Fuel tanker regulations require that anyone who applies for a new permit for the use of these tankers or seeks renewal of an already existing permit should sign a declaration confirming that the vehicle is fit for the safe transport of fuel as specified in the permit.
The transporter will be required to ensure compliance with the set regulations and rules that pertains the transportation of fuel.
Transporters should ensure that their conduct guarantees the secure and safe transportation of fuel. Any assembly method or alternative tank trailer designs not included in this guidance but with the ability to yield similar results may be considered suitable.
Fuel, petrol, diesel, oil tank trailer Buying Guide – How to Choose Design and Capacity
Fuel Tank Trailer Guide – Diesel, Petrol, Oil Tanker Trailers Designs & Specs
1. Safety Equipment
- Driver Safety Kits
The safety of the trailer drivers is the responsibility of the individual or the company as the case may apply.
There is a code of compliance for the transportation of dangerous goods with recommendations on what personal protective equipment to choose for such operations.
The choice of equipment includes dust masks, overalls, safety footwear, goggles, eye rinse bottle and so on.
The security of the load shall be highly enhanced with driver allowed to make sure all the safety standards are met.
No driver shall be allowed to drive or operate a vehicle with loaded with fuel on a highway unless the recommended security features are in place.
The securing of the load should be in a manner that it will not escape off from the trailer or shift and sway in a way that could affect the normal operation of the vehicle.
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- Installation of Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers should be installed in clearly visible locations that are not obstructed. Most importantly, they should be readily available for use.
Goods of the nature of fuels need fire protection of the CO2 type fire extinguishers or a wet chemical extinguisher. These should be mounted in a well-attached standard quick-release bracket.
Different sections will require different types of fire extinguishers. The causative agents for the different fire types are different hence the reason.
The other most important area to be installed with a fire extinguisher is the load area section. There usually are recommendations for each of the eventualities.
1 x 20-B:C rated fire extinguisher or else 2 x 10-B:C rated extinguishers are needed in operations where containers are stored inside a structure or a building.
- Emergency Procedure Information
It is important to provide important information and make it available to emergency workers and drivers following an emergency.
Therefore, make sure you get the appropriate emergency procedure information for use in your operations. It is important for you to know what actionable steps can be taken to enhance rescue a situation should the unexpected happen.
The emergency procedure information booklet must be placed in a secure holder and visibly marked with the writing “emergency procedure guide” or else “emergency information”.
The writing should in red with at a height of at least 10mm on a clear white background. Well, requirements may vary from country to country but the most important thing is to ensure that this is observed.
The holder for this information should be attached to the cabin door or any other accessible position deemed appropriate if the door location is not suitable.
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2. ELECTRICAL
Electrical installations designs and installations should be made ins a such a way that maintenance of normal habitable and operational conditions offered on board are enhanced without recourse to the redundant electrical power source.
The equipment operations needed for safety will be ascertained based on different emergency scenarios. With these electrical installations, the safety of everyone on board will be enhanced.
Further, here are considerations to make on electrical installations.
- Battery
The transportation of fuel comes with risks of explosion and fire. Therefore, all ignition sources and sparks sources should be kept away from the battery location.
The battery unit should be well-secured and ventilated with the use of an acid resistant cover in an area that is accessible.
- Electrical wiring
It is required of all electrical wiring to be contained inside a well-fitted conduit maintained in good condition alongside secure mounting locations.
Cables and conduits outside and to the rear section of the cabin should be securely protected and fastened.
Electrical wiring
- Spill Kit
A spill kit suitable for fuel on transit should be on board and located in a position that is easily accessible. The perfect spill kit should have the following in place:
absorbents or containment tubes, shovel and broom, container (s) as would be appropriate to contain the spill. Most probably, a sealable bucket can be used.
Secondary containment is not needed for small containers that are separately operated and spill control is needed for small containers of combustible and flammable liquids with a potential of spilling over.
The level of spill control must be founded on the degree of risk. The maintenance and operation processes and procedures should be put in place to prevent spills.
At all times, fuel tanks should not be filled past their safe level of filling.
There are different spill kits types for purchase or where applicable custom-made ones can be installed with sand in them or any other absorbing substance that can soak up the spill prior to endangering the surrounding environment.
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3. The Tank
Fuel tank trailers should be constructed of heavy gauge steel. The tank shall comprise of removable welded sections done according to recommended quality.
Inspections should be made to ensure that these standards are met. Most importantly, they should be weatherproof for effective outdoor applications.
Further, tanks shall be protected from corrosion and rust through rust inhibitor coating to the inside walls and priming and paint finish done on the external walls.
Ever connection on the fuel tank systems should be made using pipe unions to enhance removal and facilitate tank service.
