{"operation":"document","citation":"01-0305","title":"Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2001-05-10","effective_on":null,"summary":"01-0305 response to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration concerning 180.407.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0305.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0305.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-01-0305","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2001/010305.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nMemorandum\nof Transportation\nU.S. Department\nResearch and\nSpecial Programs\nAdministration\nDate:\nMAY 1 0 2001\nReply to Attn. of:\nGorsky, x69532\nSubject:\nPressure Testing of Cargo Tanks\nFrom:\nThomas G. Allan\nSenior Transportation Regulations Specialist\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\nTo: William A. Quade\nChief of Hazardous Materials Division\nFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration\nThis responds to your request for an interpretation, by e-mail dated May 2, 2001, related to\npressure testing MC 306 and DOT 406 specification cargo tanks under the Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask whether a manhole cover must\nbe removed and replaced with a blank flange for the pressure test.\nYour e-mail describes a manhole that includes a fill opening and pressure relief vent as one\npiece. Apparently, some manhole manufacturers are advising cargo tank operators to remove the\nmanhole/fill opening/pressure relief vent component and replace it with a blank flange for the\ncargo tank's pressure test.\nSection 180.407(g) requires all components of a cargo tank wall to be pressure tested. The cargo\ntank wall includes those parts of the cargo tank that make up the primary lading retention\nstructure, including shell, bulkheads, and fittings, which, when closed during transportation, yield\nthe minimum volume of the cargo tank assembly (see § 178.320(a)). A manhole cover is part of\nthe cargo tank wall. Under the pressure test procedure outlined in § 180.407(g), the manhole/fill\nopening/pressure relief component should be removed from the cargo tank so that the pressure\nrelief vent can be bench tested (see § 180.407(g)(1)(ii)(A)). Since § 180.407(g)(1)(vii) requires\nthe pressure test of the cargo tank to be conducted with all closures (except pressure relief\ndevices) in place, the manhole/fill opening/pressure relief component should then be reinstalled\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n•\n2\nand the pressure relief device disabled for the pressure test. You are correct that removing the\nmanhole/fill opening/pressure relief component and replacing it with a blank flange for the\npressure test is not consistent with the pressure test procedure in\n§ 180.407(g).\nI hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact\nthis office.\n#\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nif\n=.\nGorsky\n$180.407\nGorsky, Susan\nCargo Tanks Testing\nFrom:\nSent:\nShelton, Daniel <FHWA> [Daniel.Shelton@fhwa.dot.gov]\nTo:\nWednesday, May 02, 2001 3:40 PM\n01-0109\nSubject:\nCc:\nGorsky, Susan <RSPA>\nPressure Testing of Cargo Tanks\nQuade, William <FHWA>\nSusan, thanks for taking the time to discuss our issue concerning pressure\nMC 306 and DOT 406 cargo tanks insist the manhole cover must be removed from\ntesting of cargo tanks.\nThe issue is this:\nsome manufactures of manholes for\nthe cargo tank and a blank flange placed on the manhole opening to perform the\nHOW WE THINK IT SHOULD BE\nfacility to remove the manhole cover and the fill opening as one piece, the\nwe believe a more logical approach would be to require the test and inspection\nthen place the manhole cover and the fill opening back on the tank, make the\nfill opening being part of the pressure relief vent, and bench test the vent,\nfill opening vent inoperative and pressure test the cargo tank wall, including\nthe manhole cover, which is part of the cargo tank wall.\nThis will comply with 180.407 (g) which requires all components of the cargo\ntank wall to be pressure tested.\nWHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON\nWhat is happening is this: CT facilities are being instructed to remove the\nmanole and Illl opening, bench test the vent, place a blank flange over the\nnannole opening, pressure test the tank, place the manhole cover back on the\nank and then leak test the tank to verify the seal where the manhole attaches\nThis approach does not comply with 180.407 (g) because not all components of •\nthe cargo tank wall are being pressure tested.\nPlease send us a clarification concerning the correct process and procedures\nto following to perform this pressure test.\ntks.\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\n.05/07/01\n06:21\n*\nFAX 19078954827\nDELTA FUELS SHOP\n001\nof transportation\nUS. Department\n* Sawmith Strate, S.