85380 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 248 / Monday, December 28, 2020 / Rules and Regulations 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 

Safety Administration 

49 CFR Parts 107, 171, 173, 178 and 

180 

[Docket No. PHMSA–2011–0140 (HM–234)] 

RIN 2137–AE80 

Hazardous Materials: Miscellaneous 

Amendments Pertaining to DOTSpecification Cylinders 

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous 

Materials Safety Administration 

(PHMSA), Department of Transportation 

(DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: PHMSA is amending the 

Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) 

to revise certain requirements 

applicable to the manufacture, use, and 

requalification of DOT-specification 

cylinders. PHMSA is taking this action 

in response to petitions for rulemaking 

submitted by stakeholders and agency 

review of compressed gas cylinder 

regulations. Specifically, PHMSA is 

incorporating by reference or updating 

the references to several Compressed 

Gas Association publications, amending 

the filling requirements for compressed 

and liquefied gases, expanding the use 

of salvage cylinders, and revising and 

clarifying the manufacture and 

requalification requirements for 

cylinders. 

DATES: 

Effective date: January 27, 2021. 

Incorporation by reference date: The 

incorporation by reference of certain 

publications listed in this rule is 

approved by the Director of the Federal 

Register as of January 27, 2021. The 

incorporation by reference of other 

publications listed in this rule were 

previously approved by the Director of 

the Federal Register as of January 1, 

2004 (ASTM E 8–99 and Welding 

Aluminum: Theory and Practice, Fourth 

Edition) and May 11, 2020 (Transport 

Canada TDG Regulations). 

Compliance Date: Unless otherwise 

specified, compliance with the 

amendments adopted in this final rule 

is required beginning December 28, 

2021. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Eamonn Patrick, Standards and 

Rulemaking Division, and Mark 

Toughiry, Mechanical Engineer, 

Engineering and Research Division, 

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 

Administration, U.S. Department of 

Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, at 

(202) 366–8553. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Executive Summary 

II. ANPRM Background 

III. NPRM Background 

IV. Petitions for Rulemaking and Comments 

Received 

V. Special Permits and Comments Received 

VI. Agency Initiated Editorial Corrections 

VII. Section-by-Section Review 

VIII. Regulatory Analyses and Notices 

A. Statutory/Legal Authority for This Final 

Rule 

B. Executive Order 12866 and DOT 

Policies and Procedures for Rulemakings 

C. Executive Order 13771 

D. Executive Order 13132 

E. Executive Order 13175 

F. Regulatory Flexibility Act, Executive 

Order 13272, and DOT Procedures and 

Policies 

G. Paperwork Reduction Act 

H. Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) 

I. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 

J. Environmental Assessment 

K. Privacy Act 

L. Executive Order 13609 and International 

Trade Analysis 

M. National Technology Transfer and 

Advancement Act 

I. Executive Summary 

Cylinders filled with a Class 2 

hazardous material (gas) or other 

hazardous materials and offered for 

transportation must comply with 

various requirements of the Hazardous 

Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR 

parts 171–180). These include 49 CFR 

part 173, subpart G, which sets forth the 

requirements for preparing and 

packaging gases; 49 CFR part 178, 

subpart C, which sets forth the 

specifications for cylinders (i.e., how 

they should be constructed); and 49 CFR 

part 180, subpart C, which sets forth the 

requirements for repair, maintenance, 

and periodic requalification of 

cylinders. Additionally, cylinders must 

meet other requirements in the HMR, 

such as regulations that address the 

modal requirements on cylinders in 

transportation including general 

handling, loading, unloading, and 

stowage. 

PHMSA (also referred to herein as 

‘‘we’’ or ‘‘us’’), in response to petitions 

for rulemaking submitted by 

stakeholders and an Agency initiated 

review of the regulations, is making 

changes to the HMR, including but not 

limited to the following: Incorporating 

by reference or updating references to 

several Compressed Gas Association 

(CGA) publications; amending the 

filling requirements for compressed and 

liquefied gases; expanding the use of 

salvage cylinders; and revising and 

clarifying the manufacture and 

requalification requirements for 

cylinders. This final rule is also 

presenting minor and miscellaneous 

regulatory editorial corrections. These 

revisions are collectively intended to 

result in a net reduction of regulatory 

burdens while maintaining or 

enhancing the existing level of safety of 

hazardous materials transported in 

cylinders. Based on the regulatory 

impact analysis conducted in support of 

this final rule, PHMSA estimates that 

adoption of this final rule will result in 

net cost savings of approximately $.70 

million over 10 years, or $70,000 

annualized (undiscounted). 

