# Gayston Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 14-0147
- **title:** Gayston Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2015-03-25
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 14-0147 response to Gayston Corporation concerning 178.35.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0147.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0147.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0147
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2015/140147.pdf
**body:**

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U.S. Department of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Washington, DC 20590
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Safety Administration
MAR 2 5 2015
Christopher A. Cornelius
Gayston Corporation
Director of Quality
200 Advance Drive
Springboro, OH 45066
Reference No. 14-0147
Dear Dr. Cornelius:
This is in response to your July 21, 2014 letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the calculation of the
tare weight of cylinders. Specifically, you seek an interpretation of § 178.35(c)(3)(vii) as it
pertains to the process by which you report the tare weight and volumetric capacity of a
specification cylinder during the manufacturing process.
In your incoming letter, you propose to determine the tare weight of the cylinder prior to
conducting the hydrostatic testing. This information is collected and summarized by a lot
code and the highest tare weight (i.e. the heaviest part) would then be used to determine the
volumetric capacity for the entire lot of cylinders. You ask if it is permissible to gather the
tare weight prior to hydrostatic testing.
The answer is yes. The HMR does not specify when in the manufacturing process the tare
weight of the cylinder must be determined. Determining the tare weight of the cylinder
prior to conducting the hydrostatic test is not prohibited. In addition, using the maximum
tare weight in a specific lot as the marked tare weight is not forbidden provided that the
tare weight and volumetric capacity measured under § 178.35(c)(3)(vii) are accurate and
not affected by any other test conducted on the cylinder. However, caution is advised since
marking the cylinder with the maximum tare weight instead of the actual weight could
result in cylinder underfilling, errors during requalification, or other recordkeeping issues.
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
TAlenn
roste
T. Glenn Foster
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

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Andrews
178.35()(3Xvi)
Dodd, Alice (PHMSA)
Cylinders
From:
14-0147
Sent:
Ciccarone, Michael CTR (PHMSA)
To:
Monday, July 21, 2014 4:20 PM
Hazmat Interps
Subject:
Attachments:
FW: Interpretation of 49 CFR $ 178.35 (c) (3) (vii)
Gayston - 49 CFR $ 178.35 (c) (3) (vii).pdf
Shante and Alice,
Please submit this for a formal letter of interpretation.
Thanks,
Mike
From: Chris Cornelius [mailto:ccornelius@gayston.com]
To: PHMSA HM InfoCenter
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2014 4:10 PM
Subject: Interpretation of 49 CFR § 178.35 (c) (3) (vii)
To Whom It May Concern,
Please find my attached letter of formal request of interpretation of 49 CFR § 178.35 (c) (3) (vii). I look forward to your
decision.
Thank you,
GAYSTON
CORPORATION
Christopher A. Cornelius // Director of Quality
Gayston Corporation // 200 Advanced Dr // Springboro, OH 45066
Mobile: 937.603.9411 // Office: 937.790.4576

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Gayston Corporation
200 Advanced Way
Springboro, Ohio 45066-0430
July 21, 2014
US DOT
PHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Attn: PHH-10
East Building
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590-0001
Dear Sir or Madam:
Gayston Corporation (M4625) is seeking formal interpretation of 49 CFR §178.35(c) (3) (vii) as it pertains
to the process by which we gather tare weight and calculate the volumetric capacity of our cylinders. Our
hydrostatic testing. This information will be collected and summarized by lot code and the highest tare
proposal is to move the location for gathering tare weigh to the final machining operation, prior to
weight (i.e. heaviest part) will then be used to determine the volumetric capacity for the entire lot of
cylinders. We will still gather individual full-weight measurements post hydrostatic testing and use the
lot-specific tare weight to determine the volumetric capacity for our cylinders. Gaston Corporation feels
that this will result in a method that is fair and accurate representation of our cylinders volumetric capacity
as well as being a more efficient manufacturing process.
Respectfully,
Christopher A. Cornelius
Director of Quality
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