Petroleum (Transport and Storage) Rules

Petroleum Act

(Chapter 229, Section 28)

R 1

REVISED EDITION 1990

(25th March 1992)

[24th December 1926]

PART I

PRELIMINARY

Citation

1. These Rules may be cited as the Petroleum (Transport and Storage) Rules.

Definitions

2. For the purposes of these Rules —

“brickwork” means hard, square, well-burnt bricks true in shape and of even quality emitting a ringing sound when struck and measuring not less than 22 cm x 11 cm x 7 cm well bonded in cement mortar consisting of one part of portland cement to 3 parts of clean sand mixed with clear fresh water;

“cement plaster or rendering” means a mixture consisting of equal portions of portland cement and clean sand mixed with clear fresh water;

“cement concrete” means a concrete made of one part of portland cement, 3 parts of clean sand and 6 parts of stone mixed with clear fresh water;

“Director” means the Director of Fire Service appointed under section 3 of the Fire Service Act;

“Licensing Officer” means the Director or any officer duly authorised by him in writing;

“reinforced concrete” means cement concrete consisting of 3 parts of broken granite, 2 parts of granite dust and not less than one part of cement reinforced by metal in such a manner as shall be approved by the Director.

PART II

PACKAGES

Method of storage — dangerous petroleum

3.—(1) Except as hereinafter provided for storage in bulk, dangerous petroleum shall not be kept or stored except in iron or steel drums or tins of a pattern approved by the Director:

Provided that nothing herein contained shall apply to dangerous petroleum contained in the supply tanks of motorcars, motor-lorries or any other vehicles, the impelling power of which is obtained from dangerous petroleum.

(2) Such drums or tins shall not contain more than 295 litres.

(3) A sample of each pattern of drum or tin intended to contain dangerous petroleum shall, before being brought into use, be deposited with the Director and shall be approved by him.

(4) Every drum or tin, with the exception of tins painted entirely red or blue, shall have a band 5 centimetres wide painted with white paint and/or paint of any other colour approved by the Director round the centre, and there shall also be painted or stamped on the drum or tin in conspicuous characters in the English language the words “HIGHLY INFLAMMABLE”, and there shall also be painted or stamped on the drum or tin the trade name of the dangerous petroleum.

(5) If an outer package or case is used for drums or tins, such outer package or case shall be marked as laid down in paragraph (4) for drums or tins, except that the band shall be painted with black paint.

PART III

TRANSPORT

Transportation

4.—(1) Petroleum or dangerous petroleum may not be transported —

(a)	in tins containing more than 18 litres each;
(b)	in iron or steel drums containing more than 295 litres each; or
(c)	subject to paragraph (2), in tank-carts of more than 4,546 litres capacity; if a trailer tank is attached to the tank-cart, the combined capacity of the two tanks shall not exceed 4,546 litres.

(2) The Director may grant special permission for petroleum or dangerous petroleum to be transported along such routes as the Director may from time to time approve and in tank-carts of not more than 27,277 litres capacity of a type approved by the Director.

(3) The quantity to be transported in any one vehicle other than a tank-cart shall not exceed 4,546 litres.

Licence required for transport of petroleum

5. Except as provided in rules 4 and 7, no person shall use a tank-cart or other vehicle for transporting petroleum in any quantity exceeding 182 litres or dangerous petroleum without a licence granted by the Licensing Officer, subject to such conditions as the Licensing Officer may think fit and on payment of the prescribed fee. Such licence shall be renewable annually and may be suspended or revoked by the Licensing Officer at any time.

Licence to be carried in vehicle

6.—(1) Every tank-cart or other vehicle transporting petroleum or dangerous petroleum shall carry clearly exhibited in the driver’s cab, the licence issued under rule 5.

(2) Every such licence shall be carried only in the tank-cart or other vehicle in respect of which it is issued.

