1120.00 3 day, day delegate rate £810.00 £910.00 1 day course £260.00 £310.00 More information and booking details on the ‘Training’ page at www.apea.org.uk Anyone booking a training course that is not an APEA member will automatically receive complimentary “Individual” membership to the APEA until 31st December 2015.

Bespoke courses can also be arranged for 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 contact Jane Mardell, the APEA Business Manger at admin@apea.org.uk.

Courses will be designed around the (3rd edition) Blue Book Guidance for the Design, Construction, Modification, Maintenance and Decommissioning of Filling Stations (June 2011).

You can purchase a copy directly from the Publications page of the APEA website at www.apea.org.uk, log on to the website first to benefit from the APEA member discount.

APEA members can purchase a hard copy at the discounted rate of £70 (non member rate £140).

A PDF download from the APEA web site www.apea.org.uk can be purchased with a licence for individual use only by members for £70.00 plus vat or by non members for £140.00 plus vat.

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.

For details of this and any other training enquiry, please contact: Jane Mardell - APEA Business Manager, email: admin@apea.org.uk, Tel: + 44 (0) 845 603 5507 or Thomas Daly (Chairman of Training Committee) Tel: +353 876899281/+353 876899281 or email: thomasdaly@apea.org.uk APEA tel/fax 0845 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

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Manchester Airport Stansted Airport

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