{"operation":"document","citation":"16-0147","title":"Qantas — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2017-03-03","effective_on":null,"summary":"16-0147 response to Qantas concerning 180.209.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0147.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0147.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0147","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2017/160147.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nMAR 0 3 2017\nMr. Neil Smith\nCabin Fleet Manager - International & Domestic Fleets\nQantas\nC Wing Level 4\n10 Bourke Street\nMascot NSW 2020 Australia\nReference No. 16-0147\nDear Mr. Smith:\nThis letter is in response to your September 7, 2016, email and subsequent conversations\nrequesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180)\napplicable to requalification requirements in§ 180.209(b)(l) for a specification DOT 3AA\ncylinder. Specifically, you state that your company uses DOT 3AA cylinders filled exclusively\nwith oxygen. Based on your company practices, the cylinders are routinely refilled before the\npressure falls below 50 psi and are requalified every 10 years instead of 5 years in accordance\nwith§ 180.209(b)(l). You also reference the July 26, 2016 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking\n(NPRM) titled, \"Hazardous Materials: Miscellaneous Amendments Pertaining to DOT\nSpecification Cylinders (RRR)\" [HM-234; 81 FR 48977], which proposes to amend some of the\nrequalification requirements in § 180.209(b ).\nWe have paraphrased and answered your questions as follows:\nQ 1. You ask if a DOT 3AA cylinder is subject to the hammer test requirement in\n§ 180.209(b)(l)(iii) at the time ofrefill. You note that your company interprets the\nmeaning of \"refill\" as it applies to § 180.209(b) as filling an oxygen cylinder when it\ncontains less than 50 psi.\nAl. The answer is yes. If your company wishes to requalify a DOT 3AA cylinder every 10\nyears instead of every 5 years, as outlined in § 180.209(b )(1 ), the cylinder must meet all\napplicable requirements, including the hammer test, prior to being refilled. The HMR is\nsilent on the definition of \"refill\" for this exception, but generally \"refill\" has meant the\nfilling of a cylinder regardless of the pressure at the time of refill.\nAs it is currently written in the HMR and as a condition to allow a 10-year requalification\nperiod instead of a 5-year period, the cylinder must pass the hammer test in accordance\nwith CGA C-6 before each refill. The test protocol calls for the cylinder to be empty\nprior to performing the hammer test. For the purposes of the HMR, a cylinder\ncontaining a permanent Division 2.2 gas is empty when the pressure is less than 29.0 psig\nat 20 °C.\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nQ2. A2. Q3. A3. Q4. A4. You ask if an internal inspection is required each time you refill a DOT 3AA cylinder.\nThe answer is no. There is no regulatory requirement to conduct an internal inspection\neach time a cylinder is refilled. However, there is a requirement to internally inspect a\nDOT 3AA cylinder at the time of requalification. Specifically, § 180.205(f)(l) requires\nthat a steel cylinder be visually inspected in accordance with CGA C-6, which requires an\ninternal inspection be conducted each time a cylinder is requalified or if the cylinder fails\nthe hammer test.\nPlease note that ifthe cylinder is subject to the hammer test at the time of refill, such as is\nrequired in§ 180.209(b)(l), failure of the hammer test may present conditions rendering\nthe cylinder unsafe and subject to testing and inspection in accordance with\n§ 180.205(d)(l).\nYou ask if it was PHMSA's intention in the HM-234 NPRM [81 FR 48977] to remove\nthe authorization to requalify a DOT 3AA cylinder every 10 years. Specifically, you\nreference the table in§ 180.209(a), which proposes to list a 5- or 12-year requalification\nperiod for a DOT 3AA cylinder.\nThe answer is no. The§ 180.209(a) table should specify a 5-, 10-, or 12-year\nrequalification period for a DOT 3AA cylinder. This was an inadvertent error and will be\namended in the publication of the final rule.\nYou ask if it was PHMSA's intention in the HM-234 NPRM to restrict those cylinders\nremoved from aircraft from the 10-year requalification period exception as outlined in §\n180.209(b )(1 ).