Page 650 - The City and Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1 for the Level 3 Apprenticeship (9189), Level 2 Technical Certificate (8202) and Level 2 Diploma (6035)

The City & Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1

l Access for biomass fuel deliveries: biomass pellets can be blown up to
30 m via hoses, but this distance often causes problems such as clogging
of the hose and break-up of the fuel. It is recommended that deliveries of
biomass should be within a 20 m limit of the fuel store. A lorry of around
2 m wide will need to be able to gain access to the property.

Safety

All fuels, by their very nature, are flammable and some are even explosive. With
this in mind, the storage of fuels should be considered with care. Here are some
points to consider:
l Confined spaces: solid fuels, such as biomass and coal, are kept in confined
spaces. There are several problems with this:
l Fire: although rare, bunker and fuel store fires can occur, especially where
the store is directly connected to the boiler room. Generally, biomass
wood chips are too wet to ignite but if they begin to de-compost and
self-ignite.
Liquid fuels, such as kerosene, do not usually combust unless they are
either atomised or vapourised, but they can become dangerous near
excess heat because the vapourisation process begins at a relatively low
temperature of around 65°C.
l Explosion: LPG, because it is heavier than air, settles at low level. In the
event of a leak, the build-up of gas may not be noticed, despite the fact
that a chemical called mercaptan is added to make the gas detectable
by smell.
Some fuels, such as coal and biomass, create dust. Excessive dust in
the atmosphere can also be extremely explosive. A good air-extraction
ventilation system is vital in confined spaces. The HSE recommends
building in an ‘explosion relief’ into any storage space used for solid fuels
that create dust. This can be a plywood panel in a bunker or silo that
creates a weak spot to release the explosive energy. The HSE produces a
fact sheet, HSG103 Safe handling of combustible dust, which is available
from its website at: www.hse.gov.uk
l Carbon monoxide build-up: for any confined space close to the place
of combustion of a fossil fuel, combustion problems may lead to a build-
up of carbon monoxide (CO), which is highly toxic. An audible CO alarm
installation is recommended in fuel storage facilities.
l Slips, trips and falls: fuel stores of all kinds are dangerous places. Build-
up or spillages of fuel create slip, trip and fall hazards. Some hazards may
be limited by fuel store design. However, where solid fuel and biomass are
concerned, the fuel storage space height may be high and so safety nets
and harnesses should be considered.
l Fuel delivery: fuels are delivered to properties by either tanker (heating oil,
LPG, biomass) or flat-bed truck (solid fuels – coal, coke, etc.). Care should be
exercised while fuel deliveries are taking place. Follow the recommendations
of the fuel delivery driver.

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