S.I. No. 9/1963:

OIL HEATERS REGULATIONS, 1963.

OIL HEATERS REGULATIONS, 1963.

I, JOHN LYNCH, Minister for Industry and Commerce, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 2 of the Oil Burners (Standards) Act, 1960 (No. 24 of 1960), hereby make the following regulations :

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Oil Heaters Regulations, 1963.

2. These Regulations shall come into operation on the 15th day of February, 1963.

3.--(1) In these Regulations--

" floor " includes a hearth or other horizontal surface ;

" full fuel level," in relation to an oil heater, means the level marked on the heater as the maximum to which it may properly be filled or, where no such level is marked, the highest level to which the heater can be filled without overflowing when it is level ;

" pressure heater " means an oil heater requiring for its proper operation a pressure in its fuel container greater than atmospheric pressure ;

" uncontrolled flame " means a flame which increases of its own accord to a size substantially greater than that of normal burning.

(2) For the purposes of these Regulations it shall be assumed that the fuel used in an oil heater is kerosene within the meaning of the Oil Burners (Standards) Act, 1960 (No. 24 of 1960), which does not give off inflammable vapour at a temperature of less than one hundred degrees Fahrenheit when tested with the apparatus and in the manner described in the First Schedule to these Regulations and, accordingly, in the conduct of any test to determine whether a heater complies with these Regulations, no fuel other than such kerosene as aforesaid shall be used.

(3) These Regulations shall not apply in relation to component parts for oil heaters, being parts manufactured before the commencement of these Regulations.

4.--(1) An oil heater shall bear a warning--

(a) against using petrol or tractor vaporising oil as a fuel therein ;

(b) against carrying the heater when alight ;

(c) against using the heater in unventilated places ;

(d) against using the heater where it may be exposed to draughts ; and

(e) against placing the heater where it may be knocked over.

(2) The warnings required by this Regulation shall be set out in legible and durable characters, and displayed prominently either upon the heater itself or upon a durable label stoutly affixed to it.

5. Any device for regulating the flame of an oil heater shall be readily accessible, and capable of easy adjustment when the heater is alight.

6.--(1) An oil heater shall be such that if it is filled up to its full fuel level, properly lighted, and allowed to burn under normal conditions until the fuel is exhausted, it will not produce visible smoke, any explosion, or any uncontrolled or unguarded flame, or allow any fuel to escape unburnt from the fuel system.

(2) An oil heater having any mechanical device to regulate the supply of fuel automatically shall be such that it will comply with the foregoing provisions of this Regulation notwithstanding any failure liable to occur in the automatic operation of that device.

(3) An oil heater designed to stand on a floor shall be such that if it is set upon a level floor but so that a leg or any part of the periphery of the heater normally in contact with the floor is propped up a quarter of an inch above floor level and it is then allowed to burn under otherwise normal conditions, it will not produce visible smoke, any explosion, or any uncontrolled flame or allow any fuel to escape unburnt from the fuel system.

(4) An oil heater which depends upon atmospheric pressure to retain the fuel in the fuel container shall be such that it will not produce visible smoke, any explosion or any uncontrolled flame notwithstanding that, while it is burning normally, its flame regulator is turned up sharply from the lowest position of normal burning to the highest position of which the regulator is capable.

(5) The references in paragraph (1) of this Regulation to a heater being allowed to burn under normal conditions and in paragraph (3) to it being allowed to burn under conditions normal except as there stated shall be construed as including references to a requirement that where the flame of the heater is adjustable it shall be adjusted from time to time as may be necessary during the first thirty minutes of burning, but not thereafter.

7. An oil heater, other than a pressure heater, shall be such that if it is filled up to its full fuel level and allowed to burn under normal conditions in a room temperature not exceeding sixty degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature of any part of the fuel in the fuel container will not, while more than a twentieth part of that fuel remains in the fuel container, rise above one hundred degrees Fahrenheit.

8.--(1) An oil heater designed to stand on a floor shall be such that when standing unsecured on a floor, and whether full or empty of fuel, it can be tilted to an angle of fifteen degrees from the vertical in any direction without overturning.

(2) Such a heater shall have screw-holes, a hook and chain or other means conveniently placed and sufficient for securing it so as to prevent it being overturned.

