Help
The easiest way to get started and learn about PetroCAL and how it works, is by loading the sample worksheet. You can easily play around and get a feel for things using this sample data.
The sample worksheet contains 1 dispenser with 8 hoses. You can modify and change things to test out functionality - it will not override the sample dataset, which will always revert back to the same when you click above.
Topics
Browse the following topics for more detailed instructions.
Usage context for this app
This app has been designed for use in checking, calibrating and verifying fuel dispensers on Retail Fuel sites.
Retail Fuel sites typically have many (often different) instruments (fuel dispensers), each with many measuring devices (meters) represented by hoses. A typical fuel dispenser may have 8 hoses, and an average service station will have 4 dispensers, which equals 32 calibration checks (in-service inspections) and possible calibration and verification of those found outside of MPE.
Retail Fuel sites also conduct periodic calibration checks on dispensers, per contractual arrangments, for hundreds of sites in any given state.
This all demands an incredible amount of attention to many complex factors, a significant volume of paperwork (up to 100 pages for a typical site) — and with this the opportunity for errors and mistakes.
Retail Fuel sites are also one of the more public facing environments where the importance of accurate measurement, and public confidence in measurement, is most on display.
At this time the app doesn't support Console Verification, but that will be added in the future.
So whilst narrowly focussed, this app should be useful and valuable for following the NITP 5.1 on Retail Fuel sites. The Form 6 generated by this app has the operator business type as Retail Fuel hard coded, so it cannot be generated for other types of calibration.
Loading and saving data
Data is saved automatically while you're working to your browser's local storage. You do not need to be connected to the Internet to work on a worksheet.
This local browser storage means you can navigate away from the app, close your browser, and come back - and find all your worksheet exactly how you left it. If you access the site via http://petrocal.app, and there is local data saved, you will see a prompt on the start page to continue where you left off.
This local storage can be deleted if you manually clear your browser's cache/data/temporary internet files, or if the browser or operating system is configured to clear such data automatically.
For more permanent storage, use the Save button to download a data file. You can save this file anywhere on your device, email it to others, or upload to cloud storage e.g. Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive. The file will be named YYYYMMDD - Site Name - Job Number.cal
Using the Load function allows you to open a data file and populate your worksheet.
The worksheet data file is in JSON format. This means that the data can also be easily imported into other products, or integrated with job management systems.
Entering data
Calibration process
Reporting
The Test Report view will show a preview of a complete test report, containing all the data entered in the worksheet.
There is a specific print stylesheet that will be used by your web browser, that formats it more suitably for printing on A4 paper.
Using the Print Dialog for your browser/operating system, you can also Save as PDF/Print to PDF - to create a PDF document that is suitable for emailing and storage.
It is recommended in the Print Dialog that you turn off Headers/Footers, select scale to "Fit to page width", set the margins to 5mm (all sides), and ensure "Print backgrounds" is chosen.
If you play around with settings, you should be able to get each hose to nicely fit on a page, with 3 across.
NMI Form 6
Tips and tricks
- On the Instruments view, there is a Duplicate button. After setting up one instrument (pump), and setting up all the hoses for that instrument, click Duplicate and it will create a new instrument with all the same details and hose setup - leaving just the dispenser specific fields blank (like serial number) and calibration test input.
This can save you a significant amount of time if all the dispensers on a site are the same type and setup. - Once you have a whole site setup and before entering any actual calibration data, save the data file and move it somewhere else to use as a template for that site in future. This can save you a huge amount of time on subsequent calibration checks/inspections as you can load the data file and have populated all dispenser and hose information ready to go.