EN 17963:2024

Natural gas vehicles - LNG vehicle fuelling procedures

This document gives guidelines for safe fuelling operations of vehicles that use liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a fuel for propulsion, covering the activities and procedures to be followed for safe operation. It provides procedures applicable to different fuelling systems and technologies.
NOTE   Regarding the responsibility surrounding the training of drivers of LNG vehicles, see the framework of Directive 89/391 EEC.

Erdgasfahrzeuge - Betankungsabläufe für LNG Fahrzeuge

Dieses Dokument gibt Leitlinien für sichere Betankungsabläufe für Fahrzeuge, deren Antrieb auf Flüssigerdgas (LNG, en: liquefied natural gas) als Kraftstoff beruht, und behandelt die Aktivitäten und Abläufe, die für einen sicheren Betrieb zu befolgen sind. Es enthält Verfahren, die auf unterschiedliche Betankungssysteme und  technologien anwendbar sind.
ANMERKUNG   In Bezug auf die Verantwortung für die Ausbildung der LNG Fahrzeugführer siehe die Richtlinie 89/391/EWG.

Véhicules au gaz naturel - Procédures de ravitaillement des véhicules GNL

Le présent document donne les lignes directrices pour les opérations de ravitaillement des véhicules qui utilisent du gaz naturel liquéfié (GNL) comme carburant de propulsion, couvrant les activités et les procédures à suivre pour un fonctionnement en toute sécurité. Il fournit les procédures applicables aux différents systèmes et technologies de ravitaillement.
NOTE   Concernant la responsabilité entourant la formation des conducteurs de véhicules GNL, voir le cadre de la directive 89/391 CEE

Vozila na zemeljski plin - Postopki polnjenja vozil na utekočinjeni zemeljski plin

Ta dokument podaja smernice za varno polnjenje vozil, ki kot pogonsko gorivo uporabljajo utekočinjeni zemeljski plin (LNG), ter zajema dejavnosti in postopke, ki jih je treba upoštevati za varno delovanje.
Zagotavlja postopke, ki se uporabljajo za različne sisteme in tehnologije za polnjenje.
OPOMBA: V zvezi z odgovornostjo za usposabljanje voznikov vozil na utekočinjeni zemeljski plin glej okvirno direktivo 89/391/EGS.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 20-Aug-2024
• ICS: 43.080.01 - Commercial vehicles in general
• ICS: 75.200 - Petroleum products and natural gas handling equipment
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 326 - Gas supply for Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV)
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 326/WG 5 - LNG Vehicle Use and Operation
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 21-Aug-2024
• Due Date: 02-Sep-2024
• Completion Date: 21-Aug-2024
• Directive: 89/391/EEC - Safety and health of workers at the work
• Ref Project: SIST EN 17963:2025 - Natural gas vehicles - LNG vehicle fuelling procedures

Overview - EN 17963:2024 (LNG vehicle fuelling procedures)

EN 17963:2024 is a CEN European standard that provides operational guidelines and safety procedures for fuelling vehicles with liquefied natural gas (LNG). The document covers the sequence of activities for safe LNG fuelling at public or fleet stations, including pre‑fuelling checks, vapour pressure reduction, connection and disconnection of nozzles, and final operations. It applies to different fuelling systems and technologies and includes informative and normative annexes (e.g., emergency troubleshooting and warm‑tank refuelling).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Safety precautions and hazard control
  • Elimination of ignition sources, no‑smoking rules, and thunderstorm restrictions.
  • Station‑specific emergency procedures and evacuation actions.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Minimum PPE includes a face shield (EN ISO 16321‑1), long cryogenic gloves (EN 511), long‑sleeved clothing and closed shoes to prevent cryogenic burns.
• Pre‑fuelling requirements
  • Vehicle parking, engine off, parking brake engaged, windows closed, and auxiliary heating/cooling turned off.
  • Identification procedures at dispenser (fuel type selection, vehicle info) where required.
• Vapour pressure reduction procedures
  • Two main methods: separate vapour return (use dedicated vapour return hose and vent‑to‑station valve) and integrated vapour return (vapour returns via the fill line/nozzle).
  • Monitoring of vehicle tank pressure gauge and following station‑specific instructions.
• Nozzle connection and fuelling operations
  • Visual inspection, cleaning with air blow gun, correct grounding if required, possible pre‑cooling, and adherence to dispenser “dead‑man” controls.
  • Two‑stage disconnection procedure - unlock then remove only if no leakage is detected.
• Annexes
  • Annex A: troubleshooting, emergency response, first aid for cryogenic burns, leak and fire guidance.
  • Annex B (normative): warm tank refuelling procedure for vehicles with tanks near ambient temperature.

