PVRsummaryguidance

Summary Guidance Note for Service
Station Operators on Petrol Vapour

Recovery Requirements under PPC
This guidance, issued 2 August 2012, is to help service station operators comply with their Pollution Prevention and
Control (PPC) permits. Such service stations will already have petrol vapour recovery equipment for PVR Stage I
installed and an annual petrol throughput of over 500m 3 / 500 000 litres. They may also have petrol vapour
recovery equipment for PVR Stage II installed.
Key Requirements
You must fit the required petrol vapour recovery system/s and it must be fully functional.
You must have a diagram of where your fuel storage tanks are and which type of fuel is stored in which tank.
When do you need to install PVR Stage II?

If you increase your annual
petrol throughput to over
3
3500m / 3500 000 litres.
If you carry out a major
refurbishment of an existing
service station.
Major refurbishment means a
significant alteration or renewal
of the station infrastructure e.g.
changing tanks & pipes; but
does not apply to refurbishing
retail areas.
If you open a new service
station but not when you take
over an established business
with an existing PPC permit.
PVR Stage I System Design Requirements
The system must minimise petrol vapour emissions when the specified number of delivery tanker
compartments are discharged at the same time.
Petrol storage tank vent pipes must be fitted with a pressure vacuum relief valve.
The pressure vacuum relief valve must only open outwards in the event of a potentially hazardous
pressurisation and open inwards to allow air to enter when fuel is being dispensed.
As an alternative to the pressure relief valve an orifice vent device may be fitted to balance storage tank vapour
pressure to atmospheric pressure.
PVR Stage II System Design Requirements
Petrol vapours displaced by the filling of petrol into vehicle petrol tanks must be recovered to a petrol storage
tank.
This PVR system must be certified to have a hydrocarbon capture efficiency of not less than 85% from the
refuelling of motor vehicles.
The purpose of this note is to provide brief guidance on the steps which operators will be required to take in order to comply with a PVR
Standard Rules Permit issued by SEPA under the Pollution Prevention & Control (Scotland) Regulations 2000. Operators requiring more
detailed information are referred to www.sepa.org.uk/petrolstations for links to all the relevant guidance. While every reasonable care has been
taken to ensure this guidance is correct, it provides a broad overview and shall not constrain SEPAs regulatory discretion at any future point.
SEPA cannot accept any responsibility for any action taken, or not taken, on the basis of this information and shall not be liable to any person
for any loss or damage which may arise from the use of any of the information contained in this guidance.
Please read in conjunction with the Health & Safety Commissions Approved Code of
Practice for Unloading Petrol from Road Tankers. In addition, training provided by RMI
Petrol Retailers Association will help to ensure that personnel have sufficient
knowledge of H&S and environmental matters of petrol station operation.
Actions for All Petrol Station Operators

