I work on a large Oil & Gas Storage and Stabilisation facility in Teesside. I was recently asked about the impact of vehicles entering the facility which are fitted with vehicle trackers. In particular: spark creating potential of the tracking unit & impact on plant instrumentation caused by radio transmissions from the tracking unit.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Unless I'm very much mistaken, vehicle trackers work on the same bandwidths as mobile phones. I'm not aware of any evidence to suggest that these frequencies have ever been proven to cause a source of ignition but am aware of attempts which have indicated the opposite. As for the spark risk, this should be no different from any other electrical system in the vehicle IMHO.

I've heard stories that the alleged reason that mobile phones aren't allowed to be used on forecourts is because the signal can retard the fuel delivered counters but as for the accuracy of this story, what type of radio frequency, what type of pump I cannot comment.

As I understand it, the concept behind not using mobiles on forecourts because of the fire/explosion risk, is based on mobiles transmitting/receiving microwaves that excite the petrol molocules in the vapours.

The Mythbusters program have tried to replicate this but unsuccessfully (you can draw your own conclusions about there scientific method).

Considering the risk from the 12volt electrical system in the car, I would imagine that the risk of a mobile phone creating a spark that could ignite the vapours would be much, much lower if existant.