Florida partners with OSHA and NFPA to regulate Fuel Testing

Florida State has partnered with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to make sure there are thorough guidelines for testing and maintenance of fuel and backup generators.

After the number of natural disasters that have hit the Florida coast, the reliability and safety of fuel storage tanks and alternative power methods have been on the minds of citizens and government agencies.  In 1999, NFPA created a code for regular generator maintenance.  In January of 2015, with the rise in national environmental concern, the code was updated to require the testing for water, sediment and carbon or sulfur levels in fuel.

In order to save lives in the event of a natural disaster or power outage, these codes are being enforced in all areas where fuel might cause human or environmental loss.  Any company who has the sale or storage of fuel must do regular testing and keep a record of doing so as well as the results.  That might be marine, aviation, hospitals, office buildings, gas stations, fleets, heavy equipment, refineries, fuel transport and more.

The Florida Department of Agriculture (FDACS) has said to make sure to complete the following tests to ensure the quality of your fuel: “The quality of gasoline, alternative fuels (E85, biodiesel, ethanol, etc.), kerosene, diesel and fuel oil are determined at department testing laboratories through analyses of octane rating, distillation, vapor pressure, vapor-liquid ratio, sulfur content, lubricity, oxygenate content, silver corrosion, alcohol content, fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) percentage and flash point.” .  They inspect almost 70,000 locations every year to ensure compliance with state codes.

To ensure your fuel is up to OSHA, NFPA and FDACS standards, you need to begin a regular testing program.  We can help you get that started or streamline your existing method.  The trending and ASTM standards we use will make sure you are ready for any inspection.  More importantly, you can make sure your fuel is not a fail point in emergency preparedness