California Code of Regulations
Title 13 - Motor Vehicles
Division 3 - Air Resources Board
Chapter 15 - Additional Off-Road Vehicles and Engines Pollution Control Requirements
Article 3 - Verification Procedure, Warranty, and in-Use Compliance Requirements for Retrofits to Control Emissions from Off-Road Large Spark-Ignition Engines
Section 2784 - Durability Demonstration Requirements

Universal Citation: 13 CA Code of Regs 2784

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) The applicant must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Executive Officer, the durability of the applicant's LSI retrofit emission control system through an actual field or laboratory-based demonstration test. If the applicant chooses a laboratory-based durability demonstration, an additional field demonstration will be required to demonstrate in-field compatibility (pursuant to Section 2785). If the applicant has demonstrated the durability of the identical system in a prior verification or OEM certification, or has demonstrated durability through field experience, the applicant may request that the Executive Officer accept the previous demonstration in fulfillment of this requirement. In evaluating such a request, the Executive Officer may consider all relevant information including, but not limited to, the similarity of baseline emissions and application duty cycles, the relationship between the emission control group or engine family(ies) used in previous testing and the current emission control group, the number of engines tested, evidence of successful operation and user acceptance, and published reports.

(b) Engine Selection. Subject to the approval of the Executive Officer, the applicant may choose the engine to be used in the durability demonstration. The engine must be representative of the engines in the emission control group for which verification is sought. The selected engine need not be the same as the engine used for the emission testing (pursuant to Section 2783), but if the applicant does use the same engine, the emission testing results may also be used for the zero-hour durability tests.

(1) Except as outlined in (c)(2), the test fuel used shall be consistent with the fuel specifications as outlined in the "California Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 2001 and Subsequent Model Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks, and Medium- Duty Vehicles," as incorporated by reference in section 1961(d). If the engine is tested using the U.S. EPA test fuel, as outlined in 40 CFR Part 1065, the manufacturer shall demonstrate that the emission results are consistent with CARB Test Procedures. Manufacturers can use "commercially available fuels" to accumulate service hours but emission testing must be conducted using test fuel as specified in this section.

(2) Gasoline-fueled, large spark-ignition engines that are tested during the 2013-2019 calendar years have the option of using the test fuel referenced in section 2784(c)(3) for demonstrating exhaust emission compliance with the requirements of this section.

(3) Gasoline-fueled, large spark-ignition engines that are tested during 2020 and later calendar years must be exhaust emission tested using a test fuel that is consistent with the fuel specifications as outlined in title 13, section 1961.2; and, the "California 2015 and Subsequent Model Criteria Pollutant Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures and 2017 and Subsequent Model Greenhouse Gas Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks, and Medium-Duty Vehicles," adopted March 22, 2012, which is incorporated by reference herein. The test fuel specifications should remain consistent from batch to batch. Optionally, manufacturers may use other renewable fuel blends under this paragraph that have been certified by CARB as yielding test results equivalent, or more stringent than, those resulting from the fuel specified by 13 CCR 1961.2, and which are appropriate for the certification of large spark-ignition engines.

(4) During all engine tests, the engine shall employ lubricating oil consistent with the engine manufacturer's specifications for that particular engine. These specifications shall be recorded and declared in the verification application.

(d) Service Accumulation. The durability demonstration consists of an extended service accumulation period in which the LSI retrofit emission control system is used in the field or in a laboratory, with emissions reduction testing before and after the service accumulation. Service accumulation begins after the first emission test and concludes before the final emission test. The pre-conditioning period required in Section 2783 (c) cannot be used to meet the service accumulation requirements.

(1) Minimum Durability Demonstration Periods. The minimum durability demonstration period is 1,000 hours if it can be correlated or demonstrated to be equivalent to 2,500 hours in-use. The applicant must provide to the Executive Officer sufficient written documentation to justify the request for the minimum durability demonstration period. The applicant may propose a sampling scheme that could be used to support an accelerated durability schedule for approval by the Executive Officer. The sampling scheme may include, but is not limited to, logging only significant changes in a parameter, averages, or changes above some threshold value. Data must be submitted electronically in columns as a text file or another format approved by the Executive Officer.

(2) Fuel for Durability Demonstrations. The fuel used during durability demonstrations should be equivalent to the test fuel, or a fuel with properties less favorable to the durability of the retrofit emission control system. Durability demonstrations may, at the applicant's option and with the Executive Officer's approval, include intentional use of out-of-specification fuels so that data on the effects of using out-of-specification fuels may be obtained.

