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Trading Standards
Storage Tanks - Demolition and Making Safe

Introduction
This Authority has power either under the terms of the petroleum licence or under Section 73 of the Public Health Act 1961 to require occupiers/owners of premises to take reasonable steps to prevent danger from fixed containers in which petroleum spirit has been kept. This Guidance Note concerns the fire and explosion hazards, which may arise when tanks and vessels (both large and small) that have contained flammable gases and liquids are to be rendered safe or demolished. Inadequate preparation of tanks and vessels, which have held flammable materials, prior to repair work or demolition commencing, has resulted in many serious accidents, including multiple fatalities. Even apparently clean tanks can be dangerous as the presence of water can lead to corrosion of the tank structure with a subsequent reduction in the level of oxygen in the atmosphere inside the tank and evolution of flammable hydrogen gas. It is essential, therefore, that the potential hazards are fully appreciated and that appropriate planning and preparation of work is undertaken. It is particularly important that a careful assessment of the tank is carried out by a person competent to judge its condition and determine the precautions needed. All those involved should have received thorough training in the procedures to be used, the risks involved and the precautions to be taken. The supervision of the work should be entrusted to a competent person with sufficient experience to be able to conduct the job in a safe manner. Because of the great variety of products stored, it is impossible to give detailed guidance on safe methods of work for all circumstances that may arise. In any case of doubt, where for instance the product is thermally unstable, or is highly toxic, the advice of the manufacturer, supplier or other specialist should be sought. We have a list of contractors who carry out these tasks and can advise you in more detail.

Hazards
The ignition of flammable vapour within a confined space can produce pressures well above the safe working pressure of most types of tank used for liquid storage. Even tanks designed to be pressure vessels are not normally designed to withstand internal explosion. An explosion within a tank is therefore liable to cause violent failure of the vessel. Parts of the tank may be propelled as missiles, and a flame front, hot gases and burning liquid may be expelled.

Other authorities you may need to consult

There are also other interested parties who have legislative control over certain premises and therefore they may need to be consulted before any works are undertaken. These are likely to include:

Health and Safety Executive The Environment Agency The Local Planning Authority

Tanks used for petroleum spirit storage

This Authority's policy is that any tank to be taken permanently out of use should be removed from the ground and disposed of. Where there are good reasons for this not to be done consideration will be given to solid filling a disused tank with concrete or an inert hydrophobic foam in accordance with one of the following procedures.

Permanent methods for treating disused petrol tanks

Water filling a disused petrol tank and removing it from the ground. a) All residual petroleum spirit should be removed from each compartment of the tank and each compartment completely filled with water. NOTE: Unless a compartment of a tank is to be completely filled with water directly following removal of residual petroleum spirit, enough water should immediately be put into the compartment to ensure that the openings of inlet and delivery pipes are adequately submerged. A water depth of 150mm will generally be satisfactory for this purpose. b) All pipes should be disconnected from each compartment of the tank and further water added until it overflows from the tank. NOTE: Where an overfill prevention system is fitted, provision shall be made to ensure that the system does not prohibit the tank from being completely filled with water. c) The suction line(s) should be flushed through with water and all openings to the tank, including the ventilating opening(s), should be securely capped or plugged.

d) The tank should remain in this condition while the work of excavation is in progress and during the excavation operations a copious supply of water shall be used to lessen the risk of any spark occurring. There should be no smoking or naked lights in proximity to the work. e) When it is required to lift a tank from an excavation it should be emptied of water providing all openings to the tank are immediately closed and any remaining sludge covered by water. NOTE: The water in the tank should be pumped out and disposed of. As the water to be disposed of is regarded as a contaminated waste it can only be disposed of by a registered waste carrier. Consideration may be given to disposal through a separator that meets the Authority's current requirements. f) The words "PETROL - HIGHLY FLAMMABLE" should be painted in clear and conspicuous letters at each end or on opposite sides of the tank, which should be removed from the premises without delay. Inerting a disused petrol tank with nitrogen foam prior to solid filling or removal of tank from the ground a) All suction lines connected to the tank must be drained. b) All residual petroleum spirit should be removed from each compartment of the tank. This will necessitate the tank being bottomed through the internal fill pipe using a hand operated or electrically safe pump. c) Nitrogen foam should be injected through the fill opening and injection continued until the tank is completely full of foam. The vent and suction line should have a foam plug injected. d) All pipes should then be disconnected from each compartment. e) The tank lid should be removed and solid filling commenced. (See 6.4). Alternatively, the openings in the tank lid should be plugged and the tank removed from the ground. f) Nitrogen foam is not a long-term method for making safe as the foam settles and slowly breaks down. It is essential, therefore, that it is regularly replenished, particularly before any work on the tank is commenced. NOTE: If necessary during solid filling any foam displaced can be broken down by extraction.

