Dear Seniors,
In the following situation, how to provide earthing to a tanker: If a solvent tanker is involved in an accident and another empty tanker is arranged by the consumer to transfer the solvent, how should earthing be provided to the tankers?
Regards,
Abhay
From India, Mumbai
Acknowledge(0)
Amend(0)
52In the following situation, how to provide earthing to a tanker: If a solvent tanker is involved in an accident and another empty tanker is arranged by the consumer to transfer the solvent, how should earthing be provided to the tankers?
Regards,
Abhay
From India, Mumbai
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Dear Abhay,
First, I say thanks to you for being the one to raise questions in our EHS forum. I appreciate your interest. Sorry for the late reply.
All flammable liquid/solvent container trucks have an earthing facility. You can check with fuel container trucks to understand better (please find the attached photo). However, in this particular case, there is a difference. In this situation, remember that all flammable liquid/solvent container trucks have an earthing facility.
If a truck is involved in an accident, and you need to transfer fuel, you should first check for the nearest earthing point or location. If you find one, connect with the earthing and then start the transfer of flammable liquid/solvent. If there is no available point near the accident area, you will need to arrange an earthing rod, place it on the ground, and then make the connection. This method is the easiest and safest way to proceed.
Please see the attached photo for reference:
1) Fuel tanker
2) Fuel truck earthing
3) Fuel truck earthing connected with earthing rod
I await your instructions.
Thanks and stay safe,
Raghu
From United States, Fpo
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
First, I say thanks to you for being the one to raise questions in our EHS forum. I appreciate your interest. Sorry for the late reply.
All flammable liquid/solvent container trucks have an earthing facility. You can check with fuel container trucks to understand better (please find the attached photo). However, in this particular case, there is a difference. In this situation, remember that all flammable liquid/solvent container trucks have an earthing facility.
If a truck is involved in an accident, and you need to transfer fuel, you should first check for the nearest earthing point or location. If you find one, connect with the earthing and then start the transfer of flammable liquid/solvent. If there is no available point near the accident area, you will need to arrange an earthing rod, place it on the ground, and then make the connection. This method is the easiest and safest way to proceed.
Please see the attached photo for reference:
1) Fuel tanker
2) Fuel truck earthing
3) Fuel truck earthing connected with earthing rod
I await your instructions.
Thanks and stay safe,
Raghu
From United States, Fpo
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Dear Raghu/Abhay,
Before giving an answer to this question, I would like to clarify the need for earthing. Earthing of any tanker/vessel needs to equalize the potential difference between the earth & tanker because of static charge accumulation during the movement & transfer of liquid/gas.
Now, if you are transferring the material from one tanker to another tanker, the procedure as shown in the photos is okay if both tankers are earthed. Alternatively, you may connect both tankers together to reduce the potential difference.
From India, Gurgaon
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Before giving an answer to this question, I would like to clarify the need for earthing. Earthing of any tanker/vessel needs to equalize the potential difference between the earth & tanker because of static charge accumulation during the movement & transfer of liquid/gas.
Now, if you are transferring the material from one tanker to another tanker, the procedure as shown in the photos is okay if both tankers are earthed. Alternatively, you may connect both tankers together to reduce the potential difference.
From India, Gurgaon
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Dear Vino,
Yes, you are right. Before we transfer flammable liquid/solvent, we need to equalize the potential difference between the earth and tank.
Sr. Electrical Engineering Command on this case:
In this case, he advised to bond the earthing cable together (truck to truck) then connect it with the earthing rod. It's the easiest and safest way.
Vino, do you remember one thing: if a vehicle is under repair, we can transfer flammable liquid/solvent as long as we check the earthing or grounding and use the right type of equipment to transfer the flammable liquid/solvent (like a hose). However, if a vehicle is involved in an accident, the fire department guys are the only ones responsible for transferring the flammable liquid/solvent.
• As per OSHA and EM-385, it covers basic earthing or grounding only.
• If you want more details, check with the fire engineering guys or petrochemical guys. The fire department guys have a different or higher standard procedure for this process.
Hope this helps.
Thanks and be safe,
Raghu
From United States, Fpo
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Yes, you are right. Before we transfer flammable liquid/solvent, we need to equalize the potential difference between the earth and tank.
Sr. Electrical Engineering Command on this case:
In this case, he advised to bond the earthing cable together (truck to truck) then connect it with the earthing rod. It's the easiest and safest way.
Vino, do you remember one thing: if a vehicle is under repair, we can transfer flammable liquid/solvent as long as we check the earthing or grounding and use the right type of equipment to transfer the flammable liquid/solvent (like a hose). However, if a vehicle is involved in an accident, the fire department guys are the only ones responsible for transferring the flammable liquid/solvent.
