{"operation":"document","citation":"20-0088","title":"National Presto Safety — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2021-03-24","effective_on":null,"summary":"20-0088 response to National Presto Safety concerning 178.35, 180.205, 180.209.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-20-0088.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-20-0088.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-20-0088","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/74816/200088.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nMarch 24, 2021\nJ.R. Nerat\nSenior Technical Director\nNational Presto Safety\n3925 North Hastings Way\nEau Claire, WI 54703\nReference No. 20-0088\nDear Mr. Nerat:\nThis is in response to your November 12, 2020, letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the periodic cylinder\nrequalification period for Department of Transportation (DOT) specification 3AL cylinders used\nas fire extinguishers. Your questions are paraphrased and answered below.\nQ1. You ask whether the requalification periods identified in Table 1 to paragraph (a) of\n§ 180.209 are intended to establish the maximum periodic cylinder requalification\nintervals for DOT cylinders.\nA1. The testing intervals established in Table 1 to paragraph (a) of § 180.209 are the\nmaximum time frame allowed between testing intervals for each respective cylinder\nspecification. However, the HMR does not prevent the requalification of cylinders in\nmore frequent intervals than required.\nQ2. You ask whether § 180.209 allows a fire extinguisher manufacturer to specify a shorter\nmaximum 10-year periodic retest interval in lieu of the referenced longer 12-year\nperiodic interval for DOT 3AL cylinders.\nA2. As stated in A1, the requirements in § 180.209 would not prevent cylinders from being\ntested on a more frequent basis than what is required by the HMR. Specifically,\n§ 180.205(c) states that “a cylinder may be requalified at any time during or before the\nmonth and year that the requalification is due.”\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nQ3. You ask whether the HMR permits additional markings to assist fillers in properly\ndifferentiating and identifying the applicable recommended DOT periodic cylinder\nrequalification requirements.\nA3. As stated in A2, the HMR does not prevent a cylinder manufacturer from recommending\nshorter testing intervals for cylinders. Section 178.35(f)(6) provides that “other markings\nare authorized provided they are made in low stress areas other than the side wall and are\nnot of a size and depth that will create harmful stress concentrations. Such marks may\nnot conflict with any DOT required markings.” Therefore, markings recommending\nshorter requalification time frames would be permitted on a cylinder provided they are in\ncompliance with § 178.35(f)(6). Please note that a cylinder marking recommending\nrequalification at shorter intervals than required in § 180.209 may cause confusion and\nPHMSA does not recommend this practice.\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 3>>>\n\nAndrews\nFrom: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nTo: Subject: Date: Attachments: Dodd, Alice (PHMSA); Hazmat Interps\nFW: DOT Interpretation CFR-49 part 180.209\nFriday, November 13, 2020 12:22:04 PM\nDOT 3AL formal interpretation request submited Nov 12, 2020.docx\n20-0088\nHi Alice,\nPlease see attached for a letter of interpretation request.\nPlease contact our office with any questions.\nThank you,\nSarah (HMIC)\nFrom: J.R. Nerat [mailto:jrnerat@gopresto.com]\nSent: Thursday, November 12, 2020 4:27 PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) <INFOCNTR.INFOCNTR@dot.gov>\nSubject: DOT Interpretation CFR-49 part 180.209\nCAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Do not click on links or\nopen attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.\nNovember 12, 2020\nDepartment of Transportation\nPipeline and Hazard Material Safety Administration\nPhone: 202-366-4488 (1)\nAttention: Mr. Shane Kelly\nSubject: (CFR-49 part 180.209) Formal Request for Interpretation\nDear Sir,\nPlease see attached request.\nSincerely,\nJ.R. Nerat\nSenior Technical Director\nNational Presto Safety\n3925 North Hastings Way\nEau Claire, WI 54703\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\n(906) 753-3199 direct office line\n(906) 290-0000 cell","truncated":false,"body_characters":4045}