{"operation":"document","citation":"13-0004","title":"Airgas SAFECOR — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2013-08-21","effective_on":null,"summary":"13-0004 response to Airgas SAFECOR concerning 180.209.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0004.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0004.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0004","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2013/130004.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nAUG 2 1 2013\nMr. John Anderson\nAirgas SAFECOR\nP.O. Box 20067\nCheyenne, WY 82003\nRef. No.: 13-0004\nDear Mr. Anderson:\nThis is in response to your December 20,2012 email and conversation with a member of my\nstaff concerning visual inspection requirements under the Hazardous Materials Regulations\n(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you cite a potential conflict between a letter\nthis office issued in 2011 (Ref. No 10-0077) and Compressed Gas Association Publication\nC-6 Standards for Visual Inspection of Compressed Gas Cylinders (CGA C-6). Cylinders\nthat conform to the requirements of§ 180.209(g) are exempt from the hydrostatic test by\nvirtue of their exclusive use in cetiain noncorrosive gas service. However, these cylinders\nmust be given a complete visual inspection in accordance with CGA C-6. In interpretation\n10-0077, we stated that no measurement of the tare weight is required for the external visual\ninspection. The letter went on to say that when the cylinder exhibits corrosion, the cylinder\nmust be fmiher examined for condemnation.\nThis guidance provided in 10-0077 is correct. If corrosion is identified during the external\nvisual inspection then the cylinder may be evaluated using the four general criteria in Section\n3.2.1.1 ofCGA C-6 to determine ifthe cylinder should be condemned. Section 3.2.1.1,\nparagraph ( 1 ), in part, states that the cylinder must be condemned when the tare weight is less\nthan 90% of the original stamped tare weight. Additionally. even if a cylinder satisfies the\ntare weight criteria of 3.2.1.1 paragraph 1, it must still be further examined by measuring the\nwall thickness in accordance with 3.2.1.1 paragraphs (2), (3) or ( 4) for the types of corrosion\nthat has been identified on the cylinder. However, if as a result of a visual inspection the\ncylinder does not exhibit corrosion and it meets the requirements for exclusive use in\n§ 180.209(g), the cylinder will meet the four general criteria in 3.2.1.1. Thus verification of\nthe tare weight is not necessary.\nI hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to\ncontact this office.\nDl?i -\nDelmer Billings ~\nSenior Regulatory Advisor\nStandards and Ru1emaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersev Avenue SE\nWashington. DC. 20590\nMr. Fred A. Nachman\nPresident\nThunderbird Cylinder\n4209 E. University Drive\nPhoenix, AZ 85034-7315\nRef. No.: 10-0077\nDear Mr. Nachman:\nThis responds to your letter requesting clarification of the requirements concerning the tare\nweight of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders under the Hazardous Materials Regulations\n(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).\nQ 1. Does a low pressure (LPG) cylinder being visually inspected need to have its\nvalve/PRD removed to verify there is no liquid inside it that would result in improper\ntare weight verification?\nAI. No. A cylinder conforming to §180.209 used exclusively in LPG service may be\ngiven an external visual inspection in lieu of a hydrostatic test. No measurement of\nthe tare weight is required for the external visual inspection. When the cylinder\nexhibits corrosion, the cylinder must be further examined for condemnation. The\ncylinder must be examined by measuring tare weight in accordance with CGA C-6,\n5.2.1.1 (1). The cylinder must be empty. The tare weight is measured with the valve/\nPRD connected. Cylinders exempt from tare weight measurement must be examined\nby measuring wall thickness in accordance with CGA C-6, 5.2.1.1 (2), (3), or (4).\nQ2. At the time of requalification, should the pressure relief device (PRD} be changed?\nA2. No. There is no regulatory requirement to change the PRD at the time of\nrequalification. Pressure relief devices must be tested for leaks before a filled cylinder\nis shipped in accordance with §173.301(a)(2) and (3).\nQ3. Should it even be an option to hydrostatically test or steam clean LPG cylinders when\nethyl mercaptan exposed to water/moisture is corrosive?\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nA3. Cylinders containing LPG in accordance with § 180.209(g) may be given an external\nvisual inspection in lieu of a hydrostatic pressure test. This would avoid adding\nmoisture to the cylinder. If steam cleaning is used, it is the responsibility of the filler\nto make sure the cylinder is dry before filling with a hazardous material, if moisture is\ndangerous to the cylinder(§ 173.301(d)).\nI hope this information is helpful. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us.\nSincerely,\n(/2~ c--~ /.~ J_ ------\n~<~o/~\nBen Supko\nChief, Standards Development Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nDrakeford, Carol\nFrom:\nSent:\nTo:\nCc:\nSubject:\nAttachments:\nFoster, Glenn (PHMSA)\nThursday, December 20, 2012 12:22 PM\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nBenedict, Robert (PHMSA); Betts, Charles (PHMSA); Billings, Delmer (PHMSA); Foster, Glenn\n(PHMSA); Kelley, Shane (PHMSA); Pfund, Duane (PHMSA); Supko, Ben (PHMSA)\nFW: Request for further clarification on Letter of Interpretation 10-0077\nLetter of Interpretation Tare Weight. pdf\nCarolyn,\nPlease process the attached as a request for letter of interpretation.\nThanks,\nGlenn\nFrom: John Anderson (SAFECOR) [mailto:John.Anderson.SAFECOR@Airgas.com]\nSent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 12:20 PM\nTo: Foster, Glenn (PHMSA)\nSubject: Request for further clarification on Letter of Interpretation 10-0077\nGood morning Mr. Foster\nRequest for further clarification on Letter of Interpretation 10-0077\nOn the attached Letter of Interpretation (1 0-0077) under answer A 1 it states \"No measurement of the tare weight is required\nfor the external visual inspection\". The Letter goes on to state that the cylinder must be examined by measuring tare\nweight in accordance with C-6.\nThe 1993 edition of CGA C-6 is the edition that is incorporated by reference and section 3.2.1.1 paragraph 1 states that the\ncylinder must be condemned when the original tare weight is less than 90% of the original stamped tare weight. It goes on\nto state that if the tare weight is less than 95% of the original stamped tare weight the cylinder can not be visually inspected\nit must be tested by water jacket or direct expansion.\nCan you please clarify this conflict between the Letter of Interpretation and what is stated in CGA C-6? that the tare weight measurement/accuracy is part of the cylinder requalification process\nC-6 clearly states\nThank you,\nJohn Anderson\nAirgas SAFECOR\nP.O. Box 20067\nCheyenne, WY 82003\nPhone 1-307-778-8809\nFax 1-307-778-7497\njohn. anderson@airgas. com\n1","truncated":false,"body_characters":6706}