ISA for Provision of a Lightweight Flammable Liquid Pumpset
The customer was under contract to the MoD Engineering Systems Support Integrated Project Team (IPT) to provide a fleet of about 40 portable pumpsets, for use by all three main Services to pump fuel (primarily 'AVTUR') to a range of military vehicles including helicopters, tanks etc. During the production and testing phase of the prototype pumpset, a combustion/explosion hazard was identified, i.e. the potential for the pumped fuel or its vapour to come into contact with the hot external surfaces of the diesel engine driven pumpset.
Based on the estimated frequency and severity ofsuch events, a safety category 'B' had been assigned to this equipment in accordance with DEF-STAN 00-56, as a consequence of which the IPT was considering cancellation of the project.
We were urgently contracted by the manufacturer to investigate the pumpset and its operating environments, and to conduct a risk assessment as required by DEF-STAN 00-56. This assessment involved discussions with the manufacturer, inspection of the prototype pumpset, and research into the nature and properties of the fuel types to be pumped by the equipment. We were then able to present a preliminary report with recommendations to an IPT Safety Panel meeting, at which supplementary information was elicited from potential users of the equipment.
Using this information, we were able to provide the customer with a detailed risk assessment showing that, provided certain precautions were carefully observed, the risks involved with using the equipment would fall within an acceptable range.
The project was thus able to proceed, and the equipment is now in-service with MoD.