# -8 Tank heads.

**Citation:** 49 CFR 179.200-8  
**Type / status:** regulation / current  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** 2026-08-18  
**Published:** Not stated

(a) All external tank heads must be an ellipsoid of revolution in which the major axis must equal the diameter of the shell and the minor axis must be one-half the major axis.

(b) Internal compartment tank heads may be 2:1 ellipsoidal, 3:1 ellipsoidal, or flanged and dished to thicknesses as specif

## Document text

(a) All external tank heads must be an ellipsoid of revolution in which the major axis must equal the diameter of the shell and the minor axis must be one-half the major axis.

(b) Internal compartment tank heads may be 2:1 ellipsoidal, 3:1 ellipsoidal, or flanged and dished to thicknesses as specified in § 179.200-6. Flanged and dished heads must have main inside radius not exceeding 10 feet, and inside knuckle radius must not be less than 3 3/4 inches for steel, alloy steel, or nickel tanks, and not less than 5 inches for aluminum alloy tanks.

[Amdt. 179-10, 36 FR 21350, Nov. 6, 1971]

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/on/2026-08-18/title-49/section-179.200-8>
- Source ID: `ecfr`
- SHA-256: `372ea9899d292dfdf883df8ceb012c89200f945402791683b9d6416c6bb8ff28`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T05:46:20.606Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T01:25:16.636Z
- Document slug: `49-cfr-179-200-8`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "cfrTitle": 49,
  "part": "179",
  "section": "179.200-8",
  "subpart": "Subpart D—Specifications for Non-Pressure Tank Car Tanks (Classes DOT-111AW, 115AW, and 117AW)",
  "corpusVersion": "2026-08-18",
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```