{"operation":"document","citation":"13-0133","title":"Tytal — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2013-10-22","effective_on":null,"summary":"13-0133 response to Tytal concerning 178.345.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0133.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0133.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-13-0133","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2013/130133.pdf","body":"<<>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nOCT 2 2 2013\nIng. Fernando Garza\nDireccion Tecnica\nTytal\nCadereyta Jimenez, N.L.\nMexico\nRef. No. 13-0133\nDear Mr. Garza:\nThis is in response to your letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (HMR; 49 CFR 171-180) applicable to DOT 407 cargo tank design criteria.\nSpecifically, you ask whether your ring stiffener design meets the circumferential\nreinforcement regulations prescribed in 49 CFR 178.345-7( d). The pictures you provide of\nyour design show a 1.5 inch gap in the ring stiffeners at the six o'clock position that will be\nused for drainage.\nThe answer to your question is no. As provided by the introductory text in§ 178.345-7(d),\nwhen a ring stiffener is also used as a circumferential reinforcement member, whether internal\nor external, reinforcement must be continuous around the circumference of the cargo tank\nshell.\nI trust this information is helpful. Please contact us if you require further assistance.\nSincerely,\nT. Glenn Foster\nChief Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<>>\n\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nFrom:\nSent:\nTo:\nSubject:\nAttachments: Supko, Ben (PHMSA)\n13-0133\nMonday, June 24, 2013 7:01AM\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nFW: Ring Stiffener confirmation\nensamblaje para omega S.easm; TYTAL Ring stiffeners presentation for DOT# 2.pptx\nCarolyn,\nPlease log as an interp.\nThank you,\nBen\nFrom: Staniszewski, Stanley (PHMSA)\nSent: Friday, June 21, 2013 1:10PM\nTo: Supko, Ben (PHMSA)\nCc: Bomgardner, Paul (FMCSA); Hardridge, John (FMCSA); Rach, Suzanne (FMCSA); Leblanc, Carole (PHMSA); Majors,\nLeonard (PHMSA); Toughiry, Mark (PHMSA)\nSubject: FW: Ring Stiffener confirmation\nBen:\nCan you start the formal lnterp Process on this/Thanks\nPaul/John/Suzanne- can you do a little digging to see if there are any pending enforcement issues here ?\nMiguel stated that he isn't aware of any and that the company most likely has only been issued warnings of possible non-\ncompliance ..\nWe may want to meet on this sooner than later.\nAnother candidate issue for the CT TAG.\nThanks folks.\nStan\nPHMSA\nEngineering, PHH-22\n202-366-0453\nFrom: Martinez, Miguel (FMCSA)\nSent: Friday, June 21, 2013 12:43 PM\nTo: Staniszewski, Stanley (PHMSA)\nSubject: FW: Ring Stiffener confirmation\nBorder Inspector Supervisor\n1\n\n<<>>\n\n(956) 466-1835\nFrom: Ing. Fernando Garza [mailto:fernando.garza@tytal.com.mxl\nSent: Thursday, June 20, 2013 6:37 PM\nTo: Prado, Arturo (FMCSA); luis.arrasco@tytal.com.mx; Martinez, Miguel (FMCSA); Altamirano, Jimmy (FMCSA); Rach,\nSuzanne (FMCSA); Williams, Tod (FMCSA)\nCc: paris delangel@yahoo.com.mx; pablosea@hotmail.com; cothernstankerinspec@yahoo.com; llealtx@yahoo.com;\nluislauro@lmtransportaciones.com; rag@gruporalanis.com; 'Sergio martinez'; 'Enrique Proa'; Gerino Ramirez\nSubject: RE: Ring Stiffener confirmation\nGentleman's:\nFirst of all allow me an apologize for delayed answer, but I've been out of my office most of the time.\nIn order to give you an explanation again over our point of view in the paragraph 178.345-7d where he mention on it \"\nwhen a ring stiffener are used as a circumferential reinforcement member, whether internal or external, reinforcement\nmust be continuous around the circumference of the cargo tank shell and must be in accordance with the following:\"\nAs we can see our ring stiffener is completely around to the shell and welded on it.