Petroleum - guidance on sale and storage

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Who needs a licence?

If you store more than 15 litres of petroleum spirit (petrol, benzene, toluene, hexane) and you are one of the two categories of work premises below then you need a licence:

• retail petrol filling stations; and
• non retail petrol filling stations.

The latter includes commercial sites and farms if they have storage tanks for petrol and from which the petrol is dispensed, either mechanically or electrically, into the fuel tank for an internal combustion engine (note that this is a much wider definition than just a motor vehicle).
 
Non-workplace, or domestic, storage of petrol may need a licence. This depends on the individual circumstances of:

• how it is being stored;
• in what quantity; and
• the type of container used.

 In any event, safety requirements still have to be met. If you are unsure of whether or not you need a licence please contact us for advice.

You can download a petroleum licence application form below:

Petroleum Licence application form (pdf - 566kb)

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The cost for storing and/or selling petroleum can be found on our Scale of Fees and Charges page.

Petroleum information

Petroleum is a highly flammable liquid and gives off flammable vapour even at very low temperatures. When this vapour is mixed with air in proportions between 1% and 8% a risk of fire or explosion exists. Petrol vapour is heavier than air and does not disperse easily in still conditions. It tends to sink to the lowest possible level of its surroundings and may accumulate in tanks, cavities, drains, pits or other depressions.

Flammable atmospheres may also exist where clothing or other absorbent material or substances are contaminated with petrol. Petrol vapour can have acute or chronic effects if inhaled and therefore should be considered in the assessment required under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999 (COSHH).

The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) require employers to control the risks to safety from fire and explosions.

Quick guide to DSEAR

DSEAR stands for the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002.

Dangerous substances are any substances used or present at work that could, if not properly controlled, cause harm to people as a result of a fire or explosion. They can be found in nearly all workplaces and include such things as solvents, paints, varnishes, flammable gases, such as liquid petroleum gas (LPG), dusts from machining and sanding operations and dusts from foodstuffs.

DSEAR requires that employers:

• find out what dangerous substances are in their workplace and what the fire and explosion risks are;
• put control measures in place to either remove those risks or, where this is not possible, control them;
• put controls in place to reduce the effects of any incidents involving dangerous substances;
• prepare plans and procedures to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies involving dangerous substances;
• make sure employees are properly informed about and trained to control or deal with the risks from the dangerous substances;
• identify and classify areas of the workplace where explosive atmospheres may occur and avoid ignition sources (from unprotected equipment, for example) in those areas.

The petroleum licensing authority is responsible for ensuring safety at sites where petrol is delivered, stored and dispensed.

The keeping of petrol must be in accordance with conditions attached to a licence issued under the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928. When an Inspector appointed by the licensing authority visits a petrol filling station the aim is to ensure the observance, maintenance and, where necessary, the improvement of safety standards.

Other safety-related legislation is enforced by the local councils or the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), dependent on the main activity at the premises concerned.

Other health and safety considerations

In addition to the general duties established under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (s.2, 3, 4, 7 and 8) the following legislation may also be of relevance in premises visited by local authority health and safety inspectors:

• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. (Risk assessment, appointment of competent persons etc)
• COSHH 1999 (assessment and control of risks arising from substances hazardous to health).
• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR)(iv) Electricity at Work Regulations 1989(v) Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

Contact information

• email: ts.es@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• phone: 0141 840 3184 (select option 2)
• call in or write to us at:
  Renfrewshire Council
  Environmental Services
  Trading Standards
  Renfrewshire House
  Cotton Street
  Paisley
  PA1 1BR