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Fuel
Systems
Tests
FEDERAL LAW
183.590 - Fire test
(a) A piece of equipment is tested under
the following conditions and procedures:
(1) Fuel stop valves, “USCG Type
A1” or “USCG Type A2” hoses and
hose clamps are tested in a fire chamber.
(2) Fuel filters, strainers, and pumps
are tested in a fire chamber or as installed on the
engine in a boat.
(3) Fuel tanks must be tested filled
with fuel to one-fourth the capacity marked on the
tank in a fire chamber or in an actual or simulated
hull section.
(b) Each fire test is conducted with
free burning heptane and the component must be subjected
to a flame for 2-1/2 minutes.
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CAUTION
Fire tests can be dangerous,
particularly using heptane. Heptane is a gasoline type
of product that produces a repeatable fire test. Gasolines
vary, due to additives, in their heat content and therefore
will not uniformly reach a repeatable temperature from
test to test - heptane will. Precautions must be taken
when conducting fire tests to have fire-fighting equipment
capable of extinguishing Class B (gasoline and oil)
fires and have personnel experienced in firefighting.
Typical extinguishing agents are CO2, dry chemical,
foam and Halon or other clean agent extinguishing systems.
C02 is frequently used for testing as there is no residue
that could inhibit inspection of the test sample. |
It is important that the fire be extinguished
quickly at the end of the 2-1/2 minutes so the test sample
may be judged at the required time and not subjected to a
prolonged fire.
TABLE
V - Fire Test Selection
Note:
A complete copy of the United States Coast Guard Compliance
Test Procedures - Fuel System Standard Test Procedure, is
provided in Appendix A of the
Fuel Guide.
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