Fuel oils covered by D396 are used extensively every day to heat homes and produce hot water. The fuels are also used in industrial boilers and burners.

The revised standard will have many benefits:

• Producers will know the list of properties needed to produce an acceptable fuel;
• Marketers and dealers will better understand how to identify and purchase a quality fuel to resell to their customers;
• Equipment companies will use the fuel properties to design and optimize equipment to burn the fuel; and
• Customers and everyday consumers will be more empowered to buy or require high quality fuels. In addition, customers will be able to test their purchases to ensure specification compliance.

Importantly, agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Internal Revenue Service could find the revised standard valuable in regulations related to fuel quality, the environment and tax policy, according to Howell, a partner in M4 Consulting Inc.

To purchase this standard, visit www.astm.org and search by the standard designation, or contact ASTM Customer Relations (tel +1.877.909.ASTM; sales@astm.org). ASTM welcomes participation in the development of its standards. Become a member at www.astm.org/JOIN.

For more news in this sector, visit www.astm.org/sn-energy.

ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels and Lubricants Next Meeting: June 21-25, 2015, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Media Inquiries: Nathan Osburn, tel +1.610.832.9603; nosburn@astm.org
Technical Contact: Steve Howell, Marc-IV Kearney, Mo., tel +1.816.903.6272; showell@marciv.com
ASTM Staff Contact: Alyson Fick, tel +1.610.832.9710; afick@astm.org