Vehicle fueling appliances (VFA)

1.1 General

This Standard details mechanical, physical, and electrical requirements for a newly manufactured appliance that compresses natural gas for vehicles and dispenses directly into

a) the vehicle natural gas fuel storage system, referred to as a vehicle fuelling appliance (VFA); or

b) the vehicle’s activated carbon adsorbents-based adsorbed natural gas (ANG) fuel storage system, referred to as a vehicle fuelling appliance (VFA).

This Standard applies to appliances that incorporate compression and dispensing in the same appliance.

Notes:

1) Residential fuelling appliances (RFA) are addressed in CSA/ANSI NGV 5.1.

2) Devices dedicated only to dispensing fuel into vehicles are addressed in CSA/ANSI NGV 4.1.

1.2 Application

This Standard applies to all appliances that are

a) intended for natural gas only (see Clause 1.1);

b) intended for outdoor or indoor installation;

c) intended for ambient temperatures not below −40 °C (−40 °F);

d) intended for nominal voltage not exceeding 480 V AC;

e) certified as a system with temperature compensated pressure limits for delivery of fuel for

i) direct fuelling of vehicles;

ii) fuelling of vehicles from the system’s internal storage;

iii) filling of external natural gas storage systems; or

iv) any combination of the above;

f) equipped with maximum inlet flow rate not exceeding 10 SCFM (17 SCMH);

g) for installation in non-residential occupancies;

h) intended to meet installation fire safety requirements in accordance with the requirements of the applicable Code;

i) for connection to a single vehicle, multiple vehicles, or storage systems;

j) intended for installation in non-hazardous locations;

k) for connection to a single or multiple vehicle storage system or external storage systems, with no single storage system having a total capacity of less than 80 L water volume; and

l) intended for installation in accordance with NFPA 52 or CSA B108.1 where not in conflict with the requirements in this document.

These requirements apply only to ANG appliances for use with vehicle or external fuel storage systems that contain activated carbon-adsorbent material with an MDP/RCP ratio less than or equal to 1.5, and that have a service pressure of 6205 kPa (900 psig).

1.3 Pressure references

All references to "kPa" and "psig" throughout this Standard are to be considered gauge pressures unless otherwise specified.

1.4 Resolution of conflicts

In the case of conflict between this Standard and federal, national, provincial/territorial, state, or local requirements, the requirements of the authority having jurisdiction take precedence.

1.5 Units of measure

This Standard contains SI (metric) units corresponding to the inch/pound quantities, the purpose being to allow the Standard to be used in SI (metric) units. If a value for a measurement and a corresponding value in other units are stated, the first stated value is to be regarded as the requirement. The given corresponding value may be approximate. If a value for a measurement and a corresponding value in other units are both specified as a quoted marking requirement, then the first stated unit or both are to be provided.

Note: IEEE/ASTM SI 10 or ISO 80000-1 is used as a guide in making metric conversion from inch/pound quantities.

1.6 Terminology

In this Standard, "shall" is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Standard; "should" is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and "may" is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard.

Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.

Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements.

Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.

1.7 Alternate construction

The requirements of this Standard are not intended to constrain innovation. When considering fuels, materials, designs, or constructions not specifically dealt with in this Standard, these alternatives may be evaluated as to their ability to yield levels of safety and performance equivalent to those prescribed by this Standard.