\nIf you can see in the presentation the drawing 3D & pictures that I sent before, and now I am including another pictures as\nwell as another view of the section of ring stiffener where we can appreciate that the ring, the support (horn) and the\ntransversal reinforcement all together made a complete ring stiffener and welded to the shell (see ASME code section UG-\n29 and 30 for a vacuums service). Additional! am sending a presentation in eDrawing (you can toad from internet the\nsoftware to see this presentation) where you can move and see with more clarity all the parts with their welds. Since the\nrule does not specify what should be in one piece, just \"must be continuous around the circumference\" we believe that\nwe meet with all requirements of the rules.\nIn the other hand you mentioned that we must request \"if a formal interpretation is required\" please let me know to\nwhom I should ask for it or call by phone.\nand Mr. Prado please could you pass a copy of this email to Mr.Staniszewski I will appreciate a lot.\nTruly yours.\nDe: arturo.prado@dot.gov [mailto:arturo.prado@dot.gov]\nEnviado el: miercoles, 19 de junio de 2013 10:39 a.m.\nPara: luis.arrasco@tytal.com.mx; fernando.garza@tytal.com.mx; miguel.martinez@dot.gov; jimmy.altamirano@dot.gov;\nSuzanne.Rach@dot.gov; tod.williams@dot.gov\nCC: paris delangel@yahoo.com.mx; pablosea@hotmail.com; cothernstankerinspec@yahoo.com; llealtx@yahoo.com;\nluislauro@lmtransportaciones.com; rag@gruporalanis.com\nAsunto: Ring Stiffener confirmation\nCaballeros,\nAclaraci6n del lngeniero de PHMSA Staniszewski, Stanley, en referencia de los anillos de refuerzos y\npiden que si el fabricante necesita una interpretacion de Ia anomalia existente.\nSi estan usando el los anillos de refuerzo como un elemento de refuerzo circunferencial (178.345 (7)\n(d) los efectos estructurales del tanque que tiene que cumplir Ia parte general del parrafo, que dice\nque los anillos deben ser continuos. Si el anillo tiene una brecha o una abertura de 1.5 pulgadas\nentonces el refuerzo no cumple con los criterios iniciales.\n2\n\n<<>>\n\nFrom: Rach, Suzanne (FMCSA)\nSent: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 1:43 PM\nTo: Staniszewski, Stanley (PHMSA); Supko, Ben (PHMSA)\nCc: Bomgardner, Paul (FMCSA); Majors, Leonard (PHMSA); Williams, Tod (FMCSA); Roberts, Michael (PHMSA); Williams,\nTod (FMCSA); Prado, Arturo (FMCSA); Martinez, Miguel (FMCSA); Altamirano, Jimmy (FMCSA)\nSubject: RE: Ring Stiffener confirmation\nThanks, I will forward that to the field and let them inform the manufacturer. I'll let everyone know if a formal interp is\nrequired. Again, thanks everyone.\nFrom: Staniszewski, Stanley (PHMSA)\nSent: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 2:12 PM\nTo: Rach, Suzanne (FMCSA); Supko, Ben (PHMSA)\nCc: Bomgardner, Paul (FMCSA); Majors, Leonard (PHMSA)\nSubject: RE: Ring Stiffener confirmation\nThat's the way I read what the regs say.\nFrom: Rach, Suzanne (FMCSA)\nSent: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 2:04 PM\nTo: Staniszewski, Stanley (PHMSA); Supko, Ben (PHMSA)\nCc: Bomgardner, Paul (FMCSA); Majors, Leonard (PHMSA)\nSubject: RE: Ring Stiffener confirmation\nThen the ring stiffeners used as circumferential reinforcement needs to be continuous, but not continuously welded.\nFrom: Staniszewski, Stanley (PHMSA)\nSent: Tuesday, June 18, 2013 1:59 PM\nTo: Supko, Ben (PHMSA); Rach, Suzanne (FMCSA)\nCc: Bomgardner, Paul (FMCSA); Staniszewski, Stanley (PHMSA); Majors, Leonard (PHMSA)\nSubject: RE: Ring Stiffener confirmation\nImportance: High\nSorry for the delayed response but a lot of other issues are taking precedence.\nI'm not sure I've got the whole picture here on what is being asked\nBens response appears OK for addressing \"venting & drainage\" (for the welds & stiffener); however, If you are using the\nring stiffener as a circumferential reinforcement member (178.345-7(d) for structural purposes for the tank you have to\nmeet the general part of the paragraph, which says it must be continuous. If you have a 1.5 inch gap of the stiffener you\ndon't meet the initial criteria.\nThe subparagraphs are saying that the welds don't have to be continuous as long as you meet the criteria so stated for the\nwelds.\nStan\nStanley (Stan) Staniszewski Jr.