Fuel storage at Manfeild

[CHOPPA]

Someone sent this through to me...

I need to raise with you and MNZ a new policy that has been introduced across the board at ALL circuits in NZ, but I suspect no-one has bothered to enlighten MNZ to this as it was driven by MSNZ…funny that.

The policy is being driven by ERMA and HSNO Act and is about potential impacts to the environment from fuel.

Please see attached a copy FYI.

We really need MNZ buy in to this and support to this message out to competitors. I have copied Clive from the Vic Club as they are our no.1 motorcycling client.

There are aspects of the policy that we as a circuit have to fulfil, in such that we have to provide an overnight storage facility. We will also be making changes to our hire agreements for both circuit and garaging to reflect this policy. At this stage we haven’t invested in the storage facility but will have to, being a 10 foot internal bund container, which hirers will get to use for overnight fuel storage. Basically competitors will need to start marking their containers and the hirer will need to have someone manning the container at the end of the day to store the fuel and then unlock the next day to distribute.

We are also going to become very strict on fuel storage in our garages as anything over 40L is a breach of the policy and also our Insurance. Hirers will be asked to sign a hire agreement that states they cannot store more than 40L and if they do and a fire does happen they will be liable.

The main effect of this policy is when we have two day meetings where people remain onsite with quantities of fuel.

Please have a read and pass to your CEO (I couldn’t find his email to copy), but would ask that MNZ look to embrace the policy and assist in getting the message and rules within the policy out to its many members and competitors.

I would be interested to know if any other circuit has bought this to your attention.

[roogazza]

Mmmmmm Choppa, I'm guessing we'd be laughed out of the pub nowdays ?
I think we were probably the first to store our petrol in the cold store of the Feilding Pub for the Castrol Six hour races !!! G.

[Marknz]

Hardly surprising given the highly regulated society we leave in nowadays. But I'll stick with my 20L container thank you very much.

Cheers

[Bykmad]

Choppa.

It is a 41 page document of which I received a copy yesterday, so I cannot load it on this site. I could however E-mail it to you if you desire. PM me.
When I rang the MNZ Office, the General Managers comment was, "What Fuel Storage Strategy".
Oh, by the way, it doesnt just apply to Manfeild. It is EVERY circuit in the country!

[Shaun]

I just DRINK my spare fuel

[CHOPPA]

Choppa.

It is a 41 page document of which I received a copy yesterday, so I cannot load it on this site. I could however E-mail it to you if you desire. PM me.
When I rang the MNZ Office, the General Managers comment was, "What Fuel Storage Strategy".
Oh, by the way, it doesnt just apply to Manfeild. It is EVERY circuit in the country!

Yeah i didnt bother reading it cause i never have more then 20l of fuel

[Deano]

The rules will apply per garage not per individual. Anyone got an approved handlers certificate ? LOL

[jellywrestler]

Time for a Electric bike class eh?

[Fooman]

The rules will apply per garage not per individual. Anyone got an approved handlers certificate ? LOL

Actually, as an approved handler for Classes 2,3,4,5,6,8 and 9, I can recall in the course it was mentioned that handling petrol (which would be Class 3.1 - most flammable of the flammable liquids class) is specifically exempted from the legislation - otherwise no-one would be able to pump gas into their car without breaking the law unless they were approved handlers for 3.1. Storage, or commercial usage outside transportation may be a different matter, which is why the circuits may be having an issue - they run a business which involves the storage of a hazardous, flammable material.

Cheers,
FM

[Deano]

Actually, IIRC only one approved handler is required per site at any one time - in any case I was just having a larf, hence the LOL at the end.

[scracha]

Hardly surprising given the highly regulated society we leave in nowadays. But I'll stick with my 20L container thank you very much.

Cheers

Do the motorcycles themselves count? 12 bikes stored in garage, typically 1/2 fuelled up so that's about 100 litres.

[steveyb]

This new regime will not only affect fuel storage, but also the fire extinguisher policy, esp at Manfeild, is going to change slightly and be more rigorously enforced apparently.
For example, for those renting pit-lane garages, you will need to supply your own 9kg (I think it is 9) CO2 extinguisher AND a 9kg (again I think it is 9, might be 6) powder extinguisher. This is a requirement of their building insurance apparently.

The fuel policy has been driven by ERMA, OSH and Motorsport NZ, so ALL of the wording refers to cars and car use. There has been no consultation with Motorcycling NZ and no thought to how it impacts motorcycle use.
But if you think about it, in most cases bikes will have on board only very slightly smaller amounts of gas as most cars. Sure the bigger V8s and the like will have more, but most of the Production cars will not run much gas at a time I would think.
BUT, I am feeling that the days of storing 12 bikes in the pit-lane garages at least, might be coming to an end.

EDIT: For Pit-lane garages it is: 1 x 4.5kg CO2 AND 1 x 4.5kg Powder. For endurance races they must be 9kg.
EDIT:

[schrodingers cat]

Welcome to the big can o worms!

Back in 07(?) when the Toyota Racing Series coverted to E85 Ethanol is was necessary to
a. the get stuff approved for use without excise tax (alcohol you see)
b. Have a document to cover the handling of this VERY HAZARDOUS MATERIAL. (incidentally, if petrol were invented today, the conditions surrounding the use, storage and handling would make it impractical to be bothered with the stuff)

A couple of other things came out of this. Because some of the people these days at the racetrack are paid professionals, the pits are deemed to be a 'place of work' and all the OSH BULLSHIT applies
The Code of Practice, Motorsport Fuel, Storage and Handling is here http://www.motorsport.org.nz/Regs/ma...ofPracticeFuel

Much of this is obviously impractical but these are the hoops they had to jump through to keep the Dept of Labour happy. Having nothing better to do with their time DOL has been sending inspectors to car meetings to ensure everyone is behaving

Incidentally - if you are someone who supplies goods or services at the track for reward then you (if self employed) or your employer is ultimately responsible and accountable for your safety. There should be a copy of hazard analysis, a training and monitering plan, first aid kit, extinguishers, List of employe details with next of kin etc, acident/incident reporting forms all in your pit garage

The fuel thing has been a bit of an issue - in 06 (?) Mike Pero Motosport had a pit fire and were verrrrrry lucky their awning didn't catch fire.
The first time the new pit garages at Manfeild got used for the Toyota Racing Series there was a big pit fire.
The endurance car guys are tighening their regs - some of the refuelling rigs in the past were spooky and 200l+ per car spooky...

Fuel in a vehicle tank doesn't count. Same as when you have a vehicle in a truck/trailer. The tank can be full but you are only allowed (I think) 40l fuel in churns.

In the back of your car you're only supposed to have 5l

I'm a bit unsure of the last two amounts - someone will know the actuals - please correct me

[Gubb]

The rules will apply per garage not per individual. Anyone got an approved handlers certificate ? LOL

I do. Lend me your spare bike, and I'm sure we can work out a deal.

[roadracingoldfart]

Mmmmmm Choppa, I'm guessing we'd be laughed out of the pub nowdays ?
I think we were probably the first to store our petrol in the cold store of the Feilding Pub for the Castrol Six hour races !!! G.

You sneeky bugger , we used the Awahiri pub cause the Feilding one had already made an "arrangment " lol.