SIST EN 13856:2026

• Abstract:

  This document specifies the minimum requirements for the contents of the user manual for Automotive LPG propulsion systems fitted in road vehicles.; This document does not cover the user manual for forklift trucks or other industrial machinery.

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 02-Jan-2025
• Publication Date: 21-Jul-2026
• ICS: 43.060.40 - Fuel systems
• ICS: 75.160.30 - Gaseous fuels
• Technical Committee: TLP - Pressure vessels
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 04-Jun-2026
• Due Date: 09-Aug-2026
• Completion Date: 22-Jul-2026
• Ref Project: EN 13856:2026 - LPG equipment and accessories - Minimum requirements for the content of the user manual for automotive LPG systems

• Replaces: SIST EN 13856:2002 - Minimum requirements for the content of the user manual for automotive LPG systems
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2026

SIST EN 13856:2026 is the Slovenian adoption of EN 13856:2026 from CEN. It specifies the minimum content of the user manual for automotive LPG propulsion systems fitted in road vehicles. In practice, it tells LPG system manufacturers and LPG vehicle manufacturers what information they must provide so users can operate, maintain and respond to faults safely.

What does SIST EN 13856:2026 specify?

SIST EN 13856:2026 specifies the minimum requirements for the contents of the user manual for Automotive LPG propulsion systems installed in road vehicles. It is for the manual that accompanies the system, not for the vehicle design itself.

The scope excludes user manuals for forklift trucks and other industrial machinery. The document is organized into Scope, Normative references, Terms and definitions, General, and Contents of the user manual, followed by a Bibliography.

What are the key requirements of SIST EN 13856:2026?

Issuing the manual and giving it to the user

SIST EN 13856:2026 requires the user manual to be issued by the LPG system manufacturer or the LPG vehicle manufacturer and supplied to the user. It also requires the manual to be written in the language(s) of the country where the LPG system is sold.

This matters because the manual is part of the handover of the system. A buyer or fleet operator should be able to read the instructions in the local language and rely on the manufacturer as the responsible issuer.

What the manual must say about the system

SIST EN 13856:2026 requires the manual to describe the system and its main components, identify the fuel for which it is designed, and give the information needed for running in and tuning. Clause 4 also states that the manual must include all information needed for correct functioning and safe operation.

In practice, this means the manual has to explain what the installed LPG system is meant to do and how it should be set up before normal use.

Safety information and filling limits

SIST EN 13856:2026 requires safety instructions on correct operation, possible dangers from misuse, action in case of a gas leak, and the adverse effects of extreme ambient conditions such as humidity and temperature. It also requires information on the maximum filling level of 80 % of the total volume of the container.

For the user, this is the core safety section. It must make the filling limit clear, because the manual has to explain that the container must not be filled beyond the stated level.

Operating instructions the user must receive

SIST EN 13856:2026 requires the manual to include the filling procedure for the LPG container. When the vehicle has a manual switch-over, the correct way to switch from one fuel to the other must be described. If manual valves are fitted, the manual must show how to open and close them for safety operations or a gas leak.

The manual must also explain the level indicator, including where it is located and how to read it, with particular attention to the 80 % filling level. This helps the user confirm fill status and operate the system without guesswork.

Maintenance, re-qualification and faults

SIST EN 13856:2026 requires the manual to state the frequencies for maintenance and re-qualification, plus the type and scope of that maintenance and re-qualification. It also says these tasks must be performed by a competent person, for example according to EN 16652-2.

The manual must also tell the user what to do in case of a defect or when a faulty component needs repair. If the LPG system has a diagnostic system, the manual must describe its use.

What terms does SIST EN 13856:2026 define?

• User manual - the document that provides information on starting up, running in, operation, servicing and minor maintenance of the LPG system.
• LPG system - a system mainly made up of an LPG container in accordance with prEN 12805 and other components in accordance with EN 12806.
• LPG - liquefied petroleum gas, the fuel covered by the standard’s automotive LPG systems.
• Competent person - the person expected to carry out maintenance and testing, with competence and training aligned with EN 16652-2.
• Level indicator - the display or indication point used to show the LPG container level, such as on the dashboard or container.
• Switch-over - the manual change from one fuel to the other when the vehicle is equipped with manual switching.

