WHAT IS PRODUCT TESTING
Petroleum products must conform to South African National Standards (SANS) specifications as part of the Petroleum Products Act. This means that the product must meet the measurement of quality for optimal output of engines and best performance of equipment. Substandard products will ultimately have a dire effect to the end user’s machine/ engine resulting in failure, breakdowns and ultimately damage to equipment. Product testing is a process that aspire to keep an industry standard and eliminate poor quality fuel products as well as detecting illegal mixing of product.
This process can detect the purity of the diesel product and assess whether the product had been tampered with. These products are tested to ensure they meet industry standards and to prevent the unethical practices within the industry.
IMPORTANCE OF PRODUCT TESTING
Testing is a process that detect if the product has been subject to mixing (fuel adulteration) or if has been adulterated. The importance of doing product testing is to prevent unethical business practices, failures, breakdowns and even tax evasion that comes with diluting the petroleum product.
WHO DOES PRODUCT TESTING ?
Accredited laboratories that conduct product testing of diesel and petrol and hold SANAS approved accreditation that indicates they have the relevant skills, experience, and qualifications to perform product tests. Organisations such as Mobi Lab(PTY) Ltd specialise in these specific testing of Diesel and Petrol. Customers should first determine competence of the testing laboratory prior to their use. This ensures the proper legal channels are utilized if product quality disputes need resolution.
INSTRUMENTS USED FOR PRODUCT TESTING
There are various instruments that are used to check the different properties of diesel and petrol, these instruments include
- Sulphur Analyser,
- Density Meter,
- Distillation Unit,
- Viscosity instrument,
- Flash point instrument
- Water instrument and
- Haze rating instrument, which is used to check the brightness and clarity of the diesel fuel.
Standard tests can also be done. The standard test require diesel to meet the standard of SANS 342 which is the standard set by South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). This process includes testing and sharing of the results with the relevant customer or requestor. A product quality test report that complies to the requirements of ISO17025 for testing laboratories, approved by the South African National Accredited System (SANAS), is issued for each fuel sample tested.
To prevent fuel fraud, a program “fuel-marking” is in place that is managed by SARS, using advanced technology. Molecular markers and sophisticated management systems that result in timely, actionable intelligence within the program. The design and implementation of the fuel marking system includes various stages of testing, along with an analysis report. This system allows for intelligent monitoring of these specific situations in the industry.
THE LAW ON PRODUCT TESTING
The South African government denounces such unethical business practices of mixing diesel and petrol, and it remains an illegal act.
CONTACT MOBI LAB
First Accredited Commercial Fuel Testing Laboratory in Gauteng, Mobi Lab (PTY) Ltd
Address: 134 Side Road, West Turffontein, Jhb South
Contact: Rajen Perumal, Director.
Tel : 0828990601/011 4320680