\nThe answer is no. It is not PHMSA's intention to restrict cylinders removed from aircraft\nfrom the 10-year requalification in § 180.209(b ). This will be addressed in the final rule.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSi:~~l~y , //\n.. /· -\n,,\n.!/ irk De · nde en\nChief, Standard Development Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nGoodall, Shante CTR (PHMSA)\nFrom:\nSent:\nTo:\nAttachments:\nImportance:\nBetts, Charles (PHMSA)\nWednesday, September 07, 2016 9:46 AM\nGoodall, Shante CTR (PHMSA)\nimage2016-09-07-092814.pdf\nHigh\nPlease log and assign to a specialist for response. Please treat this for expedited handling.\nThanks,\nCharles\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\n[)ear Mr Betts\nPlease find attached a letter requesting clarification on CFR 180. 209.\nYours sincerl y\n\\ ,,.,q,..,.\n··w~ .\nt~\n... , .... ,~\nNeil Smith\nCabin Fleet Manager -International & Domes tic Fleets\nEngineering Services I Qantas Airways Umited\nAddress C Wing Level 4, 10 Bourke Street, Mascot NSW 2020 Aust ralia\nPhone +61 2 9691 0548 I Mobile +61402 38 65 69 I Email: ne i l. smith@.MD!~.H9fll·au\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\n~QANTAS\nFacsimile Transmission\nFrom\n~ Fa x Numbm 001112023665713 Fax Number\nEmail\n> company Company\n~> Ad d ress Address\ni> Telephone Telephone\nt> Total number of pages inclusive of this Sheet 8 Date 07.09.16\n•Confidentiality. Tho? 1nformnnc.n corta1ned 1n th.1?58 1jc..:um>?nt; is i:c·n!rd·:r.ua! and s in t ~nljed tor .;i ~ · clu:ue ust- vi the adrJr~~SO:-!? na;n-?1J a:.:io·;~ 11 :.:rt-Jn :as-s-s 111s .:!lsr:· !-:9211·1\n;nqlo.:~-:-d l' vou ar'!? n.)'. tn.a ad•jresst-t-. any disc!i)sur-:: r~pr..:du.:t;.:.•n. d1s t roun1.~n u (!htir J;ssi:m1n t10n er JS~ c~ :r 1s ccrnrr.v' ct::t1·:.-n s s:rct!j pr ... r-1t1t~c If you !\"£!\\·-:-re·.<::1\\~·: m1;\n~Subject FAD: Mr Charles Betts Clarification of CFR 180.209\nQantas Airways Limited\nACN 009 661 90 1\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\nQantas Engineering._\nCharles Betts\nDirector\nStandards and Rulemaking\nDepartment of Transport\nBy Fax: +1 202 366 7435\nNeil Smith\nCabin Fleet Manager\nEngineering Services\nQantas Airways Limited\nAddress C Wing Level 4\n1 O Bourke Street\nMascot NSW 2020 Australia\n7 September 2016\nDear Mr Betts,\nI wish to seek clarification of Qantas Airways' understanding of the existing regulation and NPRM of 49\nCFR 180.209 per PHMSA-2011-0140 (HM-234).\nQantas operates cylinders that are manufactured to the DOT 3AA specification (ref Figure1), they are\nused exclusively for oxygen, have a capacity of 11cu foot and manufactured by Avox Systems Inc.\nThese cylinders are maintained under an approved System of Maintenance, to a vendor supplied,\nComponent Maintenance Manual, CMM 35-31-55.\nWhen we have viewed the proposed changes in the NPRM, Qantas reassessed the maintenance of\nthese cylinders and wanted to confirm our understanding of this requirement, especially for the\nhammer test and requirements for a 10years interval between Hydrostatic Test.\nThe CMM refers to DOT requirements per 49 CFR180.209 to determine the additional conditions\nrequired to certify the cylinders to 10years (nominally 5years) between Hydrostatic Test (HT).\nCylinders conforming to these additional criteria are identified with a star shaped stamp. The 1 Oyear\noption has been chosen by Qantas.\nFigure 1 - Typical oxygen cylinder with 3AA DOT marking\nOne of the requirements per 49 CFR180.209 (b) (iii) is\nBefore each refill. the cylinder is removed from any cluster, bank, group, rack or vehicle and passes\nthe hammer test specified in CGA Pamphlet C-6 (I BR, see §171 .7 of this subchapter).\n···-··-······-······ ······················· · ·· ~---- -------------..\n--\n__...,, .. ~ . .-. .. '\n•\nQantas Airways Limited\nABN 1 6 009 661 9C l\nqantas.com\n\n<<<PAGE 7>>>\n\nQantas Engineering._\nThe referenced CGA (Compressed Gas Associated) C-6 document shows the requirements of the\nHammer Test.\n6.2 Hammer test\nThe hammer test is a valuable indicator or internal corrosion and is a convenient test that can be made without\n. removing the valve before each charging or the cylinder. The hammer test should be perfom1ed on empty un-\npressurized cylinders.