# Riddick Engineering Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 03-0035
- **title:** Riddick Engineering Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2003-07-08
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 03-0035 response to Riddick Engineering Corporation concerning 178.347.
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- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-03-0035.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-03-0035
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2003/030035.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Research and
Special Programs
Administration
JUL
8 2003
Mr. Chris J. Teas, PE
Vice President
Ref. No. 03-0035
Riddick Engineering Corporation
4600 West Markham
Little Rock, AR 72205
Dear Mr. Teas:
This is in response to your letter dated February 11, 2003, and subsequent telephone conversation with
Sandra Webb of my staff, requesting clarification of requirements for construction and certification of
DOT 407 cargo tanks designed to be loaded by vacuum under the Hazardous Materials Regulations
(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171- 180). Specifically, you ask whether a cargo vacuum tank must be
designed and manufactured with full ASME certification as provided in § 178.347-1(c) or to the
provisions outlined in § 178.347-1(d). You also ask if, when manufacturing under the provision
§ 178.347-1(d), the manufacturer is required to be ASME certified as provided in § 107.503(b).
Section 178.347-1(c) provides specific requirements for designing and constructing DOT 407 cargo
tanks that are loaded by vacuum. Specifically it states, "Any cargo tank built to this specification with a
MAWP greater than 35 psig and each tank designed to be loaded by vacuum must be constructed and
certified in accordance with the ASME Code. The external design pressure for a cargo tank loaded by
vacuum must be at least 15 psig." Therefore, a cargo tank designed to be loaded by vacuum must be
constructed and certified in accordance with the ASME Code. Additionally, in accordance with
§ 178.345-1(d) a manufacturer of a cargo tank is required to hold a current ASME certificate of
authorization and must be registered with the Department in accordance with 49 CFR part 107 subpart
F. This requirement applies if a cargo tank is designed and constructed under §178.347-1(c) or
§ 178.347-1(d).
I hope this information is helpful. If we can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Wain Hany
Susan Gorsky
Senior Transportation Regulations Specialist
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
178,347
030035
060-4-2-40

<<<PAGE 2>>>

To: Edward Mazzullo
From: Chris J. Teas
2/11/2003 12:10:27 (Page 2 of 2)
Webb
RIDDICK ENGINEERING CORPORATION
4600 WEST MARKHAM
Consultants
LITTLE ROCK ARKANSAS 72205
8178.347-1@
FAX 501-374-3790
501-888-7300
CargoTank
03-0035
EDGAR K. RIDDICK IR, PE
1923-1937
FOUNDER
February I1, 2003
Mr. Edward Mazzullo
EDGAR K. RIDDICK 6, PE
PRESIDENT
Director, Office of HAZMAT Standards
USDOT/RSPA (DHM-10)
RIS J. TEAS. I
400 7" Street Southwest
CE PRESIDER
Washington DC, 20590-0001
Re: Formal interpretation request
Code Needing Interpretation: Title 49, SUBTITLE B, CHAPTER I, SUBCHAPTER C,
Part 178.347-1 (c)
Cargo Tank Description: Cargo tank to be designed and manufactured is as follows:
2.
1. Mobile vacuum tank. (SEE PICTURE BELOW)
3.
1500 gallon.
4.
Internal pressure < 15 psig.
Stainless steel.
6.
5.
Customer: US Government.
Used to clean up various hazardous spills.
Questions:
1. Does this cargo vacuum tank need to be designed and manufactured with full ASME
certification per 178.347-1(c) or by ASME with exceptions per 178.347-1(d)?
2. Regardless, we are designing this tank per ASME standards. However, if this tank
falls under (d), then does the manufacturer have to be ASME certified as listed in
107.503(b)?
Sincerely,
Chris J. Teas, PE
Mechanical
Electrical
Industrial Structural Power & Process Energy Analysis & Computer Modeling
Industrial Studios & Macterplanning
ENGINEERS
SCIENTIFIC CONSULTANTS
Co.generation
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