To: All Unitary and Island Councils; County Councils in England and Fire Authorities

For the attention of: Environmental Services /Trading Standards /Fire Authorities

This circular gives advice to Local Authority Enforcement Officers

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Petrol Filling Stations - Autogas Installations

Introduction

1 The purpose of this Information Note is to inform urgently all PLA and PEA inspectors of two recent and serious incidents involving the leakage of autogas from dispenser pipework.

2 Both incidents have common features insofar as the leaks were sudden and the escaping liquid/vapours quickly affected the sales kiosk.

Bristol Incident

3 The first and most serious of the two incidents occurred in Bristol in October 2003. At this incident, liquid/vapours escaping from a leaking flexible pipe (beneath the autogas dispenser) rapidly travelled through buried ducting and entered one of the two sales kiosks. An explosion occurred when the vapours ignited and the subsequent fire destroyed the kiosk. Fortunately, no one was injured at this incident.

Gloucestershire Incident

4 The second incident occurred at a site in Gloucestershire in November 2003. This incident also involved a leaking flexible pipe (beneath the autogas dispenser) and like the Bristol incident, the leaking vapours migrated to the sales building through buried ducting. Tests, using a flammable gas detector, showed that the vapour/air mixture in the sales building was within the flammable range. Fortunately in this case the leak was discovered before an explosion occurred.

Commonality

5 Interim reports from the two incidents indicate that there were installation faults with the flexible pipe beneath the autogas dispenser and also that cable ducting on the sites had not been adequately sealed, thereby providing a path for the autogas vapours to reach the sales buildings.

Investigations

6 Both incidents are the subject of on-going investigations. As and when these investigations are completed, the findings will be used as a basis for a PETEL circular providing revised guidance on the design, installation and maintenance of ducting at petrol filling stations.

7 It is anticipated that the PETEL will be published in Spring 2004.

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