-12 Performance standard requirements (DOT-117P).

(a)Approval. Design, testing, and modeling results must be reviewed and approved by the Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety/Chief Safety Officer, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20590.#

(b)Approval to operate at 286,000 gross rail load (GRL). In addition to the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section, a tank car may be loaded to a gross weight on rail of up to 286,000 pounds (129,727 kg) upon approval by the Associate Administrator for Safety, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). See § 179.13.#

(c)Puncture resistance. (1) Minimum side impact speed: 12 mph when impacted at the longitudinal and vertical center of the shell by a rigid 12-inch by 12-inch indenter with a weight of 286,000 pounds.#

(2)Minimum head impact speed: 18 mph when impacted at the center of the head by a rigid 12-inch by 12-inch indenter with a weight of 286,000 pounds.#

(d)Thermal protection systems. The tank car must be equipped with a thermal protection system. The thermal protection system must be equivalent to the performance standard prescribed in § 179.18 and include a reclosing pressure relief device in accordance with § 173.31 of this subchapter.#

(e)Bottom outlet. If the tank car is equipped with a bottom outlet, the handle must be removed prior to train movement or be designed with protection safety system(s) to prevent unintended actuation during train accident scenarios.#

(f)Top fittings protection. The tank car tank must be equipped with top fittings protection conforming to AAR Specifications for Tank Cars, appendix E paragraph 10.2.1 (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter).#