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Permalink Reply by Classic Gardens on July 12, 2008 at 11:46

It would be interesting to find out how much fuel you r allowed to carry as i hve 3 cans + whats in my mowers strimmets etc.

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Permalink Reply by steve loftus on July 12, 2008 at 13:24

PORTABLE PETROL CONTAINERS

1 This circular aims to explain the law on the type and capacity of portable petrol containers that can be used to store petrol, filled at petrol stations and carried on vehicles.

2 There are three pieces of relevant legislation:

- the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928 (PCA);

- the Petroleum-Spirit (Motor Vehicles etc.) Regulations 1929; and

- the Petroleum-Spirit (Plastic Containers) Regulations 1982 (which is supported by an ACoP on testing and marking containers).

3 These control how petrol can be kept (and for plastic containers, their design and manufacture for use in work situations). They do not specify the capacity or construction of containers that can legally be filled at petrol filling stations or that can be carried on a vehicle travelling on the road.
The Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928

4 PCA requires a licence to keep petrol except for small quantities kept in "securely stopped glass, earthenware or metal containers of a maximum capacity of 570 mls". The total quantity kept in this way must not exceed 15 litres.
METAL CONTAINERS

5 The Petroleum-Spirit (Motor Vehicles etc.) Regulations 1929 exempt certain quantities of petrol kept in metal containers from licensing requirements. The petrol must only be kept for the purposes of refuelling internal combustion engines and must not be for sale.

6 Up to 275 litres of petrol can be kept in any one storage place without a licence. The allowable quantity is reduced when the petrol is kept in or near buildings, or near public thoroughfares or other flammable substances (see below). In calculating the 275 litre limit, the petrol in the fuel tanks of vehicles in the storage area is included in the total.

7 Metal containers must be constructed so as to be reasonably secure against breakage and to prevent leakage of liquid or vapour. They should be marked with the words "petroleum-spirit" and "highly flammable".

8 The maximum container capacity for keeping petrol is 10 litres unless the following conditions are met:

a) the storage place is more than 6m from a building, highway or public footpath,and;

b) there is spillage retention at the storage place (eg retaining wall, trench), and;

c) the licensing authority is given written notice of the storage place before it is used.

This does not include petrol in the fuel tank of a vehicle.

9 Note that there is no restriction on the number of containers that can be kept as long as the 275 litre maximum limit is not passed.

10 If the storage place is less than 6m from any building, stack of timber or other flammable substance it can only be kept in the fuel tank of a vehicle and up to two 10 litre containers on a motor vehicle, motor boat, aircraft or hovercraft unless notice in writing is given to the licensing authority.

11 Where petrol is kept in a building (or a place attached to a building) used as a dwelling or place where people assemble, there must be a substantial floor or partition separating the petrol storage from the rest of building. The floor or partition must not be readily flammable. Where the partition (not a floor) has an opening it must be fitted with a self closing door made of fire resisting material. In these circumstances a maximum of two 10 litres containers can be kept. Petrol in the fuel tank of a vehicle is not included in this amount.
PLASTIC CONTAINERS

12 The Petroleum-Spirit (Plastic Containers) Regulations 1982 allow plastic containers to be used as well as metal. They exempt from the need for a licence certain amounts of petrol kept in plastic containers for the purposes of refuelling internal combustion engines and not for sale.

13 For storage in plastic container without a licence the containers must:

a) be constructed of suitable materials;

b) have maximum capacity of five litres;

c) be designed and constructed properly;

d) have appropriate markings or labels;

and the quantities that can be stored are:

i) two containers can be kept on any motor vehicle, motor boat, aircraft or hovercraft;

ii) plus two further containers can be in a safe place in any domestic premises;

iii) plus two more containers can be kept in any other safe place at least 6m from the first.

These quantities are in addition to any petrol kept in metal containers.

information available on hse website.with thanks

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Permalink Reply by Cat Fereday on July 12, 2008 at 20:27

Hi Steve - I think you're going to get loads of replies to this one. I think it's one of those areas where even though you can be acting sensibly, you might find yourself outside the legal requirements (which can be to your cost if you find out too late)! If you need any research work doing on any questions, please let me know. I specialise in EU regulation (albeit in a different field) and would be quite happy to help out if I can. Cat

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Phil Voice on July 12, 2008 at 21:01

Here is a link to Steve's post concerning the HSE directive on Portable Petrol Containers

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Permalink Reply by Richard Thornton on October 10, 2011 at 16:03

"A license to carry green waste (not rubble, I dont know why not)."

Not acording to the EA if you have created the waste as part of your work as a gardener

 

"Thank you for your e-mail to the Environment Agency.

 

We do have some specific guidance for Gardeners, Landscapers and Tree Surgeons, this is as follows:

 

A customer will need to register as a waste carrier and dealer in the upper tier if:

• they are carrying out construction or demolition work and carry the waste produced eg. fencing, paving, soil;

A customer will not need to register as a waste carrier if:

• they carry trimmings, green wastes etc. which they have produced as part of their work.

There are scenarios when the wood produced by a tree surgeon is not classed as waste but classed as virgin timber. Our position statement on the environmental regulation of wood clarifies when we consider wood to be waste and when we don't, and is available on our website at the following link:

  

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/position/3415...

  

For the purposes of UK waste management legislation, "waste" is defined as any substance or object, as set out in Annex 1 of the Waste Framework Directive, which the "holder" discards or intends to discard, or is required to discard. The "holder" is "the producer of the waste or the natural or legal person who is in possession of it"."

 

Hope this helps!

 

Richard

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Permalink Reply by steve loftus on October 12, 2011 at 0:44

I think the green waste permit was in force in 2008 when this was posted lol

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Permalink Reply by Richard Boyd on October 12, 2011 at 20:30

LOL well spotted Steve. Ignore any legislation and revert to common sense, only worry when you are not in possession of the latter or using dodgy kit...

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