{"operation":"document","citation":"12-0087","title":"Hydro-Test Products, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2012-06-25","effective_on":null,"summary":"12-0087 response to Hydro-Test Products, Inc. concerning 173.301, 180.209.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0087.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0087.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0087","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2012/120087.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nJUN 2 5 2012\nMr. Tom Sauta\nHydro-Test Products, Inc.\n85 Hudson Road\nStow, MA 01775\nRef. No. 12-0087\nDear Mr. Sauta:\nThis responds to your April 4, 2012 request for clarification of the Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). In your letter, you state that cylinder retesters\nare confused in regard to the definition of a fire extinguisher under § 180.2090). This\nsection references Special Provision 18 in§ 172.102(c)(1). Special Provision 18 provides\ncertain conditions that a cylinder and extinguishing agent must meet for the combination to\nbe used as a fire extinguisher, but the special provision does not provide a charged pressure\nlimit for the cylinder. Specifically, you provide two scenarios involving slightly different\nDOT 4B specification cylinders and ask if they would meet the criteria to be requalified as a\nfire extinguisher under§ 180.209(j).\nThe scenarios that you provide are restated below:\nScenario 1. A cylinder marked with DOT4B500 filled with a dry chemical extinguishing\npowder agent, Moo-Ammonium phosphate and pressurized with 350 psi of dry Nitrogen\nwith a dew point of minus 52°F or lower. The cylinder has a water capacity of 18 pounds.\nThe cylinder is used as part of a pre-engineered fixed fire extinguishing system. This is not\nbeing used as a hand operated portable fire extinguisher.\nScenario 2. Same as Scenario 1, but with a water capacity of 10 pounds.\nBased on the information in your letter and provided that the cylinders that you describe\ncomply with DOT 4B specification requirements, Special Provision 18, and other applicable\nrequirements under the HMR (e.g., as specified in§ 173.301(f) the cylinders must be fitted\nwith a pressure relief device system), they meet the criteria in § 180.209(j) to be requalified\nas fire extinguishers. The cylinder with water capacity of 10 pounds must be requalified in\naccordance with § 180.209(j)(l )(i), and, the cylinder with water capacity of 18 pounds must\nbe requalified in accordance with§ 180.209(j)(l)(ii).\nI hope this answers your inquiry. If you need additional assistance, please call this office at\n(202) 366-8853.\nSincerely,\nT~a_/L:;--\nRobert Benedict\nChief, Regulations Development Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nBo<::>+~e..\nPage 1 ofl\nApril 4, 2012\nMr. Charles E. Betts\nDirector, Standards and Rulemaking Division\nU.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-10)\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd Floor\nWashington, DC 20590\n~ ~\n~ f7 2. 102 SP IS\n~l80· 20~ (j)\n§173·30'1\n1\n.. -ho~ (Jf a.-· ~-re fx+,A3l.fi5kr\n\\ 'L -OOS7\nRe: Request for written interpretation\nThere is confusion in the cylinder retest industry about the definition of a fire extinguisher. § 180.209G)\nCylinder used as fire extinguisher, references back to Special Provision 18 in§ 172.102(c)(1), which does\ngives a definition of what a fire extinguisher is but does not address any charged pressure limits.\nPlease provide an answer to the following question pertaining to the re-qualification of the following\ncylinder specification;\nCylinder #1: DOT4B500 specification, filled with a dry chemical extinguishing powder agent, Man-\nAmmonium phosphate and pressurized with 350 psi of dry Nitrogen with a dew point of -52°F or lower. The\ncylinder has a water capacity of 18Lbs. The cylinder is used as part of a pre-engineered fixed fire\nextinguishing system. This is not being used as a hand operated portable fire extinguisher.\nCylinder #2: Same as above but with a water capacity of 10 Lbs of water.\nQuestions is: Do these cylinders meet the criteria to be requalified as fire extinguishers under § 180.209(j) ?\nThank you for your immediate attention to this question and I look forward to your reply.\nBest Regards,\n.fo,., S111v !111\nTom Santa\nHydro-Test Products.Inc.\nIJ'IIIIJI)WflllfiRI; l!o,...,. .... n •••••\nH-vdro-Tesr Producrs Inc.\n851! udmn .RtJad StfJuJ, Massachwetts 01775 USA\nTel: ll00-225-94881 J?IJ-897-4647 Fu: J713-897-1J42\nUJflJNI.~ftl!rt. «1m\nEmail: sales@hydro-test.com Direct email: tom@hydro-test.com","truncated":false,"body_characters":4170}