# Hydro-Test Products, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **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:** Not available
- **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>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
JUN 2 5 2012
Mr. Tom Sauta
Hydro-Test Products, Inc.
85 Hudson Road
Stow, MA 01775
Ref. No. 12-0087
Dear Mr. Sauta:
This responds to your April 4, 2012 request for clarification of the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). In your letter, you state that cylinder retesters
are confused in regard to the definition of a fire extinguisher under § 180.2090). This
section references Special Provision 18 in§ 172.102(c)(1). Special Provision 18 provides
certain conditions that a cylinder and extinguishing agent must meet for the combination to
be used as a fire extinguisher, but the special provision does not provide a charged pressure
limit for the cylinder. Specifically, you provide two scenarios involving slightly different
DOT 4B specification cylinders and ask if they would meet the criteria to be requalified as a
fire extinguisher under§ 180.209(j).
The scenarios that you provide are restated below:
Scenario 1. A cylinder marked with DOT4B500 filled with a dry chemical extinguishing
powder agent, Moo-Ammonium phosphate and pressurized with 350 psi of dry Nitrogen
with a dew point of minus 52°F or lower. The cylinder has a water capacity of 18 pounds.
The cylinder is used as part of a pre-engineered fixed fire extinguishing system. This is not
being used as a hand operated portable fire extinguisher.
Scenario 2. Same as Scenario 1, but with a water capacity of 10 pounds.
Based on the information in your letter and provided that the cylinders that you describe
comply with DOT 4B specification requirements, Special Provision 18, and other applicable
requirements under the HMR (e.g., as specified in§ 173.301(f) the cylinders must be fitted
with a pressure relief device system), they meet the criteria in § 180.209(j) to be requalified
as fire extinguishers. The cylinder with water capacity of 10 pounds must be requalified in
accordance with § 180.209(j)(l )(i), and, the cylinder with water capacity of 18 pounds must
be requalified in accordance with§ 180.209(j)(l)(ii).
I hope this answers your inquiry. If you need additional assistance, please call this office at
(202) 366-8853.
Sincerely,
T~a_/L:;--
Robert Benedict
Chief, Regulations Development Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Bo<::>+~e..
Page 1 ofl
April 4, 2012
Mr. Charles E. Betts
Director, Standards and Rulemaking Division
U.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-10)
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20590
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Re: Request for written interpretation
There is confusion in the cylinder retest industry about the definition of a fire extinguisher. § 180.209G)
Cylinder used as fire extinguisher, references back to Special Provision 18 in§ 172.102(c)(1), which does
gives a definition of what a fire extinguisher is but does not address any charged pressure limits.
Please provide an answer to the following question pertaining to the re-qualification of the following
cylinder specification;
Cylinder #1: DOT4B500 specification, filled with a dry chemical extinguishing powder agent, Man-
Ammonium phosphate and pressurized with 350 psi of dry Nitrogen with a dew point of -52°F or lower. The
cylinder has a water capacity of 18Lbs. The cylinder is used as part of a pre-engineered fixed fire
extinguishing system. This is not being used as a hand operated portable fire extinguisher.
Cylinder #2: Same as above but with a water capacity of 10 Lbs of water.
Questions is: Do these cylinders meet the criteria to be requalified as fire extinguishers under § 180.209(j) ?
Thank you for your immediate attention to this question and I look forward to your reply.
Best Regards,
.fo,., S111v !111
Tom Santa
Hydro-Test Products.Inc.
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H-vdro-Tesr Producrs Inc.
851! udmn .RtJad StfJuJ, Massachwetts 01775 USA
Tel: ll00-225-94881 J?IJ-897-4647 Fu: J713-897-1J42
UJflJNI.~ftl!rt. «1m
Email: sales@hydro-test.com Direct email: tom@hydro-test.com
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