Improving Safety Operations in Pit Valve Integrity Testing
To align with industry standards set by the Joint Inspection Group (JIG) and the Energy Institute (EI), it’s recommended that airports operating a hydrant fueling system perform monthly pit valve integrity checks to determine if they have a “hot valve.”
Safe and responsible operations are crucial to pit valve integrity checks to ensure the continued safe operations of a commercial or military airport. Recently, improvements have been made to the current process for pit valve integrity checking, providing fuel hydrant systems with hardware that is intrinsically safe while protecting the safety of employees in the process.
Intrinsically Safe Hardware
The current process for pit valve integrity checks involves using a coupler fitted with a pressure gauge, pressure bleed valve and stainless steel bucket to contain discharged fuel or a pole fitted with a shield which confines leaked jet fuel to the pit box. This is an intrusive process though and presents an increased risk of jet fuel leaking into the pit box which must be cleaned up by a pit cleaning vehicle.
In comparison, technology has emerged which is intrinsically safe to improve the operational task of performing a pit valve integrity check.
Recent hardware advancements like Atmos Pit Sentry attach directly to the pit valve to detect hot valves. Its dual construction of plastic and stainless steel means it can be fully submerged in fuel without damaging its integrity or ability to digitize the pit valve integrity testing process.
Safety of Staff
New improvements to pit valve integrity testing keep contact with the pit valve to a minimum. Even while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), current approaches to pit valve integrity testing run the risk of maintenance operators being directly exposed to jet fuel, which can cause skin irritation, breathing problems and more.
The latest improvements to pit valve integrity testing reduce maintenance operators’ contact with the pit valve. From a distance, Atmos Pit Sentry can pair to multiple Android devices and raise alarms in the event of a pit valve issue, limiting operators’ exposure to jet fuel in the process.
Many arduous activities are associated with the current process for pit valve integrity checks, such as lifting pit valve lids and obtaining a heavy hydrant coupler or pole from the vehicle for each of an airport’s pit valves. With recent improvements to the process, pit valve integrity checks emphasize automation and reduce physical strain on the workforce.
Opting for Safer Pit Valve Integrity Testing
Atmos Pit Sentry supports international aviation standards (EI) EI 1584, EI 1560 and requirements from JIG2 to ensure pit valve integrity checks are not only intrinsically safe and safe for maintenance operators but compliant with the latest advice from organizations who develop aviation fuel supply standards.
Luke Hutson is an Aviation Engineer for Atmos International (Atmos) and is Product Expert for Atmos Pit Sentry. With previous experience working at London Stansted Airport, Luke plays a pivotal role at Atmos in supporting the ongoing success of existing aviation solutions, such as the Atmos Portable Tightness Monitor, as well as new hardware like Atmos Pit Sentry.
Atmos International will be exhibiting its technology for pit valve integrity checking at inter airport Europe 2023 from Oct. 10-13 at Booth 970 in Hall B6. More information can also be found at Atmos International’s website.
