Retail and Private Petroleum Stores

INFORMATION ON STORAGE OF PETROLEUM

The Dangerous Substances (Retail and Private Petroleum Stores) Regulations, 1979 (S.I. No.311 of 1979) apply to any retail store for the sale of petroleum Class I and private stores forthe keeping of petroleum Class I for use in the propulsion of a vehicle, boat, aircraft or anytype of engine. A retail or private store is required to be licensed by the local or harbourauthority or, under the amendment Regulations, the Health and Safety Authority where thepremises is owned by the local or harbour authority. Each licence must be renewed every 3years. The Regulations also set out the requirements for the design, construction, installationand maintenance of underground tanks; separation distances and specification for ventilationpipes; specifications for dispensing pumps and provisions for training of staff and firefighting.

The Dangerous Substances (Retail and Private Petroleum Bulk Stores) Regulations have beenamended several times since their publication in 1979. Each set of amendment Regulations has deferred the date by which petroleum stores have tocomply with the 1979 Regulations in order to allow the continued operation of stores,constructed before the commencement of the 1979 Regulations.

Petroleum Bulk Stores

The Dangerous Substances (Petroleum Bulk Stores) Regulations, 1979 (S.I. No. 313 of 1979)apply to any distribution store or private bulk store storing petroleum. The storage ofpetroleum Class I is required to be licensed by the local or harbour authority. The storage ofPetroleum Class II and Class III do not require a licence but the owner of the store is requiredto submit plans and drawings in accordance with the provisions set out in the Regulations.

The Regulations also inter alia set out the requirements for the design, construction andinstallation of storage tanks and pipelines; monitoring, testing and assessment of the working environment where petroleum vapours might be present; fire alarm systems, fire preventionand fire fighting and staff training in fire-fighting techniques.

Petroleum Licensing

Louth Fire Services receives applications regarding petroleum licensing for petrol stations and petroleum stores throughout the county. Petroleum, for legislation/regulation purposes, is defined as being one of three Classes.

Class I Petrol Leaded & Unleaded
Class II Kerosene/paraffin
Class III Diesel/DERV/Central Heating Oil

The primary legislation in this area is the Dangerous Substances Act 1972 (DSA 1972) and various regulations detailed in the subsequent Statutory Instruments as detailed as follows.

Dangerous Substances Act, 1972 (Commencement) Order, 1979 – S.I. No. 297:
Dangerous Substances (Retail and Private Petroleum Stores) Regulations, 1979 – S.I. No. 311 :
Dangerous Substances (Licensing Fees) Regulations, 1979 – S.I. No. 301 :
Dangerous Substances (Petroleum Bulk Stores) Regulations, 1979 – S.I. No. 313

Amendments to Petroleum Licensing Legislation

S.I. No. 303 of 1988
S.I. No. 424 of 1999
S.I. No. 584 of 2001
S.I. No. 624 of 2002
S.I. No. 860 of 2004
S.I. No. 630 of 2006
S.I. No. 593 of 2008
S.I. No. 628 of 2010

Legislation can be viewed at

Other Guidance

In the absence of regulation or an approved code of practice ‘industry best practice’ is recognised. This may require reference to manufacturer’s recommendations and guidance such as ‘Design, construction, modification, maintenance anddecommissioning of filling stations’ 3rd edition, jointly published by the APEA and Energy Institute.

Louth Local Authorities 2011Fire Prevention & Building Control