• As per OSHA and EM-385, it covers basic earthing or grounding only.
• If you want more details, check with the fire engineering guys or petrochemical guys. The fire department guys have a different or higher standard procedure for this process.
Hope this helps.
Thanks and be safe,
Raghu
From United States, Fpo
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Connect the earth to an earthing rod, and this rod should be buried to the ground. Do this for both the tankers independently. Bonding should be carried out separately for the tanker hose for electrical continuity to prevent static buildup. Your electrical engineer is the competent person to advise on the best practices in this matter.
Hope this helps.
Thank you and best regards,
From Qatar, Doha
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Hope this helps.
Thank you and best regards,
From Qatar, Doha
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Dear friends,
Nice, and we are really on to an interesting topic. The discussion is heading in the right direction.
Here, may I ask you a few simple questions about the tanker earthing?
Is its resistance ever measured?
If so, what was the result?
What is the maximum resistance it can have for effectiveness?
What depth do we have to drive that rod to get a reading for effectiveness?
Those in construction use copper rods with clamps to do the earthing. Quite often, we can easily pull out the rod, or the rod will be slanting, not driven beyond two to three inches for the hard ground. Those rods are usually not driven deep enough to provide the required earthing. Again, in the desert, the sand is quite dry and often hot. An earthing for the sake of earthing!
Let us clarify and get the best out of the discussion. I earnestly request youngsters in the field to get involved. Let it be foolishness you post, but only connected with the topic under discussion. Please spell out your understanding. Someone knowledgeable in the forum will definitely help us to improve ourselves.
Regards,
Kesava Pillai
From India, Kollam
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Nice, and we are really on to an interesting topic. The discussion is heading in the right direction.
Here, may I ask you a few simple questions about the tanker earthing?
Is its resistance ever measured?
If so, what was the result?
What is the maximum resistance it can have for effectiveness?
What depth do we have to drive that rod to get a reading for effectiveness?
Those in construction use copper rods with clamps to do the earthing. Quite often, we can easily pull out the rod, or the rod will be slanting, not driven beyond two to three inches for the hard ground. Those rods are usually not driven deep enough to provide the required earthing. Again, in the desert, the sand is quite dry and often hot. An earthing for the sake of earthing!
Let us clarify and get the best out of the discussion. I earnestly request youngsters in the field to get involved. Let it be foolishness you post, but only connected with the topic under discussion. Please spell out your understanding. Someone knowledgeable in the forum will definitely help us to improve ourselves.
Regards,
Kesava Pillai
From India, Kollam
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
@ Kesava sir,
Thank you for monitoring us. As a tanker has an iron rod, wires, and sometimes a water carboy (to wet the earthing pit area), can they use it as an emergency earthing arrangement?
Regards,
Abhay
From India, Mumbai
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Thank you for monitoring us. As a tanker has an iron rod, wires, and sometimes a water carboy (to wet the earthing pit area), can they use it as an emergency earthing arrangement?
Regards,
Abhay
From India, Mumbai
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Dear All,
The topic under discussion is really interesting. I would like to add that in all cases, it is essential to ensure that static electricity and the electrical potential should be zero on all parts of the tankers in question. For this to happen, a proper earthing arrangement is required with thick and highly conductive material to keep the earthing resistance as low as possible or equal to the value prescribed, depending on the type of fuel being transferred.
Hope this information is helpful to some extent. Values of earth resistance can be determined through the Indian Electricity Rules for this particular section of the topic.
Thanks and regards,
xbkmaju
From India, Mumbai
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
The topic under discussion is really interesting. I would like to add that in all cases, it is essential to ensure that static electricity and the electrical potential should be zero on all parts of the tankers in question. For this to happen, a proper earthing arrangement is required with thick and highly conductive material to keep the earthing resistance as low as possible or equal to the value prescribed, depending on the type of fuel being transferred.
Hope this information is helpful to some extent. Values of earth resistance can be determined through the Indian Electricity Rules for this particular section of the topic.
Thanks and regards,
xbkmaju
From India, Mumbai
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Dear All,
Great participation from all of you in the thread... Good and appreciable one...
I have never come across more on the topic... Diesel & HCL are coming to our plant on such tankers... We are ensuring earthing before transfer of the same into the tanks... After going through the entire discussions now, I feel the importance of this... I remember those early days at the start of our plant; we were transferring diesel and all from tankers to tanks without even fixing an earthing... Even when talking to the driver of the tanker, he was aware of the fact that the tanker needed to be earthed but just neglected the same as nobody forced him to do so and also there was no arrangement...
@ Keshav Sir,
Now let me share my understanding on the topic and expecting to get the right answers.
