Petroleum Loading & Bulk Terminal Safety Platforms - SafeRack

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Leaders in Petroleum, Upstream/Downstream, and Natural Gas Safety Solutions

Our loading platforms and access systems are built for durability and adaptability, ensuring secure and OSHA-compliant operations for LPG loading. By incorporating advanced safety features and seamless integration with existing infrastructure, SafeRack helps fuel terminals improve throughput with innovative loading racks and oil storage rack systems while maintaining worker protection and regulatory compliance.

SafeRack has been providing the oil and gas terminal industry with reliable safety solutions for years. The ever-changing footprint of oil terminals, including their extensive web of piping and equipment, creates complex access challenges. Our crossovers, work platforms, and fall protection systems provide secure and adaptable solutions to meet the industry’s evolving needs.

Designed to withstand harsh environments and frequent reconfiguration, SafeRack’s equipment is the preferred choice for fuel rack locations and petroleum terminals. Our access solutions improve worker safety, streamline maintenance, and ensure compliance with industry standards at oil loading racks and fuel terminal loading racks. By integrating robust, reconfigurable safety systems, SafeRack helps facilities enhance efficiency and protect workers in high-risk loading and storage environments.

Kenny Rogers Avatar
Petroleum
Characteristics of LPG Rail Loading
  • Product Temperature: 30°F-100°F
  • Design Temperature: -20°F-110°F
  • Normal Operating Pressure 80 – 150 psig
  • Design Pressure – 250 psig
  • Railcar Connection Size – 2” f
  • Line/Arm Size – 4”x3”x2”, 3”x2”
  • Common Hazards – Freeze burns, collapsing railcars, flammable material
Characteristics of LPG Truck Loading
  • Product Temperature: 30°F-100°F
  • Design Temperature: -20°F-110°F
  • Normal Operating Pressure: 500 PSI
  • Hydro Test Pressure: 750 PSI
  • Railcar Connection Size: 2”
  • Line/Arm Size -3”x2”
  • Common Hazards – Freeze burns, collapsing railcars, flammable material
Liquefied Petroleum Gas LPG parts

LPG Is a mixture of hydrocarbons, consisting mainly of propane, propene (propylene) and butane

  • A simplified propane supply chain would include:
    • Production and Transportation
    • Bulk Plants and Customer Delivery (cylinder filling plants, bulk storage plants, and large industrial customers)
    • End-User Customers (final consumers)
  • Propane is delivered from terminals to distributors and re-sellers via truck, railcar, ship or barge, and sometimes by pipeline, especially on the East Coast and
    Mid-West.
  • Since propane is an odorless gas, when it’s transferred from storage vessels to the loading dock an odorant is injected (Methyl Mercaptan) to detect leaks or spills.
  • LPG and anhydrous ammonia tank cars are sealed pressure containers. Several fittings are mounted on the manway cover plate to facilitate loading, unloading, gauging and testing operations.
  • Two (2) product lines
  • One (1) vapor line

Products

NFPA 58 – Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code

SafeRack and Fisher have collaborated to engineer a fully NFPA 58-compliant loading station, providing a safe and efficient system for LPG products (DOT 1075), NGLs, and other pressurized gases. This advanced system ensures safe access to the top of the railcar, maximizes product flow, and features remote or automatic shutdown capabilities in case of an emergency, such as fire, leaks, or railcar rollaway, eliminating the need for operator intervention.

Why NFPA 58 Compliance Matters:

  • The industry benchmark for safe LP-gas storage, handling, transportation, and usage.
  • Mitigates risks and ensures safe installations, preventing failures, leaks, and tampering that could lead to fires or explosions.
  • Many facilities lack awareness of what full compliance requires.
SafeRack’s NFPA 58-Compliant Loading Station Features:

  • Emergency Shut-off Valves (ESVs): Installed at the railcar for rapid response.
  • Snappy Joe ESVs: Positioned at the oil loading rack for enhanced safety.
  • Full System Integration: Seamless connection of loading arms, gangways, safety cages, and ESVs.
  • LPG Railcar Connections: Three connection points—two product connections and one vapor connection.
  • Step-by-Step Connection Process: Secure attachment of ESVs, vapor hoses, and system valves to create an open circuit, ensuring controlled and efficient loading.

