ISO Safety Standard - ISO 19078 - Encourages Market for Natural Gas Powered Road Vehicles

January 26, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

ISO 19078:2006 is timely because there are more than 5.5 million vehicles worldwide fueled by natural gas. With increasing public concern over health issues related to pollution, along with rising oil prices, that number is expected to increase over the coming years.

Experts said the standard is important because maintaining gas cylinders in good working order is vital to the future of cleaner fuels and because it provides guidance for regulatory authorities, vehicle manufacturers and end-users.

Since natural gas is stored on board vehicles in high pressure cylinders, safety aspects are of prime importance. ISO 19078:2006 provides information and procedures for the periodic visual examination and inspection of natural gas fuel cylinders and the condition of the installation.

It specifies inspection requirements, defines damage criteria and addresses issues related to manufacturing, maintenance, disposal of damaged cylinders, inspection equipment and the qualification of inspectors.

The standard contains guidance for the inspection of the cylinders in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and to meet the requirements of ISO 11439:2000 - Gas cylinders - High pressure cylinders for the on-board storage of natural gas as a fuel for automotive vehicles. It also provides criteria for acceptance or rejection in the absence of guidance from the manufacturer, with subsequent disposal as necessary.

Source: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).