(3) The tank shall be of iron or other metal approved by the Licensing Officer and shall be divided into separate compartments as required by the Director which shall be fitted with separate inlets for filling at the top and draw-off cocks at the bottom. The inlets shall be capable of being tightly shut and shall be kept shut except when the tank is being filled. Each draw-off cock shall be fitted with a handle capable of being locked in the off position. A chain of sufficient length to reach the ground is to be attached to the tank in such a manner as to form a permanent “earthed” connection.

(4) The tank shall be maintained constantly in a serviceable condition and free from leaks, and the cart kept in good condition.

(5) The tank-cart shall be produced to the Licensing Officer for inspection at any time when required by him.

(6) Dangerous petroleum shall not be discharged from a tank-cart into any portable container whatsoever.

(7) Every tank-cart shall display at the rear or back thereof a notice on which shall be painted in 5 centimetres lettering the words “DANGER — HIGHLY INFLAMMABLE”.

(8) Every tank-cart shall carry such fire extinguishing appliances as may be prescribed from time to time by the Licensing Officer.

Special cases

7. Any person desiring to transport more than 90 litres of dangerous petroleum except in a licensed tank-cart shall apply to the Licensing Officer for a licence which may be granted under such conditions as shall be laid down in each case.

Approved and sealed containers

8. No dangerous petroleum may be transported in drums or tins unless such drums or tins are of an approved pattern and properly closed and sealed.

PART IV

STORAGE OF PETROLEUM IN QUANTITIES EXCEEDING 5 CASES BUT NOT EXCEEDING 12½ CASES

Storage

9. Before the Director grants a licence for the storage of petroleum in quantities exceeding 5 cases but not exceeding 12½ cases, the applicant shall provide within his premises in such a position as shall be approved by the Director one or more receptacles or storage bins measuring 1 metre, by 0.9 metre, by 0.9 metre, constructed of brickwork of a thickness of not less than 11 centimetres rendered inside with cement of a thickness of not less than 13 millimetres.

PART V

STORAGE OF PETROLEUM IN QUANTITIES EXCEEDING 12½ CASES BUT NOT EXCEEDING 100 CASES OR EXCEEDING 182 LITRES BUT NOT EXCEEDING 3,637 LITRES

Storage of petroleum in quantities exceeding 12½ cases but not exceeding 100 cases

10. Before the Director grants a licence for the storage of petroleum in quantities exceeding 12½ cases but not exceeding 100 cases, the applicant shall provide within his premises in such a position as shall be approved by him one or more receptacles or storage bins for storing petroleum constructed of brickwork of a thickness of not less than 35 centimetres, and having a floor of cement concrete not less than 15 centimetres in thickness sloping to a small catch-pit; the cubic content of a bin shall measure and not exceed one-third more than the cubic content of the number of cases that are to be stored and the applicant shall carry out such structural alterations or additions to his own or adjacent premises as may be considered necessary by the Director.

Storage of petroleum in quantities exceeding 182 litres but not exceeding 3,637 litres

11. Before the Director grants a licence for the storage of petroleum in a tank in quantities exceeding 182 litres but not exceeding 3,637 litres, the applicant shall provide within his premises in such a position as may be approved by him one or more storage tanks made of iron or other metal and constructed and maintained in a manner approved by the Director. The applicant shall also provide a catch-pit below each tank used or kept on the premises, such catch-pit shall be made of material and of such dimensions as shall be approved by the Director, shall be maintained in an oil-tight condition and shall be of sufficient capacity to hold all the oil stored in the tank.

Storage — general requests

12.—(1) Any vessel used for drawing petroleum from the storage tank shall be placed within the catch-pit and below the tap of the tank before the tap be opened.

(2) Except as allowed by paragraph (5), the petroleum shall be stored in the bin or tank only and in no other part of the premises.

(3) No other goods of any description shall be stored in or upon any storage bin or tank.

(4) No fire or cooking-place or any artificial light shall be used or placed within 3 metres of any storage bin or tank.

