{"operation":"document","citation":"17-0137","title":"Precision Fabricators Ltd. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2018-03-30","effective_on":null,"summary":"17-0137 response to Precision Fabricators Ltd. concerning 173.301.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-17-0137.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-17-0137.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-17-0137","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/57856/170137.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nof Transportatior\nJ.S. Department\nWashington, DC 20590\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nPipeline and Hazardous\nAdministration\nMaterials Safety\nMAR 3 0 2018\nDavid Diamond\nCEO\nPrecision Fabricators Ltd.\n171 Tosca Drive\nStoughton, MA 02072\nReference No. 17-0137\nDear Mr. Diamond:\nThis letter is in response to your November 30, 2017, email requesting clarification of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to cylinders.\nSpecifically, you ask whether a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) specification 4B\ncylinder may be used to transport 500 cubic centimeters (0.5 liter) of anhydrous ammonia\nmixture, of which half the cylinder will have anhydrous ammonia (liquid form) while the other\nhalf will have ammonia gas (vapor form).\nDOT 4B cylinders are not authorized for anhydrous ammonia. The Column 8B entry for\n\"UN1005, Anhydrous, ammonia\" under the Hazardous Materials Table (HMT; § 172.101)\nrequires this material to be placed in a non-bulk cylinder prescribed in § 173.304. DOT 4B\ncylinders are not included in the list of DOT cylinders authorized for use with anhydrous\nammonia in § 173.304a(a)(2). Furthermore, the Column 8A entry under the HMT specifies there\nare no packaging exceptions for UN1005.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\n7. Alans Foota\nT. Glenn Foster\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nenman\n173.301\nJanuary, Ikeya CTR (PHMSA)\nMinders\nFrom:\nINFOCNTR (PHMSA)\n17-0137\nSent:\nFriday, December 15, 2017 2:09 PM\nTo:\nHazmat Interps\nSubject:\nFW: Request for interpretation\nImportance:\nHigh\nHello All,\nPlease see the below interp request.\nThanks!\n-Breanna\nFrom: David B. Diamond [mailto:DDiamond@precision-fab.com]\nSent: Thursday, November 30, 2017 5:37 PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) <INFOCNTR.INFOCNTR@dot.gov>\nSubject: Request for interpretation\nImportance: High\nDear PHMSA,\nWe are manufacturer M1114 making 316L stainless steel DOT4B cylinders and we have a customer seeking a cylinder to\ntransport ½ Liter (500cc) of anhydrous ammonia. However, only half of the cylinder will have anhydrous ammonia (in\nliquid form) - the other half will have ammonia gas (ammonia in vapor phase). Maximum pressure will be 125psi. Due\nto the anticipated volume, this link (https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/faq/anhydrous-ammonia-covered-under-hazardous-\nmaterials-safety-permit-program) suggests that this is not subject to the Hazardous Materials Safety Permit Program\nWe would like to determine if we may use a DOT4B300 cylinder for this application - we propose to fabricate a 4B 500cc\nvessel with inlet and outlet ports both employing diaphragm valves. The cylinder will be pressure tested, helium leak\ntested (under vacuum to 1x10-9 atm-cc/sec) and hydrostatic expansion tested as per 4B requirements. CFR 49 Section\n173.301 specifically permits DOT4B vessels - see below:\n§ 173.301 General requirements for shipment of compressed gases and\nother hazardous materials in cylinders, UN pressure receptacles and spherical\npressure vessels.\n(a)General qualifications for use of cylinders. Unless otherwise stated, as used in this section, the term\n\"cylinder\" includes a UN pressure receptacle. As used in this subpart, filled or charged means an introduction or\ntransportation must meet the requirements in this section and §$ 173.301a through 173.305, as applicable.\npresence of a hazardous material in a cylinder. A cylinder filled with a Class 2 hazardous material (gas) and offered for\nmetal cylinders and containers built in accordance with the DOT and ICC specifications and part 178 of this\n(1) Compressed gases must be in UN pressure receptacles built in accordance with the UN standards or in\nspecifications authorized for use are as follows:\nA table follows in CFR 49 173.301 which allows 4B cylinders.\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\n173.301 (pasted above - if interpreted in this fashion, a 500cc 4B cylinder would be allowed)\n173.304a does not cite 4B cylinders for use with anhydrous ammonia (if interpreted directly, a 4B cylinder would not be\nallowed)\n173.306 makes an allowance for refillable containers below .95L in volume (if interpreted in this fashion, a 500cc 4B\ncylinder would be allowed)\n173.313 permits a UN pressure vessel (if interpreted in this fashion, a 500cc 4B cylinder would be allowed)\n173.276 permits a heat treated vessel for anhydrous ammonia (if interpreted in this fashion, a heat treated 500cc 4B\ncylinder would be allowed)\nPrecision Fabricators\n171 Tosca Drive\nStoughton, MA 02072\nPlease welcome PFL's new Office Manager, Marisa Arai; marai@precisionfab.net, ext 201\nPlease welcome PFL's new Operations Leader, Shaun White; swhite@precisionfab.net, ext 234\nDavid Diamond, CEO\n+1.781.341.7242 x200 OFfice\nTUV\nSOD\nwwww.precisionfab.net\nISO 9001\n2","truncated":false,"body_characters":4832}