Being Prepared

The September/October 2016 edition of Octane magazine presents some actionable information that fueling station operators should be putting to use. Husky Corporation was asked to provide some input for the article, which concentrated on preventative maintenance and safety at fueling islands, or the area referred to as the Forecourt in Canada. The entire article can be found at page 54 in this online edition of the magazine.

http://ccentral.ca/latest-magazines/

One of the most fundamental ways to make sure the Forecourt is running at peak performance is for operators to commit to a testing, maintenance and inspection regimen for all hanging hardware. Husky Corporation includes a check list of important daily, monthly and annual items in the installation instructions for the company’s general fueling products. The company produces a full line of fuel nozzles, swivels, break-aways, fuel hoses and accessories

For conventional fuel nozzles for example, operators should be checking daily for leaks/stains, loose spouts, damage, bent levers and broken clips or trigger springs. All drive-aways, maintenance and inspection activities should be logged using the serial number of the individual products involved. Any test or equipment failure requires immediate equipment replacement or removal from service. Longer range nozzle testing should include the following:

·          Monthly

o   Check the nozzle automatic shut-off between 5-10 gpm /18.9-37 Lpm

o   Check the “remove after” date

·         Annually

o   Check for electrical conductivity

o   Lubricate the valve stem

“These are things operators can do to make sure the Forecourt is safe. It is a way to do preventive maintenance so they don’t have a failure that shuts the fueling point down,” said Joe Laschke, Husky Corporation Technical Service Representative.

Dispenser hose condition is a prime area demanding operator Forecourt attention. It also happens to be one of the primary issues cited for violations during inspections by safety regulators. Husky Corporation recommends that fuel pump whip hose and dispensing hose assembly be checked weekly for leaks, kinks, blisters, bulges, flattened areas, soft spots and any cuts or gouges deep enough to expose wire reinforcement beneath the cover.  Operators should also check for obvious signs of stress or abuse.

“If operators are not inspecting for bulges in a curb hose, and they just run the hose until failure, someone is probably going to get wet,” Laschke said. “Routine inspections will keep the fueling point up and running. Plus, it will keep customers safe.”

To ensure continuous safe operation of all dispensing equipment on the Forecourt, the Petroleum Equipment Institute issued PEI/RP500-11, Recommended Practices for Inspection and Maintenance of Motor Fuel Dispensing Equipment.

Operators with Forecourt locations that are exposed to extreme temperature conditions should consider fuel nozzles manufactured for cold weather. Husky Corporation has a variety of cold weather nozzles designed to operate in temperatures down to -40° F/C. As a point of reference, standard nozzles are designed to operate in temperatures down to -15° F (-26° C).

“Cold weather nozzles have poppet seals that are more pliable in cold temperatures. It seals off the flow of fuel at extreme temperatures better than a standard seal,” Laschke said. “A standard seal will get hard because of the cold. And when the nozzle shuts off it may not seat as well, so there can be some dripping from the nozzle.”

The full “Recommended Installation, Maintenance and Inspection Instructions” for conventional nozzles referenced here can be found at http://www.husky.com/wp-content/uploads/product-pdf/009024.pdf