9. An oil heater which is designed to stand on a floor, shall be such that if the heater, when alight, is overturned so that it falls forward, backwards or sideways so as to rest on the floor, any fuel escaping from the heater either will not be ignited, or, in the first fifteen seconds after the heater is overturned, will not exceed fifty-five millilitres in quantity,

10. An oil heater designed to use an adjustable wick shall be such that, when a suitable wick which has been well worn by adjustment and readjustment in the heater is used, the flame of the heater will not pass down the channel carrying the wick so as to ignite the fuel in the fuel container.

11. An oil heater shall be such that, if tested in accordance with the provisions of the Second Schedule to these Regulations, no part of the base mentioned in paragraph 1 of that Schedule, or the board mentioned in paragraph 2 thereof, will during the test exceed in temperature one hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit in the case of a heater which radiates heat principally in one direction, or two hundred and twelve degrees Fahrenheit in any other case.

12.--(1) An oil heater shall be such that if, when burning normally, it is subjected for the prescribed period or until the flame is sooner extinguished to a steady, frontal and horizontal draught of any velocity not exceeding twenty-six feet per second, the heater will not produce any explosion or any unguarded flame (otherwise than in momentary flashes) either while the draught continues or within fifteen minutes after it ceases.

(2) The prescribed period for the purpose of this Regulation shall be a period of five minutes, except that if during that period the flame travels back so that the heater burns with an abnormal flame and at a point nearer to the supply of fuel than that of normal burning the prescribed period shall be thirty minutes.

13. Where a crack in or distortion of a part of an oil heater might affect the proper working of the heater, that part shall not be of drawn-brass unless any stress caused by the process of drawing and capable of causing such a crack or distortion has been obviated.

14.--(1) The structure of any fuel pipe or fuel valve of an oil heater shall be of metal.

(2) Any joint in the fuel system of an oil heater shall be fuel tight, and shall either be of a mechanical type, or be soundly welded, brazed or soldered, as may be appropriate to the metal used.

15.--(1) Any join in the materials of the fuel container of an oil heater below the full fuel level shall be air tight and fuel tight, and shall have been thoroughly sweated with solder where this is appropriate to the material used, or be otherwise efficiently and robustly made.

(2) The inside of the fuel container of an oil heater which depends upon atmospheric pressure to retain the fuel in the fuel container shall be resistant to corrosion by the fuel, water, the vapour of the fuel and water vapour.

16.--(1) The fuel container of a pressure heater shall be fitted with a suitable valve for quickly releasing the pressure in the fuel container, and the valve shall be readily operable.

(2) A pressure heater shall be such that, when the heater is level, its fuel container cannot be filled beyond ninety-four per cent. of its capacity.

(3) The fuel container of a pressure heater shall be such that, with all the outlets sealed, it will withstand--

(a) an internal pressure which exceeds the outside pressure by thirty pounds to the square inch ; and

(b) any pressure capable of being produced by pumping any pump connected to the container sixty times in one minute with the container full to the full fuel level.

(4) The burner of a pressure heater shall be such that, with all outlets sealed, it will withstand--

(a) an internal pressure which exceeds the outside pressure by sixty pounds to the square inch ; and

(b) a pressure equal to any capable of being produced in the fuel container of the heater in the manner described in paragraph (3) of this Regulation.

(5) Any joint in the burner of a pressure heater shall be soundly brazed.

FIRST SCHEDULE.

REGULATION 3.

TEST APPARATUS TO BE USED AND MANNER OF TESTING KEROSENE THEREWITH SO AS TO ASCERTAIN THE TEMPERATURE AT WHICH IT WILL GIVE OFF INFLAMMABLE VAPOUR.

PART I.

SPECIFICATION OF THE TEST APPARATUS.

GENERAL.

The apparatus to be employed shall be the Abel Petroleum Testing apparatus or the Abel apparatus modified by having an oil cup provided with a stirrer. It shall be constructed to the dimensions herein specified within the limits of accuracy prescribed by the tolerances set forth below.

THE OIL CUP.

The oil cup consists of a cylindrical vessel open at the top and fitted on the outside with a flat circular flange projecting at right angles.

