Locating and Site selection for Petrol Station
When examining the proposed land for the construction, paying attention to the topographic condition, location context, traffic, access roads to the site as well as the function of the surrounding neighborhood, the width of the passage and the volume of pedestrian traffic, and the width of the sidewalk and the access of roads to land is essential. The construction of such places in intersections, squares, and other prohibited areas mentioned in the laws and adjacent to public gathering centers is not allowed.
1- It is necessary for two-way and one-way streets where small stations are constructed to have at least six and three crossing lines, respectively. The minimum area required for installing the station facilities is 8 meters wide by 20 meters long. (Obviously, the pedestrian crossing route should be considered in addition to the above dimensions in width.)
- The land should not be lacated adjacent to schools, educational complexes, medical buildings, hospitals, sanatoriums, relegious buildings, cinemas, as well as sports halls ,hotels, restaurants, office buildings and other buildings and assembly centers designed for more than 50 people, large stores ( More than 2000 square meters), residential houses, telephone exchanges, warehouses where flammable or hazardous materials are stored in large quantities (such as carpentry, logging, straw warehouses, paper, cardboard, fabric, explosives, etc.) .
- The proposed land should not be in the path of flood passage and the surrounding runoff water.
- The selected land should not be in the vicinity of water wells, aqueducts, main waterways, springs, rivers, electricity pylons, pipelines or overlooking them.
- The selected land should not be on or near the faults or on made ground and the place of accumulation of construction debris.
- It is necessary for the construction site to be approved by the relevant local authorities (municipality, traffic police, engineering and safety).
- The construction site for the station should be at least 15 meters on both sides far from shops and service centers that have unprotected flames (blacksmithing, welding, radiator, casting, soldering, bakery, barbecue, etc.).
- There should be no deciduous plants and trees on the ground.
- In the street, access to the station should be coordinated with the city authorities and relevant officials. Necessary measures should be taken regarding the installation of safety equipment (warning lights, straw speed, traffic signs, stop warning signs, etc.) from 200 meters from the entrance of the station. .
- High voltage power supply, gas transmission pipes and railway lines, etc., both underground and above ground should be observed. The area of high voltage power cables should be consulted with the regional power organization regarding the amount of voltage and humidity.
Site design for filling stations an d safety rules
- It is necessary to observe the requirements of EWURA standards in distancings and other related cases.
- The design of the station should be done taking into account the legality of the roads and the improvement of the streets.
- The finished floor of the station area, including the tank area, product supply platform, kiosk construction site, and the location of the vehicles and tankers, should be located at a higher level than the surrounding passages by constructing curbs and paving.
- It is necessary to install the electrical panel and the required equipment in the design of the site.
- It is necessary to use a kiosk to install control and mangement equipment as well as staff deployment. Shades with suitable dimensions in the place of product supply platform are also recommended.
- The enclosure must have a suitable slope (at least one percent) to direct runoff water to the outside. In addition, the area of parking of vehicles in the vicinity of the fuel supply platform (and the location of the tanker during unloading) should be separated from the surrounding area by proper curbs and paving and should not have a longitudinal slope.
- According to paragraph 6, the rotation radius for entering and leaving the station area should be designed based on the length and capacity of the tanker feeding the tank of the station. In any case, the possibility of maneuvering the tanker to the unloading site should be easily possible.
- It is necessary to bury the site tanker inside the insulated reinforced concrete pool. Also in areas where the groundwater level is high; While increasing the volume of concreting inside the mentioned pool, the tanks should be restrained with rebars inside the concrete. (Concrete pool is not required if double-walled tanks are used.)
- The surface on the tank area should be resistant to the traffic of vehicles with concentrated load (wheel load) of at least 10 tons by designing a suitable structure.
- All suction pipes and cables that are located in the traffic lane should be located in concrete channels and covered with concrete slabs on the mentioned channels. All ducts of product pipes and power cables and instruments should be filled with sand.
- It is necessary to cover the floor of the carriageway with reinforced concrete at least 20 cm thick and with a layer of colored hardener.
- It is necessary to consider all the geometric principles of transport networks in the design of roads and accesses, including climatic conditions and the type of soil.
- It is necessary to lay curbs (concrete or stone curbs) or install guardrails around the riding area of the station and the area of buried tanks and fuel supply platform.
- A kiosk is a small room or structure that is used to install the equipment needed for the operation of the station, such as the electrical panel and the control system as well as deployment of the station operators. In designing a kiosk, the following items should be considered:
– The kiosk should be located outside the danger zone of the station and at least 4 meters away from the equipment.
– It must be located at a higher level than the refueling platform so that there is no possibility of flammable vapors entering and accumulating inside it.
– The kiosk should have an ventilation system to the open space.
– The kiosk should be located at a height of at least 15 cm above the level of the refueling platform.
– The kiosk must have a proper heating and cooling system.
– Cabling and inlet and outlet pipes to the kiosk should be done in a standard way and without any pores. - In the design of the station, a place for stopping and refueling vehicles should be considered. This part should have at least the following conditions:
– Its level should be lower than the location of the fuel distributor.
– The slope of the cars area should be transverse so that if the car’s handbrake does not work, it will not move.
– It is not allowed to install any openings or valves at the fuel distribution point and the source of gasoline vapor emission.
– Appropriate arrangements should be made to prevent vehicles from colliding with the fuel distribution system.
– The location and arrangement of the fuel distribution device in relation to other equipment and adjacent streets should be determined according to the danger range of the fuel distribution device in operation and taking into account the maximum length of the refueling hose.
– The minimum distance of the fuel distribution device from buildings with shutters or windows is 5.5 meters and in the absence of vents or doors and windows is at least 4 meters. - The unloading area must meet the following conditions:
– The unloading site should be of “the offset fill point with access chamber” type and its design and area should be observed according to the following figures.
– The safety zone of the tank truck during unloading should be in accordance with the following figures and it is necessary to deactivate the station during unloading and to effectively protect the specified area.
– The unloading area must be equipped with a metal cap with sufficient strength and designed with a lock, and this cap can be removed only with special tools. This cap should be level with the adjacent surface and not obstruct passage.
– The unloading site must be equipped with an electrostatic discharge system and a suitable rake for discharge must be considered during the design.
– Connections in unloading area must be quick-opening. - At the construction site of small stations, it is necessary to design and construct a fire-resistant concrete channel to protect the urban infrastructures that are located within the site (including telecommunication and electricity cables, gas and water pipes, etc.)
- All materials used in buildings, canopies, and the site must be non-flammable and approved by competent authorities.
- The area around the underground tanks, which are located in an isolated concrete pond, should be filled with wind sand in 50 cm layers while spraying and pounding. In addition, in order to prevent the infiltration of surface water into the reservoir burial pool, suitable moisture insulation should be used on it with the necessary bedding.
- All ducts of product pipes, power cables, and instrumentation shuld be filled with soft sand.
Classification of hazardous zone areas in filling stations
Hazardous areas refer to places where, due to the permanent presence of the product or the resulting flammable vapors or the possibility of its existence, the installation of electrical equipment to perform the work using tools requires special precautions and compliance with relevant standards.
These areas are classified as follows:
| Zone 0 | An area where a mixture of explosive gas is permanently present or is expected to be present for a long time, or such conditions frequently occur many times in short periods. |
| Zone 1 | An area where, during regular operation, the presence of an intermittent or occasional mixture of explosive gas can be expected |
| Zone 2 | An area in which the presence of an intermittent or occasional mixture of explosive gas is not expected to occur during regular operation, or such a condition occurs very rarely and in a short period of time. |