Off-Road In-Use Compliance Program
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Overview
The In-Use Equipment Emission Test Procedures, commonly referred to as the In-Use Compliance (IUC) Program, is a critical component of the State Implementation Plan aimed at mitigating excess emissions from the construction and agricultural in-use equipment. Its main objective is to assess the emissions compliance of heavy-duty off-road engines/equipment with the applicable exhaust emissions standards. In cases where a non-compliance is detected, the engine manufacturer is required to take corrective action, including recall and repair of the affected engines, at no cost to the equipment owners.
Background
In California, off-road equipment has been identified as the leading source of NOx emissions among all mobile sources. However, these off-road engines have never been assessed for in-use compliance. To address this gap, the In-Use Programs Branch has established a dedicated program that specifically targets off-road equipment to ensure compliance with emissions standards. Drawing on the success of the Heavy-Duty On-Road In-Use Compliance program, which has been effective in identifying non-compliant heavy-duty engines and aftertreatment components, it is expected that the off-road program will achieve similar success in promoting in-use compliance.
Testing Details
The off-road in-use compliance program tests in-use off-road equipment using a portable emission measurement system (PEMS) to ensure that the equipment meets the exhaust emission standards as certified by CARB. Each piece of equipment will be tested for at least 4 hours while operating the equipment as designed to ensure that it meets the emission standards during real-world usage. Other emission-related component testing, such as inducement testing, may be conducted for several days to ensure that it's working as described at the time of certification.
Equipment Procurement
CARB randomly procures the test equipment from fleet/equipment owners as well as rental companies. This allows for an unbiased representation of real-world population and its usage and operation. As part of the selection process, the randomly selected equipment undergoes a screening process. This ensures the equipment retains the originally certified configuration for its engine and aftertreatment system as well as making sure the equipment is safe to operate. No enforcement action towards the owner or rental fleet are taken during this selection process. Once the equipment is selected and procured, the equipment owners who participate in our emission testing may be eligible for incentives.
Typical PEMS Testing Timeline (Everyone’s SAFETY is always our top priority)
Preliminary visit (1 day) | Prior to testing, we visit and inspect your vehicle/equipment (during downtime) – make plans for a safe test set-up |
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Install PEMS on test unit (1-2 days) | During downtime, we will a portable emission measurement unit |
Testing (1-2 days) | Operate the equipment as you normally do when you need to (test units will be checked during your break) |
Uninstall PEMS on test unit (1 day) | During your downtime, we will uninstall the emission unit |
Other Emission-related Component Testing Timeline
Install equipment on test unit (1-2 hours) | During downtime, we will install an emission measurement unit |
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Testing (1-5 days) | Operate the equipment as you normally do when you need to (test units will be checked during your break) |
Uninstall equipment on test unit (1-3 hours) | During your downtime, we will uninstall the emission unit |
Incentives
After testing | CARB will fill up the fuel & DEF tank on the test equipment (or provide incentives based on tank size & market price) |
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Incentives | Monetary incentive based on the type of support (please contact program directly for additional details)
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Liability | CARB will be responsible for your vehicle/equipment during the installation and uninstallation of the emission measurement unit(s) |
Regulatory References
California Exhaust Emissions Standards and Test Procedures for 2004 and Subsequent Model(s) Heavy-Duty Otto-Cycle Engines and Equipment: California Code of Regulations Title 13, Sections § 2111 – 2140, 1956.8