{"operation":"document","citation":"26-0059","title":"Hydro Stat, LLC — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2026-07-23","effective_on":null,"summary":"26-0059 response to Hydro Stat, LLC concerning 180.205.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-26-0059.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-26-0059.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-26-0059","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2026-07/260059.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\n5/12/26, 10:00 AM USDOT Mail - Fwd: \"Letter OF Interpretation Request\"\nBaker, Y.\n26-0059\nFwd: \"Letter OF Interpretation Request\"\n1 message\nINFOCNTR (PHMSA) <infocntr.infocntr@dot.gov> To: \"Baker, Yul (PHMSA)\" <yul.baker@dot.gov>, Hazmat Interps <hazmatinterps@dot.gov>\nMon, May 11, 2026 at 2:45 PM\nGood afternoon,\nPlease see the letter of interpretation request below. Let us know if you need anything else.\nBest,\nJanaye\n---------- Forwarded message ---------\nFrom: Matt Buys <matt_hydrostat@yahoo.com>\nDate: Mon, May 11, 2026 at 9:34 AM\nSubject: \"Letter OF Interpretation Request\"\nTo: infocntr@dot.gov <infocntr@dot.gov>\nMy name is Matthew Buys I'm the divisional manager for Hydro Stat LLC.\nWe are a DOT licensed hydrostatic cylinder recertifying facility located in Holly Michigan.\nI'm looking to get an approval to use a Pulse Laser Cleaning Machine as an alternative to shot blasting to remove clear\ncoat and paint from aluminum and steel high pressure gas cylinders for refurbishing purposes.\nThe manufacture Catalina stated that this is a recommended and approved method for this service but it's not in the CGA\nor CFR. So I'm requesting a letter of interpretation please.\nThe machine I'm currently looking at is a hand operated, air cooled class 4 Pulse Laser Cleaning Machine (SFX Model\nAPC 500 IOT) that produces zero damage to the substrate surface. The light source is soft and controllable and non\ndestructive. The laser vaporizes the clear coat and or paint from the surface of an aluminum or steel cylinder without any\nsurface damage to the cylinder itself. The vapor created during the process gets collected in a separate vapor extraction\nfiltered machine. I feel this would be much safer and faster method then shot blasting.\nMatthew Buys - Divisional Manager\nHydro Stat LLC\nP.O.Box 510 Warren, MI 48015 (mailing address)\n203 John St Holly, MI 48442 (physical address)\nPH:586-755-2460\nCell: 810-293-2775\nSFX Air Cooled Laser Cleaner Technical Specifications:\nModel: APC-500(IOT)\nLaser Power: 200W 300W 500W\nLaser Wavelength: 1070±10nm\nOperation Mode: Pulse\nPulse Width: 100-500ns\nModulation Frequency: 1-3000KHz\nLaser Fiber Length: 5m (Customizable)\nScanning Width: 0-100mm\nhttps://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=76db1044b4&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1864918785986188804&simpl=msg-f:1864918785986188804 1/2\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\n5/12/26, 10:00 AM Input Voltage: AC110~220V±10%\nInput Power: 1.5KW 2KW 1.5KW 2KW\nCooling Method: Air Cooling\nAmbient Temperature: -5°C~37℃\nAmbient Humidity: 40%-80%\nMachine Size: 580*430*630mm\nPackaging Size: 700*500*770mm\nNet Weight: ≤55kg, ≤54kg, ≤57kg, ≤56kg\nGross Weight: ≤70kg, ≤73kg, ≤72kg\nUSDOT Mail - Fwd: \"Letter OF Interpretation Request\"\nhttps://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=76db1044b4&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1864918785986188804&simpl=msg-f:1864918785986188804 2/2\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\nJuly 23, 2026\nMatthew Buys\nDivisional Manager\nHydro Stat, LLC\nP.O. Box 510\nWarren, MI 48015\nReference No. 26-0059\nDear Mr. Buys:\nThis letter is in response to your May 11, 2026 email requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the removal of paint or loose\nmaterial from cylinders under § 180.205(f)(6). Your email discusses the use of a pulse laser\ncleaning machine as an authorized alternative to shot blasting for the removal of clearcoat and\npaint from aluminum and steel high-pressure gas cylinders. You add that the use of pulse laser\ncleaning machines are not specifically mentioned in the HMR or any Compressed Gas\nAssociation (CGA) publications for visual inspection of steel and aluminum cylinders.\nSpecifically, you ask whether a device that relies on a laser to remove clear coat and paint may\nbe used for the preparation and cleaning of a cylinder for inspection in accordance\n§ 180.205(f)(6) of the HMR.\nYes. Neither the HMR nor the CGA standards for visual inspection of steel and aluminum\ncylinders restrict specific devices for removing paint or loose material. While shot blasting is\nmentioned in § 180.205(f)(6), it is meant to be an example, and not a limitation to using other\nmethods. Note that cleaning methods that could remove cylinder material and reduce wall\nthickness are not permitted under this section.\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nPlease also note that any evidence of the removal of wall thickness via grinding, sanding, or\nother means, except in association with an authorized repair (see § 180.205(d)(4)), would\ntrigger the cylinder to require full testing and inspection under § 180.205.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nDirk Der Kinderen\nChief, Standards Development Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division","truncated":false,"body_characters":4864}