FEF PVR Stage II Workshop a great success
A FEF Vapour Recovery Stage II Workshop– Countdown to Compliance took place at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel in Sutton Coldfield on 25th January. Over 100 regulators, operators and installers attended the event which featured 14 presentations on every aspect of stage II implementation.
Presentations covered the background behind vapour recovery legislation, experiences from implementation in Europe and the views of the regulators. The workshop went on to detail the FEF’s ‘Code of Practice – Design, Installation, Commissioning, Operation and Maintenance of Stage II Vapour Recovery Systems’ and technical explanations of the various aspects of installation, above and below ground, certification, testing and monitoring.
The penultimate presentation on the countdown to the installation highlighted some 30 sites need to be converted per week if the legal deadline of 1st January 2010 is to be met, stressing it is very important for operators to get a survey done now. Trying to schedule a conversion in the final weeks running up to the deadline will just not be an option, as the limited number of skilled operatives capable of doing the work will already be committed.
The presentations made at the Workshop are available on CDRom, which can be ordered from the link on the Home page of this Website.
Vapour Recovery Stage II
Stage II petrol vapour recovery control regulations for petrol dispensing outlets came into effect in the UK on 1st October 2006. The regulations impose compliance with a threshold of 3,500m3 for existing stations and 500m3 for new stations for petrol.
A Guidance note has been issued by DEFRA and is available by clicking here.
Petrol retailers should be aware that systems have to be installed by 1st January 2010 and should not delay in contacting their equipment suppliers to schedule PVR II installation to meet this deadline.
The Forecourt Equipment Federation is keen to ensure that a consistent regime exists for all aspects of Stage II Vapour Recovery and to ensure continued safety of equipment when modified with VR. The FEF has developed a ‘Code of Practice – titled; Design, Installation, Commissioning, Operation and Maintenance of Stage II Vapour Recovery Systems’ and takes a generic approach to the technical requirements that apply, whilst supporting the approach of best available technology and drawing on experience of Stage II vapour recovery from other leading European countries, many of whom have had VR prescribed by law since the early 90’s. The FEF COP document is endorsed by the HSE is intended to be the primary reference point for VR Stage II in the UK and to be helpful and guide and assist those parties who are affected by this requirement.
It is available free of charge from office@fef.org.uk.
Misfuelling
The AA Motoring Trust estimate 120,000 motorists a year mis-fuel, costing from £80 up to £3,000 per car to get it back on the road.
The causes of misfuelling have not been properly researched but the solution is down to re-enforcement of the fuel choice decision. Some innovative mechanical solutions have been put forward to make it impossible to misfuel, but whether the fuel companies will be willing to spend this kind of money for something which is not costing them money, is debatable.
See www.theaatrust.com for further information.
Proposed Extension To The Deregulation (Weights And Measures) Order 1999
The delay in the preparation of the proposed extension to the Deregulation (Weights and Measures) Order 1999 to include ‘adjustment’ within the approved activities is unnecessarily inhibiting industry on both the supply and demand sides. The responsibility for progressing this lies with the National Weights and Measures Laboratory’s (NWML).
Considerable time and effort was expended by industry representatives in attending a series of meetings, called by NWML, in 2002 to review the operation of self verification of fuel dispensers. The resulting report submitted to the Minister suggested that the existing Approved Self Verification scheme was working very well and there was no evidence to suggest that Approved Self Verifiers should continue to be denied the opportunity to carry out the activity known as ‘adjustment’. ‘NWML did not finally publish a consultation document on the proposed Regulatory Reform Order until 30 November, with a deadline for responses of 28 February. This delay means that there is a real risk that, if an early General Election is called, the proposals will be abandoned.’