II. ANPRM Background 

On May 29, 2012, PHMSA published 

an Advance Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking (ANPRM) to obtain public 

comment from those likely to be 

affected by the possible adoption of ten 

petitions for rulemaking and three 

special permits (SP) into the HMR (77 

FR 31551). Commenters included 

cylinder manufacturers, cylinder 

requalifiers, independent inspection 

agencies, commercial establishments 

that own and use DOT-specification 

cylinders and UN pressure receptacles, 

and individuals who export non-UN/ 

ISO compressed gas cylinders. The 

ANPRM proposed adopting the 

petitions for rulemaking and special 

permits to update and expand the use of 

currently authorized industry consensus 

standards; revise the construction, 

marking, and testing requirements of 

DOT 4-series cylinders; clarify the 

filling requirements for cylinders; 

discuss the handling of cylinders used 

in a fire suppression system; and revise 

the requalification and condemnation 

requirements for cylinders. 

The ANPRM comment period closed 

on August 27, 2012. PHMSA received 

comments from 13 stakeholders, 

including compressed gas and/or 

cylinder manufacturers, cylinder testers, 

and trade associations representing the 

compressed gas industry or shippers of 

hazardous materials. Most comments 

either answered questions PHMSA 

posed in the ANPRM or responded to 

multiple petitions and/or special 

permits. Regarding the petitions, the 

comments received were mostly 

supportive for all of the petitions, with 

the exception of P–1515. PHMSA 

received four comments regarding the 

special permits and all supported their 

adoption into the HMR. A list of the 

commenters, along with the related 

Docket ID Number, is shown in Table 1 

below: 


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TABLE 1—ANPRM COMMENTERS AND ASSOCIATED COMMENT DOCKET NO. 

Company Docket ID No. 

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc .................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0004 

PHMSA–2011–0140–0008 

PHMSA–2011–0140–0018 

Bancroft Hinchley ............................................................................................................................................................ PHMSA–2011–0149–0024 

Barlen and Associates, Inc ............................................................................................................................................. PHMSA–2011–0140–0019 

City Carbonic, LLC ......................................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0029 

Compressed Gas Association (CGA) ............................................................................................................................. PHMSA–2011–0140–0005 

PHMSA–2011–0140–0012 

PHMSA–2011–0140–0013 

PHMSA–2011–0140–0020 

Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles, Inc. (COSTHA) ....................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0026 

CTC Certified Training .................................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0001 

PHMSA–2011–0140–0023 

PHMSA–2011–0140–0030 

HMT Associates .............................................................................................................................................................. PHMSA–2011–0140–0002 

PHMSA–2011–0140–0021 

Hydro-Test Products, Inc ................................................................................................................................................ PHMSA–2011–0140–0017 

Manchester Tank ............................................................................................................................................................ PHMSA–2011–0140–0016 

Norris Cylinder ................................................................................................................................................................ PHMSA–2011–0140–0025 

SodaStream USA, Inc .................................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0027 

Worthington Cylinder Corporation .................................................................................................................................. PHMSA–2011–0140–0028 

Please see the HM–234 notice of 

proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published 

on July 26, 2016 (81 FR 48978) for a 

detailed discussion of comments made 

to the ANPRM. 

III. NPRM Background 

On July 26, 2016, PHMSA published 

an NPRM to obtain public comment on 

changes proposed to the HMR (81 FR 

48978). The NPRM addressed 20 total 

petitions, one special permit, and 

several PHMSA-initiated editorial 

changes intended to clarify HMR 

requirements. After publication of the 

NPRM, PHMSA received comments 

from 44 stakeholders on the proposed 

changes. A table of commenters is 

shown in Table 2 below: 

TABLE 2—NPRM COMMENTERS AND ASSOCIATED COMMENT DOCKET NO. 

Company Docket ID No. 

Alaska Airlines ................................................................................................................................................................ PHMSA–2011–0140–0036 

Amerex ............................................................................................................................................................................ PHMSA–2011–0140–0061 

AmeriGas Propane, L.P .................................................................................................................................................. PHMSA–2011–0140–0066 

Amtrol .............................................................................................................................................................................. PHMSA–2011–0140–0063 

PHMSA–2011–0140–0058 

Bancroft Hinchey Inc ...................................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0071 

Compressed Gas Association (CGA) ............................................................................................................................. PHMSA–2011–0140–0052 

Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles (COSTHA) ............................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0083 

CTC (Certified Training Co.) ........................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0057 

