# Williams Brothers Engineering Co. — Pipeline Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** PI-70-0101  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1970-06-30

PI-70-0101 response to Williams Brothers Engineering Co. concerning 195.124.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

PI-70-0101
June 30, 1970
Mr. C. C. McClure
Williams Brothers Engineering Co.
National Bank of Tulsa Building
Tulsa, Oklahoma 72103
Dear Mr. McClure:
This is in response to your letter of June 5, 1970, requesting interpretation of Section 195.124 dealing with the
design of closures.
The section in question states that the pressure rating of the closure must be at least equal to the pressure
rating of the pipe to which it is attached. Another way to state this would be that the pressure used in the
design of the closure, on which the pressure rating of the closure is based, must be at least equal to the design
pressure of the pipe to which it is attached.
In the examples set forth in your letter of June 5, 1970, the closure is rated at 1440 psig. If the design pressure
of the pipeline is 1400 psig, then both your example b end c, would meet the intent of the regulations, since in
both examples, the design pressure of the pipe is 1400 psig and the closure rating is “at least equal" to this
pressure.
Please contact me if I can be of any further assistance in this matter.
Sincerely,
Signed
Frank E. Fulton
Chief, Technical Division
Office of Pipeline Safety

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Williams Brothers Engineering Co.
National Bank of Tulsa Building
Tulsa, Oklahoma 72103
June 5, 1970
U. S. Department of Transportation
Hazardous Materials Regulation Board
400 6th Street N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20590
Re: Title 49, Part 195, Subpart C, Subsection 195.126
Gentlemen:
We have two hazardous liquid pipelines in the design stage. The referenced subsection of the regulation
states:
"Each closure ------- , and must have pressure and temperature ratings at least equal to those of the
pipe to which the closure is attached.” We are unsure of the basis of equality. The following examples explain
the different bases of equality:
a. Maximum operating pressure of the pipeline -1400 psig
Closure rating at 100°
F in accordance with
ASME Code, Section VIII, 1968 -1440 psig
14-Inch 0.D., .500" WT API 5LX-X52,
electric resistance welded pie using a
50 percent design factor, 100 F -1857psig
(This thickness will comply with ANSI Steel
Pipe Design Formula)
b. Maximum operating pressure of the pipeline -1400 psig
Closure rating at 100°F in accordance with
ASME Code, Section Viii, 1968 -1440 psig
14-inch O.D., .6719” WT, API 5LX-X52
Electric resistance welded pipe -1400 psig
(This thickness is in accordance with ASME
Code, Section VIII, 1968 using the following values:
P = 1400 psig
R = 6.3821 inches
S = 66,000 x 1/4 = 16,500 psi
E = . 85)
c. Maximum operating pressure of pipeline - 1400 psig
Closure rating at 100°F in accordance with
ASME Code, Section VIII, 1968 - 1440 psig
14-Inch O.D. , . 3769" WT, Electric
resistance welded pipe - 1400 psig

<<<PAGE 3>>>

(This is the minimum pipe wall thickness
allowed by the ANSI Code for Type C
construction. )
Please advise us as soon as possible which of these conditions meet the intent of the regulation.
Your cooperation is appreciated.
Very truly yours,
WILLIAMS BROTHERS ENGINEERING COMPANY
C.C. McClure
Senior Engineer

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1970/g70-06-30_McClure_195.124-DBx.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `0eadeb2f9a239dd6083f9c8aba004dcc2b81589dd5feb41b793e666ea4744bb4`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T15:27:50.121Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-pi-70-0101`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "materialSubtype": "interpretation",
  "interpretationArea": "pipeline_safety",
  "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf",
  "companies": [
    "Williams Brothers Engineering Co."
  ],
  "individuals": [
    "Mr. C.C. McClure"
  ],
  "refIds": [
    "PI-70-0101"
  ],
  "catalogDates": [
    "1970-06-30"
  ],
  "catalogParts": [
    195
  ],
  "catalogRowCount": 1,
  "sourceRecordUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/55096"
  ],
  "linkedAttachmentUrls": [],
  "unavailableResponseUrls": [],
  "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [],
  "citedSections": [
    "195.124",
    "195.126"
  ],
  "catalogPageUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/195124"
  ],
  "pdfUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1970/g70-06-30_McClure_195.124-DBx.pdf"
  ],
  "representations": [
    {
      "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1970/g70-06-30_McClure_195.124-DBx.pdf",
      "detailUrl": null,
      "detailHtmlPath": null,
      "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1970/g70-06-30_McClure_195.124-DBx.pdf",
      "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/pi-70-0101.pdf",
      "pdfArtifactSha256": "9dd7370641f73560025ebd4ec2ee7739911ac431b72e6c4b9cd7c28b3410e2bc",
      "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/pi-70-0101.v2.txt",
      "extractedTextSha256": "81c320552bdceea9899d750388f343405af8f32891cd864f92ca707749e6b4e7",
      "pageCount": 3,
      "extractionVersion": 2
    }
  ],
  "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.",
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```