Analysis of the adequacy of gas stations in relation to storage and stacking limits set by the NBR 15514.

Introduction

According to the ANP/NAP - National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels, the State of Amazonas had in 2014 602 stations liquid fuel dealers duly registered and functioning selling liquid fuels such as gasoline, alcohol and diesel. According LIMA (2010), the data collection conducted during the survey found that the number of ground fuels retail stations is 175, number confirmed by the CPRM database - IBGE 2008 which contains 166 stations, and the program registration monitoring gasoline quality conducted at the Laboratory of Research and Testing in Fuels - LAPEC (Federal University of Amazonas) which contains 180 terrestrial stations.

Some gas stations also commercialize Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and must meet the minimum safety requirements established by the Brazilian NBR 15514, approved by BTSA/ABNT - Brazilian Technical Standards Association.

The Brazilian Standard NBR 15514 establishes the minimum safety requirements of storage areas transportable containers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), with a nominal capacity of up to 90 kg LPG, intended or not the marketing. Among other requirements ABNT NBR 15514 classifies storage areas according to LPG capacity storage, besides limiting the quantity of containers that can be stacked.

Because of the high risks of LPG sales in gas stations, it is recommended to follow the safety criteria laid down by law. From this need, the aim of this research was to verify that the gas stations of Manaus that sell LPG are fulfilling the requirements of NBR 15514, with regard to storage capacity and to the limits of containers stacking.

Methodology

The research, characterized as field research was carried out in Manaus (Amazonas, Brazil), specifically in the neighborhoods of North Zone, South Central Zone and South Zone. Initially, it was checked whether the gas stations had or not sale of LPG, through a fast visit on-site . After this stage, there was a more detailed inspection in gas stations that sold LPG,to identify whether the respective storage areas were obeying the requirements set by the NBR 15514. The checked points refer to LPG storage, as shown in Figure 1, and the stacking limit, as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 1. Classification of storage areas (NBR 15514).

Figure 2. Stacking containers transportable LPG (NBR 15514).

According the NBR 15514, storage Area is the place intended for storage to transportable batches of containers for LPG, filled, partially used and empty, comprising the circulation corridors, where they exist, located within a property. Also according to the NBR 15514,stacking is the placing, in vertical position, the cylinder of LPG on the other one, since its stability is ensured. The standard also defines cylinder as the transportable container with liquid mass LPG up to 13 kg, manufactured to according with the standard NBR 8460.

As security measures, the NBR 15514, recommends that the transportable containers filled with LPG must be stored within the area (s) of storage, separated from the partially used or empty containers. In addition, in the storage area is permitted only stacking of transportable containers for LPG with a net weight equal to or less than 13 kg of LPG.

To check compliance with the rules, regarding the ability of storage, and the stacking limit, there was an inspection and simple counting. According to the norm NBR 15514, the storage areas in stations liquid fuel Resellers can be only Class I or Class II.

Results

In total, 103 gas stations were evaluated. The Figure 3 shows the number of establishments per brand.

Figure 3. Brands of Gas Stations.

In figure 4, we have the percentage of each of the brands of gas stations.

Figure 4. Percentage of Brands of Gas Stations.

In relation the sale, only 15 of the gas stations had points of sales of LPG, which corresponds to 14.56%. A total of 88 stations do not had points of sales of LPG , which corresponds to 85.44%. The Figures 5 and 6 show the situation of gas stations in relation to LPG sales.

Figure 5. Situation in relation to LPG sales.

Figure 6. Percentage in relation to LPG sales.

In relation the classification of storage areas, had 12 areas classified as Class I, which corresponds to 80% of the total. And they were also identified three areas of class II, which corresponds to 20% of the total. The Figure 7 and figure 8 show the situation in relation to the classification of storage areas.

Figure 7. Classification of the storage áreas.

Figure 8. Percentage of the storage áreas.

Finaly, the figure 9 shows the amount of LPG stored in each gas station.

Figure 9. Stored amount of LPG per Gas station.

Discussion of Results

The gas station market in Manaus is quite diverse, as evidenced by dividing the marks found. The company that has the largest number of units has a share of only 32.26% of the market of the area surveyed. The rest is divided between four other companies.

From this research, it is clear also that the LPG sale is not of interest to most of the gas stations. This may be caused by the risk of this activity, which is magnified in these companies and even by the demands required in the Brazilian standards, which can generate extra charges not originally envisaged in the business. In addition, the increase in the number of exclusive distributors of LPG makes the market more competitive, eliminating the possibility of higher gains from the sale of LPG.

Another important factor is the LPG storage area. The most part of gas stations (80%) has an area of Class I, that has a limited capacity of storage (520 kg). This limits the amount that can be bought for the stock, also reducing the bargaining power at the time of purchase in the dealer.

As for capacity, all storage areas inspected were complying with the NBR 15514, with quantities stored up to the maximum allowed limit for each category. As for stacking, all storage areas inspected were complying with the ceiling determined by NBR 15514. In the inspections, were found containers of 8 kg and 13 kg. For these two volumes, the maximum emplihamento is 5 empty units , which was not exceeded. In the case of containers filled with 8 kg, the maximum limit is 4 stacking units, whose value has not been exceeded. For containers filled with 13 kg, the maximum limit is 4 stacking units, whose value has not been exceeded. All inspected areas complied with this requirement.

Conclusions

This research demonstrated that Manaus gas stations that sell LPG are complying with the limits of storage and stacking established in NBR 15514. Compliance with this standard is critical to controlling the risks involving the LPG sales. In addition, the data obtained indicate a large diversification in relation to the brands of gas stations , which can contribute to increased accidents level, as each company have your own way of working safely.

Still, some opportunities arise for other studies. It is important to assess whether the gas stations that sell LPG are complying with the other requirements of NBR 15514 as well as other standards related to safety and health of workers, for example. Also, it is important to assess the actual amount of gas stations in Manaus, making the study more comprehensive.

It is important that the standards set in norms such as NBR 15514 will be required of everyone involved in the industry, to ensure the quality of services provided by businesses as well as the safety and health of customers and workers.

References

Brazilian Technical Standards Association. NBR 15514. Storage area for gas containers transportable liquefied petroleum (LPG), intended or not to commercialization - Safety Criteria. Establishes the minimum safety requirements of storage áreas transportable containers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) with nominal capacity of up to 90 kg LPG, intended or not the commercialization. 2008.

Brazilian Technical Standards Association. NBR 8460. Transportable gas container for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) - Specification. Specifies the minimum requirements, accessory parts and testing to design, manufacture, modification and safety at filling of transportable receptacles for the liquefied gas packaging (LPG), built of steel plates welded by fusion. 2011.

LIMA, R.M.S. Risk Assessment to Human Health Arising from the Groundwater contamination by BTEX from Fuel Reseller Stations in Manaus. 2010. Dissertation (Master). Federal University of Amazonas - Postgraduate Program in Environmental Sciences and Amazon Sustainability.

National Agency of Petroleum,Natural Gas and Biofuels, 2015. Brazilian Statistical Yearbook of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels in 2015. http://www.anp.gov.br/?pg=76798. Last accessed September 2015.