Mass Transit magazine features agency profiles, industry trends, management tips and new product information.
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84 | Mass Transit | MassTransitmag.com | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014 IGHTENING STANDARDS for emmissions and shrink- ing budgets have been driving the transportation industry toward alternative fuels now more than ever before. While there is no one-size-fts-all alter- native fuel, many feets are turn- ing to propane autogas as a simple and afordable fuel option. Te third most popular fuel in the U.S. and leading alternative fuel worldwide, propane autogas is used by public and private feets both small and large. Like compressed natural gas (CNG), propane au- togas signifcantly reduces smog forming hydrocarbon and green- house gas emissions. Additionally, the fuel is American-made, widely available, and is more afordable than gasoline or diesel. However, where propane autogas difers from some of its alternative fuel competitors is in ease of main- tenance and maintenance costs. While feets ofen analyze equip- ment costs and fuel spend before making the switch to alternative fuels, many still forget to consider hidden costs. From oil changes to garaging regulations, propane auto- gas is easy to maintain and requires similar equipment and specifca- tions as that of gasoline or diesel. As more transportation di- rectors take advantage of the environmental and economical benefts of alternative fuels, in- cluding propane autogas, it's im - portant to analyze how each stacks up when it comes to maintaining not only feet vehicles, but also feet facilities. When directors begin evaluating whether their operations are ready for alterna- tive fuels, there are some helpful items to consider. Prepping the Facility: Code Compliance Te frst step a feet manager should take in readying for alter- native fuels is making sure their facility is compliant with gen- eral code requirements already required of gasoline or diesel. Several national codes outline detailed requirements for building or modifying a vehicle repair or maintenance facility. Tose most important to review include: • National Fire Protection Asso- ciation (NFPA) Codes NFPA 58 Liquefed Petroleum Gas Code and NFPA 30A Code for Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities and Repair Garages. • International Building Code (IBC), a model building code de - veloped by the International Code Council (ICC). IBC addresses fre prevention in regard to construc- tion and design of the facility. • National Electric Code (NEC), a standard for the safe instal- lation of electrical wiring and equipment. NEC is enforced to promote safe electrical practices. Since propane autogas has sim- ilar requirements to gasoline and diesel, facilities operating within these regulations can easily accom- modate propane-autogas-powered vehicles without modifcations for ventilation, gas detection, or elec- trical requirements. However, this is not the case for all alternative fuels. For example, a CNG repair and maintenance facility requires additional gas detection and ven- tilation equipment. In addition to national codes, re - view of regional compliance codes with the local authority having ju- risdiction (AHJ) is recommended before making any changes and cru- cial to maintaining a safe workplace. Preparing for Propane Autogas Propane autogas can be a simple and afordable alternative fuel option for transit agencies, but it's important to take many aspects into consideration before you switch your feet. By Michael Taylor T Propane autogas has fewer hidden costs than other alternative fuels. It requires similar equipment to gasoline or diesel.