Nairobi — Kenya has come up with new construction standards that flammable products transporters using roads must meet to be allowed to operate. Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) says the standards are meant to enhance safety through use of high quality materials like aluminium alloy and steel that are free from rust, cracks and surface blemishes in constructing tankers.

The draft KS 2180: 2009 developed by Kebs petroleum technical committees, is in circulation for public comment and requires transporters to comply with statutory regulations and rules of Traffic Act Cap 403. Committee chairman James Mwangi said review of standards took into account technological advancements to ensure safety of wananchi (citizens).

"The Kenyan standard covers requirements for tankers intending to use public roads, for trans­portation at temperatures below boiling point of normally stable petroleum-based flammable liquids," he said. It is assumed that discharge operations are carried out by the driver and take place using gravity or a pump that is on the vehicle. The standard makes provision for commonly used type of tankers with compartments capable of transporting different grades of the product.

Kurrent Technologies, Petroleum Institute of East Africa, Roy Hauliers, National Oil Corporation of Kenya, Total Kenya, Bhachu Industries, Total Marketing Kenya, Energy Regulatory Commission, KenolKobil and R. T (EA) Ltd participated in drafting new standard.

Mr Mwangi said the new mode covers design, construction and operation of petroleum tankers to create a level playing field and avert disasters. "The new standard does not cover tankers for liquefied petroleum gas, unstable products and all other flammable liquids other than hydrocarbons," he said.

Under the new standards, tankers are required to have an overturn protection shell to prevent spilling of fuel. A tank and its ancillary equipment have to be designed in accordance with sound engineering principles with due consideration given to expected road conditions.

The maximum width of any tank and its service equipment or accessories shall be such that it does not project beyond overall width of vehicle on which it is mounted or by which it is being towed. "The minimum allowable road clearance of any tank component or protection devices located between two adjacent axles on a vehicle shall be at least 12.5 millimetres," the draft says in part.

Mr Mwangi said an overturn damage protection device that would allow accumulation of liquid at the top of the tank shall be provided with a drain that directs the fuel away from any structural component of the vehicle. "The welding procedure used shall ensure the filler metal, heat-affected zone and surrounding parent metal are free from cracks, unacceptable cavities and trapped slag," he said.

Each tank compartment has to have a manhole and a hatch fitted with locking and sealing mechanisms. The engine exhaust has to discharge sideways on right-hand side of the vehicle at a point not closer than one metre from any tank outlet or liquid discharge point.

Where the exhaust system extends beyond, or is exposed at the rear of the cab, it has to be shielded. The vehicle's brakes have to comply with the requirements of the Traffic Cap 403. Mr Mwangi said those with endurance breaking systems emitting high temperatures and placed behind rear wall of driver's cab, shall be equipped with a thermal shield securely fixed which will be located between system and tank to avoid heating of the tank shell.

The battery shall be mounted in a safe position away from the tank, valves and pumping system. If it is not fitted in the cab or engine compartment, it shall be enclosed in a covered box. Battery terminals shall be electrically insulated or covered by an electrically insulated battery box and each vehicle provided with two portable fire extinguishers located at an accessible place.

The vehicles will have clear markings with serial numbers stamped on a flameproof data plate on a suitable part of the tank with manufacturer's name, trade name or trade mark. Other details required are serial number of tank, date of manufacture, date of test, design pressure, tank capacity in litres, maximum liquid load in kilogrammes and maximum discharge rate in litres per minute.

Mr Mwangi said the entire testing of a tanker shall be done by a competent person approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission and a suitable record shall be kept. "The tanker shall be adequately painted externally to prevent corrosion arising from atmospheric influence. Painting has to carried out in accordance with purchasers approved colour scheme," he said.

Each tank used for transportation of petroleum products shall, whether loaded or empty, be conspicuously marked on each side and rear in letters at least 18 inches high on a background of sharply contrasting colour the words flammable and dangerous.

A certificate shall be issued for each tanker after inspection and testing by authorities with the initial certificate remaining valid for a year. Subsequent recertification will be obtained from the inspecting authority at intervals as specified by the Energy Regulatory Commission.