Attachment_4_-_BAR_Specification.pdf

State of California

Bid Specifications

6830-BS-0215676-1

Contract # 1-25-68-01A Attachment 4

2/7/2025

BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR

SPECIFICATIONS AND CERTIFICATION

PROCEDURES

FOR

CALIBRATION, AUDIT AND CERTIFICATION GASES

Used in the California Emissions I/M Program

State of California 6830-BS-0215676-1

Bid Specifications Event ID 0000033449 Attachment 4

2/7/2025

SPECIFICATIONS AND CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES

FOR

CALIBRATION, AUDIT AND CERTIFICATION GASES

Used in the California Emissions I/M Program

SECTION 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Scope

This document specifies

1- the requirements for the calibration, audit and certification gases used in the State of California's Emissions Inspection/Maintenance Programs;

2- the requirements for the containers for these gases;

1.2 Definitions

ANALYTICAL (CERTIFIED) ACCURACY: The relative percent deviation of the stated concentration of the components of a gas blend from the "true" value as determined by comparison with the appropriate California BAR Master Standard or SRMs/CRMs/NTRMs.

% Deviation = (Stated Concentration – “True” Concentration) X 100 “True” Concentration

ASM: Acceleration Simulation Mode―steady-state loaded-mode emissions tests that measure a vehicle's emissions while driving at a constant speed and a constant load on a dynamometer.

ASME: American Society of Mechanical Engineers

AUDIT GAS BLENDS: Reference gas standards having direct analytical traceability to NIST SRMs/CRMs/NTRMs or BAR Master Standards, used by BAR's field personnel and/or those of the State of California’s contractors authorized to perform field audits.

BLEND TOLERANCE: Maximum allowable value of

(actual concentration - desired concentration) X 100 desired concentration of the components of a gas blend, where the desired concentration is the concentration specified in the “Price Worksheet”.

CALIBRATION GAS: A blend of pure (see PURITY OF GAS COMPONENTS Table, below) propane (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2), with nitrogen (N2) as the balance or carrier gas, which is used to calibrate or adjust automotive exhaust emissions analyzers. Nitric oxide (NO), with nitrogen (N2) as the balance or carrier gas, is specified as either an additional component or as a separate blend. Zero air is considered a calibration gas.

CALIFORNIA BAR MASTER STANDARD: A primary standard gas blend established by BAR, directly traceable to and named by NIST.

CGA: Compressed Gas Association

CRM: Certified Reference Material

DOT: Department of Transportation (Federal)

NIST: National Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly the National Bureau of Standards)

NIST-TRACEABLE: A gas or gas blend which has been named using scientifically appropriate protocol involving standards obtained from NIST.

NTRM: NIST-Traceable Reference Material. (Gases which meet the requirements of NIST Special Publication 260-126.)

PURITY OF GAS COMPONENTS: For the purposes of this Agreement, the minimum purity levels of the individual components of the gas blends are defined as:

Raw Material Purity (%) Impurity Spec Limit

Propane 99.5 O2 < 50 ppm

Carbon Monoxide 1,2 99.8 THC < 50 ppm

O2 < 10 ppm

Fe(CO)5 + Ni(CO)4 < 4 ppm

13C Content 4,5 D13C = -38 ‰ ± 20 ‰

Carbon Dioxide 1,3 99.8 THC < 50 ppm

O2 < 5 ppm

13C Content 4,5 D13C = -38 ‰ ± 10 ‰

Nitric Oxide 99.0

Nitrogen 99.9997 O2 < 1 ppm

Full Mixture Total O2 < 1 ppm (for all blends containing

NO)

Footnotes:

The 13C isotope content of carbonaceous materials (hydrocarbons, CO, CO2) varies widely in nature due to the mechanisms by which they are formed. In addition, CO and CO2 materials are commercially available in which the 13C isotope has been intentionally stripped. IT IS ESSENTIAL that gas blends meeting this specification use carbonaceous raw materials that conform to the 13C isotope content specified in the table Purity of Gas Components above.

Because of interference from high concentrations of CO2, the NDIR analyzers in I/M programs used to measure carbon monoxide make use of infrared absorption features that are sensitive to 13CO enhancement or depletion. Use of CO that has a 13C isotope signature in the range given in the table assures that carbon monoxide analysis errors due to isotope enhancement or depletion will not exceed ± 0.5% (one-half of the allowed accuracy budget of 1%).