Within the cup, fixed through the wall and silver soldered or brazed in place, there is a gauge consisting of a piece of wire bent upwards and terminating in a point.

Material :--Brass or gunmetal.

THE COVER.

The cup is provided with a close-fitting cover with a downward projecting rim barely reaching the flange on the cup. The downward projecting rim is made solid with the top or silver soldered or brazed in place. Upon the cover are mounted a thermometer socket, trunnions to support an oil-test lamp, a pair of guides in which a slide moves, and a white bead. The top of the cover is pierced by three rectangular holes symmetrically placed on a diameter, one in the centre and the other two as close as practicable to the inner sides of the cover-rim and opposite each other. These three holes are covered or uncovered by means of a slide moving in suitably disposed guides. The slide has two perforations, one corresponding in all particulars to the centre hole in the cover and the other to one of the holes at the side. The movement of the slide is restricted by suitable stops, and its length and the disposition of the holes are such, that at the outer extremity of the movement of the slide, the holes in the cover are simultaneously just completely opened and at the inner extremity of the movement of the slide they are completely closed.

The trunnions supporting the test lamp are fixed on the top of the guides and the lamp is mounted in the trunnions so that it is free to oscillate. The lamp is provided with a jet to contain a wick and is so arranged that when the slide is moved so as to uncover the holes, the oscillating lamp is caught by a pin fixed in the slide and tilted over the central hole in such a way that the lower edge of the cover bisects the circle formed by the bore of the jet when in the lowest position. The flame then occupies a central position within the hole in both directions.

A suitably mounted gas-jet may be substituted for the lamp.

The thermometer socket is in the form of a split tube, mounted on a diameter at right angles to the diameter through the centres of the holes, and fitted at such an angle as to bring the bulb of the thermometer, when in place, vertically below the centre of the cover and at the correct distance from it.

A white bead, the dimensions of which represent the size of test flame to be used, is mounted in a visible position on the cover.

MATERIALS :--All parts excepting bead :--brass or gun-metal. bead :--Ivory or other suitable material.

COVER FITTED WITH STIRRER.

Provision may be made in the cover for the reception of a stirrer which projects into the oil cup, for use with viscous materials only.

A bush is mounted on the cover in a position diametrically opposite the thermometer mounting and its length is such and it is set at such an angle that the stirrer rod clears the oil-level gauge and the blades operate below the level of and without fouling the thermometer bulb. The bush is placed as near as practicable to the outer edge of the cover.

The stirrer consists of a round stem having four blades or vanes silver soldered in place at one end. A collar is fixed on the stem so that when the stem is inserted into the bush from below, it is arrested at a position such that the correct length protrudes into the oil cup. The top end of the stem is reduced and screwed.

A long sleeve having an internally screwed, knurled knob soldered to its upper end, is passed over the upper end of the stem and screwed home. The length of the sleeve is such that a flat-faced collar at its lower end just comes into contact with the upper end of the bush, leaving the stirrer free to rotate without appreciable vertical play.

A flat-headed cylindrical plug is provided for insertion in the bush when the stirrer is not in use.

MATERIAL :--Brass or gun-metal.

HEATING VESSEL.

The heating vessel or bath consists of two flat-bottomed cylindrical copper vessels placed coaxially one inside the other and soldered at their tops to a flat copper ring, greater in outside diameter than the larger vessel and of smaller inside diameter than the smaller vessel. The space between the two vessels is thus totally enclosed and is used as a water jacket.

An ebonite or fibre ring of right-angled section is fitted into the hole in the centre of the flat ring forming the top of the bath and, when the apparatus is in use, the oil cup fits into, and its flange rests upon, this ebonite or fibre ring so that the oil cup is centrally disposed within the heating vessel. The ebonite or fibre ring is secured in place by means of six small screws having their heads sunk below the surface of the ring, to avoid metallic contact between the bath and the oil cup.

A split socket, similar to that on the cover of the oil cup, but set vertically, allows a thermometer to be inserted into the water-space. A funnel and overflow pipe also communicate with the water-space through the top plate and two loop handles are provided thereon.