PHMSA–2011–0140–0042 

Danko Emergency Equipment Co .................................................................................................................................. PHMSA–2011–0140–0044 

Dow Chemical Company ................................................................................................................................................ PHMSA–2011–0140–0060 

Entegris ........................................................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0082 

FIBA ................................................................................................................................................................................ PHMSA–2011–0140–0074 

PHMSA–2011–0140–0041 

Fike Corporation ............................................................................................................................................................. PHMSA–2011–0140–0077 

Fire Suppression Systems Association (FSSA) ............................................................................................................. PHMSA–2011–0140–0047 

Firehouse Hydro Sales and Service ............................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0067 

Ford Motor Company ...................................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0055 

Galiso Incorporated ........................................................................................................................................................ PHMSA–2011–0140–0062 

Hidroprob S.A ................................................................................................................................................................. PHMSA–2011–0140–0079 

HMT Associates, LLC ..................................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0049 

Honeywell ....................................................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0084 

Hydro-Test Products Inc ................................................................................................................................................. PHMSA–2011–0140–0033 

Independent Cylinder Training (ICT) .............................................................................................................................. PHMSA–2011–0140–0068 

Janus Fire Systems ........................................................................................................................................................ PHMSA–2011–0140–0069 

Kidde-Fenwal, Inc ........................................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0065 

Manchester Tank ............................................................................................................................................................ PHMSA–2011–0140–0050 

Wesley Scott ................................................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0080 

Chart, Inc ........................................................................................................................................................................ PHMSA–2011–0140–0078 

Guardian Services, Inc ................................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0072 

Joshua Blake .................................................................................................................................................................. PHMSA–2011–0140–0059 

Jeff Elliot ......................................................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0043 

David Felkins .................................................................................................................................................................. PHMSA–2011–0140–0035 

W Andrews ..................................................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0034 


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TABLE 2—NPRM COMMENTERS AND ASSOCIATED COMMENT DOCKET NO.—Continued 

Company Docket ID No. 

Katherine Bowman ......................................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0032 

National Association of Fire Equipment Distributors ...................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0053 

National Propane Gas Association ................................................................................................................................. PHMSA–2011–0140–0070 

Noble Gas Solutions ....................................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0045 

Northeast Pressure Vessel Testing ................................................................................................................................ PHMSA–2011–0140–0046 

Praxair ............................................................................................................................................................................. PHMSA–2011–0140–0073 

Quality Safety Solutions, LLC ......................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0040 

Scuba Do ........................................................................................................................................................................ PHMSA–2011–0140–0081 

Steve Gentry ................................................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0086 

The Chemours Company FC, LLC ................................................................................................................................. PHMSA–2011–0140–0054 

Thunderbird Cylinder ...................................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0037 

Worthington Cylinder ...................................................................................................................................................... PHMSA–2011–0140–0064 

Most comments addressed more than 

one change proposed in the NPRM. The 

comments are discussed below in the 

context of each petition or other 

proposed changes it addresses. 

IV. Petitions for Rulemaking and 

Comments Received 

Table 3 lists the petitions included in 

the docket for this proceeding. The 

NPRM addressed 20 total petitions. The 

table below provides the petition 

number, the petitioner’s name, the 

docket number on www.regulations.gov, 

a summary of the request(s), the affected 

49 CFR sections, whether PHMSA 

proposed to adopt the petition in the 

NPRM, and the decision to adopt, adopt 

in part, or not adopt the petition in this 

final rule. 

TABLE 3—PETITION SUMMARY

Petition No. Petitioner Docket No. Summary Affected sections Proposed to adopt? Adopted? 

P–1499 ............ Compressed 

Gas Association.

PHMSA–2007–28485 Replace the incorporated by reference (IBR) Seventh Edition 

of the CGA C–6 Standards for 

Visual Inspection of Steel 

Compressed Gas Cylinders 

with the revised Tenth Edition 

and update the appropriate 

references throughout the 

HMR.

§§ 171.7; 172.102 (SP 

338); 173.3(d)(9); 

173.198(a); 

180.205(f)(1); 

180.209(c), (b)(1)(iii), 

(d), (f), (g), (m); 

180.211(d)(1)(ii); 

180.411(b); 

180.510(c).

Proposed to adopt ..... Adopted. 

P–1501 ............ Compressed 

Gas Association.

PHMSA–2007–28759 Revise the specification requirements for 4B, 4BA, 4BW, and 

4E cylinders to provide clarity.

§§ 178.50, 178.51, 

178.61, 178.68.

Proposed to adopt in 

part.

Adopted in part. 

