13-0190
13-0190
Page 1U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590 JAN 1 3 2014 Mr. Patrick Miller Chief Inspector T -Aerospace, LLC 4048 Senator Street Memphis, TN 3 8118 Reference No. 13-0190 Dear Mr. Miller: This is in response to your September 19; 2013 e-mail asking for clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) pertaining to chemical fire extinguishers. In your e-mail, you state these fire extinguishers weigh 13 pounds (5.90 kg) each, contain liquefied bromochlorodi:fluoromethane gas (Halon 1211), and are composed of non-specification cylinders constructed in conformance with United Laboratories (UL) Standard 299 (Dry chemical fire extinguishers). We apologize for the delay in responding and any inconvenience this may have caused. As an attachment to your e-mail, you included two pictures of the Amerex Model B371 fire extinguisher: one of the specification plate, the second, of the instructions. These pictures indicate that the cylinders are Classification 2-1 :40-B :C, Size II, cylinders pressure-tested to 585 psi ( 4035 kPa). Further, the specification plate also states that the fire extinguisher conforms to two test standards: American National Standards Institute, Inc. (ANSI)/UL 711 (Rating and fire testing of fire extinguishers), and ANSIIUL 1093 (Halogenated agent fire extinguishers). You ask if your company needs a requalifier identification number (RIN) to service and re-certify dry chemical fire extinguishers manufactured by the Ansul and Amerex Corporations under the HMR. The answer to your question is no. The HMR require those persons who requalify (i.e., inspect, test, or certify), rebuild, or repair a Department of Transportation (DOT) specification cylinder or United Nations (UN) standard pressure receptacle to be approved to perform these tasks through receipt of a RIN. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA's) Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety issues RINs to qualified persons in conformance with§§ 107.801, 180.201, and 180.203 of#
Page 2the HMR. The HMR do not require facilities that test non-specification fire extinguishers to have a PHMSA-issued RIN. Nevertheless, non-specification fire extinguishers are only authorized under the HMR if they meet all conditions and testing requirements prescribed in § 173.309(c). I hope this satisfies your request. Please contact us if you need further assistance. T. Glenn Foster Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch Standards and Rulemaking Division#
Page 3Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA) From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Edmonson, Eileen (PHMSA) Friday, September 20, 2013 12:01 PM Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA) Request for Clarification for§ 173.309(c) photo.jpg; photo.jpg Edmoncson § /13 . '3 oq. c<!J. · £ire l?khqj lJnsbers 18-IJJq() Carolyn- Thanks, Eileen Edmonson USDOT/PHMSA (202) 366-4481 (w) (202) 366-7041 (f) eileen.edmonson@dot.gov (e-mail) http://www. phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat (website) infocntr@dot.gov (Hazmat Info Center E-mail) Please log in thee-mails below and attached photos as one letter from Patrick Miller and assign it to me. From: Patrick Miller [mailto:pmiller@taerospace.com] Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2013 8:41AM To: Edmonson, Eileen (PHMSA) Subject: DOT RIN Hi Eileen, I am still trying to figure out if we need to have a RIN number. We are picking up these fire extinguishers by company truck and bringing them back to our shop and returning them the same way. We will service these extinguishers here (which will include a hydrostatic test if needed). Both of the manufactures (ANSUL and AMEREX) of these fire extinguishers have said these cylinders are Non-Specification Cylinders which comply to the UL 299 designed cylinders and do not fall under the DOT requirements. Could there be another reason why we would need a RIN number to certify these cylinders. Thanks for your help again, Patrick Miller Chief Inspector T-Aerospace LLC 4048 Senator Street Memphis, TN 38118 901-367-8944 pmiller@taerospace.com From: Patrick Miller [mailto:pmiller@taerospace.com] Sent: Friday, September 13, 2013 8:36AM To: Edmonson, Eileen (PHMSA) Subject: RE: Halon 1211 Fire Extinguishers Eileen, Forgot to attach the pictures. Patrick 1#
