The petroleum dispensing industry and safety regulators are moving full speed ahead anticipating the possibility that higher concentrations of ethanol will be blended into the U.S. gasoline supply. Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) has tightened safety standards for fueling nozzle valves to account for the chemical effects of ethanol on construction, materials, and performance.
UL 842, the safety standard long-affecting hanging hardware, will no longer be used for
fueling nozzle valves. Instead, UL 2586 will apply to fueling nozzle valves that dispense gasoline with up to 10 percent ethanol (E10) and UL 2586A will be in place for fueling nozzles dispensing up to 85 percent ethanol (E85).
The Environmental Protection Agency reports E10 makes up more than 90 percent of the U.S. gas market. In addition gasoline with 15 percent ethanol (E15) is currently available in 17 states since the EPA approved a waiver in 2012 permitting it to be used in cars, light-duty trucks and certain sport utility vehicles made after 2001.
“Fifteen to 25 percent ethanol content wreaks havoc on elastomers and plastics. Testing showed that elastomers formed from nitriles would not be suitable in most instances. However, a more stout material like a fluorocarbon or a fluorosilicon could withstand the degradation,” said Jerry Mahn, Husky Corporation Product Design Engineer in a recent edition of the PEI Journal.
Fueling products manufacturers, like Husky Corporation, are going to make sure to comply with the new stringent standards which contain requirements that will address the higher concentrations of ethanol.
For more information about Husky Corporation’s fueling products, visit http://www.husky.com/
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