PWS - PPD Quality Control

Quality Control

PPD not only has to make sure there is enough fuel for the community's use, it also has to make sure that it is safe to use. Our Quality Control Program ensures all the fuel products we sell meet, or in some cases exceed, the Canadian General Standards Board's specifications for fuel in Canada.

One area where we exceed standards is the minimum electrical conductivity level in the Low Sulphur Diesel Fuel and the Jet A-1 Aviation Turbine Fuel. This element in fuel controls static electricity. PPD specifies a higher level to ensure that our Local Fuel Delivery Agents and our Petroleum Products Officers are safe when handling the products. It also makes the Low Sulphur Diesel Fuel safer to use in our customers' home furnaces and adds an extra element of safety to the Jet A-1 Aviation Turbine Fuel we sell for use in aircraft.

Resupply time is Quality Control time. Before each shipment is accepted for off-loading, field tests are performed. If the products pass all the field tests then 4-litre samples of each fuel-type are taken and sent to an accredited laboratory for detailed testing. In some cases, the fuel must pass up to 22 tests before it is certified as meeting Canadian General Standards Board specifications and PPD's standards.

Aviation Fuels are also tested at the laboratory every six months.

TESTS

Low Sulphur Diesel Fuel and Jet A-1 Aviation Turbine Fuel are tested for:

Flash Point - if the fuel ignites below a certain temperature then it may be contaminated with other petroleum products such as gasoline;

Conductivity - if the fuel holds too high an electric charge, then it doesn't meet PPD's extra safety requirements and is not accepted;

Density - if the density is too high or too low, then compounds may be in the fuel that could affect the performance of furnaces, vehicles and aircraft;

Clear and Bright - if the fuel has water orparticles in it that can be seen with the human eye or is "cloudy", then it may be contaminated and not safe to use.

Unleaded Automotive Gasoline is field-tested for Density and Clear and Bright only. The Flash Point and the Conductivity tests are not performed.