\nSpecial Prograntu\nResearch and\nastangion. D.C. 205\nAdministration\nNOV 2 3 1994\nMr. J.J. Fulnecky\nRegional Director\n18209 Dixie Highway\nOffice of Motor Carrier\nHomewood, IL 60430-2294\nDear Mr. Fulnecky:\nan MC 306 cargo tank motor vehicle.\n•\nmanhole aasembly, containing a 10-inch prensure actuated fill cover\nteat as prescribed in § 180,407(g).\n(PAF ox PAV), must be installed on a cargo tank during the pressure\nThe answer is yea. A manhole asgembly, which includes the done\ncover,\n$ 180.407 (g) (1) (vIL) .\nmust remain inatalled on the cargo\nHowever, if rated at less than test\ntank an required by\nPressUre, the PAR OI PAY may be renoved and the area plugged, or\nenclose.\nthe PAF oI PAV may be clamped down to make it inoperative.\nSee\nI hope this anawer is helpful.\nSincerely,\n-\ntotte 2. Michell\nHattie I. Mitchel1, Chief\noffice of Hazardous Materiale Standards\nExemptions and Regulations Termination\nEnclosure\n7586°\n• Ap Lof 1.\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\n- 05/07/01\n08:24\nFAX 19078954827\nDELTA FUELS SHOP\n0101\n•\n..:\nCargo Tank Motor Vebicles\nPredanze Rotast of HC-306\nMarch 25, 1994\nI. J. Pulzacky, Regional Director\nOffico of Motor Carriers\n....ИС-05\nHomewood, I111n018\nAlan I, Roberta\nwashington, I.C.\nAubociate Adminiatrator\nIOr InIardOLe Haterlala safaty\nAtt: Edward Maxzullo, Diractor (DHM-10)\nrepalt, inspection, and toutiag facilities end hava uncovared\nno are curtently perforning complianco ravians of caryo tant\npragcribad in $180,407 (g).\nsome procadural ditterances in the conduat of prossuro tosts an\nof major DOT cargo tank repair facilities la zorthexatern\nwe have tro open complianca reviors\nIllizois with corrective action peading until no rocolve an ..\nanswer to the following prodadural innua.\nNational Tank Truck Carrior have both published procedurai\nThe Quality Management Inatituto (OMI), Milwauken, WI and the\ninstalled or renovad during the conduct of the prosaura tent if\nguidelines vhich differ in whether the ranbole anurably 1s\nasaembly containing • 10 inch prensure actuated ILlI coVaX (PAT\nMC-306 cargo tank notor vehicles oquipped with & 16 inch manhole\n∞* PAV) .\nConsidering $180.407 (g) (2) (vil) must the manhole ansembly (doma\nthe cargo tank during the conduct of the pressure test prescribed.\ncovet), «= shown in the attached illustration, be installed on\nin 5180,407 (g) ?\nthe manhole assembly (dome covet) resaiis installed on the cargo\nThe pressure actuated fill cover can be removad or dinabled 1f\ntank.\nICCLOBIng ProBIUIe Idliat device (PAY DeclInin is to remove tha\nOne procedule for removing for inspection and testing the\nmanhola assembly from the weld collar and install It on e\nPAV ореДЯ.\nPressue chambot; PIeSSUriTE up the pronauro chamber vatil the\nfor completion of the pressuro tent.\nThe manhole may then be reinstalled on the cargo tant\nThe companios that are zenoving the entite manhole aasonbly,\nmanhoin, aver that the \"dome cover\" portion of the ranhola\nattaching a 16 inch stool plate adaptor with fittings to the\nannembly in the bottom halE (oI nast) of the pIeGmura I01101\nsystem and therefore can be renovad un atated in 1180. 407(9) (2) (VI1).\n7586\n1.iz\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\n-05/07/01\n06:24\nFAX 19078954827\nDELTA FUELS SHOP\n0102\nRoling, Region 5 Office of Motor CarrigIn, and Tom Moony, Vice\nIs a telephona convergation on March 24, 1994 between Greg\nNoozy statud that the dome cover is not considered by Betts\nPiesident of Salos, Betto Induatries, Warren, Pennaylvania, MI.\n• *\ndevice but is considered to be the manhole assembly conplying\nIndustries an being « part of the recloning PIMARUre relief\nwith $178.345-5. The reclosing prensure relief device is the 10%\nfill cover only.\nthis týpe of manhole assembly.\nBetta Industries in a major manufactures of\n•\nKatzung, President, Quality Hanagement Institute, on Harch 23,:\nID a telephone conversation between Ging Roling and Ni. Richazd\n1994 Mr. Katzung stated that an errate shoot bad been published\nchanging the recoumended nethod of performing the pressure test\nin darly 1993 and sent to all owners of the QI procodural minual\ncompaniea revieved did not follow thia recoumanãnd procedural\nto include the installed manhole augembly. It anems that the\nchange.\nfacility in\nAdditionally, wa know of a third large sopait and Inspection\nDI OVAI 1500 MC-306 cargo tank notor vohiclen 1n the lant two\nsouthern Illinois that has portorned pressure testo\nyeare with the ranhole manenbly Inmovad from the tank.\nappreciated.\nYour dumadiate attention to thin mattor VIll be greatly\nFor further quentions pluana contact Grog Rollng, (708)206~\n3178/3175.\nAttachments\nRonald Arbby, Chief (EFO-20)\nJames I, O'Steen, Direatoz (DHK-20)\nDick Singer, HFO-20\n1586\nGip 2012","truncated":false,"body_characters":8845}