API Publishes New Recommended Practice 1637
The American Petroleum Institute (API) recently published the 4th edition of the API Recommended Practice (RP) 1637 Using the API Color-Symbol System to Identify Equipment, Vehicles, and Transfer Points for Petroleum Fuels and Related Products at Dispensing and Storage Facilities and Distribution Terminals.
The API Color-Symbol system uses a system of colors, symbols, and labels to identify transfer points and equipment for loading and unloading of petroleum fuels and related products to help prevent errors in product handling.
API 1637 is specified by Handbook 130 and many state weights and measures codes as the color code system to be used.
The 4th edition of API 1637 is a significant update from the prior version. It incorporates the many fuel blends and biofuels that have been introduced to the market since the last version of this standard was published.
This updated practice adds colors and symbols for 19 additional fuels including gasoline-ethanol blends, racing fuels, biodiesel, renewable diesel, biofuel oil, and Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF).
Personnel who handle products should be familiar with this updated color-symbol system.
