Why Test

A thorough understanding of how safe and efficient a system is will help to minimise risks during deliveries to the site operator, the delivery driver, site personnel and the general public, as well as helping to protect the environment.

Knowledge of the safety and efficiency of a system through testing will allow an operator to set up a programme of planned and preventative maintenance, promoting the reduction of long term operating costs by reducing the risks of deliveries and reducing the high costs of reactive maintenance work.

The Principle of Testing

The Petroman Testing procedure is very comprehensive and thorough and has been designed to test all the components of Stage 1B system.

Once the test has been completed and the results interpreted, we then provide a risk assessment of each system, with recommendations to the site owner. If a system has failed the test, we will issue our recommendations for essential repairs to be carried out. Once a system has passed the test, a certificate will then be issued.

Our certificates are recognized by all UK local authorities including the LFCDA and SEPA, along with the APEA, the PRA and the Institute of Energy.

What is tested

The condition and correct operation of the pressure/vacuum valve.

• The condition and correct operation of the vapour connection valve.
• The presence of a vapour recovery manifold drain point.
• The vapour tightness of each internal tank fill pipe.
• The vapour tightness of any overfill prevention devices.
• The vapour tightness of each fill point cap.
• The liquid sealing of each fill point.

In addition to the specific items tested above, we always carry out a general site survey prior to the actual test itself. This will have many checks that may not be directly related to the vapour recovery system, but are relevant to the correct and safe operation of the site. These include the following:

• Check site register and history of any maintenance work carried out on the vapour recovery system and tank farm.
• Checking the tanker offloading position.
• Checking the location of the vapour recovery point relative to the tanker offloading position.
• Checking the existence and clarity of all relevant signage.
• Checking the condition of the forecourt drainage grills.
• Checking the location and accessibility of PV valves.
• Checking the existence of weather caps on diesel vents.
• Checking the condition and location of the vent stack and other vapour recovery pipework.
• Checking the size and location of fill points relative to the delivery tanker faucets.
• Checking the condition of fill cap locks, seals and straps.
• Checking the condition and contents of all tank manholes.
• General observations made about the equipment on site - pumps, nozzles and hoses, gauges, overfill prevention, Stage 2 vapour recovery.
• Observations about the general "housekeeping" of the site.

Our test offers immediate results and if a system fails our test, in addition to providing recommendations to the site owner, we are able to provide a reliable and cost effective repair service.

Minor maintenance works can of course be carried out cost effectively at the time of the test, whilst our engineer is on site, such as replacing VR valves, fill cap straps, seals, site signage. However, where we come across a system with more serious problems, we can provide a comprehensive and reliable repair service and we guarantee our work for leak tightness for 3 years.

We can also provide a "Blue Print" testing service for brand new and refurbished sites.