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PART VI - M ISCfcLLANIKOUS
Petroleum (Regulation) Acts.
These Acts apply not only to the storage of petrol but to
petroleum mixtures, cellulose solutions, other oils and calcium
carbide. During the year 107 licences were issued in respect
of:-
204,050 gallons of petroleum spirit and mixtures.
29,022 gallons of cellulose solutions.
During the year the Council adopted the Home Office Code
of Principles of Construction for (a) storage of cans, drums
and other receptacles (b) petrol filling stations (c) basement,
sub-basement garages and underground car parks and also the
Model Conditions of Licence for the latter group of premises.
All licences now incorporate the Model Licensing Conditions
suggested by the Home Office in 1957, and the latest recommendations
of the Home Office for electrical equipment and installation
in connection with petrol pumps have been adopted.
Electrical work is checked by a suitably qualified member of
the Engineer and Surveyor's staff.
During the year 271 visits were made by the Public Health
Inspectors to ensure that the requirements of the Acts were
complied with and six minor infringements were dealt with by
warning letters.
An incident occurred which illustrates the need for strict
enforcement of existing Regulations and which led to the conditions
of licence being strengthened.
Whilst work was in progress on the construction of a pit
for a new underground petrol store at a filling station a very
strong smell of petrol was noticed and the Fire Prevention
Officer confirmed that the atmosphere in the pit was explosive,
work continued under strict supervision and as the pit got
deeper petrol could be seen percolating into it from the direction
of the existing tanks. Ultimately the leakages were traced
and faulty lines disconnected. A fire engine was standing
by for three days, considerable overtime was worked by the
Council's refuse tip attendant and a bull-dozer driver ensuring
the safe disposal of petrol contaminated soil, and a great deal
of the Public Health Inspector's time was used.
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