UL-DOE Status Report

December 6, 2006

Subject: Status Report – UL findings Subsequent to the November 1-2, 2006 UL / United States Department of Energy Technical Forum on E85 Dispenser Material Compatibility

In the November 21, 2006 report of the UL-DOE Technical Forum on E85 Dispenser Material Compatibility (held on November 1-2, 2006) it was indicated that UL had not received the significant technical input in the Forum that it had hoped for. The UL-DOE Technical Forum meeting participants were asked to submit information on material selection protocols currently in use, with technical substantiation, by November 15, 2006.

During the Technical Forum, UL emphasized that the timeline for defining the requirements for E85 dispenser certifications would be highly dependent on the quality and substantiation of the information that UL requested. UL also indicated that a status report to the Forum participants on the overall nature of the information it had received would be provided. The status to date is as follows:

	In response to the request for substantiating data related to materials’ selection/qualification/validation, UL received information from 12 organizations. UL appreciates the efforts expended by these organizations to share information.
	A significant portion of the information that was received was not substantiated with technical data relative to the development of material compatibility testing protocols for E85 dispensers.
	The information that has been provided contains a number of contradictory conclusions about the suitability of certain materials when exposed to alcohol fuels.
	Some of the information provided after the Forum had been previously acquired and reviewed by UL.
	Some of the information provided may prove helpful in defining material compatibility requirements. This includes material-level exposure techniques that do not establish acceptability criteria, but may possibly be exported as a part of material qualification tests for E-85 dispensers and their components. UL has been reviewing the new information and communicating with the involved parties to discuss technical details.
	As was indicated during the Forum, galvanic interaction is a major concern, and is currently being further researched to develop basic requirements. Use of like-metals may mitigate this as an issue.
	PEI has been engaged to organize a task group to develop a proposed, common marking system for dispenser system components in order to help
	identify the specific fuel class(s) for which individual components have been certified. This work is ongoing.

Based on the information and technical data received to date, a list of generically acceptable metals or non-metals for use in E85 environments cannot be established at this time. UL anticipates that testing will be necessary to determine suitability for use. UL is acting on the information that had been identified during and after the Technical Forum, and reviewing additional actions that may be necessary, to establish appropriate testing protocols and certification requirements for E85 dispensers.

UL remains committed to developing appropriate certification requirements for Dispensing Equipment for use with E-85 alcohol fuels in a timely manner. UL is continuing to seek relevant technical information from any informed party and is actively continuing its outreach related to this goal. While the response date for providing technical research supporting the acceptance of specific materials for use in this application has passed, we encourage stakeholders to provide information to assist in the mutual goal of a timely resolution. Status updates will continue on a regular basis, with the next one scheduled for shortly after the holiday period.