P–1515 ............ Certified Training Company.PHMSA–2008–0101 ... Adopt changes to the requalification process designed to 

clarify the regulations in the 

event CGA Standard C–1, 

Methods of Pressure Testing 

Compressed Gas Cylinders, 

is not incorporated.

§§ 180.203, 180.205, 

180.207, 180.209, 

180.211, 180.212, 

180.213, and 180.215 

and appendices C 

and E to part 180.

Proposed to adopt, 

except those 

changes not necessary because of 

incorporation by reference of CGA C–1 

under P–1626.

Adopted in part. 

P–1521 ............ Compressed 

Gas Association.

PHMSA–2008–0152 ... Allow the use of labels described in CGA C–7–2004 on 

a cylinder contained in an 

overpack.

§ 172.400a(a)(1)(i) ........ Proposed to adopt ..... n/a; addressed 

by another 

rulemaking. 

P–1538 ............ The Wicks 

Group, representing 

Jetboil Inc.

PHMSA–2009–0138 ... Allow § 173.306(a)(1) to permit 

camping stove cylinders containing liquefied petroleum 

gas in amounts less than four 

(4) ounces to be shipped as 

consumer commodity (ORM– 

D). Define ‘‘capacity’’ in 

§ 171.8.

§§ 171.8, 173.306(a)(1) Not proposed to adopt Not adopted. 

P–1539 ............ Matheson TriGas.PHMSA–2009–0140 ... Allow DOT 3A, 3AA, 3AL cylinders in Division 2.2 Services 

to be retested every 15 years.

Allow DOT 3A, 3AA, and 3AL 

cylinders packaged with Division 2.1 materials to be requalified every 10 years.

§ 180.209(a) .................. Not proposed to adopt Not adopted. 

P–1540 ............ Compressed 

Gas Association.

PHMSA–2009–0146 ... Require newly manufactured 

DOT 4B, 4BA, 4BW, and 4E 

cylinders to be marked with 

the mass weight, tare weight, 

and water capacity.

§ 178.35(f) ..................... Proposed to adopt ..... Adopted. 

P–1546 ............ GSI Training 

Services, Inc.

PHMSA–2009–0250 ... Allow cylinders used as a component of a fixed fire suppression system to be transported 

under the exceptions applicable to fire extinguishers.

§ 173.309(a) .................. Proposed to adopt ..... Adopted in part. 


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TABLE 3—PETITION SUMMARY—Continued 

Petition No. Petitioner Docket No. Summary Affected sections Proposed to adopt? Adopted? 

P–1560 ............ Air Products 

and Chemicals, Inc.

PHMSA–2010–0176 ... Modify the maximum permitted 

filling densities for carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide to include 70.3%, 73.2%, and 

74.5% in DOT 3A, 3AA, 3AX, 

3AAX, and 3T cylinders.

§ 173.304a(a)(2) ........... Not proposed to 

adopt. Addressed 

by revisions made 

under rulemaking 

HM–233F [81 FR 

3635].

Not adopted. 

P–1563 ............ Regulatory Affairs Management Center—3M 

Package Engineering, 

Global Dangerous Goods.

PHMSA–2010–0208 ... Authorize an ‘‘overpack’’ as a 

strong outer package for cylinders listed in the section, 

except aerosols ‘‘2P’’ and 

‘‘2Q,’’ marked with the phrase 

‘‘inner packagings conform to 

the prescribed specifications’’.

§ 173.301(a)(9) ............. n/a; We asked for further comment.Not adopted. 

P–1572 ............ Barlen and Associates, Inc.PHMSA–2011–0017 ... Revise the filling ratio for liquefied compressed gases in 

MEGCs consistent with Packing Instruction (P200) of the 

United Nations (UN)—Model 

Regulations (17th ed. 2011), 

as specified in § 173.304b; 

and prohibit liquefied compressed gases in manifolded 

DOT cylinders from exceeding 

the filling densities specified 

in § 173.304a(a)(2).

§§ 173.301(g)(1)(ii) and 

173.312.

Proposed to adopt, in 

part.

Adopted, in 

part. 

P–1580 ............ HMT Associates PHMSA–2011–0123 ... Require the burst pressure of 

the rupture disc on a cylinder 

‘‘shall not exceed 80% of the 

minimum cylinder burst pressure and shall not be less 

than 105% of the cylinder test 

pressure’’ for DOT 39 cylinders containing oxidizing 

gas transported by aircraft.

§§ 173.301(f)(4), 

173.302(f)(2), 

173.304(f)(2).