\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nPipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nEast Bldg, PHH-22 Engineering\n1200 New Jersey Ave., SE\nWashington, DC 20590\n3\n\n<<>>\n\n202-366-0453\nHave a complaint or question? Check our Web site at: http:ljwww.phmsa.dot.gov/phmsa-\next/feedback/hazmatComplaintsRegsViolationsForm.jsp or call the Hazardous Materials Information Center at: 1-800-\n467-4922\nThe information contained in this message, and any attachments thereto, is for information purposes only and may contain the personal views and opinions of the\nauthor, which are not necessarily the views and opinions of the U. S. Department of Transportation, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.\nFrom: Williams, Tod (FMCSA)\nSent: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 2:35 PM\nTo: Supko, Ben (PHMSA); Rach, Suzanne (FMCSA); Staniszewski, Stanley (PHMSA)\nCc: Bomgardner, Paul (FMCSA)\nSubject: RE: Ring Stiffener confirmation\nThis is great news; I'm sure the manufacturer will be happy.\nThanks everyone!\nTod Williams, HMPS\nUSDOT/FMCSA\n903 San Jacinto Blvd., Suite 101\nAustin, TX 78701\n(512)653-4357\nFax: (915) 757-6379\nFrom: Supko, Ben (PHMSA)\nSent: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 11:50 AM\nTo: Rach, Suzanne (FMCSA); Staniszewski, Stanley (PHMSA)\nCc: Bomgardner, Paul (FMCSA); Williams, Tod (FMCSA)\nSubject: RE: Ring Stiffener confirmation\nSusanne,\nI agree with you, the manufacturer appears to be correct. The regulations allow for venting and drainage facilities in the\nenclosed air space of a ring stiffener (see 178.347-7(d)(4)). The HMR do not explicitly dictate the location of vented drains\nin a ring stiffener.\nIf the company would like a more letter of clarification (interp) they should send their request to:\nCharles Betts\nU.S. DOT\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Safety\n1200 New Jersey Ave, SE\nEast Building, 2nd Floor\nWashington, DC 20590\nBen\n4\n\n<<>>\n\nFrom: Rach, Suzanne (FMCSA)\nSent: Monday, June 10, 2013 8:59 AM\nTo: Supko, Ben (PHMSA); Staniszewski, Stanley (PHMSA)\nCc: Bomgardner, Paul (FMCSA)\nSubject: Ring Stiffener confirmation\nHi, quick question, I believe the manufacturer is correct on this one (email from the field agent, Arturo Prado, at the\nbottom and DCE, Fernando Garza, response follows): CT12407, manufacture DOT 407 cargo tanks with ring stiffeners\nthat are not continuously around the circumference (178.345-7)(d). The ring stiffeners have a 1.5 space between both\nends at the six o'clock position. Company is seeking special permit/wavier process for existing cargo tanks that are already\nbeing utilize by carriers and or until manufacture gets an official interpretation whether existing cargo tanks built are\nacceptable as is.\nBut, according to 178.34S-7(d)(2), its ok:\n178.345-7 (d)(2) If a ring stiffener is welded to the cargo tank shell, a portion of the shell may be considered as part of the\nring section for purposes of computing the ring section modulus. This portion of the shell may be used provided at least\nSO percent of the total circumference of the cargo tank is welded and the length of any unwelded space on the joint does\nnot exceed 40 times the shell thickness.\nThe field agent is looking for guidance, can you confirm the manufacturer is correct manufacturing DOT 407 cargo tanks\nwith ring stiffeners needn't be continuous as long as they are at least SO percent of the total circumference and welded to\nthe tank wall or set me straight that they need to be?\nThank you.\nfrom: Williams, Tod (FMCSA)\nSent: Friday, June 07, 2013 4:56PM\nTo: Rach, Suzanne (FMCSA)\nSubject: FW: Ring Stiffeners\nHi Suzanne:\nunderstand.\nThis language is a little too engineer-ese for an old country boy to\nCan you help me?\nFor some background, one of our Inspectors told this CT mfr. that these tanks were\nnot compliant with the regs cited, but then the CT rep (probably their DCE)\nclaimed that paragraph (d) (2) of 178.345-7 says his tanks are ok. Is he\ncorrect? Did our Inspector not read far enough?\nThanks Suzanne!