# Linde Gas North America LLC — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 13-0092
- **title:** Linde Gas North America LLC — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2013-07-01
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 13-0092 response to Linde Gas North America LLC concerning 180.209.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0092.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0092.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0092
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2013/130092.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20590
JUL 0 1 2013
Mr. Guy Dalton
Head of Transport Compliance/Safety
Linde Gas North America LLC
13 0 Briar Hill
Painesville, OH 44077
Ref. No.: 13-0092
Dear Mr. Dalton
This is in response to your April 23, 2013 letter requesting clarification of the requirements
for filling DOT 3A and 3AA specification cylinders under the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR; 49 CPR Parts 171-180). Specifically you asked if "Deuterium,
compressed, UN1957" may be considered as the same as "Hydrogen, compressed, UN1 049"
for the purposes of determining the requalification period in accordance with § 180.209 or
the eligibility to fill cylinders to 110% of the marked service pressure.
DOT 3A or 3AA cylinders with a water capacity of 56.7 kg (125 lbs) or less used
exclusively for the gas service specified in§ 180.209(b)(l) may be requalified every ten
years instead of every five years provided certain requirements are met. While
§ 180.209(b )(1) specifies hydrogen as a permitted gas service, deuterium is not specified.
Therefore cylinders used for deuterium must be requalified every five years.
In your letter, you stated that your company is a party to Special Permit 6530, which allows
the filling of3A, 3AA, 3AX and 3AAX cylinders with hydrogen and mixtures ofhydrogen
with helium or nitrogen to 110 % of the cylinder's marked service pressure. The special
permit authorizes the transport of hydrogen and mixtures of hydrogen. Deuterium and
mixtures of deuterium are not authorized by the special permit.
I hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to
contact this office.
Senior Regulatory Advisor
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 2>>>

April23, 2013
130 Briar Hill
Painesville, Ohio 44077
440-354-5614
440-579-0203
guy .dalton@linde.com
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Attn: PHH-1 0
U.S. Department of Transportation, East Building
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Request for Interpretation
Dear Sir or Madame,
Linde Gas North America LLC (Linde) is requesting interpretation and guidance regarding the use DOT 3A and 3AA
for the transport of Deuterium.
Background
Deuterium is an isotope of Hydrogen and is filled into 3A and 3AA cylinders with less than 125lb water capacity as
permitted by 49CFR173 .301
49CFR180.209(b)(l) permits the requalification of such cylinders for a period often years ifthe requirements of
180.209(b )(1 )(ii) are met. This subparagraph allows the filling of hydrogen into such cylinders tested at ten year
intervals.
DOT-SP6530, to which Linde Gas North America LLC holds party status allows filling of3A, 3AA, and 3AAX
cylinders to 11 0% of the cylinder's rated service pressure and excepts the need to comply with 173 .302a(b) if all
provisions of the Special Permit are met..
Question 1
Is Deuterium, an isotope of Hydrogen, to be considered as hydrogen for purposes of determining allowed retest intervals
of 3A and 3AA cylinders as authorized in 180.209(b )(1 )(ii).
Question 2
For filling of3A, 3AA and 3AAX cylinders at pressures of 110% of the cylinder rated service pressure as allowed by
DOT-SP5630, is Deuterium to be considered as Hydrogen. Can deuterium be filled to 110% of rated service pressure
into the mentioned cylinders?
Linde Gas North America LLC

<<<PAGE 3>>>

A written response at your earliest convenience is appreciated.
Sincerely
Guy Dalton
Head of Transport Compliance/Safety
Linde Gas North America LLC
440-251-0303
guy.dalton@linde.com
Linde Gas North America LLC
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