Posted By James Albert
Is it a legal requirement to switch off equipment like welding machines, generators etc. while fueling? What is the source for such a practice inside petrol stations?

Posted By Glen Coe
Hi,
Best practice would be to eliminate as many as possible sources of ignition, either through hot surfaces, static, naked flame or arc.

The real issue is spills and vapour clouds.

Diesel is comparatively safer due to its higher flash point and reluctance to burn with naked flame, but petrol is very volatile and can give off vapours at very low temps, if I recall the flash point for petrol is about minus 40 deg c (in a closed cup method for the experts)so in summer it can produce significant vapour clouds.

Cheers
GC

Posted By The toecap
Yes, a fire risk assessment is part of the Regulatory Reform fire safety order 2005. And a risk assessment is a legal requirement under the MHSW regs 1999 also to protect your employees

Posted By Julian Meer (at Work)
I knew of an otherwise very good graduate mechanical engineer whom took the short-cut of re-filling the fuel tank to a small rotary engine whist it was running. He splashed diesel onto the hot engine and instantaneously a flash fire occurred burning his bare skin sufficient to hospitalise him. He was lone working at the time and if his clothes had caught he would be dead. This man was experienced with flammable fluids.

On investigation with a themrographic camera I found that some parts of the engine casing exceeded the autoignition temperature of the diesel and so no naked flame or vapour cloud scenario was necessary. Admittedly it was an old engine. When the engine was switched off the offending parts decreased rapidly in temperature to a safe limit.

Unless it can be proved that the equipment can't do this then a wiseman would follow Pete48's advice as above.

Not everything that can kill a man has to be in statute or an ACOP. It is also a matter of applied thinking and considering the designer's viewpoint, etc (I won't add common sense). That being said it may now become apparent that a mechanical interlock is exists on most cars so that the engine can not be run whilst refuelling, i.e., the ignition key also fits the petrol cap (yes, I know you can cheat with the spare and there are exceptions). Why do most cars have the fuel tank away from the (hot) engine, even though it then involves engineering longer lines with joints and pumps?

When one uses flammable fluids in the open air then by the nature of the situation you have two sides of the fire triangle. You then only need the third, spark from running engine, super hot casing, etc. Therefore I would hope all users of such equipement would mimimise all sources of ignition unless it is their intention to actually create a fire!

Legally speaking, I would chance that switching off engines whilst refueling is compliant DSEAR's "so far is reasonabley practical" duties i.e. seconds v the loss of the rest of someone's life.