The highly-flammable liquids and LPG rags (1)

20th September 1974, Page 213

20th September 1974

Page 213

Page 213, 20th September 1974 — The highly-flammable liquids and LPG rags (1)

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by Leslie Oldridge TEng(CRI), MIMI, AMIRTE THE Highly Flammable Liquids and Liquefied Petroleum Gases Regulations 1972 lay down requirements for the safety of persons employed in factories and other places to which the Factories Act 1961 applies and where highly flammable liquids and liquefied petroleum gas is present in connection with any trade or business. The use of LPG as a fuel for vehicles and the possibility that other substances coming within the scope of the Regulations will be present in warehouses or workshops makes a working knowledge of this law essential for them.

The Regulations came into operation on June 21 1973, except for one small part which became effective on June 21 1974.

"Liquefied petroleum gas" is defined in the Regulations as "commercial butane, commercial propane and any mixture thereof'. The requirements concerning LPG are limited to the manner of storage and the marking of storage accommodation. The Regulations do not apply to LPG actually in the fuel tanks of vehicles or engines or to small closed vessels containing not more than 500cc.

All LPG not in use must be stored:

(a) in suitable underground reservoirs below ground the surface of which is wholly or mainly in the open air, or in suitable fixed storage tanks or suitable fixed storage vessels in safe positions either in the open air or below ground the surface of which is wholly or mainly in the open air: or (b) in suitable movable storage tanks or vessels kept in safe positions in the open air; or (c) in the pipe lines and pumps or other appliances forming part of a totally enclosed pipe line system; or (d) in suitable cylinders kept in safe positions in the open air, or where this is not reasonably practicable, in a storeroom constructed of non-combustible material, adequately ventilated and which is either in a safe position or is a fire resisting structure which is not used for any other purpose other than the storage of LPG or acetylene cylinders.

In order to ensure that only the minimum amount is kept in any workplace the Regulations specify that LPG cylinders must be kept in store until they are required for use. Any expended cylinder must be returned to the store as soon as possible. Except where it is im practicable to do so every tank, vessel, reservoir, cylinder and storeroom used for storing LPG must be marked clearly and boldly "Highly Flammable — LPG" or words to that effect. Where it is impossible to mark the actual containers a similar notice must be displayed as near as possible to the gases.

Testing

"Highly flammable liquids" other than LPG are defined in Regulation 2 by reference to flash point (32° Celsius) and combustibility. The method of testing a liquid to determine whether it falls within the definition is set out in Schedules I and 2 of the Regulations.

The use of the word "flammable" throughout the Regulations is interesting as in all previous legislation the word "inflammable" has been used. For example there is the Inflammable Liquids (Conveyance by Road) Regulations, 1971.

I prefer the new word "flammable" as the prefix "in" does suggest the opposite meaning to that intended. Indestructible means something which cannot be destroyed, incurable something which cannot be cured, but "inflammable" does not mean something which will not burn. Next Week: more on these Regulations and particularly the storage ol latnmahle