Who uses SIST EN 13856:2026?

SIST EN 13856:2026 is used by LPG system manufacturers and LPG vehicle manufacturers when preparing the user manual for road vehicles. It is also relevant for end-users who need the operating, safety and maintenance instructions.

Workshops and other competent persons use it because the manual has to state how maintenance, re-qualification and testing are to be carried out. Buyers and quality managers can use it as a checklist for whether the supplied manual covers the required safety and operating information.

What changed in SIST EN 13856:2026 from the previous edition?

SIST EN 13856:2026 supersedes SIST EN 13856:2002. The foreword states these main changes:

• clearer treatment of user manual content through separate “LPG system description” and “Safety instruction” sections;
• improved general terminology and wording;
• updated maintenance text, including a reference to EN 16652-2 for operator competence.

Which standards are used with SIST EN 13856:2026?

• EN 16652-2 - gives the competence and training requirements for personnel who perform maintenance and testing on automotive LPG vehicles.
• prEN 12805 - provides the container standard used in the definition of an LPG system.
• EN 12806 - provides the standard for the other automotive LPG components used in the LPG system definition.
• CEN/TS 16765 - is cited in the introduction for environmental and climate change considerations and is intended to be read together with this document.

What does the SIST EN 13856:2026 document contain?

The document contains a European foreword, an introduction, the scope, normative references, terms and definitions, and the main clause on general requirements. Its central content is Clause 5, which breaks the user manual into system description, safety instructions, operation, maintenance, and defects and repair.

The document also includes subclauses on filling the LPG container, switch-over procedure, opening and closing manual valves, and the level indicator. A bibliography closes the document and points to the related standards cited in the text.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2026
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 13856:2002
Oprema in pribor za utekočinjeni naftni plin (UNP) - Minimalne zahteve za vsebino
navodila za uporabo UNP v sistemih za pogon motornih vozil
LPG equipment and accessories - Minimum requirements for the content of the user
manual for automotive LPG systems
Flüssiggas-Geräte und Ausrüstungsteile - Mindestanforderungen an den Inhalt von
Betriebsanleitungen für Autogasanlagen
Équipements pour GPL et leurs accessoires - Exigences d’utilisation pour les systèmes
GPL pour automobiles
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 13856:2026
ICS:
43.060.40 Sistemi za gorivo Fuel systems
75.160.30 Plinska goriva Gaseous fuels
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 13856
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
June 2026
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 43.060.40 Supersedes EN 13856:2002
English Version
LPG equipment and accessories - Minimum requirements
for the content of the user manual for automotive LPG
systems
Équipements pour GPL et leurs accessoires - Exigences Flüssiggas-Geräte und Ausrüstungsteile -
d'utilisation pour les systèmes GPL pour automobiles Mindestanforderungen an den Inhalt von
Betriebsanleitungen für Autogasanlagen
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 13 April 2026.

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
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 13856:2026 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 General. 5
5 Contents of the user manual . 5
5.1 LPG system description . 5
5.2 Safety instructions . 6
5.3 Operation of the LPG system . 6
5.3.1 Filling of the LPG container . 6
5.3.2 Switch-over procedure . 6
5.3.3 Opening / closing of manual valves when fitted . 6
5.3.4 Level indicator . 6
5.4 Maintenance . 6
5.5 Defects and repair . 6
Bibliography . 7
European foreword
This document (EN 13856:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 286 “LPG
equipment and accessories”, the secretariat of which is held by NSAI.
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 December 2026, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by December 2026.
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.
This document supersedes EN 13856:2002.
The main changes in EN 13856:2026 compared to EN 13856:2002 are:
— clarification of the content of the user manual, now made by the “LPG system description” and the
“Safety instruction” sections;
— improved general terminology and wording;
— updated maintenance paragraph, with the reference to EN 16652-2 for competence of operators.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed
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