Because of the intense signal from high concentrations of CO2, the NDIR analyzers in I/M programs used to measure carbon dioxide make use of infrared absorption features that are highly sensitive to 13CO2 enhancement or depletion. Use of CO2 that has a 13C isotope signature in the range given in the table assures that carbon dioxide analysis errors due to isotope enhancement or depletion will not exceed ± 0.5% (one-half of the allowed accuracy budget of 1%).

"D13C” is the standard nomenclature for measurement of stable isotope ratios. The "D” value, which is usually negative, indicates the relative degree of 13C depletion compared to an international standard (VPDB). Recent experimentation has shown that the primary reference standards used by CA BAR to qualify audit gases contain CO and CO2 with 13C isotope ratios in the specified range.

The 13C isotope ratios specified for CO and CO2 in the table are typical of carbon sources from geological petroleum deposits. Gas manufacturers may submit samples of the CO and CO2 they intend to use as raw materials for audit gases to any number of outside labs who measure stable isotope ratios for a reasonable cost. Alternatively, gas manufacturers need only assure that the CO and CO2 raw materials they plan to use originate from a geological petroleum source.

SAE: Society of Automotive Engineers

SRM: Standard Reference Material (from NIST)

SECTION 2

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

2.1 General

This section describes the gas blends required by the California I/M program, the specifications for these blends, and the cylinders to be used.

2.2 Applicable Gas Blends

This standard applies to the following gas blends. Coverage of this standard may be expanded to other gas blends at a future date.

2.2.1 Nitric Oxide (NO)

If the blender supplies a gas where NO is added to the mixture of HC, CO, CO2, and N2, a minimum of one year's stability data for the blend must be provided to BAR for its evaluation before the blend will be certified.

2.3 Gas Blend Tolerance and Accuracy

Section 1.2 contains the definitions of blend tolerance and analytical accuracy.

The following paragraphs define the allowable limits.

• BAR-97 Blend Tolerance: +2% blend tolerance for both audit and calibration (span) gases.

• BAR-97 Analytical Accuracy: Naming error shall not exceed +1% of label value for calibration span gases; +1% of label value for audit gas blends.

2.4 Reference Standards

Upon initial certification and as required thereafter, the gas blender shall prepare at least one cylinder of each blend listed in the “Pricing Worksheet” it plans to sell in California's I/M program. The gas blender shall submit them to a BAR-approved laboratory for naming against the California BAR Master Standard gases or against NIST SRMs/CRMs/NTRMs if a BAR Master Standard is not available for the candidate blend. These named cylinders shall be used by the blender's facility as its reference standards for analyzing the production calibration span gases.

In addition, the gas blender shall own and maintain at its certified facility a full complement of NIST SRMs, CRMs and NTRMs for performing other analytical work pertinent to its operations.

2.5 Cylinders

2.5.1 Cylinder Type and Usage

The information in this paragraph is for the blender's information only; no action is required on the part of the blender.

Cylinders containing the zero and calibration gas blends for use on the emissions analyzers by the end user must be BAR-approved, of the nonrefillable, disposable, low pressure design.

High-pressure refillable cylinders may be used by Test-Only facility contractors, representatives of the BAR or certain of the BAR's other contractors, as well as at the service facilities of the individual emissions analyzer manufacturers or their distributors. Other uses of high-pressure cylinders must receive prior approval from BAR.

Zero air is an exception to this limitation. It may be provided in either disposable or high-pressure refillable cylinders (as well as via BAR-approved zero air generators).

2.5.2 Disposable Cylinders

a. Disposable cylinders shall be made in accordance with DOT Specification 39 (CFR 49, 178.65, Specification 39) for nonrefillable, disposable cylinders (260 psig service pressure, 325 psig test pressure, 650 psig minimum burst pressure).

b. Nominal size shall not exceed 750 cubic inches +5% (approximately 9 inches inside diameter by 16 inches high overall, providing an equivalent water capacity of 27 pounds). As a minimum, cylinders shall contain 3.75 cubic feet of gas blend at 260 psig cylinder pressure.

c. Cylinders shall be designed with an integral stand so that, if stored in an upright position, the cylinder will not fall over during routine handling. Dimpled bases are not acceptable as integral stands.

d. The cylinder shutoff valve outlet shall be CGA 165, 1/4-in. SAE flare, 45o, male. All shutoff valves shall be of the non-refillable type.

e. Each cylinder shall be equipped with a safety relief device in accordance with DOT regulations [CFR 49, 173.301]. The safety relief device used must comply with the requirements of CGA Pamphlet S-

