Regulations last checked for updates: May 17, 2024

Title 40 - Protection of Environment last revised: May 15, 2024
§ 1060.501 - General testing provisions.

(a) This subpart is addressed to you as a certifying manufacturer but it applies equally to anyone who does testing for you.

(b) Unless we specify otherwise, the terms “procedures” and “test procedures” in this part include all aspects of testing, including the equipment specifications, calibrations, calculations, and other protocols and procedural specifications needed to measure emissions.

(c) The specification for gasoline to be used for testing is given in 40 CFR 1065.710(b) or (c). Use the grade of gasoline specified for general testing. For testing specified in this part that requires blending gasoline and ethanol, blend this grade of neat gasoline with fuel-grade ethanol meeting the specifications of ASTM D4806 (incorporated by reference in § 1060.810). You do not need to measure the ethanol concentration of such blended fuels and may instead calculate the blended composition by assuming that the ethanol is pure and mixes perfectly with the base fuel. For example, if you mix 10.0 liters of fuel-grade ethanol with 90.0 liters of gasoline, you may assume the resulting mixture is 10.0 percent ethanol. You may use more pure or less pure ethanol if you can demonstrate that it will not affect your ability to demonstrate compliance with the applicable emission standards in subpart B of this part. Note that unless we specify otherwise, any references to gasoline-ethanol mixtures containing a specified ethanol concentration means mixtures meeting the provisions of this paragraph (c). The following table summarizes test fuel requirements for the procedures specified in this subpart:

Table 1 to § 1060.501—Summary of Test Fuel Requirements

Procedure Reference Test Fuel a
Low-Emission Fuel Lines§ 1060.510CE10.
Nonroad Fuel Lines§ 1060.515CE10 b.
Cold-Weather Fuel Lines§ 1060.515Splash-blended E10.
Fuel tank and fuel cap permeation§ 1060.520Splash-blended E10; manufacturers may instead use CE10.
Diurnal§ 1060.525E0.

a Pre-mixed gasoline blends are specified in 40 CFR 1065.710(b). Splash-blended gasoline blends are a mix of neat gasoline specified in 40 CFR 1065.710(c) and fuel-grade ethanol.

b Different fuel specifications apply for fuel lines tested under 40 CFR part 1051 for recreational vehicles, as described in 40 CFR 1051.501.

(d) Accuracy and precision of all temperature measurements must be ±1.0 °C or better. If you use multiple sensors to measure differences in temperature, calibrate the sensors so they will be within 0.5 °C of each other when they are in thermal equilibrium at a point within the range of test temperatures (use the starting temperature in Table 1 to § 1060.525 unless this is not feasible).

(e) Accuracy and precision of mass balances must be sufficient to ensure accuracy and precision of two percent or better for emission measurements for products at the maximum level allowed by the standard. The readability of the display may not be coarser than half of the required accuracy and precision. Examples are shown in the following table for a digital readout:

Example #1 Example #2 Example #3
Applicable standard1.5 g/m 2/day1.5 g/m 2/day15 g/m 2/day.
Internal surface area1.15 m 20.47 m 20.015 m 2.
Length of test14.0 days14.0 days14.1 days.
Maximum allowable mass change24.15 g9.87 g3.173 g.
Required accuracy and precision±0.483 g or better±0.197 g or better±0.0635 g or better.
Required readability0.1 g or better0.1 g or better0.01 g or better.
[73 FR 59298, Oct. 8, 2008, as amended at 74 FR 8427, Feb. 24, 2009; 86 FR 34530, June 29, 2021]
source: 73 FR 59298, Oct. 8, 2008, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 40 CFR 1060.501