SafeRack’s partnership with Fisher Control Valves ensures that every fuel terminal loading rack and LPG railcar loading installation meets NFPA 58 standards, providing a safer and more efficient work environment. Contact a SafeRack representative today to learn how to make your oil and gas terminal compliant and optimized for performance.

How do SafeRack’s gangways improve safety during energy product loading and unloading?

SafeRack’s self-adjusting gangways provide safe, OSHA-compliant access to tank trucks, railcars, and barges transporting crude oil, natural gas liquids, and refined fuels. Equipped with four-rail safety cages and available in powered options, our gangways minimize fall risks and ensure safe, efficient loading and unloading in high-volume energy operations.

Can SafeRack’s loading arms handle corrosive and flammable materials?

Yes. SafeRack’s carbon steel loading arms are built to safely transfer a wide range of energy products, including crude oil, LNG, and petrochemicals. With PTFE-sealed swivel joints for chemical resistance and vapor recovery systems for EPA compliance, these arms are designed to withstand harsh environments while maintaining safety and efficiency.

How does SafeRack help prevent spills and environmental hazards at energy facilities?

SafeRack provides a range of spill containment solutions, including pans, berms, and wheel chocks, to capture leaks during the transfer of oil, gas, and petrochemicals. These systems help energy facilities stay compliant with EPA regulations while protecting workers and the environment from hazardous spills.

Why is grounding important in energy loading operations, and how does SafeRack help?

Grounding is critical in energy operations to prevent static discharge, which can ignite flammable vapors during the transfer of crude oil, LNG, and refined fuels. SafeRack’s grounding and bonding systems ensure a secure ground connection before product flow begins, reducing fire and explosion risks and maintaining compliance with OSHA and NFPA standards.

Can SafeRack customize safety platforms and access systems for energy facilities?

Absolutely. SafeRack offers customizable access solutions, including gangways, platforms, stairs, and fall protection systems, specifically designed for the complex needs of energy facilities. Our modular systems are built to withstand harsh environments while improving worker safety and operational efficiency.

Projects

What Customers Are Saying

★★★★★

Got us the products we needed fast. I like how SafeRack keeps records of our products with descriptions of where on our site they were installed. This helped in defining which parts we needed to repair our ramps. Customer service was very helpful in getting us the products we needed fast.

By RJ T. from JR Simplot

★★★★

Good responsiveness. Travis McCraine's responsiveness was good.

By Bill S. from Eden Cryogenics

★★★★★

I would recommend this product. I would recommend this product. It is a good solution and the service is good.

By Rodney M. from Pronumex

★★★★★

Easily assembled in the field and fit like a glove. The engineering for these products is already completed and the OSHA regulations are fully understood by the company, if not I may have developed these stairs through other resources. As a shareholder of the company this is a value engineered item at a feasible cost to the company.

By Bill K. from Marathon Petroleum Corporation

★★★★★

Very good and responsive. The sales team is very responsive and the product is dependable. We ran into no obstacles buying this product.

By Richard L. from Ken’s Foodservice

★★★★

Ray is a major reason why this is our third purchase from SafeRack and why we will keep coming back. Ray Evans called me back in less than an hour on the first call and on the next couple of calls, less than 10 minutes. The replacement gangway and safety cage was delivered on time. This was the third purchase from SafeRack. Our salesman gave us several ways to go so that we could stop the damage the truck drivers were causing to this piece of equipment. He has always helped us in the past, and so far no one has damaged it. He said he would drive up if we needed more help or other ways of installing. That is why we keep going back to Ray and your company.

By NULL . from Chemical Plant in North Carolina