Operation
Deliveries
this area
is normally
actioned
by the
tanker
driver
Dip
Testing
Upkeep &
Repairs
Records
&
Training
When To
Contact
SEPA
Operation
Upkeep &
Repairs
When To
Contact
SEPA
Tick
Box
Do not unload petrol unless a PVR system for vapour displaced from the storage tanks is in place and
3
properly functioning, unless your annual through put of petrol is less than 500m / 500 000 litres.
Take all reasonable & practicable steps to prevent uncontrolled leaks of petrol vapour from vents, pipes,
connectors and manholes from occurring.
Display a notice nearby the vapour return connection points reminding operators to connect the vapour return
line before off-loading petrol; and identifying the maximum number of tanker compartments that may be
unloaded at the same time.
The fittings for delivery and vapour return pipes must be different to prevent miss-connection.
Prior to delivery of petrol only, connect the vapour return hose before any delivery hose. Connect the vapour
return hose at the road tanker end first and then at the storage tank end. This ensures petrol vapour displaced
from the petrol storage tanks is returned to the road tanker.
Do not exceed the designated number of tanker compartments that can be simultaneously discharged.
The tanker driver must remain near the tanker and keep a constant watch on hoses and connections during
unloading.
All road tanker compartment vent and discharge valves must be closed on completion of the delivery.
On completion of unloading, discharge and disconnect the delivery hose before disconnecting the vapour
hose. Disconnect the delivery hose at the tanker end first. Disconnect the vapour hose at the storage tank
end first.
All connection points must be securely sealed after delivery to reduce vapour leaks between deliveries.
If dip testing storage tanks or tanker compartments before or after delivery, the dip openings must be securely
sealed prior to the delivery taking place and once its completed.
Tanker compartment dip testing must not be performed whilst the vapour hose is connected, except in the
case of split compartment deliveries although these should be kept to a minimum.
Ensure effective preventative maintenance by following a schedule of maintenance and having spares &
consumables available without delay.
Test vent and vapour return lines in accordance with the maintenance schedule.
Check pressure vacuum relief valves or other similar devices on the petrol storage tank vents for correct
functioning, seating and corrosion at least once every 3 years.
Maintain a log book to record details of: installation, maintenance and repairs of all PVR systems; examination
& testing; petrol inventory, deliveries & throughputs; training given to staff; instances of vapour lock; and any
suspected and actual vapour or petrol leaks / spillages & action subsequently taken.
Provide sufficient training and practical instruction for service station staff to enable them to use (or supervise
the use of) and maintain the petrol vapour collection controls where required; and also in the acti ons to be
take in the event of a petrol vapour leak e.g. undue petrol odour; chattering pressure vacuum relief valve.
If a leak or spillage should occur, you must contact SEPA where there is the potential to affect the local
community; and report what has happened, the duration of the event, clean up actions and preventive
measures
Additional Actions For Operators of PVR Stage II
Do not allow the refuelling of vehicle petrol tanks unless a vehicle refuelling PVR system certified as having a
vapour capture efficiency of not less than 85% is in place and is fully functioning.
Display in clear view on the site, a sign informing consumers that a Stage II PVR system is in use.
Test the vehicle refuelling PVR system for:
Vapour containment integrity at least once every three years and after any repairs to the system.
Effectiveness of the PVR system at least once every year, or every three years where an automatic
monitoring system is in place.
If the vehicle refuelling PVR system has an automatic monitoring system, it must:
Automatically detect and indicate faults. A fault is where the V/P ratio averaged over the duration of filling
has fallen below 85% or has exceeded 115% for ten consecutive filling operations. Only applies to filling
operations of at least 20 seconds duration & where the rate of petrol dispensed reaches at least 25 litres/min.
Automatically cut off the flow of fuel if the fault is not rectified within 1 week.
Undertake and record a weekly check of the vehicle refuelling PVR system including:
Functionality test of the vapour recovery system using appropriate equipment;
Inspection for torn, flattened or kinked hoses & damaged seals on vapour return lines
Notify SEPA if the results from any monitoring or testing of the vehicle refuelling PVR system identifies any
faults or leaks if these are likely to have an effect on the local community. Also notify SEPA of the corrective
measures to be taken and the timescales over which they will be implemented.
The purpose of this note is to provide brief guidance on the steps which operators will be required to take in order to comply with a PVR Standard Rules
Permit issued by SEPA under the Pollution Prevention & Control (Scotland) Regulations 2000. Operators requiring more detailed information are
referred to www.sepa.org.uk/petrolstations for links to all the relevant guidance. While every reasonable care has been taken to ensure this guidance is
correct, it provides a broad overview and shall not constrain SEPAs regulatory discretion at any future point. SEPA cannot accept any responsibility for
any action taken, or not taken, on the basis of this information and shall not be liable to any person for any loss or damage which may arise from the use
of any of the information contained in this guidance.

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Summary Guidance Note for Service

Station Operators on Petrol Vapour

When do you need to install PVR Stage II?

Actions for All Petrol Station Operators

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