Model Code of Safe Practice in the Petroleum Industry: Bitumen Safety Code Pt. 11

This revision of the 1979 IP Bitumen Safety Code follows a comprehensive review of all aspects involved in the safe handling of petroleum bitumens, including reported incidents. New information and studies, forming the basis of the guidance developed in the course of this revision have shown that, when there is overheating, the margin of safety can become dangerously small with some bitumen grades, and that there is in all cases a need to ensure accurate control of the temperature in bitumen tanks. This update to the code gives prominent attention to the measures that should be taken to minimize the likelihood of a flammable condition in or around the vapour space of bitumen tankage and for the control over potential sources of ignition, both electrical and non-electrical. This guidance should be drawn to the attention of all with responsibility for the design, construction, maintenance and operation of bitumen handling plant - both in the manufacturing and bulk distribution, but no less in the commercial user section of the bitumen industry, where the conditions of close control may be less easily attainable than is the case within the petroleum industry generally.
The code gives for the most part recommendations for safe practice rather than a set of rigid rules.