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Orchid Seeks Guidance on Lpg Installation

When the Orchid Group acquired a large rural pub in Kent that used lpg for heating and cooking, it called in Perry Scott Nash to provide risk assessments and ensure the site met requirements.

The Orchid Group, the sixth largest managed pub and restaurant company in the UK with over 290 outlets, has been working with safety consultant Perry Scott Nash to ensure its lp gas installations meet requirements.

Last year, the Orchid Group acquired a large rural pub in Kent located in a remote area, which used lpg gas from two large vessels for cooking and heating. The lpg vessels were located on the boundary of the pub beside the car park, and it soon became clear that there were potential issues with them, so Orchid contacted Perry Scott Nash.

Perry Scott Nash executive chairman Pat Perry said: “The metallic lpg pipework, which ran under the car park, was unsafe. Guidance produced by the Health & Safety Executive advises that underground metallic lp gas pipework should be replaced with pipework made from materials, such as polyethylene, which will not corrode.

“The condition of the enclosure was also poor, with the fence around the lpg tanks being made of wooden panels. Not only was it not secure, it also offered minimal protection should a vehicle crash into it.

“The lpg gas tanks themselves were also a cause for concern, as they appeared to be corroded and, finally, there were no procedures in place to secure the safe day-to-day management of the lpg itself.”

Having established what the problems were, Orchid set about rectifying them. The metallic lpg pipework beneath the car park was excavated and replaced with polyurethane pipe, and Calor Gas Ltd, which originally supplied the lpg vessels, was brought in to replace them.

The enclosure was then made safe and secure. An overhanging tree was removed along with an overhead power cable and the foliage was cut back to remove any sources of ignition. The wooden panels were replaced with a wire mesh fence and two gates provided for safe entry. The gates were lockable to prevent unauthorised access.

The final pieces of the rebuilding jigsaw were to install Armco barriers around the fence to stop the enclosure and lp gas vessels being damaged by vehicles, and to install appropriate signage and fire fighting equipment.

Orchid then had the lpg vessels tested to ensure they were properly earthed and the entire installation was inspected for leakage. Completing the physical side of the project was only half the story, however.

The lpg gas vessels and pipework were put onto a planned maintenance programme and are subject to annual inspections by a competent contractor. In addition, the manager and employees of the pub were trained on the day-to-day management of bulk storage of lpg and the emergency procedures to be followed in the event of a suspected leak or fire.

Perry Scott Nash also provided risk assessments for the ongoing management of lp gas.

Pat said: “It’s incumbent on all businesses who use lp gas to ensure the highest levels of safety, whether they’ve just acquired an installation or have been using lpg gas for years. It’s particularly relevant to investigate the state of lpg storage if a business is acquired that already has lp gas on site.

“Bear in mind that the company that owns the pipework may not be the same company that owns the tank or supplies the lpg, so it’s important to check who is responsible for what. And the company that owns the pipework is responsible for its integrity, even if maintenance, inspection or replacements are carried out by a third party.

“Everybody, whether it’s a business with lpg gas onsite, a maintenance or installation company or an lp gas supplier, has a duty to ensure that the correct procedures are followed. They also have a duty to be proactive in ensuring that any potential hazards are flagged up and dealt with before they become serious.

“Lpg is a safe fuel, provided it’s managed correctly. As long as situations are handled quickly and professionally, like Orchid did by proactively seeking support and guidance, then accidents can be avoided.”

Contact Perry Scott Nash on 01438 745771 www.perryscottnash.co.uk

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