The bath rests upon a cast-iron tripod stand, to the ring of which is attached a cylindrical copper jacket not less than 24 I.W.G. flanged inwards at the top, and of such dimensions that the bath, while resting firmly on the iron ring, just touches with its outward projecting flange the inward-turned flange of the jacket. Two handles are provided on the outer jacket.

Diameter of the outer jacket 6.5 inches ±0.1 inches.

SPIRIT LAMP.

A spirit lamp is provided for raising the temperature of the water bath, but any other suitable means may be employed for this purpose.

THERMOMETERS.

Two thermometers are provided with the apparatus, the one for ascertaining the temperature of the bath, the other for determining the flashing point.

OIL CUP THERMOMETER.

WATER BATH THERMOMETER.

The brass collar of the thermometer is in each case of the following dimensions :--

PART II.

MANNER OF TESTING KEROSENE.

1. For the purposes of these Regulations kerosene shall be tested either by means of apparatus constructed in accordance with the specification contained in Part I of this Schedule, or by means of apparatus constructed in accordance with the specification contained in the First Schedule to the Petroleum Act, 1879.

2. The test apparatus shall be placed for use in a position where it is not exposed to currents of air or draughts.

3. The heating vessel or water-bath shall be filled by pouring cold water into the funnel until it begins to flow out at the spout of the vessel. The air-chamber which surrounds the cup shall be filled with cold water to a depth of 1.5 inches.

4. If an oil test-lamp is being used it shall be prepared by fitting it with a piece of flat plaited candle-wick, and filling it with colza or rape-oil up to the lower edge of the opening of the spout or wick tube. The lamp shall be trimmed so that when lighted it gives a flame of about 0.15 of an inch diameter, and this size of flame, which is represented by the projecting white bead on the cover of the oil-cup, is readily maintained by simple manipulation from time to time with a small wire trimmer. A gas test-lamp may be employed, and if so, the size of the jet of flame shall be adjusted to the size laid down above.

5. The oil-cup shall be placed on a level surface in a good light and the oil to be tested shall be poured into it, until the level of the liquid just reaches the point of the gauge which is fixed in the cup. The cover, with the slide closed, shall then be put on to the cup and pressed down so that its edge rests on the rim of the cup, and the cup shall be placed into the bath or heating vessel, every care being taken to avoid wetting the sides of the cup with the oil. The thermometer in the lid of the cup has been adjusted so as to have the correct immersion when the brass collar of the thermometer is properly seated, and its position shall not in any circumstances be altered. When the cup has been placed in the proper position, the scale of the thermometer faces the operator.

6. The test-lamp shall then be placed in position upon the lid of the cup. The spirit lamp or other suitable heater shall be placed under the heating vessel which shall be heated during the test so that the temperature of the oil is raised at the rate of 2-2.25 degrees Fahrenheit per minute. When the temperature has reached 80 degrees Fahrenheit the operation of testing shall be begun, the test flame being applied once for every rise of 1 degree in the following manner :--

The slide shall be slowly drawn open while a metronome set so as to beat at the rate of 75 to 80 beats in the minute, beats three times and shall be closed during the fourth beat. A pendulum of 24 inches effective length may be used in place of the metronome, counting one beat from one extremity of the swing to the other.

SECOND SCHEDULE.

REGULATION II.

1. The heater shall be set upon a base made of two wooden boards each one inch thick and separated by a sheet of paper coated with bitumen sufficient to prevent the passage of water vapour, of which the upper shall be of seasoned oak and the lower of seasoned pine. The oak shall not be stained or otherwise coloured but shall be varnished with clear varnish on its upper surface.

2. A board of seasoned pine, one inch thick and painted dull black, shall be set vertically on the base as close as possible to the heater and on any side of it, except that, in the case of a heater which radiates or emits heat or heated air principally in one direction, the board shall be set at an angle of forty-five degrees (in the horizontal plane) to that direction as if to form one side of a corner in which the heater had been placed so as to radiate or emit outwards.

3. The heater shall be made to burn for four hours in a room temperature not exceeding sixty degrees Fahrenheit and at the highest rate at which the heater will burn normally.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

The purpose of these Regulations is to prescribe safety standards in relation to the design, construction and performance of domestic oil heaters.

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 21st day of January, 1963.

JOHN LYNCH,

Minister for Industry and Commerce.