(1) If the fuel
system uses diesel or gasoline, the inspector shall:
(a) check the fuel tank, fuel tank support
straps, filler tube, tube clamps, fuel tank vent hoses or tubes, filler housing
drain, overflow tube, and fuel filler; and
(i)
issue a rejection inspection certificate when:
(A) there is fuel leakage at any point or
there are escaping gases detected in the system;
(B) the fuel tank filler cap is
missing;
(C) any part of the system
is not securely fastened or supported;
(D) there is physical damage to any fuel
system component; or
(E) the
crossover line is not protected and drops more than two inches below fuel
tanks.
(2) If the fuel system uses liquid propane
gas, the inspector shall:
(a) check the fuel
tank, fuel tank support straps, filler tube, tube clamps, fuel tank vent hoses
or tubes, filler housing drain, overflow tube, fuel filler cap, and conversion
kit installations;
(b) check for
leaks by using the soap test with antifreeze;
(c) check that the fuel container is
installed in a way to prevent it from jarring loose, slipping, or
rotating;
(d) check that containers
are located to minimize the possibility of damage to the container and its
fittings;
(e) check that containers
located less than 18 inches from the exhaust system, the transmission, or a
heat-producing component of the internal combustion engine are shielded by a
vehicle frame member or by a noncombustible baffle with an air space on both
sides of the frame member or baffle;
(f) check that the piping system is
installed, supported, and secured in such a manner as to minimize damage due to
expansion, contraction, vibration, strains, and wear. Protection to the piping
system may be achieved by parts of the vehicle furnishing the necessary
protection, a fitting guard furnished by the manufacturer of the container, or
by other means to provide equivalent protection;
(g) check that container valves,
appurtenances, and connections are protected to prevent damage from accidental
contact with stationary objects or from stones, mud, ice, and from damage from
the vehicle's overturn or similar accident;
(h) for a tank installed inside a passenger
compartment, check that it is installed in an enclosure that is securely
mounted to the vehicle, such as a trunk which is gas-tight with respect to the
passenger compartment and is vented to the outside of the vehicle;
and
(i) check that manual shutoff
valves provide positive closure under service conditions, are equipped with an
internal excess-flow check valve designed to close automatically at the rated
flows of vapor, stop all flow to and from the container when put in the closed
position, and are readily accessible without the use of tools or other
equipment. A check valve will not meet this requirement; and
(j) issue a rejection inspection certificate
when:
(i) there is fuel leakage at any point
or there are escaping gases detected in the system;
(ii) the fuel tank filler cap is missing,
which is the cap over the fueling receptacle, not the door to the
receptacle;
(iii) any part of the
system is not securely fastened, supported, or the tank valve is not
shielded;
(iv) there is physical
damage, such as excessive denting, corrosion, bulging, or gouging to any fuel
system component;
(v) the fuel
lines have any corrosion;
(vi)
welding is present, with the exception of being on saddle plates, lugs, pads or
brackets that are attached to the container by the container
manufacturer;
(vii) excessive
surface rust on the tank or tank paint coating is in poor condition;
(viii) there is any installation hazard
present that may cause a potential hazard during a collision;
(ix) a container is mounted directly on roofs
or ahead of the front axle or beyond the rear bumper of a vehicle;
(x) a container or its appurtenance protrudes
beyond the sides or top of the vehicle;
(xi) the vehicle does not have a
weather-resistant, diamond shaped label located on the right rear of the
vehicle identifying the vehicle as a "PROPANE" fueled vehicle;
(xii) a data plate, or saddle plate, is not
present or is not legible on a propane tank;
(xiii) any aftermarket data plates are welded
on the tank; or
(xiv) a check valve
is used for a manual shutoff valve.
(3) American Society of Mechanical Engineers,
or ASME containers are installed permanently to vehicles and are not subject to
the DOT inspection requirements.
(4) All liquefied propane gas containers
fabricated to earlier editions of regulations, rules, or codes listed in NFPA
5.2.1.1 and of the Interstate Commerce Commission Rules for Construction of
Unified Pressure Vessels, prior to April 1, 1967, shall be permitted to
continue to be used in accordance with Section 1.4 of NFPA.
(5) Containers that have been involved in a
fire and show no distortion shall be re-qualified by a manufacturer of that
type of cylinder or by a repair facility approved by DOT, before being used or
reinstalled.
(6) When inspecting a
fuel system that uses either CNG or liquefied natural gas, the inspector shall:
(a) check the fuel tank, fuel tank support
straps, filler tube, tube clamps, fuel tank vent hoses or tubes, filler housing
drain, overflow tube, fuel filler cap, and conversion kit
installations;
(b) check the tank
to verify it is protected from physical damage using the vehicle structure,
valve protectors or a suitable plastic or metal shield;
(c) check that fuel tank shields do not have
direct contact with fuel tanks and prevent trapping of materials that could
damage the tanks or its coatings;
(d) for fuel tanks installed above, below, or
within the passenger compartment, check to verify connections are external or
sealed and vented from the compartment.
(e) for fuel tanks installed within the
passenger compartment, check to verify tanks are vented to the outside of the
vehicle with a boot or heavy plastic bag and shall not exit into a wheel
well;
(f) check tanks and fuel
lines to verify mounting and bracing is away from the exhaust system and
supported to minimize vibration and to protect against damage, corrosion, or
breakage.
(g) check for
identification with a weather-resistant, diamond-shaped label located on an
exterior vertical surface or near-vertical surface on the lower right rear of
the vehicle, excluding the bumper, inboard from any other markings;
(i) the label shall be a minimum of 4.72
inches long by 3.27 inches high;
(h) check that when a manual valve is used,
the valve location is accessible, indicated with the words "MANUAL SHUTOFF
VALVE";
(i) check that the vehicle
bears in the engine compartment a label readily visible identification as a
CNG-fueled vehicle, system service pressure, installer's name or company,
container retest dates or expiration date, and the total container water volume
in gallons;
(j) check for a label
located at the fueling connection receptacle with identification as a
CNG-fueled vehicle, system working pressure, and container retest dates or
expiration date;
(k) check that CNG
fuel containers are permanently labeled;
(i)
disassembly of the tanks protective shield is not required to verify the label
on the tank;
(ii) it is the vehicle
owner's responsibility to provide documentation for a current CNG tank
Inspection from a CNG certified inspector; and
(iii) the documentation must identify the
vehicle and list the CNG tank certification number; and
(l) visually inspect CNG fuel containers for
damage and deterioration; and
(m)
issue a rejection inspection certificate when:
(i) there is fuel leakage at any point or
escaping gases are detected in the system, odor will be present;
(ii) the fuel tank filler cap or cover is
missing;
(iii) any part of the
system is not securely fastened, supported, or shielded to prevent damage from
road hazards, slippage, loosening, or rotations;
(iv) fuel tank is exposed or
unprotected;
(v) tanks that are
installed under a vehicle are mounted ahead of the front axle or behind the
point of attachment of the rear bumper;
(vi) there is any physical damage to a fuel
system component;
(vii) there is
any installation hazard present that may cause a potential hazard during a
collision;
(viii) any part of the
fuel tank or its appurtenances protrudes beyond the sides or top of any vehicle
where the tanks can be struck or punctured;
(ix) the vehicle is not labeled as described
in Subsection C of this section or in accordance with National Fire Protection
Association Pamphlet 52; or
(x) a
CNG fuel container is not current with its certification in accordance with
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.