{"id":10149,"date":"2021-03-09T19:40:26","date_gmt":"2021-03-09T18:40:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/?p=10149"},"modified":"2021-03-09T19:40:26","modified_gmt":"2021-03-09T18:40:26","slug":"fleet-maintenance-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/2021\/03\/09\/fleet-maintenance-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Setting up a fleet maintenance facility to service natural gas vehicles"},"content":{"rendered":"

Safe and efficient servicing of this vehicle type typically requires maintenance facility modifications that address the unique properties and potential safety risks of natural gas.<\/span><\/p>\n

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More fleets are realizing the financial and environmental benefits of operating natural gas vehicles (NGVs). As NGVs are incorporated into a fleet, it\u2019s just as important to realize that some potentially significant maintenance facility modifications likely need to take place.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMany fleet maintenance facilities were built long before the advent of using natural gas as a vehicle fuel,\u201d says Leo Thomason, executive director of the Natural Gas Vehicle Institute (NGVi), which provides natural gas vehicle technical training and CNG fueling station technical consulting services. \u201cNatural gas is lighter than air, so it rises quickly. No consideration was given to that when designing these facilities.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For liquid fuels like gasoline and diesel, the concern is over spills and leaks onto the floor. Thus, the ignition hazard area is the first 18\u201d off the floor. With natural gas \u2013 because it rises \u2013 the concern is the first 18\u201d below the ceiling. In facilities that cannot achieve a certain level of continuous ventilation, the area within 18\u201d of the ceiling must have explosion-proof electrical equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat becomes a huge problem for many existing maintenance facilities,\u201d Thomason says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most of those problems can be overcome when fleets invite the assistance of natural gas experts.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFleets can look at this like they would any other facility upgrade,\u201d says Ted Barnes, research and development director for the Gas Technology Institute (GTI). \u201cYou always want to get some kind of consultant or design firm involved. When you do that, this can be a fairly straightforward process.\u201d GTI is a research, development and training organization addressing energy and environmental challenges to enable a secure, abundant and affordable energy future.<\/span><\/p>\n

Start with a facility assessment<\/span><\/h3>\n

It is possible that no modifications will be necessary. It depends on the types of services being performed in the facility. That is why a thorough facility assessment is the first step.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf the fleet merely operates a minor <\/i>repair facility, nothing new needs to be done in order to service NGVs,\u201d says Daniel Gage, president of NGVAmerica, which represents more than 200 companies, environmental groups and government organizations interested in the use of natural gas and biomethane as transportation fuels.<\/span><\/p>\n

A minor repair facility is one that does not service a vehicle\u2019s fuel system, nor does it provide services that require emptying of the fuel tank. Minor repair facilities engage in basic maintenance services such as lubrication, fluid changes, tire changes, parts replacement and engine tune-ups.<\/span><\/p>\n

For fleets that engage in major <\/i>repairs, some facility modifications will likely be necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe building envelope is the major thing we like to discuss first,\u201d NGVi\u2019s Thomason says. \u201cAre the trusses and ceiling cavity open and allowing for air movement, or is it all enclosed like you see with these old pre-stressed concrete beam ceilings? That can create a major challenge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Fleets must also think about how their maintenance facility is structured. Are there offices that adjoin the maintenance facility? Does the partition separating the offices and the service area go all the way to the ceiling? Are there doors and windows? These are all potential avenues for escaped gas to travel through the facility, increasing the opportunities for ignition.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once the facility assessment is completed, fleets should outline their modification plan and discuss it with the AHJ (authority having jurisdiction) to ensure compliance. That plan should include fuel types, maintenance activities to be performed, standard operating procedures and staff training. There are several fire safety codes, such as the International Code Council\u2019s (ICC\u2019s) International Fire Code or the National Fire Protection Association\u2019s NFPA 30A, but not all are uniformly adopted by all local AHJs. That\u2019s why developing a relationship with the AHJ at the beginning of a modification project is such an important step.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe AHJ is typically the local fire marshal,\u201d Thomason says. \u201cIn some instances, they are not familiar with the code for natural gas in a building. When this is the case, the fleet\u2019s natural gas consultant or building engineer can become an educator. I was once involved in a modification project at a large dealership in New Jersey. We gave a 30-minute presentation on codes and standards. They really appreciated it. That\u2019s much different than just putting a bunch of drawings and permits in front of them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The U.S. Department of Energy\u2019s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy has released a handbook outlining five elements that must be considered when developing a NGV maintenance facility design:<\/span><\/p>\n