# Hydro Stat, LLC — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation - **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:** Not available - **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:** <<>> 5/12/26, 10:00 AM USDOT Mail - Fwd: "Letter OF Interpretation Request" Baker, Y. 26-0059 Fwd: "Letter OF Interpretation Request" 1 message INFOCNTR (PHMSA) To: "Baker, Yul (PHMSA)" , Hazmat Interps Mon, May 11, 2026 at 2:45 PM Good afternoon, Please see the letter of interpretation request below. Let us know if you need anything else. Best, Janaye ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Matt Buys Date: Mon, May 11, 2026 at 9:34 AM Subject: "Letter OF Interpretation Request" To: infocntr@dot.gov My name is Matthew Buys I'm the divisional manager for Hydro Stat LLC. We are a DOT licensed hydrostatic cylinder recertifying facility located in Holly Michigan. I'm looking to get an approval to use a Pulse Laser Cleaning Machine as an alternative to shot blasting to remove clear coat and paint from aluminum and steel high pressure gas cylinders for refurbishing purposes. The manufacture Catalina stated that this is a recommended and approved method for this service but it's not in the CGA or CFR. So I'm requesting a letter of interpretation please. The machine I'm currently looking at is a hand operated, air cooled class 4 Pulse Laser Cleaning Machine (SFX Model APC 500 IOT) that produces zero damage to the substrate surface. The light source is soft and controllable and non destructive. The laser vaporizes the clear coat and or paint from the surface of an aluminum or steel cylinder without any surface damage to the cylinder itself. The vapor created during the process gets collected in a separate vapor extraction filtered machine. I feel this would be much safer and faster method then shot blasting. Matthew Buys - Divisional Manager Hydro Stat LLC P.O.Box 510 Warren, MI 48015 (mailing address) 203 John St Holly, MI 48442 (physical address) PH:586-755-2460 Cell: 810-293-2775 SFX Air Cooled Laser Cleaner Technical Specifications: Model: APC-500(IOT) Laser Power: 200W 300W 500W Laser Wavelength: 1070±10nm Operation Mode: Pulse Pulse Width: 100-500ns Modulation Frequency: 1-3000KHz Laser Fiber Length: 5m (Customizable) Scanning Width: 0-100mm https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=76db1044b4&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1864918785986188804&simpl=msg-f:1864918785986188804 1/2 <<>> 5/12/26, 10:00 AM Input Voltage: AC110~220V±10% Input Power: 1.5KW 2KW 1.5KW 2KW Cooling Method: Air Cooling Ambient Temperature: -5°C~37℃ Ambient Humidity: 40%-80% Machine Size: 580*430*630mm Packaging Size: 700*500*770mm Net Weight: ≤55kg, ≤54kg, ≤57kg, ≤56kg Gross Weight: ≤70kg, ≤73kg, ≤72kg USDOT Mail - Fwd: "Letter OF Interpretation Request" https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=76db1044b4&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1864918785986188804&simpl=msg-f:1864918785986188804 2/2 <<>> 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration July 23, 2026 Matthew Buys Divisional Manager Hydro Stat, LLC P.O. Box 510 Warren, MI 48015 Reference No. 26-0059 Dear Mr. Buys: This letter is in response to your May 11, 2026 email requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the removal of paint or loose material from cylinders under § 180.205(f)(6). Your email discusses the use of a pulse laser cleaning machine as an authorized alternative to shot blasting for the removal of clearcoat and paint from aluminum and steel high-pressure gas cylinders. You add that the use of pulse laser cleaning machines are not specifically mentioned in the HMR or any Compressed Gas Association (CGA) publications for visual inspection of steel and aluminum cylinders. Specifically, you ask whether a device that relies on a laser to remove clear coat and paint may be used for the preparation and cleaning of a cylinder for inspection in accordance § 180.205(f)(6) of the HMR. Yes. Neither the HMR nor the CGA standards for visual inspection of steel and aluminum cylinders restrict specific devices for removing paint or loose material. While shot blasting is mentioned in § 180.205(f)(6), it is meant to be an example, and not a limitation to using other methods. Note that cleaning methods that could remove cylinder material and reduce wall thickness are not permitted under this section. <<>> Please also note that any evidence of the removal of wall thickness via grinding, sanding, or other means, except in association with an authorized repair (see § 180.205(d)(4)), would trigger the cylinder to require full testing and inspection under § 180.205. I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance. Sincerely, Dirk Der Kinderen Chief, Standards Development Branch Standards and Rulemaking Division - **truncated:** false - **body characters:** 4864