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Atmosphere
The information contained in the following pages is of a general nature only and should be read in conjunction with the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000, the Fuel Quality Standards Regulations 2001 and the Fuel Standard (Diesel) Determination 2001. Fuel suppliers may wish to seek legal advice about their obligations under this legislation.
The first suite of national fuel standards, which came into force on 1 January 2002, regulates petrol and diesel parameters that have a direct impact on the environment ('environmental standards').
The standards will have a major impact on the amount of toxic pollutants in vehicle emissions, such as benzene and particles, with studies estimating reductions of up to 50 per cent for some pollutants over 20 years. This is great news for our health, with cleaner air helping to reduce the number of serious respiratory illnesses and asthma cases, particularly in children.
A second suite of national fuel standards came into force on 16 October 2002. These standards ('operability standards') address those parameters of diesel that do not have a direct impact on emissions but, if not controlled, can have adverse impacts on the efficient operation of the engine.
Further operability standards are being developed that may include:
The environmental and operability standards are consolidated in the following tables. The legal instruments implementing the standards are:
| Parameter | National standard | Date of effect | Test Method |
| Sulfur | 500 ppm (max) | 31-Dec-02 | ASTM D5453 |
| 50 ppm (max) | 1-Jan-06 | ||
| 10ppm (max) | 1-Jan-09 | ||
| Cetane Index | 46 (min) index | 1-Jan-02 | ASTM D4737 |
| Density | 820 (min) to 860 (max) kg/m3 | 1-Jan-02 | ASTM D4052 |
| 820 (min) to 850 (max) kg/m3 | 1-Jan-06 | ||
| Distillation T95 | 370°C (max) | 1-Jan-02 | ASTM D86 |
| 360°C (max) | 1-Jan-06 | ||
| Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) | 11% m/m (max) | 1-Jan-06 | IP391 |
| Ash and suspended solids | 100 ppm (max) | 1-Jan-02 | ASTM D482 |
| Viscosity | 2.0 to 4.5 cSt @ 40°C | 1-Jan-02 | ASTM D445 |
| Carbon Residue (10% distillation residue) | 0.2 mass % max | 16-Oct-02 | ASTM D4530 |
| Water and sediment | 0.05 vol % max | 16-Oct-02 | ASTM D2709 |
| Conductivity @ ambient temp | 50 pS/m (Min) @ambient temp (all diesel held by a terminal or refinery for sale or distribution) | 16-Oct-02 | ASTM D2624 |
| Oxidation Stability | 25 mg/L max | 16-Oct-02 | ASTM D2274 |
| Colour | 2 max | 16-Oct-02 | ASTM D1500 |
| Copper Corrosion (3 hrs @ 50°C) | Class 1 max | 16-Oct-02 | ASTM D130 |
| Flash point | 61.5°C min | 16-Oct-02 | ASTM D93 |
| Filter blocking tendency | 2.0 max | 16-Oct-02 | IP 387 |
| Lubricity | 0.460 mm (max) (all diesel containing less than 500ppm sulfur) | 16-Oct-02 | IP 450 |