\nThe hammer test consists of tapping lhe cylinder sidewall with a light blow using a 112 lb (0.23 kg) ball-peen\nhammer or equivalent. A cylinder will normally have a clear ring. A dull ring would indicate internal eorrosion,\n: liquid, or accumulation of foreign material in the cylinder. Such cylinders shall be inspected internally In accor-\n. dance with 6.4 .\n. NOTE-The hammer test Is not 11prlir.Rh1A on ;;il11min11rn r.ylinrlf.lrs\n. ..... .. .. .\n······· ............ .............. .\nIf fails hammer test I or in doubt, inspect per 6.4\n6.4 Internal Inspection\nCylinders shall be inspected internally at least every time the cylinder is periodically retested, or when they fail\nthe hammer test before filling, or when there is reason to believe that there is internal contamination, or corro·\nsion.\n6.4.1 Preparation for inspection\nThe Interior of cylinders shall be prepared for inspection by removing dirt, scale, or other condition as neces-\nsary to permit the inspection of the internal surface. Cylinders with interior coating shall be examined for de-\nfects in the coating. If the coaling is defective, it shall be removed.\nA goo· d inspection light of sufficient intensity to clearly illuminate interior walls is mandatory for internal inspec-\ntion. Cylinders containing hazardous materials shalt be purged to remove residual gas or liquid before being\nexamined with a light.\n•\nQantas Airways Limited\n,< 3 N 1 6 '.J09 661 901\nqantas.com\n\n<<<PAGE 8>>>\n\n- - -\n·\n-- ·-----·u ------·--Z!' ._ ...\nQantas Engineering .. .\nWithin Qantas we complete the requirements per the vendor CMM, which aligns with CGA 6.4. 1.\nB. DOT-3AA·1800 Steel Cylinder\n(Refer to 500 thru 5000, IPL Fig. 1; 500 thru SOOA, IPL Fig. 1 B).\n(1) Look at the last and inillal cylinder hydrostalic test dates found on the cylinder crown, near the\ncylinder neck.\nHydrostatic tests must be performed as noted In Table 5003 using appro11ed procedures by\nservice locations ha11ing up-to-date United States Department of Transportation\napproval. Additional hydrostatic tests may be required in your country.\n(2) DOT·3AA·1600 steel cylinder service-life is given in Table 5003.\n( t) Do a dleck of the cylinder surfaces for either heal or fire damage.\n(2) Do a check of the cylinder for dents, gouges, digs or bulges.\nNOTE: It may be necessary to remove any heavy paint coatings from the exterior surface of the •\n~y fi ndt:r t~· : cc::«:-<:t1y cht: \\~ ~~r ~1ents , 9;.. ·;t.:g<!r :; , C:g~~ ·':; f ~ ul~ $.\n(3) Make sure that identification plates and waming labels can be read and are not damaged.\n(4) Do a check of the cylinder neck tor craci<s, distortion, contamination or thread damage.\n(5) Put a Bright Inspection Light (Table 5002) inside the cylinder and do a check for contamination\nand corroded surfaces.\n(8) Make sure the inside of the cylinder does not have an odor.\nFurthermore, the Bright Light Inspection ensures that there is NO corrosion/contamination and is\ncompleted at each Hydrostatic Test (currently every 10years) and when a regulator is overhauled\n(every 5years) and when the cylinder is returned to the workshop with less than 50PSI.\nThe Hammer Test 1 s part of the qualification to 10years. it is not required for qualification to 5years per\nthe existing regulation.\nThe Qantas interpretation of the term, refill, is the filling of the oxygen cylinder when the cylinder has\nless than 50PSI. Empty to full- refill.\nThe term 'top up' is used when oxygen is added between 26PSI and 1 BOOPSI. Qantas typically uses\nthe 50PSI for our in-service criteria and 26PSI for new cylinder deliveries, with reference to the\ndocument below:\nFrom OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) documentation The OEM, Avox, describes in SIL-35-\n126 NEW US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (US DOT) RULE HM224B FOR AIR\nSHIPMENT OF CHEMICAL OXYGEN GENERA TORS AND CYLINDER ASSEMBLIES THAT\nCONTAIN COMPRESSED OXYGEN INTO AND WITHIN THE US, that when a partially filled bottle is\nreceived, than it is to be charged There is NO indication in this documentation for a further Hammer\nTest prior to charging the cylinder; steps as follows:\n•\nQantas Airways Limited\nABN 16 009 661 901\nqantas.com\n\n<<<PAGE 9>>>\n\nQantas Engineering._\n( 4) After arrival at destination\n(a) Charge the cylinder assembly to full operating pressure before placing into service.\n(b) Remove the shipping tag (PIN 10015660; see Figure 3) from the neck of the cylinder.