E85 Codes and Standards
All E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) fuel system installations must comply with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes. NFPA Codes 30 and 30-A relate to Flammable and Combustible Liquids and Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities and Repair Garages, respectively. Many states have adopted NFPA documents as law.
Depending on the fueling site location, size of the storage tank, whether the tank is aboveground or underground, and specific state and local regulations, operators need to comply with the following:
- Federal Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (40 CFR, Part 112)
- State "spill" requirements
- Hazardous waste regulations
- State and local fire codes
- Petroleum product delivery laws
- Other state and local regulations (possibly)
Local fire marshals might also need to approve fueling site design and installation. This approval is generally easiest to obtain if equipment certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is being used. UL has developed certification procedures for evaluating E85 dispensers for listing, and listed equipment is expected to become available. For more information and UL-related links, visit the AFDC UL Technology Bulletin. Hiring a trusted, experienced, and certified contractor will help ensure that the fueling site meets all required codes and standards.
Visit the following Web sites for more information:
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Underground Storage Tanks, includes state-specific information and contacts
- Business & Legal Reports (BLR), enables searches for federal and state regulations