In a move to enhance safety in compressed natural gas vehicles (NGVs), following recent incidents and loss of life, Industry Minister Ekanat Promphan has directed revisions to the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) standard, TIS 2333, mandating the installation of automatic gas shut-off valves on all NGV cylinders fitted to vehicles. This updated standard is expected to take effect in February 2025.

 

Phongpol Yodmuangcharoen, Secretary to the Industry Minister and spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry, announced the initiative following a formal request from Dr. M.L. Koraksawat Kasemsri, executive of the Palang Pracharath Party. In late October, Dr. Koraksawat urged the Ministry of Industry to reassess TIS 2333 Parts 1 and 2, which address safety and testing procedures for compressed natural gas fuel systems in vehicles. Minister Ekanat responded by instructing the TISI to expedite updates to the standard, ensuring it aligns with current safety needs and benefits the many passengers who rely on NGVs.

 

The updated TIS 2333, based on the latest ISO 15501 (Road vehicles : Compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel systems) standard  will mandate that every CNG cylinder must have an automatic shut-off valve at the tank’s opening. This update will be reviewed by the Industrial Standards Board on November 19, 2024. Once approved, the new regulations are anticipated to be implemented by February 2025, with the Department of Land Transport enforcing the updated standard.

 

“These revisions aim to ensure that manufacturers produce safe, high-quality products that protect the public,” said Secretary Phongpol. “The Ministry of Industry prioritises this as part of our commitment to a safe and environmentally friendly industry. This initiative reflects our broader policy of ‘Industrial Reform for a Modern, Clean, Convenient, and Transparent Economy,’ contributing to a safer, forward-looking industrial sector,” Phongpol added.

 

File picture for reference only.

-- 2024-11-14

 

 

Ok, that was easy. However, I thought that was something they already had been thinking about.

Apart from vehicles, homeowners should check the gas regulator which the currently have at the end of the hose connection to the cylinder to ensure it is the auto-shutoff type. There are still many old type regulators in service.

25 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Apart from vehicles, homeowners should check the gas regulator which the currently have at the end of the hose connection to the cylinder to ensure it is the auto-shutoff type. There are still many old type regulators in service.

 

Whilst this is excellent advice, it's worth noting that NGV/CNG (mostly methane) is not the same as LPG/cooking gas (mostly propane).

 

NGV is stored has a highly-compressed gas, as opposed to LPG which is stored as a liquid under much lower pressure.

 

I must admit to being more than somewhat surprised that automatic shutoff valves are not already part of the NGV standard.

8 hours ago, Crossy said:

 

Whilst this is excellent advice, it's worth noting that NGV/CNG (mostly methane) is not the same as LPG/cooking gas (mostly propane).

 

NGV is stored has a highly-compressed gas, as opposed to LPG which is stored as a liquid under much lower pressure.

 

I must admit to being more than somewhat surprised that automatic shutoff valves are not already part of the NGV standard.

Yes, I was aware of that but it seemed appropriate to mention the parallel need for safety in a domestic situation. To my surprise, as I read down the news clips there was the report of an elderly lady burned in her kitchen quite likely due to a damaged gas hose which would seem not to have had a shut-off valve on the regulator.

15 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

mandating the installation of automatic gas shut-off valves on all NGV cylinders fitted to vehicles.

 

Another meaningless regulation, virtue signalling after a disaster.

 

The 'recent incident' is the bus fire that claimed the lives of students when the driver ran off and left them to burn to death.

 

The bus had 6 legal gas cylinders along with another 5 illegally installed cylinders hidden in the passenger compartment.

 

How will this new (unenforced after a month or two) regulation ensure the safety of illegal, uninspected gas cylinders?