1. (a) Equipment related to a compression, storage, or dispensing installation, excluding automatic dispensers and residential fueling facilities, shall be protected from tampering and damage and the protection shall be maintained in good condition at all times and in accordance with one of the three standards set forth in this subsection. Automatic dispensers for general public use shall be protected against collision damage in accordance with subsection (d) of this section.

   1. (1) Fencing.

      1. (A) Fencing material shall be chain link type with wire no smaller than 12-1/2 American wire gauge size.
      2. (B) Fencing shall be no less than six feet in height at all points. Fencing may be five feet in height when topped with at least three strands of barbed wire, with the strands no more than four inches apart.
      3. (C) All uprights, braces, and/or cornerposts shall be composed of noncombustible material if located within distances for sources of ignition or combustible materials required in Table 1 of §13.94 of this title (relating to Location of Installations) of the enclosed CNG transfer system(s) or CNG cylinder(s).
      4. (D) All fenced enclosures shall have at least one gate suitable for ingress and egress. All gates shall be locked whenever the area enclosed is unattended.
      5. (E) A minimum clearance of two feet shall be maintained between the fencing and the compression equipment, cylinder cascade(s), or container(s), and the entire dispensing system(s).
      6. (F) Fencing which is located more than 25 feet from any point of a CNG dispensing system(s), container(s), or compression equipment is designated as perimeter fencing. If a CNG dispensing system(s), cylinder cascade(s), or compression equipment is located inside perimeter fencing and is subject to vehicular traffic, it shall be protected against damage according to the specifications set forth in paragraph (2) of this subsection.
      7. (G) The cylinder cascade containers, compression equipment, and the entire dispensing system must be completely enclosed by fencing.

   2. (2) Guardrails.

      1. (A) Where fencing is not used to protect the installation as provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection, then valve locks, a means of locking the electric control for the compressor(s), or other suitable means shall be provided to prevent unauthorized withdrawal of CNG.
      2. (B) Vertical supports for guardrails shall be a minimum of three-inch Schedule 40 steel pipe, or material with equal or greater strength. The vertical supports must be capped on the top and anchored below the ground a minimum of 18 inches in concrete, with a minimum height of 30 inches above the ground. Supports shall be spaced no more than four feet apart.
      3. (C) The top of the horizontal guardrailing shall be secured to the vertical supports a minimum of 30 inches above the ground. The horizontal guardrailing shall be no less than three-inch Schedule 40 steel pipe, or material with equal or greater strength. The horizontal guardrailing shall be welded or bolted to the vertical supports with bolts of sufficient size and strength to prevent displacement of the horizontal guardrailing.
      4. (D) No opening in the horizontal guardrailing may exceed 36 inches. A means of temporarily removing the guardrailing and/or vertical supports to facilitate the handling of heavy compression equipment may be incorporated into the horizontal guardrailing and vertical supports. In no case shall the protection provided by the guardrailing and vertical supports be decreased.
      5. (E) A minimum clearance of 24 inches shall be maintained between the railing and any part of the CNG compression equipment, cylinder cascade(s), container(s), or dispensing equipment.
      6. (F) The operating end of the container(s) and any part of the CNG compression equipment, piping, or cylinder cascade(s) which is exposed to vehicular traffic must be protected from damage by the vehicular traffic. The protection shall extend at least 24 inches beyond any part of the CNG compression equipment, cylinder cascade(s), container(s), or dispensing equipment which is exposed to vehicular traffic.
   3. (3) Protection. Each automatic dispenser shall be secured to a concrete island a minimum of six inches above the normal grade and two inches above the grade of any other fuel dispenser(s). Each automatic dispenser shall be protected against collision damage. Support columns or other such protection installed at the approach end(s) of the concrete island shall prevent collision with the automatic dispenser. If such protection cannot be provided, then the requirements of paragraph (2) of this subsection shall apply.
   4. (4) Fencing and guardrails. A combination of the protection standards authorized by paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection shall not result in less protection than either standard.
   5. (5) The provisions of this section notwithstanding, the commission may require an installation to be protected in accordance with subsection (a) of this section when evidence exists that because of exceptional circumstances, added safeguards are needed to adequately protect the health, safety, and welfare of the general public. If a person owning or operating such an installation disagrees with the determination of the commission made under this subsection, then that person may request a public hearing on the matter. However, until a determination is issued subsequent to a hearing on the matter, the subject automatic dispenser(s) shall be either protected in the manner described by the commission or removed from CNG service and/or all of the product withdrawn from it.
2. (b) Control devices shall be designed and installed so that internal or external icing or hydrate formation will not cause a malfunction.
3. (c) Authorized automatic dispenser(s) shall comply with §13.25(k) of this title (relating to Filings Required for Stationary CNG Installations; Appurtenances and Equipment). Existing dispensers may be modified, provided the modifications include only those components listed as approved by a laboratory as discussed in §13.25(k) of this title, and are installed in a workmanlike manner in accordance with industry standards.

4. (d) The authorized automatic dispenser shall have the following features.

   1. (1) A key, card, or code system shall be used.
   2. (2) All appurtenances, metering equipment, and other related equipment installed on an automatic dispenser shall meet all applicable requirements of the Regulations for Compressed Natural Gas.
   3. (3) All dispensing equipment shall be fabricated of material suitable for CNG, and resistant to the action of CNG under service conditions. Pressure containing parts shall be of steel, ductile iron, forged steel, brass, or an equivalent material. Aluminum may be used for approved meters. All piping shall be Schedule 80, and all pipe fittings shall be forged steel stamped 6,000 psi or greater.
   4. (4) The automatic dispensing system shall incorporate a cutoff valve with an opening and closing device which ensures the valve is in a closed position when the dispenser is deactivated.
   5. (5) A device shall be installed in the CNG piping in such a manner that displacement of the dispenser will result in the displacement of such piping on the downstream side of the device.
   6. (6) The transfer hose on an automatic dispenser shall incorporate a pull-away device. The pull-away device shall be installed so as to separate by a force not greater than 45 pounds when applied in any horizontal direction. The device shall stop the flow of CNG in the event of a separation.
   7. (7) All electric installations within the automatic dispenser enclosure and the entire pit or open space beneath the dispenser shall comply with the National Electric Code, Class 1, Group D, Division 2, except for dispenser components located at least 48 inches above the dispenser base which are intrinsically safe according to the National Electric Code.

   8. (8) The fueling connector shall be compatible with the fueling connection of the vehicle. (See §13.34 of this title (relating to Vehicle Fueling Connection).) The fueling connector shall have the following safety features:

      1. (A) remote vapor discharge;
      2. (B) a manual shut-off valve.
5. (e) All CNG storage installations, and installations protected by guardrails only, must comply with the sign and/or lettering requirements of Table 1 of this section.

Source Note:The provisions of this §13.93 adopted to be effective November 15, 1990, 15 TexReg 5941; amended to be effective June 1, 1994, 19 TexReg 3170.