1.1 (2011).

f. Each cylinder shall be equipped with a safety shield that adequately protects the shutoff valve.

g. No metal, plastic, elastomer, weld flux, anti-seize compound, valve lubricant, paint, or other material shall be used in cylinder fabrication or assembly, or in cylinder charging equipment, which is incompatible with the gas blend or could cause contamination or degradation to it.

h. All cylinders shall be thoroughly cleaned, dried and passivated in such a manner that the contained blend can meet the stability requirements of this document (See Section 2.6 Expiration Dates).

i. All cylinders must comply with the applicable portions of the Federal and California DOT, OSHA, and California Division of Industrial Safety requirements, and must be approved by BAR in this regard.

j. Blenders must comply with the applicable portions of the Federal DOT specifications for shipping cylinders.

2.5.3 High-Pressure Refillable Cylinders

a. Refillable cylinders must be aluminum, made in accordance with DOT

Specifications 3AL2015, 3AL2216 or later, whichever is applicable (ref:

CFR 49, 178.46, Specification 3AL). ZERO AIR ONLY: May also be supplied in steel cylinders made in accordance with DOT Specifications 3AA2015, 3AA2265, and 3AA2400, and shall use CGA- 590 fittings.

b. Blenders wishing to supply gases in refillable cylinders must also be BAR-certified to supply gases in disposable cylinders. This requirement does not apply to blenders wishing to supply only zero air in refillable cylinders, and do not plan to supply any other gases or blends.

c. No metal, plastic, elastomer, weld flux, anti-seize compound, valve lubricant, paint, or other material shall be used in cylinder fabrication or assembly, or in cylinder charging equipment, which is incompatible with the gas blend or could cause contamination or degradation to it.

d. All cylinders shall be thoroughly cleaned, dried and passivated in such a manner that the contained blend can meet the stability requirements of this document (See Section 2.6 Expiration Dates).

e. All cylinders must comply with the applicable portions of the Federal and California DOT, OSHA, and California Division of Industrial Safety requirements, and must be approved by BAR in this regard.

f. Blenders must comply with the applicable portions of the Federal DOT specifications for shipping cylinders.

2.5.4 Labeling

Caution signs shall be affixed to all cylinders and shall comply with the applicable DOT and OSHA regulations.

Certified blenders shall print labels in accordance with the requirements detailed in the tables below. These adhesive-backed BAR labels shall be affixed to the top of the cylinder, approximately halfway between the valve and the cylinder side. The color of the labels shall be white and will contain the following information:

• Gas Blend Code Number (See Section 2.5.5 Bar Code Definition Table)

• The BAR Label Number0F

• The actual concentrations of the individual gases in the blend1F

• The analytical accuracy

1 This is synonymous with the “BAR #”, found on the upper right of the label (see Table in Section 2.5.5 Bar Code Label).

2Printing of actual concentrations of individual gases is required for BAR-97 calibration and audit gas blends. For zero air, the nominal concentration of O2 is required. The maximum allowable impurity levels, preceded by a less-than (<) sign, may be preprinted.

• The date filled

• The lot number

• The expiration date (See Section 2.6 Expiration Dates)

• The name and address of the certified blending facility.

Upon certification of a facility, BAR will provide a camera-ready copy of the label artwork for producing the appropriate labels. Camera-ready copy will be provided for each gas blend for which the facility is certified.

The information on the label shall be machine printed. Hand printing is not permitted.

Each label shall have its individual BAR Label Number imprinted on it. No BAR Label Number may be used more than once, nor may any be sold or transferred to another facility or gas blender. The BAR Label Numbers are assigned to individual facilities only by BAR's Engineering & Research Branch.

Each blender facility shall implement QA procedures to ensure that (1) No BAR Label Number is used more than once, (2) all BAR Label Numbers assigned by the facility are within the block of numbers issued to them by BAR, and (3) a warning is generated when the supply of numbers is getting low, so that the facility may request a new block from BAR. The label-generating software may be used to automatically perform these functions with a periodic audit by facility QA personnel.

2.5.5 Bar Code Label

Each BAR-97 gas cylinder, whether calibration gas or audit gas, shall have a bar code label affixed to it, consisting of three bar code strips. Each gas blend shall have a different identifying character for the first strip line. All second lines will have a common identifier, as will all third lines. The following identifying characters are described below.

