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HSE Guidance for cleaning of fuel tank ???

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lewes
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HSE Guidance for cleaning of fuel tank ???

Post by lewes »

Is there a HSG document or strict guidance for the cleaning of fuel tanks ???

I have been asked the question and I don't think there is but its Monday morning so cant confirm !!! :D

These are fuel tanks that go on vehicles and not Tankers or bulk storage of fuel.

Thanks for any input
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BGW
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Re: HSE Guidance for cleaning of fuel tank ???

Post by BGW »

Cleaning and gas-freeing of tanks containing flammable
residues Guidance Note CS15 HSE Books 1985 (rev 1997)
ISBN 0 7176 1365 8

Tank cleaning safety code (Model code of safe practice in the
petroleum industry, Part 16) Institute of Petroleum 1996 (2nd ed)
ISBN 0 4719 7096 4 Available from: Portland Press,
Commerce Way, Whitehall Industrial Estate, Colchester
CO2 8HP. Tel: 01206 796351.

also see

Cleaning and gas freeing of tanks
Last edited by BGW on Mon May 17, 2010 12:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
MickG
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Re: HSE Guidance for cleaning of fuel tank ???

Post by MickG »

What are you trying to clean from it??
You need to think about containment of any liquid and disposal of the waste.
A COSHH assessment should be carried out too.

I'm sure someone will be able to add more soon...
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lewes
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Re: HSE Guidance for cleaning of fuel tank ???

Post by lewes »

At the moment the vehicle tanks are drained to suitable containers and a soapy solution is used and rinsed several times.

These vehicle tanks are normally used for diesel
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Re: HSE Guidance for cleaning of fuel tank ???

Post by MickG »

Diesel isnt flammable so you dont have to worry about that.
But why clean them??
If you leave any water in the tanks before re-use this may end up being worse than any contamination you might have.
If you're trying to clean red diesel staining, you wont!!
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lewes
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Re: HSE Guidance for cleaning of fuel tank ???

Post by lewes »

I understand that vast quantities of Diesel fumes in an enclosed environment can be flammable.

The tanks are removed from the vehicle as there can be a build up of sludge in the bottom of the tank.

Weve had an incident and im looking into it further
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Re: HSE Guidance for cleaning of fuel tank ???

Post by MickG »

Flash point of diesel is around 62C. If it gets especially hot you might have a flammability problem, but at 62C your guys working will already have given up!!
Auto-ignition temp of diesel is 210C, so I wouldnt worry about that!!

The correct quantities of diesel vapour and oxygen at high presures can be explosive, but you'd have to inside a diesel engine to experience it.
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