{"operation":"document","citation":"15-0226","title":"Tri Tank Corporation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2016-04-14","effective_on":null,"summary":"15-0226 response to Tri Tank Corporation concerning 180.407.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0226.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0226.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-15-0226","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2016/150226.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nof Transportatior\nJ.S. Department\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nMaterials Safety\nPipeline and Hazardous\nAdministration\nAPR 1 4 2016\nJim Lawson\nTri Tank Corporation\n115 Farrell Road\nSyracuse, NY 13209\nRef. No. 15-0226\nDear Mr. Lawson:\nThis responds to your email of November 18, 2015 requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the external visual\ninspection of cargo tanks. In your request, you ask whether paint used to cover the exterior of\na cargo tank could be considered a \"coating.\"\nFor purposes of § 180.407, paint may preclude an external visual inspection. Specifically,\n§ 180.407(d)(1) states, \"Tilf external visual inspection is precluded because any part of the\ncargo tank wall is externally lined, coated, or designed to prevent an external visual\ninspection, those areas of the cargo tank must be internally inspected.\" Therefore, one must\nconsider whether the application of paint on the exterior of a cargo tank wall prevents the\nperformance of an external visual inspection that conforms to the requirements of the HMR\n(e.g., §§ 180.407(d)(2) through (d)(7)).\nIt is the opinion of this Office that the Registered Inspector (as defined in § 171.8), or other\nappropriate person meeting the requirements of § 180.409, would determine whether the paint\nhas covered certain areas of the cargo tank wall in such a way that prevents a proper external\nvisual inspection from being performed. If the Registered Inspector determines that the\napplication of paint does indeed prevent a proper external visual inspection, an internal visual\ninspection of those areas affected by the paint would be required in conjunction with the\nexternal visual inspection for the remaining areas of the cargo tank wall.\nI hope this answers your inquiry. If you need additional assistance, please contact this Office\nagain.\nSincerely,\nDirk Der Kinderet\nChief, Standards Development Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nHesko\n173.1/5\nGoodall, Shante CTR (PHMSA)\nPaint rated Materrai\nFrom:\n15-0226\nSent:\nFoster, Glenn (PHMSA)\nWednesday, November 18, 2015 10:25 AM\nTo:\nDodd, Alice (PHMSA); Goodall, Shante CTR (PHMSA)\nSubject:\nFW: wraps\nAttachments:\nHow to UNZIP.html; SecureZIP Attachments.zip\nAlice / Shante,\nPlease have this inquiry checked in as a request for Interpretation and assign it to a Specialist.\nThanks,\nGlenn\nFrom: Jim Lawson [mailto:jimlawson@tritank.com]\nSent: Wednesday, November 18, 2015 9:38 AM\nCc: Dan Comins\nTo: Foster, Glenn (PHMSA)\nSubject: wraps\nGlenn,\nHave been speaking with Paul Bomgardner at the Houston NTTC show about trailers with wraps, decals, and\npaint. Looking for a little more clarification on decals (company logo) and paint that may partially or fully cover a weld\nseem during external visual inspections. We are seeing more and more of this every month. The wraps seem pretty cut\nand dry. Paint is | guess the real question. As it usually covers all the weld seams. Is paint considered a \"coating\".\nThank you,\nJim Lawson\nService Manager\nTri Tank Corp.\n315-451-8663","truncated":false,"body_characters":3107}