Vapor Recovery Program

The Office of the State Fire Marshal (SFM) Vapor Recovery Program was created in 1977 to assist the California Air Resource Board in maintaining minimum standards for the prevention of fire and/or explosion caused by unsafe vapor recovery systems or components which include, but are not limited to, gasoline nozzles, shear valves, breakaways couplings, vapor recovery pumps, flow limiters, pressure/vacuum relief valves, etc. SFM is the only agency responsible for determining whether any vapor recovery system or component poses a greater than normal fire hazard.

That determination is based on test reports from SFM accredited testing laboratories. The design, construction, and materials of a vapor recovery system or component are compared to the appropriate SFM recognized and adopted test standards. When it is determined that a device/system is in compliance, a certification is written and provided to both the manufacturer and the California Air Resources Board.