Practical applications and who uses this standard

• Fleet operators and logistics companies operating LNG trucks and buses.
• Station designers, forecourt operators and dispenser manufacturers specifying safe LNG dispensing equipment and user interfaces.
• Safety managers, site operatives and maintenance personnel responsible for LNG fuelling station procedures and emergency response.
• Regulators and national standards bodies harmonising fuelling practices across CEN member states.

Related standards and notes

• Normative references include EN 511 (protective gloves against cold) and EN ISO 16321‑1 (eye and face protection).
• Training responsibility for LNG drivers is outside this standard; see the framework of Directive 89/391 EEC for employer obligations.
• Keywords: EN 17963:2024, LNG fuelling procedures, natural gas vehicles, cryogenic safety, vapour pressure reduction, LNG nozzle, grounding, CEN standard.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-februar-2025
Vozila na zemeljski plin - Postopki polnjenja vozil na utekočinjeni zemeljski plin
Natural gas vehicles - LNG vehicle fuelling procedures
Erdgasfahrzeuge - Betankungsabläufe für LNG Fahrzeuge
Véhicules au gaz naturel - Procédures de ravitaillement des véhicules GNL
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 17963:2024
ICS:
43.020 Cestna vozila na splošno Road vehicles in general
75.060 Zemeljski plin Natural gas
75.200 Oprema za skladiščenje Petroleum products and
nafte, naftnih proizvodov in natural gas handling
zemeljskega plina equipment
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 17963
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
August 2024
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 43.080.01; 75.200
English Version
Natural gas vehicles - LNG vehicle fuelling procedures
Véhicules au gaz naturel - Procédures de ravitaillement Erdgasfahrzeuge - Betankungsabläufe für LNG
des véhicules GNL Fahrzeuge
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 24 June 2024.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2024 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 17963:2024 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 LNG fuelling operations . 6
4.1 General. 6
4.2 Safety precautions . 6
4.2.1 General. 6
4.2.2 Personal safety . 6
4.3 Pre-fuelling. 6
4.3.1 General. 6
4.3.2 Pre-fuelling conditions . 6
4.4 Fuelling operations . 7
4.4.1 General. 7
4.4.2 Identification . 7
4.4.3 Grounding . 7
4.4.4 Preparation of LNG nozzle connection . 7
4.4.5 Vapour pressure reduction . 7
4.5 Disconnect LNG nozzle . 9
4.6 Final operation . 9
Annex A (informative) Troubleshooting . 10
A.1 Emergency procedures . 10
A.1.1 General. 10
A.1.2 First aid . 10
A.2 Leakages . 10
A.2.1 General. 10
A.2.2 Leakages during nozzle disconnection . 10
A.3 Freezing of the connection . 10
A.4 Fire . 11
Annex B (normative) Warm tank refuelling procedure . 12

European foreword
This document (EN 17963:2024) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 326 “Natural gas
Vehicles”, the secretariat of which is held by TSE.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by January 2025, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by January 2025.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
Introduction
This document addresses the general operational and safety instructions for fuelling of LNG vehicles.
Training of LNG vehicle drivers is not part of this procedure.
1 Scope
This document gives guidelines for safe fuelling operations of vehicles that use liquefied natural gas
(LNG) as a fuel for propulsion, covering the activities and procedures to be followed for safe operation.
It provides procedures applicable to different fuelling systems and technologies.
NOTE Regarding the responsibility surrounding the training of drivers of LNG vehicles, see the framework of
Directive 89/391 EEC.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 511, Protective gloves against cold
EN ISO 16321-1, Eye and face protection for occupational use — Part 1: General requirements
(ISO 16321 1)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
LNG vehicle fuel system
assembly of components (tank(s), valves, flexible fuel lines, etc.) and connecting parts (rigid fuel lines,
pipes fitting, etc.) fitted on motor vehicles using LNG in their propulsion system
3.2
liquefied natural gas
LNG
natural gas that has been liquefied, after processing, for storage or transportation purposes used as a
transport fuel, regardless of its production pathways (e.g. renewable, synthetic or fossil)
3.3
vehicle tank
cryogenic tank mounted on a vehicle for the storage of LNG as a fuel
3.4
ignition source
source of energy sufficient to ignite a flammable atmosphere
3.5
dispenser
equipment through which the liquefied natural gas is supplied to the vehicle
3.6
operator
person executing the fuelling
3.7
cryogenic burns
cold burns caused by cryogenic gas
4 LNG fuelling operations
4.1 General
How to operate the dispenser can vary from station to station. This pa
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