- Tank construction
It is the responsibility of the individual owner or the company to make sure that the tank used for operations is always in good condition. Maintenance should always be carried out to ensure that this condition is enhanced at all times.
They must ensure that there are no damages, leakages or rusting on the tank body. To enhance safe operations, the fuel tanks should be sufficiently sealed through the use of proper caps, fitting lids, valves or bungs to prevent leaks and spills.
tank trailer product line
Further, the following should be ensured throughout the fuel transportation procedures:
- All fittings should be made in accordance the class of fuel being transported as defined by the relevant national standards concerning the transportation of fuel
- The coaming (roller over), the manhole, valves and venting fittings should meet the set national standards
- Fittings and accessories on the tanker such as caps, valves, outlets, hoes, vacuum system and sample points should meet the safety requirements needed for secure, safe and leak-free transport of fuel and the safety needs of the driver on board.
- The tank mountings specifically should be based on the recommended safety practice on securing tankers of this nature.
- The tank should be made of materials that are resistant to the fuel being transported.
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- Tanker baffles
The work of the tanker baffles is to control fuel surge while in transit. These are normally welded inside the tank and when used for a period of time, it can fail or break down.
Once these baffles become ineffective because of breaking down, the liquid fuel surge poses a potential hazard. As a result, each of the baffles should be accessed through a manhole to permit maintenance and inspection work.
Large tanker compartments should also be fitted with these baffles.
The distance between a baffle and a bulkhead should be set according to the standards set.
In a case where several baffles are needed to meet the spacing needs, the baffles surface area must not be less than the required percentage of the maximum cross section area.
wave battle
- Rear Bumper
The rear bumper of the vehicle should be frame mounted, connected to the chassis/sub-frame and extended to cover the entire width of the tank.
There should be a “collision buffer” available with a sufficient gap as required between the bumper and the rear section of the tanker.
The bumper is meant to protect all the external fittings at the back of the tank. These are the outlet, inlet, hose hook or the sample point that should not protrude past the bumper.
4. Important Consideration for Flammable Liquids
Fuels and other flammable liquids need extra care and protection during their transportation. The driver and/or the company should make sure that the provisions for safety are made and here are some of the important considerations to make:
- Such substances as combustible vapors, mists and dust can evolve or be generated within the loading section. These are capable of forming explosive mixtures in the air in specific proportions. It is crucial to cut down the amount of dust and vapor generated while loading operations are in progress.
- To offer protection against static electricity discharge, all tankers should be well-equipped with an earth plug.
- Certification should be obtained for the following safety devices and features used as suitable to the tanker design: pressure relief valves, quick-acting shut off valves, shield for guarding spills from hot spots or an ignition source, wiring masked in conduit, roof-mounted ventilation, antistatic earth plug, exhaust air cleaners such as a carbon filter as would be applicable, diverter equipped with control devices for emission, diverter to direct emissions from hot spots and ignition sources
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5. Placards
Class diamonds should be installed indicating the type of hazard connected with the fuel being carried. The class diamond format is usually standardized across the globe.
A class diamond may not be needed at the back since an emergency information panel will provide that.
An emergency information panel (EIP) which is typically a standardized panel sitting in a predetermined location on the vehicle should guide in decoding information for the type of fuel being transported.
The EIP information is normally used by the emergency rescue personnel following an emergency. All tankers need an EIP in place.
Class diamonds and EIPs should be accommodated in frames fitted on each side of the tank trailer. Still, there should be another frame fitted at the rear section of the vehicle to accommodate an EIP.
In the event that there would be an obstruction on the tanker, it may not be possible to mount a complete size EIP and therefore, a half size panel could be mounted. The instructions must be followed to the latter to facilitate safe operations.
Conclusion
Fuel tank trailer regulations must be adhered to particularly in line with the key specifications made on this document.
The information contained in here is not meant to be prescriptive or to exempt the use of other emerging measures, innovative designs or alternative solutions, methods materials and procedures.
This is a guideline to the recommended standard practices so any use of procedures and developments other than what is stated here should comply with the acceptable degree of risk management discussed.
Transporters are required to put in place management systems that enhance good management and handling or risks associated with the transport of fuel.
These risks should be clearly identified and well-managed and controlled through clearly defined procedures known to all involved in the operations.
Further, the recommendations on practices for safe management of fuel tank trailers operations address the various elements that form part of the management systems that fuel products transporters must adhered to to enhance safe handling of these products in a way that does not adversely affect the environment.
The implementation of the regulations and requirements already put in place must lead to a continuous improvement in the environmental and safety performance of the transporters in the fuel industry.
The recommendations usually apply to the transportation of fuel products through different transportation modes.
Still, they apply to various distribution practices associated with the handling of fuel products as conducted by transporters such as the loading, offloading and storage for any subcontractors directly working on a contract basis on behalf of transporters.