The target of the meeting was to define essential periodic inspection requirements to be respected when installing gaseous fuel components into a vehicle, and to clarify the material requirements for components inside the LPG tank. The work addressed UN R67 and UN R110. No further meetings are planned at this time.
38. The expert from OICA recalled the purpose of ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2018/2 and informed GRSG that parts of the proposal had been adopted and that the remaining parts had recently been reviewed by TF on gas-fuelled vehicle regulations. The expert from Germany reported on the good TF work progress force. He presented GRSG-116-05 on the outcome of TF discussions on UN Regulation No. 67. The expert from LG Europe proposed to remove the requirements for the use of an odorant in n-pentane: such requirements were not necessary and not requested in any test in the UN Regulations or in international standards (GRSG-116-39). After discussion, GRSG agreed on the revised proposal GRSG-116-05-Rev.1 and adopted ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2018/2 as reproduced in Annex III to this report. The secretariat was requested to submit the revised proposal to WP.29 and AC.1 as draft Supplement 2 to the 02 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 67 for consideration at their November 2019 sessions.
23. The expert from Germany introduced GRSG-114-08 on the recent meeting of the task force on gas-fuelled vehicle regulations held in Cologne (Germany) on 6 and 7 February 2018. He added that progress had been good on UN Regulation No. 110, but the amendments to UN Regulation No. 67 were still under considerations.
25. The expert from Germany recalled the outcome of the task force (para. 23 above) on ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2017/16 and presented GRSG-114-09 proposing amendments to the Regulation. GRSG noted general support and some comments. Finally, GRSG considered a revised proposal (GRSG-114-09-Rev.1) and adopted ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2017/16 as reproduced in Annex V to the session report. The secretariat was requested to submit the proposal to WP.29 and AC.1 as draft 02 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 67 for consideration at their November 2018 sessions.
28. The expert from Germany introduced GRSG-114-10 on the outcome of the task force on ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2017/17 which was on improving the provisions for installing and inspecting Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cylinders or Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanks and their accessories. The expert from Italy preferred a more accurate inspection of such containers without the removal of structural parts (GRSG-114-19). After discussion, GRSG agreed to add design requirements that allow easy periodical technical inspections. The expert from the Netherlands requested that container manufacturers provide more detailed recommendations for periodical technical inspections and for periodic requalification tests, and requested that these recommendations be stored and made available for all inspections.
30. Finally, GRSG considered a revised proposal (GRSG-114-10-Rev.1) and adopted ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2017/17 as reproduced below. The secretariat was requested to submit the proposal to WP.29 and AC.1 as draft Supplement 1 to the 03 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 110 for consideration at their November 2018 sessions.
Insert a new paragraph 18.1.6.1., to read:
| 18.1.6.1. | Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 18.1.6., it shall be possible to make an external inspection (e.g. for Periodic Technical Inspection) of the CNG cylinder or LNG tank and their accessories according to the specifications of the manufacturer, without the use of tools to dismantle, but with visual aids, e.g. lamps, mirrors or endoscopes. |
31. The expert from Italy, in reference to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2017/29, proposed to amend Annex 3A of the Regulation, i.e. the test requirements for the periodic requalification of CNG cylinders to avoid structural failures during their service life (GRSG-114-32), including new provisions for a mandatory impact damage test for all cylinders without the use of shoulder pads. GRSG welcomed the specific test reports provided by Italy on CNG4 cylinders (GRSG-114-07, GRSG-114-14, GRSG-114-15). GRSG noted concerns and comments. Finally, GRSG agreed to refer it to the task force and to resume consideration of this subject at its next session on the basis of a revised official document.
28. The expert from Germany presented ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2017/16 that amends the provisions of UN Regulation No. 67 to improve the specifications for the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) connecting the pressure relief valve with the gaseous phase for multi-valve in the vehicle tanks and those for the installation and inspection of LPG containers and their accessories. The expert from OICA introduced GRSG-113-18 on modifications to the aging test requirements of some rubber materials and on further transitional provisions. The expert from AEGPL endorsed the proposal to avoid a ban of some technologies and materials. Both proposals received a number of comments.
29. GRSG agreed on the need to revise the requirements on pipes for multivalves on LPG containers and to keep, at the same time, the testing provisions technology neutral. Thus, GRSG agreed to set up a Task Force under the leadership of Germany to find a compromise and to prepare a revised proposal for consideration at the next GRSG. It was also agreed to keep ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2017/16 on the agenda as a reference document. The secretariat was requested, in the absence of a revised proposal by the task force, to circulate GRSG-113-18 with an official symbol.
39. The expert from Germany introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2017/17 to improve the specifications for the installation and inspection of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cylinders or of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanks and their accessories. GRSG welcomed the proposal and noted that WP.29 and the Administrative Committee of the 1997 Agreement were expected to consider and adopt ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2017/134 on a new UN Rule on Periodical Technical Inspections of motor vehicles using CNG and/or LNG in their propulsion system. The proposal from Germany received a number of comments, especially on the need to align the recommendations for the periodical technical inspections of such vehicles with the specifications for the re-qualification of the CNG cylinders or LNG tanks. GRSG noted the comments received by the experts from NGV Global (GRSG-113-03) and OICA (GRSG-113-20).
40. The expert from Italy proposed to amend in Annex 3A of the Regulation the test requirements for the periodic requalification of CNG cylinders to avoid structural failures during their service life (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2017/29). The expert from the Netherlands raised his concern on the access by inspection centres to detailed provisions for the inspection of such cylinders. Thus, he underlined the need that cylinder manufacturers should make available cylinder inspection manuals. GRSG welcomed the offer by Germany to take the lead of a Task Force to review ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2017/17 and ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2017/29. It was agreed to also involve the International Motor Vehicle Inspection Committee (CITA) in the discussion and to resume consideration of this subject at its next GRSG session in April 2018.