{"operation":"document","citation":"16-0063","title":"The Dow Chemical Company — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2016-08-02","effective_on":null,"summary":"16-0063 response to The Dow Chemical Company concerning 178.274, 180.605.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0063.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0063.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0063","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2016/160063.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nof Transportation\nU.S. Department\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nPipeline and Hazardous\nWashington, D.C. 20590\nAdministration\nMaterials Safety\nAUG 0 2 2016\nMr. John Heater\nTransportation Safety and Security Specialist\nThe Dow Chemical Company\n100 Independence Mall West\nPhiladelphia, PA 19106\nReference No. 16-0063\nDear Mr. Heater:\nThis letter is in response to your April 7, 2016, email requesting clarification of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to requirements\nfor the periodic testing, inspection, and repair of portable tanks. Specifically, you ask\nwhether a United Nations (UN) portable tank may be tested with an inert gas, such as .\nnitrogen, for the leakage test prescribed in § 180.605(h).\nThe answer is yes. For the purposes of design and construction of UN portable tanks under\nsubpart H of part 178 of the HMR, the definition of leakage test in § 178.274(a)(3) means a\ntest using gas to subject the shell and its service equipment to an internal pressure. Thus, an\ninert gas, such as nitrogen, may be used as a test medium for tests conducted as required by\n§ 180.605(h).\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nT. Glenn Foster\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nStevens\n178.274\nGoodali, Shante CTR (PHMSA)\nspecifecation tor Un Potae Tak\nFrom:\n110 - 0062\nSent:\nGeller, Shelby CTR (PHMSA)\nTo:\nHazmat Interps\nFriday, April 08, 2016 9:22 AM\nSubject:\nFW: Interpretation Letter Request - Dow Chemical\nAttachments:\nDow Interpretation Letter Request.pdf\nDear Shante and Alice,\nForwarded is a request for a formal letter of interpretation.\nThanks,\nShelby\nFrom: Heater, John L (J) [mailto:jheater@dow.com]\nTo: PHMSA HM InfoCenter\nSent: Thursday, April 07, 2016 3:44 PM\nCc: Casillas, Victor (PHMSA)\nSubject: Interpretation Letter Request - Dow Chemical\nThe Dow Chemical Company respectfully submits the attached request for an interpretation letter. Your prompt\nprocessing is necessary and would be greatly appreciated.\nPlease contact me with any questions or need for additional information.\nSincerely,\nJohn Heater\nTransportation Safety and Security Specialist\nThe Dow Chemical Company\n100 Independence Mall West\nPhiladelphia, PA 19106\nPhone: (215) 592-3157\nEmail: iheater@dow.com\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nThe Dow Chemical Company\nMidland, MI 48674\nU.S.A.\nApril 7, 2016\nVia Email\nU.S. DOT\nPHMSA Office of Hazardous Materials Standards\nAttn: PHH-10\nEast Building\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\nphmsa.hm-infocenter@doi.gov\nSubject: Interpretation Letter Request\nThe Dow Chemical Company (\"Dow\") respectfully submits this request for an interpretation letter.\n• Dow's request is with regard to the intermediate 2.5 year periodic leakage test on UN portable tanks,\nspecifically the required test medium in the Hazardous Materials Regulations (\"HMR\"). In\nreviewing both the HMR and International Maritime Dangerous Goods (\"IMDG\") Code, it appears\nthat 'a gas' is the required test medium. For example, if the hazardous material offered for\ntransportation in a UN portable tank is water-reactive and oxygen-reactive, nitrogen would be the\npreferred test medium, as there would be significant risk in using air; residual air or contaminants\ncould initiate a dangerous reaction or adversely affect product quality when the hazardous material\nwould again be introduced into the UN portable tank. Can you please validate that nitrogen, as a gas,\nis an authorized test medium for the intermediate 2.5 year periodic leakage test on UN portable tanks\nunder the HMR? Included below are both the applicable HMR and IMDG Code regulations for your\nreference:\nHMR\n§178.274 Specifications for UN portable tanks.\n(a) General.\n***\n(3) Definitions. The following definitions apply for the purposes of design and construction\nof UN portable tanks under this subpart:\ninternal pressure.\nLeakage test means a test using gas to subject the shell and its service equipment to an\n§180.605 Requirements for periodic testing, inspection and repair of portable tanks.\n2.5 year periodic inspection and test must include at least an internal and external\n(d) Intermediate periodic inspection and test. For IM and UN portable tanks the intermediate\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nThe Dow Chemical Company\nMidland, Mi 48674\nU.S.A.\nexamination of the portable tank and its fittings taking into account the hazardous materials\nintended to be transported; a leakage test; and a test of the satisfactory operation of all service\nequipment. Sheathing, thermal insulation, etc. need only be removed to the extent required\nfor reliable appraisal of the condition of the portable tank. For portable tanks intended for the\ntransportation of a single hazardous material, the internal examination may be waived if it is\nleakage tested in accordance with the procedures in paragraph (h) of this section prior to each\nfilling, or if approved by the Associate Administrator. Portable tanks used for dedicated\ntransportation of refrigerated liquefied gases that are not fitted with inspection openings are\nexcepted from the internal inspection requirement.\n***\n(h) Pressure test procedures for specification 51, 56, 57, 60, IM or UN portable tanks. (1)\nEach Specification 57 portable tank must be leak tested by a minimum sustained air pressure\nof at least 3 psig applied to the entire tank. Each Specification 51 or 56 portable tank must be\ntested by a minimum pressure (air or hydrostatic) of at least 2 psig or at least one and one-\nhalf times the design pressure (maximum allowable working pressure, or re-rated pressure) of\nthe tank, whichever is greater. The leakage test for portable tanks used for refrigerated\nliquefied gas must be performed at 90% of MAWP. Leakage tests for all other portable tanks\nmust be at a pressure of at least 25% of MAWP. During each air pressure test, the entire\nsurfáce of all joints under pressure must be coated with or immersed in a solution of soap and\nwater, heavy oil, or other material suitable for the purpose of detecting leaks. The pressure\nmust be held for a period of time sufficiently long to assure detection of leaks, but in no case\nless than five minutes. During the air or hydrostatic test, relief devices may be removed, but\nall the closure fittings must be in place and the relief device openings plugged. Lagging need\nnot be removed from a lagged tank if it is possible to maintain the required test pressure at\nconstant temperature with the tank disconnected from the source of pressure.\nIMDG Code\n6.7.2\nProvisions for the design, construction, inspection and testing of portable\ntanks intended for the transport of substances of class 1 and classes 3 to 9\n6.7.2.1\nDefinitions\n***\nFor the purposes of this section:\nLeakproofness test means a test using a gas, subjecting the shell and its\nMAWP;\nservice equipment to an effective internal pressure of not less than 25% of the\n***\n6.7.2.19.5\nThe intermediate 2.5-year periodic inspection and test shall at least include an\ninternal and external examination of the portable tank and its fittings with due\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nThe Dow Chemical Company\nMidland, MI 48674\nUSA\nregard to the substances intended to be transported, a leakproofness test and a\ntest of the satisfactory operation of all service equipment.***\nI trust this is sufficient information for issuance of a letter of interpretation. If additional information\nis needed, please contact me.\nSincerely,\nJohn Heater\nJohn Heater\nTransportation Safety and Security Specialist\nThe Dow Chemical Company\n100 Independence Mall West\nPhiladelphia, PA 19106\nPhone: (215) 592-3157\nE-mail: jheater@dow.com","truncated":false,"body_characters":7683}