# Trinity Industries, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 06-0020
- **title:** Trinity Industries, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2007-08-20
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 06-0020 response to Trinity Industries, Inc. concerning 180.407.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-06-0020.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-06-0020.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-06-0020
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2006/060020.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

of Transportation
U.S. Department
AUG 29 2007
Washington, D.C. 20590
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
peline an
Administration
azardous Materials Safe
Mr. Greg McRae
Ref. No. 06-0020
Engineering and
Technical Director
Trinity Industries,
Inc.
P.O. Box 56887
2525 Stemmons Freeway
Dallas,
TX 75356
Dear Mr. McRae:
This responds to your letter regarding the repair of MC 331
cargo tanks under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR;
49 CFR Parts 171-180). I apologize for the delay in
responding and for any inconvenience it may have caused.
Specifically, you inquire whether a dye penetrant
examination is an acceptable alternative to a radiographed
examination.
Your questions are paraphrased and answered
below.
Q1. Is a dye penetrant (liquid penetrant, PT) examination
of a welded joint containing a backing bar in the shell or
alternative to Radiographic (RT) examination of a full
hemispherical head of an MC 331 cargo tank an acceptable
penetration weld?
A1.
NO.
The basis for this determination is the original
construction requirements for an MC 331 cargo tank under
construction and certification of an MC 331 cargo tank be
$ 178.337-1.
This section mandates that the design,
in accordance with the ASME Code which in turn requires
Section VIII, Div 1,
radiographic examination of this type of weld. See ASME
Part UW-11; UW-12: Table UW-12.
Further, because this action is considered a repair, the
requirements for such a repair are mandated by
§ 180.413 and the National Board Inspection Code (NBIC) .
performed in accordance with the original code of
See NBIC RC 1090 and RD 2060. NBIC requires welding to be
received
construction, that is, if the original pressure vessel
an RT examination, the repaired pressure vessel
would also need an RT examination. Any deviation from this
180.407
060020

<<<PAGE 2>>>

requirement would be subject to the approval of the
which allows for welding methods as alternatives to post-
Inspector. Additional guidance is provided in RD 1020,
weld heat treatment.
In addition, this guidance specifies
that if it is not practical to RT the weld, a successful
(defect free) PT examination must be conducted and the
maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) of the pressure
vessel must be re-evaluated by the jurisdiction.
Q2. If a repaired MC 331 cargo tank was fully radiographed
when originally constructed and the repair weld is not
based on lower joint efficiency?
radiographed, should the MAWP of the cargo tank be reduced
A2.
parties involved.
Yes, provided prior agreement is obtained from all
See reasoning in Al above.
we cam be of further assistance.
I trust this satisfies your inquiry.
Please contact us if
Sincere
Hattie L. Mitchell
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Chief,
Regulatory Review and Reinvention
180.407

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Stevens
§ 180.407
Cargo Tank
TRINITY INDUSTRIES, INC.
06 - 0020
January 26th
, 2006
Research and Special Programs Administrator
Office of Hazardous Material Safety
Attn: DHM-10,
400 7th Street SW
U.S. Department of Transportation
Washington, DC 20509-0001
Re: Title 49 CFR, Part 180. 407
Request for Interpretation
When making internal repairs to an MC-331 Cargo Tank constructed without a
Background:
opening, in either, the shell or hemispherical head. After internal repairs are
manway, the process for making such repairs involves cutting an access
completed a backing bar is welded to the inside the cargo tank and the access
opening plate welded in place, followed by dye penetrant examination of the
weld.
Question 1:
Is Dye Penetrant examination of the weld surface an acceptable alternative for
Radiographic examination inspection of a full penetration weld?
If, in the original cargo tank design and construction, the cargo tank is fully
Question 2:
radiographed and stamped in accordance with ASME code requirements, should
a non radiographed repair weld cause the MAWP to be reduced accordingly for a
cargo tank with a lower joint efficiency.
Respectively,
Greg McRae
Engineering and Technical Director
Trinity Industries Inc.
2525 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas Tx. 75356
P.O. Box 568887 75356-8887
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