Vapour recovery assessment scheme launched

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Apr 27, 2007

Sira has developed an assessment scheme to help installers avoid the pitfalls of retro-fitting of vapour recovery systems.

Sira has developed an assessment scheme to help installers avoid the pitfalls of retro-fitting of vapour recovery systems.

Legislation has determined that all new fuelling equipment installed in the UK be fitted with vapour recovery systems and that existing forecourts must be retrospectively fitted by 2010.

Whilst most new dispensers include the use of approved systems, existing types may, or may not have facilities for retro-fitting.

Since June 2003 all electrical and mechanical equipment used on forecourts has had to comply with European Directive 94/9/EC - the ATEX Directive.

Electrical equipment installed before that time was certified to National Standards and continues to legitimately remain in service.

Both ATEX and pre-ATEX equipment are certified to fixed design criteria which, in theory, cannot be changed without variations to the certificates.

Problems arise principally when the original certification and design drawings are not available to the recovery system installer.

Therefore, how does the installer know that he has not infringed the original safety aspects of the dispenser?.

Who is taking responsibility for the ongoing approval of the equipment now it does not meet its original hazardous zoning safety criteria?.

One of the main objectives of the Sira scheme is to meet the requirements of the approved UK (FEF) code of practice.

The scheme covers individual build procedures for both current and obsolete dispensers and draws on the companies experience of equipment design and hazardous area assessment.

Aimed at installers of retro-fit vapour recovery systems (whether large or small), the Scheme is designed to give confidence both to installers and users.