Page 4From: Patrick Miller [mailto:pmiller@taerospace.com] Sent: Friday, September 13, 2013 8:34AM To: Edmonson, Eileen (PHMSA) Subject: RE: Halon 1211 Fire Extinguishers Eileen, Thank you for the links that you sent me. Can you forward these pictures to Mark Toughiry for me? This cylinder in these two pictures shows to be a 2A cylinder. The markings on the cylinder bottom are 40 BAR, 07,and AX. I do not see anything else stamped on the cylinder. In the Cylinder Maintenance and Testing requirements for high and low pressure cylinders(Retest and Inspection of cylinders Table), it does not show anything about a 1A or 2A cylinder. Is there some where else I can find information about these cylinders? Thank you for the help, Patrick Miller Chief Inspector T -Aerospace LLC 4048 Senator Street Memphis, TN 38118 901-367-8944 pmiller@taerospace.com From: eileen.edmonson@dot.gov [mailto:eileen.edmonson@dot.gov] Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2013 4:26PM To: Patrick Miller Subject: RE: Halon 1211 Fire Extinguishers Hello Patrick, I have enclosed the following website links in response to your request during our telephone conversation this afternoon on Halon 1211 fire extinguishers. 49 CFR 173.309 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text- idx?c=ecfr&SID=5622380de2cb5316d73f377da1 c5a821&rgn=div8&view=text&node=49:2.1.1.3.9.7.25.16&idno=49 49 CFR 180.213 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text- idx?c=ecfr&SID=Obcb0d1 053f9cdb26d6968b8183ee558&rgn=div8&view=text&node=49:3.1.1.1.3.3.1.9&idno=49 Hazardous Materials: Harmonization With the United Nations Recommendations, International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, and the International Civil Aviation Organization Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air; Final Rule, Docket No. PHMSA-2009-0126 (HM-215K) 01/07/2013 Final Rule (contains latest version of§ 173.309) http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-01-07/pdf/2012-31242.pdf Hazardous Materials Regulations 49 CFR Parts 171-177 http://www. ecfr. gov /cg i-bin/text- idx?sid=e213d7b2c72a1202be4d1 00c360a66b5&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title49/49cfrv2 02.tpl 49 CFR Parts 178-180 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text- idx?sid=453007b 18b06b 7 41266094d4e624 70b9&c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title49/49cfrv3 02. tpl 2#
Page 5I hope this satisfies your request. Sincerely, Eileen Edmonson USDOT/PHMSA 202-366-4481 (w) 202-366-7041 (fax) eileen.edmonson@dot.gov (e-mail) www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat!regulations www.dot.gov 3 -------·- ··-------- ·---#
Page 6R AT _y 0 ES REQUIRE . T~SSTRUCTED. t. UAABLE RANGE. oPE PLACE. GROSS ~ EXTINGUISHER '1. 1.8 3 oz ± 14 oz ~ROSS WEIGHT OF ~ WHEN INITIALLY OSS WElGHT OF : 10 OZ (28 KG) Y AFTER ANY USE. if'«.:JU'':~H TO LEAK. 13 LB §-SO KG) OF 12143 i PSt (1345 kPa) BY AN )#
Page 7INSTRUCTIONS SQUEEZE LEVER. 0125 SLATION OF THESE LATENI PEN APPLIED TO PIE CAN DO HOT USE LE DER EXI#
Page 8Aluminum Valve A344T C352TS B355T Amerex Corporation RUGGED • 1 Year Manufacturer's Warranty • Stored Pressure Design • Dependable Drawn Steel Cylinders • Durable High Gloss Polyester Powder Paint • All Metal Valve Construction • Temperature Range -40°F to 120oF CLEAN • Leaves no residue • Reclaimed Halon 1211 is Restored to Original Military Specification • Uses All Recycled Gas in Accordance With The Montreal Protocol USER FRIENDLY • Maximum Visibility During Discharge • Large Loop Pull Pin • No Electrical Conductivity Back to the Operator • No Thermal or Static Shock • Bar Coded and Bi-lingual Labels OPTION • USCG Approved with Bracket Listed on UL Label (except model A344T) C354TS Brass Valve 8369 8371 361 HALON 1211 is a liquified gas, pressurized with nitrogen, which discharges as a vapor causing no cold or static shock and no impairment of the operator's vision. This "CLEAN" agent quickly penetrates difficult to see and hard to reach areas and leaves no residue. It is recommended for protection of delicate, sensitive and expensive computers, electrical equipment, tapes and film, automotive and aircraft engines, laboratory chemicals and equipment. Quality industrial grade hardware, "CLEAN" agent, light weight, good discharge range and excellent fire extinguishing ability. VALVE TYPE DESIGN MODEL NUMBER UL & ULC RATING CAPACITY (LBS.) SHIPPING Wf. (LBS.) HEIGHT (IN.) V\lDTH(IN.) DEPTH (IN.) RANGE (INITIAL- FT) DISCHARGE TIME (SEC.) OPTIONAL CHROME CYLINDER MINIMUM SPACE REQUIREMENTS (CU. FT.) INCLUDED BRACKET . I .. Recycled gaseous agent certified to meet military specifications '0 ANODIZED ALUMINUM CHROME PLATED BRASS NOZZLE HOSE NOZZLE HOSE A344T 'C352TS 'C354TS B355T B369 B371 361 2B:C 5B:C 5B:C 10B:C 1A:10B:C 2A:40B:C 4A:80B:C 1.25 2.5 3 5 9 13 17 2.75 5.5 6 9.75 16.75 22 36.25 10 14.38 14.38 15.25 16.25 20.25 24 3.63 4.5 6 5.75 8.5 8.5 9.75 2.63 3 3 4.25 5 5 7 9-12 9-15 9-15 9-15 12-18 12-18 12-18 10 10 12 10 9 14 22 YES YES YES YES YES YES 156 312 375 624 1123 1622 2120 VEHICLE AIRCRAFT AIRCRAFT VEHICLE WALL WALL WALL . . , ' I MADE IN U.S.A. Manufactured and Tested to ANSI/UL Standards Complies with NFPA 10 Standard IS0-9001/IS0-14001 Certified UL LISTED CONFORMS TO TEST STANDARDS: UL-1093 -ANSI/UL711#
This material provides agency context. It does not replace binding regulatory text, and its legal effect depends on the underlying authority and facts.