(e) Test Cycle. Testing requirements are summarized in Table 3. Note that the same cycle(s) must be used for both the initial (zero hour) and final (2,500 hour) tests as defined in Section 2783(e).

Table 3. Emission Tests Required for Durability Demonstrations

Application	LSI Retrofit System Verification Date	Test Type	Zero-Hour Test (prior durability demonstration) 2,500-Hour Test (after completion of 100% of the durability demonstration or the minimum durability demonstration)
Off-Road and portable engines	Pre-2007	Engine	Steady-state test cycle from CARB off-road regulations or U.S. EPA transient test cycle or an alternative cycle
Off-Road and portable engines	2007 and later	Engine	U.S. EPA transient test cycle or an alternative cycle

(f) Test Run. The number of tests to be conducted in accordance with the required test cycle shown in Table 3 is described below.

(1) The LSI retrofit emission control system must undergo one set of emission tests: (3 hot starts each for baseline and with the retrofit emission control system) at the beginning (zero hour) and one set of emission tests (3 hot starts for baseline and with the emission control system) after completion of the durability demonstration (2,500 hours) or the minimum durability demonstration period (1,000 hours). If there are substantial test data from previous field studies or field demonstrations, applicants may request that the Executive Officer consider these in place of the initial emission tests.

(2) As an alternative to testing a single unit before and after the service accumulation period, the applicant may request that the Executive Officer consider the testing of two identical units, one that has been pre-conditioned and another that has completed the service accumulation period. In reviewing the request, the Executive Officer may consider all relevant information, including, but not limited to, the following:

(A) The effect of the LSI retrofit emission control system on engine operation over time. Strategies that cause changes in engine operation are likely not to qualify for this testing option.

(B) The quality of the evidence the applicant can provide to support that the two units are identical.

(g) Maintenance During Durability Demonstration. Except for emergency engine repair, only scheduled maintenance on the engine and LSI retrofit emission control system may be performed during the durability demonstration. If normal maintenance includes replacement of any component of the engine emission control system, the time (years or hours) between component change must be reported with the results of the demonstration. If emergency repair was conducted on an engine equipped with the LSI retrofit emission control system within the durability demonstration period, the applicant must, within 30 days of the repair, report to the Executive Officer on what repair was performed and what components were involved, and provide an explanation on the possible cause(s) for the engine's and/or LSI retrofit emission control system's malfunction. Based on the information provided by the applicant, the Executive Officer will decide whether to allow that engine to continue to be used in the durability demonstration program, or to start anew the durability demonstration period.

(h) Performance Requirements. The LSI retrofit emission control system must meet the following requirements throughout the durability demonstration period:

If the applicant claims a percent emissions reduction, the percent emissions reduction must meet or exceed the minimum percent emissions reduction associated with the LSI Level for which the applicant is seeking verification.

If the applicant claims a reduced emission level, the reduced emission level must not exceed the emission level associated with the LSI Level for which the applicant is seeking verification.

The LSI retrofit emission control system must maintain its physical integrity. Its physical structure and all of its components not specified for regular replacement during the durability demonstration period must remain intact and fully functional.

The LSI retrofit emission control system must not cause any damage to the engine, vehicle, or equipment.

Except for emergency engine repair, no maintenance of the LSI retrofit emission control system beyond that specified in its owner's manual will be allowed without prior Executive Officer approval.

(i) Failure During the Durability Demonstration Period. If the LSI retrofit emission control system fails to maintain its initial verified percent emissions reduction or absolute emissions for any reason, the Executive Officer may downgrade the system to the verification level that corresponds to the lowest degraded performance observed in the durability demonstration period. If the LSI retrofit emission control system fails to maintain the emissions reduction performance pursuant to Sections 2784(h)(1) and 2784(h)(2), as demonstrated during the emission test pursuant to Section 2783, during the durability period, the LSI retrofit emission control system will not be verified. If the LSI retrofit emission control system fails in the course of the durability demonstration period, the applicant must submit a report explaining the circumstances of the failure within 90 days of the failure. The Executive Officer may then, as appropriate, determine whether to deny verification or allow the applicant to correct the failed LSI retrofit emission control system and either continue the durability demonstration or begin a new durability demonstration.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 39002, 39003, 39500, 39600, 39601, 39650- 39675, 40000, 43000, 43000.5, 43011, 43013, 43018, 43105, 43600 and 43700, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 43000, 43009.5, 43013, 43018, 43101, 43104, 43105, 43106, 43107, 43204, 43205 and 43205.5, Health and Safety Code.

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