(5) During daylight a quantity not exceeding 5 cases or 10 tins of petroleum may be exposed for sale or placed outside the storage bin at one time but after 7 p.m. no petroleum may be kept outside the bin.

(6) No tin or drum containing petroleum shall be broached or opened nor shall any petroleum be drawn off or changed from one receptacle to another at any hour under circumstances where the use of artificial light is necessary.

(7) The soldering of tins, drums or other receptacles containing petroleum or the application thereto of any operation in which fire or heat is used is prohibited on the licensed premises.

PART VI

STORAGE OF PETROLEUM IN QUANTITIES EXCEEDING 100 CASES BUT NOT EXCEEDING 400 CASES

Storage

13. Before the Director grants a licence for the storage of petroleum in quantities exceeding 100 cases but not exceeding 400 cases, the applicant shall provide a storage chamber or building in such a position as may be approved by him and so constructed as to comply with the conditions laid down in these Rules. Such chamber shall be constructed in a building which is not less than 7.5 metres distant from any other building or may be a separate building in which case it shall be at a distance of not less than 7.5 metres from any other building.

Plans

14. A plan of every such building as is referred to in rule 13 shall be deposited with the Director and shall show the position and nature of any other building within 30 metres of that building to a scale not smaller than 10 metres to 2.5 centimetres and plans as required by the Building Control Act [Cap. 29] and the regulations made thereunder shall also be submitted:

Provided that in the case of any building lawfully used immediately prior to 24th December 1926 for the storage of petroleum in quantities exceeding 100 cases but not exceeding 400 cases it shall not be necessary to deposit the plan unless the Director by notice in writing requires such plan to be deposited.

Conditions relating to storage building

15. The following conditions shall be complied with in regard to every such building as is referred to in rule 13:

(a)	the storage chamber shall be constructed with walls of brickwork of a thickness of not less than 35 centimetres rendered inside with cement plaster of a thickness of not less than 2.5 centimetres;
(b)	the roof or top of the chamber shall be of reinforced concrete at least 10 centimetres in thickness, and ventilators of approved pattern shall be provided in approved positions. If the chamber is a separate building the roof may be of corrugated iron or other non-inflammable materials as approved by the Director;
(c)	if the chamber is a separate building a copper lightning-conductor shall be provided leading to an earth-plate in a pit, well, river, or the sea, and shall be maintained in good order;
(d)	if the chamber is inside a building the floor level of the chamber shall be below ground level, a depth equal to at least half the height of the remainder of the chamber above ground level;
(e)	the door to the chamber shall be of steel or iron at least 3 millimetres in thickness and shall not exceed 1.5 metres in height and 0.9 metre in width. The sill of the door shall be at least 0.9 metre above the floor level and there shall be no other openings in the walls of the chamber;
(f)	the cubic capacity of the chamber up to the top of the wall inside shall not be more than 8.1 cubic metres for every 100 cases to be stored; and
(g)	the floor shall be laid in cement concrete not less than 10 centimetres in thickness and rendered with cement plaster not less than 2.5 centimetres in thickness.

Petroleum to be stored only in chamber

16. Except as allowed by rule 17, the petroleum shall be stored in the chamber only and in no other part of the premises.

Limited quantity may be kept out of chamber

17. During daylight a quantity not exceeding 5 cases or 10 tins of petroleum may be exposed for sale or placed outside the chamber at one time but after 7 p.m. no petroleum may be kept outside the chamber.

Transfer of petroleum in day light

18. No tin or drum containing petroleum shall be broached or opened nor shall any petroleum be drawn off or changed from one receptacle to another at any hour under circumstances where the use of artificial light is necessary.

Heat source to be at 3 metres distance

19. No fire or cooking-place or any artificial light shall be used within 3 metres of any storage chamber.

Hot works prohibited

20. The soldering of tins, drums or other receptacles containing petroleum or the application thereto of any operation in which fire or heat is used is prohibited on the licensed premises.