Bar Code Leading Identifier

Gas Blend Line 1

Line 2

Line 3

High Range Cylinder $ (dollar sign) + (plus) - (hyphen) Mid Range #1 Cylinder

A + (plus) - (hyphen)

Mid Range #2 Cylinder

B + (plus) - (hyphen)

Low Range Cylinder C + (plus) - (hyphen) Zero Air Cylinder . (period) + (plus) - (hyphen)

The label shall contain the following information:

Gas Cylinder Bar Code Definitions

Bar Code Strip #

Field

Description

Definition

BAR Label Number

2 Alpha characters followed by 8 numeric characters:

AAnnnnnnnn

The two alpha characters uniquely define each gas blender facility. The eight numeric characters are assigned sequentially in blocks on a first-come first-served basis. (See Section 2.5.4 Labeling)

Gas Blend Code

2 numeric characters:

nn

The gas blend code is based on the list of blends in Section 2 of the Specifications and Accreditation Procedures for Calibration and Audit Gases Used in the California Emissions I/M Program, June 1997, Rev B.

For example, a High-Range BAR-97 Calibration Gas (2% Blend Tolerance, 1% Certified Accuracy) containing a nominal blend of 3200 ppm C3H8, 8.00% CO and 12.0% CO2 is coded as 34.

(For Zero Air) BAR-97 Zero air blends have the following gas blend codes:

“37” for calibration; “45” for audit.

Actual concentration of hydrocarbon in blend*.

6 numeric characters:

nnnnnn

The left-most character shall be a 1 for propane or a 2 for hexane. BAR reserves the right to add identifiers for other hydrocarbons at a later date.

The remaining five characters shall represent the actual concentration* of the hydrocarbon in ppm and shall be right-justified. Example: 3209

WMinton Cross-Out

WMinton Cross-Out

WMinton Cross-Out

(For Zero Air) HC Impurity Level ppm propane would be represented as 103209.

(For Zero Air) The remaining five characters shall represent the maximum allowable impurity level for THC which is <1 ppm and shall be right justified. This shall be shown as “200001.”

Actual concentration of CO in blend*.

CO Impurity Level

4 numeric characters:

nnnn

The left-most character shall be a 1 for propane or a 2 for hexane. BAR reserves the right to add identifiers for other hydrocarbons at a later date.

The remaining five characters shall represent the actual concentration* of the hydrocarbon in ppm and shall be right justified. Example: 3209 ppm propane would be represented as 103209.

(For Zero Air) The remaining five characters shall represent the maximum allowable impurity level for THC which is <1 ppm and shall be right justified. This shall be shown as “200001.”

Actual concentration of CO2 in

CO2 Impurity Level

3 numeric characters:

nnn

The three characters shall represent the actual concentration of the CO2 in percent (with one decimal place assumed) and shall be right justified. Example: 14.10% CO2 would be represented as 141.

(For Zero Air) The three numeric characters shall represent the maximum allowable impurity level for CO2 which is <400 ppm for calibration and <1 ppm for audit and shall be right justified.

However, since the BAR label requires a % value, this shall be shown as “000.”

Actual concentration of NO in

NO Impurity

Level

4 numeric characters:

nnnn

The four characters shall represent the actual concentration of the nitric oxide in ppm and shall be right justified. Example: 989 ppm NO would be represented as 0989.

(For Zero Air) The four numeric characters shall represent the maximum allowable impurity level for NO which is <1 ppm and shall be right justified. This shall be shown as “0001.”

Actual concentration of O2 in blend2F

3 numeric characters:

nnn

The three characters shall represent the actual concentration of the O2 in percent (with one decimal place assumed) and shall be right justified. Example: 21.0% O2 would be represented as 210.

(For Zero Air) The three numeric characters shall represent the nominal concentration of the O2 in percent (with one decimal place assumed) and shall be right justified. This shall be shown as “209.”

Expiration Date

8 numeric characters:

nnnnnnnn

The characters represent the date in month/day/year format.

The year is expressed as four digits. Example: May 8,2004 would be represented as 05082004.

*As determined by post blending analysis.

Blender’s Lot Number

9 alphanumeric characters:

nnnnnnnnn

The first 8 numeric characters represent the fill date in month/day/year format. The year is expressed as four digits.

The last numeric character at the end of the string represents the sequential lot blended that day. Example: The fifth lot filled on May 8, 2004 would be represented as 050820045.