\n(c) Verify that the cylinder is charged to full operating pressure.\n(d) Check the cylinder assembly for leaks.\n(e) Issue an EASA Form 1 or equivalent as required.\nm Add statement to block 13 on the EASA Form 1 or equivalent stating that service was\nperformed in accordance with the CMM and the SIL.\n(g) Add in block 12 of the EASA Form 1 or equivalent \"Inspected/Tested. \"\n(h) Sign on the right side in block 20.\n(j) Install in aircraft or place in stores ready for service.\nThe NPRM for the revision of 49 CFR 180.209 removes the requirement for the Hammer Test. This is\nin part due to the Hammer Test noi being an effective tool to determine corrosion and there is NO\ncontrol of the filling operation, post qualifying the cylinder, extract below .\n. . .. . .. . . . .. . .. . .. .. . . . .\n·;: ::- ;.::::: :; :;; : : : :: ::; : : : : ~ ;.; ::; ;; :- :::: :; :;:: ~-.'\no.e.tell: Bcfors e11 d1 r • ! 1l l\n' ~·' . · .......... ............ ..................... ..... .-....\n·· -·: .\n. · ~: rCJ\"10v crdir 01n\n. .......................... ,, ...\nj :::-&;~):1 : >;::1 :·-: :.:v-! ;. : :~:.\n: : ~#·. :.•.:.:.· '.::-.:: s .; .~:~ 4! ~Y. J ::: ~ .. ~,~ .\n: ('~#~ ;: :-.~$. c ~ ! ~!);~ . S'·) .. ~ '. . .:.·.:\n: ::. .. ~.·1 -:.~ ::.· •n v -J>..lv.-~·~: <. .-. ~ ·\nRational for submitred changes to 49 CFR J 80.200 - 215\n180.209 (b)(l)(ii) Removed hammer test. I have never heard of a single cylinder being\ncondemned for corrosion that was detected by the hanuner test. Furthennorc, no one is\ndisassembling banks of cylinders in order to do the hammer lest \"each time it is filled\".\nAnd more importantly, that is a fill operation, not part of the requalification. It is more\nappropriate to simply disallow these applications from the 10 year test. Added \"cascade\"\n'\n·\n·\n.. ) .,, .. ) .\\ .. ..... , .~ ~~ -;- . ..,...,..,. ,,, ... . ... ~. ;;.;,.. ................ ....... ....... .... .. .. ... .. ... ... .\nThe last sentence above is significant, as the qualification to 10years should not be subject to a 'fill\noperation' that the qualification has no control over. The NPRM is written to remove these cylinders as\ncandidates for 1 Oyear interval between HT.\nThe NPRM in 49 CFR 180.209 (a) Periodic qualification of cylinder for DOT 3A, 3AA has removed the\noption for 10years, giving a 5 or 12year option.\n~equ . .:ii; ~ . .-~:i~ ; p psr . .::·IJ\n~,.~~i::;ur~ h:-<:~ pr~:;~· t :rn\n::p:~:,.~i I\n1. ~· f ~;;:: SJ\n.! G~:r; :'.: :'Y;} ... . . ..... .\nS/'3 ~i : :i -r ,:; fc~:·\\::r6 µ:(' ;~:l:..tQ , tl~!:~p: r:n::r;~\".·tr~· !..\n5~· '.':? ~~-~ry': ~ ~ . ! ~~ ~ :,t:;1 ~\\:~f l~ . :} ..\n•\nQantas Airways Limited\n/1 n ~i 1 & OO'! 66. ~J·\nqantas.com\n\n<<<PAGE 10>>>\n\n~ QANTAS\nHowever, in 49 CFR 180.209 (b) There remains requirements to meet a 1 Oyear requalification\n1 o years instead of every 5 ars\nprovided e cylinder conforms to all of\nthe 1 conditions:\nIn 49 CFR 180.209(ii) the requirement is for the \"cylinder not used in any cascade, bank, group, rack\nor vehicle.\"\nThe existing requirement for 49 CFR 180.209 b(iii) \"the cylinder is removed from any cluster, bank,\ngroup, rack or vehicle\".\nQantas has understood this to advise that the cylinder is removed from its location and filled away\nfrom its installation. Many of the cylinders Qantas have installed are single cylinders and we also note\nthat the DOT differentiates between vehicles and aircraft in other rules but the term aircraft is not\nmentioned in 49 CFR180.209 b(iii).\nQantas conducts an internal examination of the cylinder with a bright light, which is a superior\ninspection for corrosion than the hammer test.\nIf the understanding above is correct, we would consider that Qantas can remain certifying the 3AA\ncylinders to 1 Oyears.\nCould the DOT please clarify the option to requalify cylinders to 1 Oyears and confirm that a bright light\ncorrosion inspection is required only at re-fill (lower than 50PSI) not 'top-up'.\nIf possible Qantas would like to arrange a telecon, at your convenience, to discuss this topic with your\nrepresentative(s).\nYours sin\nNeil Smith\nCabin Fleet Manager - International & Domestic Fleets\nEngineering Services\nQantas Airways Limited\nPhone +61 2 9691 0548 I Mobile +61 402 38 65 69 I Email: neil.smith@qantas.com.au\n•\nQantas Airways Limited\nABN 16 009 661 901\nqantas.com","truncated":false,"body_characters":16740}