{"operation":"document","citation":"16-0047","title":"National Aeronautics and Space Administration — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2016-07-14","effective_on":null,"summary":"16-0047 response to National Aeronautics and Space Administration concerning 180.205.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0047.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0047.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0047","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2016/160047.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nMaterials Safety\nPipeline and Hazardous\nAdministration\nJUL 1 4 2016\nMr. Russell Clautice\nESH&Q, Institutional Services Contract\nURS Federal Technical Services, Inc.\nNational Aeronautics and Space Administration\nKennedy Space Center\nP.O. Box 21025, M/C: ISC-8000\nFlorida 32815-0025\nReference No. 16-0047\nDear Mr. Clautice:\nThis responds to your February 23, 2016 email requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR parts 171-180). Specifically you ask if a weight scale\nused in lieu of a burette to measure water displacement in hydrostatic testing of compressed gas\ncylinders is required to be calibrated.\nIn accordance with 49 CFR 180.205(g)(3), each day before restesting, a cylinder retester is\nrequired to use a calibrated cylinder or other method authorized in writing by the Associate\nAdministrator to verify the accuracy of a hydrostatic retest system, including both the pressure-\nindicating device and the expansion-indicating device (EID). The pressure-indicating device, as\npart of the retest apparatus, must be accurate within =1.0% of each individual test pressure to be\ntested that day. The expansion-indicating device, as part of the retest apparatus, gives a stable\nreading of expansion and is accurate to ‡1.0% of the total expansion of any cylinder to be tested\nthat day or 0.1 cc, whichever is larger.' However, if the pressure indicating device or EID, as\napplicable, is not in compliance with an accuracy of t0.5%, or better, of its full range, retesting\nis not permitted on that day.\nSection 180.205(g)(4) specifies that the calibrated cylinder must show no permanent expansion.\nThis is a separate requirement and is not related to the test equipment ‡1.0% accuracy\nrequirement. This means that the water level in the burette or the weigh bowl must return to the\nsame point where it began - not slightly higher or lower. After depressurization of the calibrated\ncylinder, all of the displaced water must return to the water jacket. Any volume of water\nmeasured in the EID above zero (or the original reading) indicates permanent expansion of the\ncalibrated cylinder.\n1 This requirement cannot be met without a calibrated weight scale. For frequency of calibration,\nconsult the manufacturer's guidelines as indicated in Compressed Gas Association (CGA) C-1, Appendix\nB-B3.\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n2\nIf this occurs, the equipment has not been proven to be accurate in accordance with the HMR.\nWith regard to your reference to CGA C-1, currently the HMR do not incorporate the\npublication by reference. We may consider incorporating by reference this publication or\ncertain provisions of the CGA C-1 publication in a future rulemaking.\nI hope this satisfies your inquiry. Please feel free to contact us if we can be of further\nassistance.\nSincerely,\nDuaneA.Pf.\nDuane A. Pfund\nInternational Standards Coordinator\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nAntonelli\nGoodall, Shante CTR (PHMSA)\n1380\neneral\nreguremenk\nFrom:\nGeller, Shelby CTR (PHMSA)\n16-0047\nSent:\nMonday, March 14, 2016 9:36 AM\nTo:\nHazmat Interps\nSubject:\nFW: Letter of Interpretation Request\nDear Shante and Alice,\nI also wanted to follow up on Mr. Clautice's request as it was not in the database either.\nThanks,\nShelby\nFrom: Geller, Shelby CTR (PHMSA)\nSent: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 3:13 PM\nTo: Hazmat Interps\nSubject: FW: Letter of Interpretation Request\nDear Shante and Alice,\nForwarded is a request for a letter of interpretation. Mr. Clautice spoke with both Jordan Rivera and Steve Andrews in\nthe HMIC.\nThanks,\nShelby\nFrom: Clautice, Russell L. (KSC-ISC-1160)[URS Federal Services, Inc.] [mailto: russell.l.clautice@nasa.gov]\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nSent: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 8:38 AM\nServices, Inc.]; Adamson, Thomas D. (KSC-ISC-1160)[URS Federal Services, Inc.]; Richard Boggs\nCc: Clautice, Russell L. (KSC-ISC-1160)[URS Federal Services, Inc.]; Case, Dennis R. (KSC-ISC-1160)[URS Federal\nSubject: Letter of Interpretation Request\nTo Whom it may concern:\nI have a question concerning the calibration requirements of the weight scale used during hydrostatic testing of\ncompressed gas cylinders.\nSpecifically, when a weight scale is used to measure water displacement in lieu of a burette, is the scale required to be\ncalibrated? I have researched the 49CFR and couldn't locate any information. I also have researched CGA C-1 and\nidentified the following statement in Appendix B, B3 Expansion Indicating device: \"For digital devices, consult the\nmanufacturer's guidelines for recalibration.\"\nI have discussed this question with a \"Cylinder Engineer\" at DOT and was told that the cylinder retester is required to\nmaintain calibration on the weight scale by following the requirements of CGA C-1. In addition, the Cylinder Engineer\ninformed me that CGA C-1 is in the process of becoming a reference document.\nThank You,\nRuss Clautice\nESH&Q, Institutional Services Contract (ISC)\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nNASA, Kennedy Space Center\n© 321-403-6723\nrussell..clautice@nasa.gov\nP.O. Box 21025, M/C: ISC-8000, Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32815-0025\nURS Federal Technical Services, Inc\nT 1-321-403-6723 F 1-321-861-4222\nwww.aecom.com","truncated":false,"body_characters":5242}