These fields shall be fixed in length, left justified, and zero-filled (if necessary).

a) Bar-Coded Label Characteristics and Placement

i) Durability The bar-coded label material shall be such that its bar code can be successfully scanned on the date of the cylinder’s expiration, having spent its useful life in an automotive environment.

ii) Permanent Attachment

The bar-coded label shall be affixed to its cylinder so that it is permanently attached and cannot be removed without destroying the bar code.

iii) Location On Cylinder Disposable Cylinders: The label shall be placed on the top (domed portion) of the cylinder, in an unobscured area. (This location is necessary because, in the majority of analyzer configurations, only the top of the cylinder is visible and accessible when installed.)

Refillable (High-Pressure) Cylinders: The label shall be placed on the side of the cylinder, within two inches of the top of the cylindrical portion. The bar code shall be parallel to the cylinder’s axis, and directly in line with the outlet of the cylinder’s shutoff valve. The bar code label shall be protected from damage in a manner acceptable to BAR.

iv) Alternative Configurations

Alternative configurations shall be submitted to BAR for its consideration.

b) General Bar Code Symbology Specifications

i) Code 39 Symbology

The bar code shall conform to “BAR Code Symbology for 3 of 9 Bar Codes” published by the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG B-1). All aspects of the bar-code symbology codes shall follow this specification except as described in the following sections.

ii) Code Density and Dimensions (Reference Appendix A of

AIAG B-7)

The average width of the narrow element is within the range of 0.19 mm (0.0075 inches) and 0.317 mm (0.0125 inches).

The ratio is three to one with an allowable range of 2.8 to

3.2. The minimum bar height is 9.5 mm (0.375 inches) or 15

percent of the bar code length.

c) Scanning Devices (FOR GAS BLENDER’S INFORMATION

ONLY)

A typical bar code scanner that will be used to read the bar code label is Symbol Technologies Model Number LS-3020HV-HxxxA.

2.6 Expiration Dates

For all cylinders, disposable or refillable, the expiration date for propane (C3H8), carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in nitrogen (N2) shall be 36 months from the fill date.

The expiration date for nitric oxide (NO) in N2, or any blend containing NO, shall be 24 months from the fill date.

The expiration date for zero air shall be sixty (60) months from the fill date.

Until the expiration date is reached, the gases contained in the cylinders shall meet all the requirements of this document.

Accessibility Report

Filename:

6830-BS-0215676-1_BAR2-7-25.pdf

Report created by:

Organization:

[Enter personal and organization information through the Preferences > Identity dialog.]

Summary

The checker found problems which may prevent the document from being fully accessible.

Needs manual check: 0

Passed manually: 2

Failed manually: 0

Skipped: 0

Passed: 28

Failed: 2

Detailed Report

Document

Rule Name Status Description

Accessibility permission flag Passed Accessibility permission flag must be set

Image-only PDF Passed Document is not image-only PDF

Tagged PDF Passed Document is tagged PDF

Logical Reading Order Passed manually Document structure provides a logical reading order

Primary language Passed Text language is specified

Title Passed Document title is showing in title bar

Bookmarks Passed Bookmarks are present in large documents

Color contrast Passed manually Document has appropriate color contrast

Page Content

Rule Name Status Description

Tagged content Failed All page content is tagged

Tagged annotations Failed All annotations are tagged

Tab order Passed Tab order is consistent with structure order

Character encoding Passed Reliable character encoding is provided

Tagged multimedia Passed All multimedia objects are tagged

Screen flicker Passed Page will not cause screen flicker

Scripts Passed No inaccessible scripts

Timed responses Passed Page does not require timed responses

Navigation links Passed Navigation links are not repetitive

Forms

Rule Name Status Description

Tagged form fields Passed All form fields are tagged

Field descriptions Passed All form fields have description

Alternate Text

Rule Name Status Description

Figures alternate text Passed Figures require alternate text

Nested alternate text Passed Alternate text that will never be read

Associated with content Passed Alternate text must be associated with some content

Hides annotation Passed Alternate text should not hide annotation

Other elements alternate text Passed Other elements that require alternate text

Tables

Rule Name Status Description

Rows Passed TR must be a child of Table, THead, TBody, or TFoot

TH and TD Passed TH and TD must be children of TR

Headers Passed Tables should have headers

Regularity Passed Tables must contain the same number of columns in each row and rows in each column

Summary Passed Tables must have a summary

Lists

Rule Name Status Description

List items Passed LI must be a child of L

Lbl and LBody Passed Lbl and LBody must be children of LI

Headings

Rule Name Status Description

Appropriate nesting Passed Appropriate nesting

Back to Top