Ashtead Technology Rentals has supplied two explosion-proof remote control crawler cameras to help inspect drains, pipes and ducting at the Buncefield site near Hemel Hempstead. Buncefield has been the subject of an intensive investigation since the devastating events of 11 December 2005 and these have included a thorough inspection of all possible drainage pathways from the site. The Buncefield Investigation Board published a progress report on 12 May 2006 indicating that the main facts of the cause of the Buncefield incident are now known with reasonable confidence. In particular, the report describes how overfilling of tank 912 led to an escape of fuel (now known to be unleaded petrol); and how this in turn led to the formation of a cloud of flammable vapour that subsequently ignited. More work is needed to fully understand the explosion mechanism and how it generated such extreme overpressures, thereby causing so much damage. Adler & Allan Ltd provides a national oil spill response service and has been heavily involved with the Buncefield incident. The company's subsidiary, IWJS Ltd has been responsible for the inspection of drainage systems both within the site and in surrounding areas and Commercial Manager Mike Pirrie says that his teams "operated under very difficult conditions and have worked very hard with tight method statements and risk assessments in place. In addition to the CCTV equipment hired in from Ashtead Technology Rentals, the jetting, suction and tankering equipment had to be suitable for work within an oil terminal."
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