Contact:
  • Licensing Team
  • Address:
    9-10 Bath Street Bath BA1 1SN
  • E-mail:
    licensing@bathnes.gov.uk
  • Telephone:
    01225 477531
  • Fax:
    01225 477596
  • Minicom:
    01225 477647
  • Page Updated:
    13/08/2008
  • Author:
    Lorna McCardle
A to Z Index

Licence - Petroleum

Petroleum (Regulation) Acts 1928 & 1936
Petroleum Filling Stations

 

Any business keeping more than 15 litres of Petroleum Spirit requires a licence from the Local Authority and licensees have to meet very strict conditions relating to storage.

In addition, they must also comply with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR).
 
DSEAR require employers and the self-employed to:

  • carry out a risk assessment of any work activities involving dangerous substances;
  • provide technical and organisational measures to eliminate or reduce as far as reasonably practicable the identified risks;
  • provide equipment and procedures to deal with accidents and emergencies;
  • classify places where explosive atmospheres may occur into zones and to mark those zones where necessary.

The law also limits the amount of petroleum spirit that can be kept in private storage to no more than 20 litres in two 10 litre metal containers, or 10 litres in two 5 litre plastic containers.  All containers must be approved and designed for the purpose and marked PETROLEUM and HIGHLY FLAMMABLE.

The following conditions will be attached to the licence:

1  The licence and any licence conditions issued, or copies of these documents, shall be kept on the licensed premises.

2  Where the licensee wishes to have the licence transferred to some other person or body, he shall notify the Petroleum Licensing Authority of the name and address of the proposed transferee at least 28 days before the occupation or ownership of the licensed premises is transferred to that other person or body.

3  The licensee shall not undertake or permit to be undertaken any material alterations to the approved arrangements, unless the written consent of the Petroleum Licensing Authority has been obtained.

4  The licensee shall as soon as is reasonably practicable, notify the Petroleum Licensing Authority and confirm in writing the details of any:

  • fire or explosion at the licensed premises;
  • significant spillage of petroleum spirit or other dangerous substance at the licensed premises ;
  • actual or suspected leak of petroleum spirit or other dangerous substance from the storage tanks, dispensers and the pipework installation at the licensed premises; and
  • other significant incident, which could affect the safe operation of the licensed premises.

5  No operating attendant shall be under the age of 16 years and when open for business the licensed premises shall be supervised by a competent person who shall not be under the age of 18 years.

6  The licensee shall not supply petroleum spirit or any other dangerous substance to any person under the age of 16 years.

7  Except where a petroleum spirit dispenser is being tested for accuracy or during the course of repairs to the installation or any part thereof, petroleum spirit shall only be dispensed into the fuel tank of an internal combustion engine, or into a suitable container. Any container used for this purpose shall immediately be securely closed and removed from the licensed premises or kept in a safe place.

8  The licensee shall ensure that adequate records are kept of the petroleum spirit monitoring and reconciliation system or the operation of any other suitable leak detection system or leak prevention system such that any leak of petroleum spirit from the storage tanks or associated pipework is detected before a hazardous situation can arise.

Such records and documents should be retained for a minimum of 12 months and if requested be made available to the Petroleum Licensing Authority as soon as is reasonably practicable.

9  The licensee shall ensure that adequate records are kept of the maintenance regime and repairs carried out to the:

  • petrol installation; including the storage tanks, pipework, pumps and dispensers;
  • the spillage containment system; including drainage gullies and oil separators; and
  • any other plant or equipment located in areas classified as ‘hazardous’ within the meaning of Regulation 7 of the Dangerous Substances and Explosives Atmospheres Regulations 2002.

10  As the licensee, you are reminded that compliance with these conditions does not, in any way, absolve you from your statutory duties under the:

  • Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
  • Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
  • Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999; and
  • Dangerous Substances & Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR)

to control the risks of fires or explosives arising from the unloading (from road tankers), storage and dispensing of petroleum spirit or any other dangerous substance.

Further Information

For an application form please contact the Council’s Licensing Section on 01225 477531or email licensing@bathes.gov.uk.