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Responsibility of Person in Charge
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Certification for Service Stations
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Location Test Certificates
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Approved Handlers
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Emergency Response Plan
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Secondary Containment System
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Controlled Zones
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Hazardous Atmosphere Zones
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Approved Fillers for LPG
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Stationary Container System Test Certificates
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Inventory Control
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HSNO Legislation
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Hazardous Substances Register
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Obtaining a Test Certificate
- HSNO Enforcement
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Contact ERMA New Zealand
Service Stations
Service stations are an essential element of the New Zealand economy and contribute significantly to the transport sector. In order to achieve this they store and handle significant quantities of flammable substances. Careful management of these is important to protect people and the environment.
This page contains information to assist persons in charge of service stations and others working in this sector on managing these hazardous substances. It provides a series of links to information and guidance material on the following topics:
Responsibility of Person in Charge
The person in charge is the person with overall control or possession of the service station at a particular time. He or she may be the service station's owner or occupier or lessee.
The person in charge is responsible for ensuring that all specified controls are in place and are being followed. Further information is available:
Certification for Service Stations
The publication Certification for Service Stations provides a guide for the person in charge of a service station to obtain the test certificates required under the HSNO Act.
Service stations will require a location test certificate. A location test certificate verifies that hazardous substances are stored away from other structures, combustible materials and ignition sources.
Further information is available at:
The most hazardous substances require to be under the control of an approved handler. At service stations this includes petrol and LPG. Approved handlers are persons who have knowledge of the hazardous substances and who have experience in handling them.
Approved handlers must meet the qualifications set out in the regulations made under the HSNO Act and must be available. If an approved handler is not available, hazardous substances must be secured (i.e. locked away) to prevent their unauthorised use.
Service stations are required to have an emergency response plan to encompass every reasonably likely emergency scenario.
Further information is available:
A template of an emergency response plan is available:
Fire Extinguishers and Hydrant Systems
Service stations are required to have fire extinguishers available
Further information is available:
Signs are required to be erected at service stations explaining the hazardous substances present, the general types and degrees of hazard, steps to prevent unintended ignition and the action to be taken in an emergency.
Further information is available:
A secondary containment system is a system to contain liquids if they escape from the container in which they are stored. The stationary tanks at service stations require secondary containment systems. Common forms of secondary containment systems for below ground stationary tanks include double skin tanks or a stationary tank in an impervious pit.
Further information is available:
A controlled zone is an area established to protect people and places from the risks associated with the storage or use of hazardous substances, including petrol and LPG. Beyond the controlled zone, the public is provided with reasonable protection from the potential adverse effects arising from the hazardous substance.
If there are activities within the controlled zone, the potential adverse effects must be reduced or prevented.
At service stations, controlled zones are applicable around above ground stationary tanks (for example, LPG tanks) and LPG cylinder filling points.
Further information is available:
A hazardous atmosphere zone is an area in which an explosive or flammable atmosphere is present, or may be expected to be present, in quantities that require precautions to exclude potential ignition sources.
At service stations, hazardous atmosphere zones typically apply to petrol and LPG.
Diesel does not require hazardous atmosphere zones to be established.
Further Information is available:
A person must not fill an LPG cylinder unless he or she is an approved filler and has a current approved filler test certificate.
Further Information is available:
Stationary Container System Test Certificates
A stationary container system means a stationary tank and its associated equipment, pipework, and fittings up to and including the dispensers. Where LPG is stored, the pumps, cylinder-filling equipment, and, for large tanks, any fire-fighting systems are part of the stationary container system.
Service stations will require a stationary container system test certificate. This ensures that the bulk fuel storage systems meet the requirements for their design, construction, installation and maintenance.
Further information on stationary container system test certificates is available at:
- Compliance Guide Test Certificates for Stationary Container Systems
- Stationary Container Systems at service stations
Stationary tanks or their associated secondary containment systems that were constructed prior to April 1 2004 may not be able to comply with the HSNO requirements. If these stationary tanks have a capacity no greater than 60,000 litres, they may be managed under an ERMA New Zealand code of practice.
Every below ground stationary tank that stores a hazardous liquid is required to have an inventory control system. This is particularly important for those below ground tanks that were installed without a secondary containment system (tanks installed from 1 st April 2004 must have a secondary containment system). A template is available from:
Inventory Control System Instructions for service stations
Inventory Control System Template [.xls version]
The HSNO Act and the regulations made under this Act are available at the Government Legislation Website (make this a link to the website).
ERMA New Zealand has also published Transfer Notices in the New Zealand Gazette. These notices set requirements for fuels.
(including petrol, diesel and LPG)
Transfer Notices for other substances are also available:
HSNO requirements for any hazardous substance are summarized on the ERMA New Zealand Hazardous Substance Register (make this a link to the register search page).
You can search this register using the common name of the substance.
The requirements for the common fuels at service stations are:
Test certificates are obtained from a test certifier. Test Certifiers able to issue certificates for locations and stationary containers systems can be found at the Test Certificate Register
The Department of Labour enforces the HSNO legislation at service stations. You can contact an enforcement officer for guidance and advice on HSNO compliance at your Regional Department of Labour Office.
Information on HSNO compliance is also available from ERMA New Zealand. Contact our Hazardous Substance Compliance Line:
Phone: 0800 376 234, or
Email: hsinfo@ermanz.govt.nz
Or contact us at:
ERMA New Zealand
PO Box 131
Wellington.