Ethanol. Right. Now.

UL stands behind certification of gas pumps for up to E15

Underwriters Laboratories today issued a statement that they would support local Authorities Having Jurisdiction (fire marshals, etc.) who decide to permit gas dispensers -- currently installed and listed to standard UL 87 -- to be used with ethanol blends up to 15 percent.

John Dengenberg, UL Consumer Affairs Manager, stated in the press release: "UL determined that there is no significant incremental risk of damage between E10 and fuels with a maximum of 15 percent ethanol."

You can read UL's entire press release here:http://www.ul.com/newsroom/newsrel/nr021909.html.

The American Coalition for Ethanol's full response is available here.

Look for yourself UL links

When Underwriters Laboratories (UL) “suspended” listings on pumps that were being used to sell E85, they pointed out that those pumps were not suitable for blends of “greater than 15% alcohol” – which might make a person believe that they were suitable for blends of less than 15% ethanol.  Maybe we’re just reading too much in to that statement.  But, don’t take our word for it, check it out yourself. 

Also, you might notice some bullet points in the middle of the article, right under the bold section heading “No reported safety incidents for UL Listed or Recognized subassemblies with E85”, which we have assumed to mean no reported safety incidents for UL Listed or Recognized subassemblies with E85.

UL followed this up with a survey that showed that there were, well, no reported safety incidents for UL Listed or Recognized subassemblies with E85.  Actually, the study said more than that – no corrosion, no maintenance concerns, and if you look on page 8, you’ll see that 96% of the pumps UL looked at were either in the same or better condition than the standard gas pumps… and that was with E85!

So now, after years of talking about pumps that can use 15% ethanol (UL 25 – Meters approved for 15% ethanol, UL 79 – Pumps approved for 15% ethanol, UL 330 – Hoses approved for 15% ethanol), UL has decided that when they said 15%, they actually meant 10%.  We were perplexed.  Still are.  In fairness, the standard they are talking about, UL 87 Standard for gas dispensers, doesn’t actually mention 15% ethanol – but several of the subsections below it (the ones in the links above) sure do.

And one last thing.  Here is a list of all of the pumps in the United States and Brazil that have reported safety issues due to use of more than 10% ethanol:

 

 

I don’t know. Maybe we’re overreacting.  Read for yourself, and tell us what you think.

Posted by RL, 2/17/09

Why did UL change its mind on standard gas pumps and E15?

The American Coalition for Ethanol is asking Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to explain why they’ve arbitrarily changed their position on the ability of gas pumps to handle ethanol blends up to 15 percent.

 

The letter, written February 5 to August Schaefer, UL’s Senior VP & COO, said:  “I am writing to express ACE’s concern that Underwriters Laboratories has recently made what appears to be an arbitrary change to the ‘UL 87’ standard.  That standard, which has been relied upon by the ethanol industry, pump manufacturers, and many petroleum marketers, has consistently been interpreted as allowing the use of up to 15 percent ethanol in standard gasoline dispensing equipment.  Recent statements by UL that have changed the meaning of the standard without any accompanying change in data, coupled with similar action by UL two-and-a-half years ago regarding E85, have caused many within the ethanol industry to question whether UL – an organization built on a reputation of precision and impartiality – has at very least treated ethanol issues with carelessness and at times appears to have an anti-ethanol bias.”

 

The letter points out that, even though the UL 87 standard does not specifically mention E10 or E15, it refers to underlying standards that employ such clear phrases as “ethanol does not exceed 15 percent” and “approved for gasoline/ethanol blends up to 15 percent ethanol” and “gasoline with up to 15 percent ethanol.” 

 

The letter concludes:  “If there is existing data that suggests this is not the case, it should have been presented in UL’s joint statement with the U.S. Department of Energy in December 2008.  Barring that, UL should stand by its clear, consistent statements that pumps with the UL label are approved for blends up to 15 percent ethanol.”

 

Read ACE's letter here: http://www.ethanol.org/pdf/contentmgmt/ACE_e15_letter_to_UL_2409-1.pdf

 

Posted by RL, 2/10/09