\nTod Williams, HMPS\nUSDOT/FMCSA\n903 San Jacinto Blvd., Suite 101\nAustin, TX 78701\n(512)653-4357\nFax: (915) 757-6379\nFrom: Ing. Fernando Garza [mailto:fernando.garza@tytal.com.mx]\nSent: Thursday, June 06, 2013 5:20 PM\nTo: Roberts, Michael (PHMSA); Williams, Tod (FMCSA); Prado, Arturo (FMCSA); Martinez, Miguel (FMCSA); Altamirano,\nJimmy (FMCSA)\n5\n\n<<>>\n\nCc: luis.arrasco@tytal.com.mx; cothernstankerinspec@yahoo.com; 'Sergio martinez'\nSubject: RE: Ring Stiffeners\nDear Messrs.':\npart\nmay\nthe\ngap\nproceed to submit\nFirst of all, thank you for your prompt response.\nOur visit to DOT office in Brownsville was to see if Mr. Prado or somebody else\ncan clarify us our interpretation of this particular section on the 49 CFR 178.345-7\nbecause as he says; over there mention that \" Must be continuous around the circumference\"\nbut also says \" it Must be in accordance with the following: \"\nand if we understand in the paragraph (2) where mentioning\n\" If a ring stiffener is welded to the cargo tank shell, a portion of the shell may be considered as\nof the ring section for purposes of computing the ring section modulus. This portion of the shell\nbe used provided at least SO percent of the total circumference of the cargo tank is welded and\nlength of any un welded space on the joint does not exceed 40 times the shell thickness.\"\nAccording with this, and looking to full fill all structural considerations and operation, we let a little\nfor drainage since no specifies any special shape, however we still considered that meet with the\nrequirements\nAfter all this comments if you considered that we must to look for another opinion from PHMSA or\nthe request of the Permit/wavier please let me know.\nRegards.\nDe: michael.l. roberts@dot.gov [mailto: michael.l.roberts@dot.gov]\nEnviado el: miercoles, OS de junio de 2013 04:19 p.m.\nPara: tod.williams@dot.gov; arturo.prado@dot.gov; miguel.martinez@dot.gov; iimmy.altamirano@dot.gov\nCC: luis.arrasco@tytal.com.mx; fernando.garza@tytal.com.mx; cothernstankerinspec@yahoo.com\nAsunto: Re: Ring Stiffeners\nHe needs to apply for a party status to the SP already in effect\nFrom: Williams, Tod (FMCSA)\nSent: Wednesday, June 05, 2013 05:17PM Eastern Standard Time\nTo: Prado, Arturo (FMCSA); Martinez, Miguel (FMCSA); Altamirano, Jimmy (FMCSA); Roberts, Michael (PHMSA)\nCc: luis.arrasco@tytal.com.mx ; fernando.garza@tytal.com.mx\n; cothernstankerinspec@yahoo.com \nSubject: RE: Ring Stiffeners\nThe process for applying to PHMSA for a Special Permit is set forth in 49 CFR\n107.101-127. Instructions on obtaining guidance and interpretations from PHMSA is\nset forth in 49 CFR 105.20\n6\n\n<<>>\n\nTod Williams, HMPS\nUSDOT/FMCSA\n903 San Jacinto Blvd., Suite 101\nAustin, TX 78701\n(512)653-4357\nFax: (915) 757-6379\nFrom: Prado, Arturo (FMCSA)\nSent: Wednesday, June OS, 2013 2:16PM\nTo: Williams, Tod (FMCSA); Martinez, Miguel (FMCSA); Altamirano, Jimmy (FMCSA); Roberts, Michael (PHMSA)\nCc: luis.arrasco@tytal.com.mx; fernando.garza@tytal.com.mx; cothernstankerinspec@yahoo.com\nSubject: Ring Stiffeners\nTod,\nCargo tank manufacture Tytal reference CT12407, manufactured DOT 407 cargo\ntanks with ring stiffeners that are not continuously around the\ncircumference (178.345-7) (d). The ring stiffeners have a 1.5 space between\nboth ends at the six o'clock position. Company is seeking special\npermit/wavier process for existing cargo tanks that are already being\nutilize by carriers and or until manufacture gets an official\ninterpretation whether existing cargo tanks builted are acceptable as is. I\nneed your assistance in finding a POC to place this manufacture in contact\nwith. I have attached PHMSA website for carrier to submit their anomaly,\nexcept I am not sure if this the correct step or site.\n§178.345-7 Circumferential reinforcements.\n(d) When a ring stiffener is used as a circumferential reinforcement\nmember, whether internal or external, reinforcement must be continuous\naround the circumference of the cargo tank shell and must be in accordance\nwith the following:\nArturo A. Prado\nMotor Carrier Safety Specialist\nRGV Operations Center, Texas Division\n(956) 504-2652 ext 231\n7","truncated":false,"body_characters":15847}