Solid filling an existing disused water filled petrol tank with cement slurry or concrete mix a) The water in the tank should be pumped out and disposed of. As the water to be disposed of is regarded as a contaminated waste it can only be disposed of by a registered waste carrier. Consideration may be given to disposal through a separator that meets the Authority's current requirements. b) An area of 6m around the tank manhole should be cordoned off and notices warning of the dangers of petrol and requiring no smoking should be prominently displayed. c) The tank should be completely filled with nitrogen inert foam as in 6.2. (In certain circumstances site conditions may mean that this stage may be unnecessary. This Authority's Petroleum Inspectors should be consulted for further advice for a risk assessment to be carried out and a waiver given if appropriate.) d) The tank lid should be removed in a safe manner and once removed the tank should be immediately filled with a cement slurry or a concrete mix with a minimum slump of 200mm. Where concrete is used a vibrating poker should be employed to ensure good compaction. e) Concreting should continue until the manway opening is completely filled. Solid filling or removal of a tank from the ground using a hydrophobic inert foam This method utilises an acceptable inert foam and normally no water filling of the tank prior to application is required. If the tank is water filled see 6.3(a). a) All suction lines connected to the tank must be drained. b) All residual petroleum spirit should be bottomed out of the tank. (See also paragraph 6.2(b)). c) Immediately following bottoming out a water liquid seal should be provided or foam injection should commence. d) Foam should be injected through a suitable tank opening, preferably the fill pipe (the internal can be left connected) at a pressure of 1.5 barg until it discharges from the vent pipe discharge point. NOTE: Where a water liquid seal has been provided there is no need to remove the water, as the foam is hydrophobic. e) After foaming has taken place the vent pipe may be disconnected. f) Where a tank is to be removed from the ground a lower density foam is used and the tank can be lifted with the foam in-situ.

Temporary methods for treating disused petrol tanks

The Authority will only accept temporary filling of a tank if it is required for future use or prior to removal work commencing. The tank may be filled temporarily using one of the following methods. NOTE: It should be noted that the methods described below are only temporary methods of making a tank safe for a period of up to 12 months prior to tank cleaning or modifications during redevelopment of the filling station. Water filling a) All residual petroleum spirit should be removed from each compartment of the tank and each compartment completely filled with water. NOTE: Unless a compartment of a tank is to be completely filled with water directly following removal of residual petroleum spirit, enough water should immediately be put into the compartment to ensure that the openings of inlet and delivery pipes are adequately submerged. A water depth of 150 mm will generally be satisfactory for this purpose. b) All pipes should be disconnected from each compartment of the tank and further water added until it overflows from the tank. c) The suction line(s) should be flushed through with water and all openings to the tank, including the ventilating opening(s), should be securely capped or plugged. Hydrophobic inert foam (see 6.4) The foam, whilst chemically the same to that mentioned in item 6.4, can have less mechanical strength than that used for permanent filling. Inert nitrogen foam (see 6.2) Nitrogen foam is not a long-term method for making safe as the foam settles and slowly breaks down. It is essential, therefore, that it is regularly replenished, particularly before any work on the tank is commenced.

Bibliography
Guidance can be found at Chapter 15 of the Design, Construction, Modification, Maintenance and Decommissioning of Filing Stations. Guidance for the Design, Construction, Modification, Maintenance and Decommissioning of Filling Stations The Association for Petroleum & Explosives Administration (APEA) PO Box 106 Saffron Walden Essex CB11 3XT www.apea.org.uk email admin@apea.org.uk The above publications are current at the time of preparation of this Guidance Note.

If any further clarification on the demolition or safe rendering of storage tanks is required, or guidance on the Trading Standards interpretation on the above documents, do not hesitate to contact the local Trading Standards Office dealing with your premises.

This factsheet is designed to give you general advice. It is not a statement of law and should not be interpreted as such. For further details, please phone:

Business Advice Line (01372) 371737 Fax (01372) 371704 TYPETALK calls welcome E-mail business.advice@surreycc.gov.uk Web Site www.surreycc.gov.uk/tradingstandards
Surrey County Council Trading Standards Mid Surrey Area Office Bay Tree Avenue Kingston Road Surrey KT22 7SY

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E&E/409-MAY 09