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SPECIAL REPORT: Biodiesel B5 blend approved by ASTM

The long-awaited vote on June 19 by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), accepting the use of 5% biodiesel blended with heating oil, has finally come to pass. Meeting in Canada in Vancouver, BC, ASTM's International D02 Main Committee approved a 5% blend of biodiesel and heating oil as essentially equivalent to pure heating oil. That is, the B5 blend satisfies the requirements of ASTM's D 975 standard. The Committee actually approved a trio of specifications:

Changes to the existing B100 biodiesel blend stock specification (ASTM D6751)
Finished specifications to include up to 5% biodiesel (B5) in the conventional petrodiesel specification (ASTM D975)
A new specification for blends of between 6% biodiesel (B6) to 20% biodiesel (B20) for on and off road diesel.

The latter specification gives automakers and fleet operators a boost, and provides a positive image of biodiesel for the general public. For the oilheat industry, which has been working for several years to achieve ASTM's approval, this is a major gain; many manufacturers have been unwilling to warranty their products for use with biodiesel unless the use of B5 was officially authorized. Now the industry can feel confident in moving forward with widespread use of the blend - also designated Bioheat™ - by the industry.

Representing the oilheating and biodiesel industries were Vic Turk, of R.W. Beckett, and members of the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) and the National Biodiesel Board (NBB). Turk, who also represented the Oilheat Manufacturers Association (OMA), is chairman of ASTM's Burner Fuels Subcommittee. Moving through the process, he was assisted by Steve Howell, Chairman of the ASTM Biodiesel Task Force. In addition to Beckett, the other leading burner manufacturers Carlin and Riello invested a great deal of time in testing their burners with this new fuel.

Industry demonstrated that no detrimental effects were evident with a B5 blend, that no change in current oilburning equipment was needed, that the blend provided ecological and performance benefits and that the substitution of B5 blend for ordinary No. 2 heating oil was, for all intents and purposes, transparent.

NORA says the effort had been underway for several years, as it and the NBB identified state and national regulations that "could have prevented the use of biodiesel in heating oil applications." NORA's President, John Huber, added, "Bioheat provides a critical opportunity for the oilheat industry to reposition itself as the green renewable fuel of the future, and that knocking down regulatory barriers was essential."

According to the Alliance, NORA and NBB conducted a multi-layered fact finding process that required a thorough analysis of the fuel and how the equipment would operate with its use, as well as the benefits it would provide for home heating throughout the winter.

Paul Nazzaro, of the NBB, who has also written extensively for Oilheating Journal, stated, "We are very excited about the development, and based on the thorough research conducted over the years, we know that Bioheat will be as good as oilheat in every area, while providing the oilheat industry a great path to a successful future."

As mentioned, many manufacturers were waiting for the ASTM decision before issuing warranties on some equipment used with biodiesel. For more on this, visit, www.biodiesel.org.

The latest news from NORA

The National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) collaborated with the Consumer Education Committee, headed up by Larry Scuder and an advertising agency bubble group, to prepare a 30- second television commercial. The commercial shows the reliability, efficiency, dependability and true value of oilheat. To view the commercial, visit www.oilheating.com. NORA was also recently featured on bobvila.com for Intelligent Warmth and its benefits. The website explains the three major initiatives that NORA adheres to and the benefits of oilheat. Vila discusses safety, efficiency and environmental friendliness that oilheat provides. To view the full article, click here.

Additionally, South Carolina has announced it wants to join NORA. Benefits of membership include rights to the term Bioheat, receiving state grants, access to educational programs, access to expert trainers and resources for training classes, exclusive rights to NORA consumer education, advertisements in all mediums, national recognition and access to a variety of contacts.

NORA, along with the National Biodiesel Board, funded a study that tested the interchangeability of B5 Biodiesel blend within residential burners at Underwriters Laboratories Inc. The conclusion revealed the results of tests firing both No. 2 fueloil and B5 Biodiesel blend for each combination indicated conformance with applicable requirements and typically showed lower levels of NOx measured firing B5 Biodiesel blend in comparison with firing No. 2 fueloil. The full Fact Finding investigation can be found at www.nora-oilheat.org.

NORA has also finished its Customer Service Training Video and Phone Script. To view the video, visit www.noraedvideo.org.

Carini to receive PMAA's Greenes Award

Peter Carini, CEO and Chairman, Champion Energy Corporation, has been selected to be awarded the Robert Greenes Award, the Petroleum Marketers Association of America's (PMAA) special award for leaders in the oilheat industry. The award will be presented at the Oilheat Visions Conference, scheduled for Sept. 9, 2008 in Boston, MA. The Greenes Award is named in honor of legendary oilheat marketer Bob Greenes, who exemplified leadership and made innumerable contributions to the industry.

FMA celebrates 75th anniversary

The Fuel Merchants Association (FMA) of New Jersey is commemorating its 75th anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008 at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township, NJ. According to President Ed Miller, "One of the highlights of the evening will be a showcase of photos and other memorabilia. We are asking you to share these memories, photos and materials with us so we can prepare a very special commemorative DVD." Materials must be submitted to the FMA office prior to Aug. 15. For more information, visit www.fmanj.org.

Oilheating magazine is designed to help owners and managers of local oil heat companies with research and evaluation of problems. Feature articles concern: the acquiring and retaining customers; dispatching and delivery efficiency; sales and service of oil heat equipment and air conditioning equipment; the science of residential and commercial-industrial oilburning; trucks and oil handling equipment, exclusive annual dealer forum and computers evaluation and use. Market research through field sampling is a regular monthly feature, along with annual analysis of service management and fueloil management. News items are divided among new products, manufacturers activities, industry groups, and names in the new departments.