Tanker resistance ever measured? = No. Please let me know, how we can measure the resistance of the tanker? (Chemical Handling or Diesel Handling Tanker)
And if so, what was the result? - Never did such a resistance test.
What is the maximum resistance it can have for effectiveness?
Resistance is basically between two points. Between which two points are you measuring resistance? Resistance for effective earthing should be less than 2 ohms. 0.8 ohms is the ideal value.
What depth do we have to drive that rod to get that reading for effectiveness?
It depends on soil resistivity, number of electrodes used for the grid, etc. As a common practice, we used to drive the depth up to which the ground soil retains its moisture even in peak summer. Soil moisture helps in homogeneous connectivity of the electrode with the earth mass and hence helps in getting low earth resistance. You can say more than 3.00 meters.
Now, can anyone please help me in answering the following few questions?
1. What should be the ideal material used as an earthing rod & connecting material between the earthing rod & tanker for effective earthing?
2. Suppose the Storage Tank is earthed to one earth pit. Can we connect the tanker earth to the same earth pit?
@ Abhay,
First of all, thanks a lot for bringing such a topic for discussion... Once again, requesting you to not bring too many threads at the same time for discussions... Give time to all members to participate... Keep a gap of at least 3 or 4 days... Let's try to get the best out of the forum... Safety is a vast subject, hence let's try to learn a little at a time... By seeing a lot of threads at a time, all will get frustrated and nobody will participate... If there is anything that needs immediate attention, post at any time, but out of curiosity, please don't bring a lot of topics together... Hope you will take this positively...
A lot of new members are starting to participate actively... Welcome all and share your expertise with us, please...
Regards,
Dipil Kumar V
From India
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Great participation from all of you in the thread... Good and appreciable one...
I have never come across more on the topic... Diesel & HCL are coming to our plant on such tankers... We are ensuring earthing before transfer of the same into the tanks... After going through the entire discussions now, I feel the importance of this... I remember those early days at the start of our plant; we were transferring diesel and all from tankers to tanks without even fixing an earthing... Even when talking to the driver of the tanker, he was aware of the fact that the tanker needed to be earthed but just neglected the same as nobody forced him to do so and also there was no arrangement...
@ Keshav Sir,
Now let me share my understanding on the topic and expecting to get the right answers.
Tanker resistance ever measured? = No. Please let me know, how we can measure the resistance of the tanker? (Chemical Handling or Diesel Handling Tanker)
And if so, what was the result? - Never did such a resistance test.
What is the maximum resistance it can have for effectiveness?
Resistance is basically between two points. Between which two points are you measuring resistance? Resistance for effective earthing should be less than 2 ohms. 0.8 ohms is the ideal value.
What depth do we have to drive that rod to get that reading for effectiveness?
It depends on soil resistivity, number of electrodes used for the grid, etc. As a common practice, we used to drive the depth up to which the ground soil retains its moisture even in peak summer. Soil moisture helps in homogeneous connectivity of the electrode with the earth mass and hence helps in getting low earth resistance. You can say more than 3.00 meters.
Now, can anyone please help me in answering the following few questions?
1. What should be the ideal material used as an earthing rod & connecting material between the earthing rod & tanker for effective earthing?
2. Suppose the Storage Tank is earthed to one earth pit. Can we connect the tanker earth to the same earth pit?
@ Abhay,
First of all, thanks a lot for bringing such a topic for discussion... Once again, requesting you to not bring too many threads at the same time for discussions... Give time to all members to participate... Keep a gap of at least 3 or 4 days... Let's try to get the best out of the forum... Safety is a vast subject, hence let's try to learn a little at a time... By seeing a lot of threads at a time, all will get frustrated and nobody will participate... If there is anything that needs immediate attention, post at any time, but out of curiosity, please don't bring a lot of topics together... Hope you will take this positively...
A lot of new members are starting to participate actively... Welcome all and share your expertise with us, please...
Regards,
Dipil Kumar V
From India
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Dear All,
For earthing to tankers, we are going to implement one special Earthing Protection Technique developed by M/s. Safety Projects, Mumbai. Contact 09320644813 (Pratap Jadhav - GM Sales) for more details. This is a safe technique available for unloading/loading tankers.
Regards,
Shailesh
From India, Pune
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
For earthing to tankers, we are going to implement one special Earthing Protection Technique developed by M/s. Safety Projects, Mumbai. Contact 09320644813 (Pratap Jadhav - GM Sales) for more details. This is a safe technique available for unloading/loading tankers.
Regards,
Shailesh
From India, Pune
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)Looking for something specific? - Join & Be Part Of Our Community and get connected with the right people who can help. Our AI-powered platform provides real-time fact-checking, peer-reviewed insights, and a vast historical knowledge base to support your search.