Proposed to adopt ..... Adopted. 

P–1582 ............ Water Systems 

Council.

PHMSA–2011–0135 ... Revise the limited quantity exception for water pump system tanks to authorize transport of tanks manufactured to 

American National Standards 

Institute’s Water Systems 

Council Standard PST 2000— 

2005 (2009).

§ 173.306(g) .................. Proposed to adopt ..... Adopted. 

P–1592 ............ Compressed 

Gas Association.

PHMSA–2012–0173 ... IBR CGA S–1.1, 2011 Pressure 

Relief Device Standards, Part 

1, Cylinder for Compressed 

Gas, Fourteenth Edition.

§§ 173.301(c), (f) and 

(g), 173.302a(c), 

173.304a(e), 178.75(f).

Proposed to adopt ..... Adopted. 

P–1596 ............ Chemically 

Speaking, 

LLC.

PHMSA–2012–0200 ... Add Class 4 and Class 5 hazardous materials to the hazard classes in an authorized 

salvage cylinders.

§ 173.3(d)(1) ................. Proposed to adopt ..... Adopted. 

P–1622 ............ Worthington 

Cylinder.

PHMSA–2013–0210 ... Restrict the internal volume of 

hazardous materials shipped 

in a DOT-specification 39 cylinder to not exceed 75 cubic 

inches.

§ 173.304a(a)(2) and (3) Proposed to adopt ..... Adopted in part. 

P–1626 ............ Compressed 

Gas Association.

PHMSA–2013–0265 ... IBR CGA C–1–2009, Methods 

for Pressure Testing Compressed Gas Cylinders, Tenth 

Edition (C–1, 2009) as a reference in 49 CFR, and provide for specific language for 

sections affected.

§§ 171.7, 178.36, 

178.37, 178.38, 

178.39, 178.42, 

178.44, 178.45, 

178.46, 178.47, 

178.50, 178.51, 

178.53, 178.55, 

178.56, 178.57, 

178.58, 178.59, 

178.60, 178.61, 

178.65, 178.68, 

180.205, 180.209.

Proposed to adopt ..... Adopted. 

P–1628 ............ Compressed 

Gas Association.

PHMSA–2013–0278 ... IBR CGA C–3–2005, Reaffirmed 

2011, Standards for Welding 

on Thin-Walled, Steel Cylinders, Seventh Edition.

§§ 171.7, 178.47, 

178.50, 178.51, 

178.53, 178.55, 

178.56, 178.57, 

178.58, 178.59, 

178.60, 178.61, 

178.65, 178.68, 

180.211.

Proposed to adopt ..... Adopted. 


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TABLE 3—PETITION SUMMARY—Continued 

Petition No. Petitioner Docket No. Summary Affected sections Proposed to adopt? Adopted? 

P–1629 ............ Compressed 

Gas Association.

PHMSA–2014–0012 ... IBR CGA C–14–2005, Reaffirmed 2010, Procedures for 

Fire Testing of DOT Cylinder 

Pressure Relief Device Systems, Fourth Edition, as a reference in 49 CFR.

§§ 171.7, 173.301, 

173.323.

Proposed to adopt ..... Adopted. 

P–1630 ............ Compressed 

Gas Association.

PHMSA–2014–0027 ... Add the term ‘‘recondition’’ for 

DOT–4L welded insulated cylinders and revise language to 

clarify when a hydrostatic test 

must be performed on the 

inner containment vessel after 

the DOT–4L welded insulated 

cylinder has undergone repair.

§§ 180.203 and 

180.211(c) and (e).

Proposed to adopt ..... Not adopted. 

P–1499 

The Compressed Gas Association 

(CGA) submitted P–1499 requesting that 

PHMSA incorporate by reference the 

Tenth Edition of its publication C–6, 

dated 2005, Standards for Visual 

Inspection of Steel Compressed Gas 

Cylinders (CGA C–6), replacing the 

Seventh Edition, and update the 

appropriate references throughout the 

HMR. The Tenth Edition of the CGA C– 

6 provides enhanced guidance for 

cylinder requalifiers—including 

guidance on the inspection of MultipleElement Gas Containers (MEGCs) and 

thread inspection for cylinders used in 

corrosive gas service—and clarifies 

maximum allowable depths and 

measuring techniques for various types 

of corrosion. 

PHMSA agrees that the CGA C–6 

Tenth Edition provides improved and 

updated guidance on inspecting MEGCs. 

After the submission of this petition, the 

Eleventh Edition of the CGA C–6, dated 

2013, was made available. PHMSA, 

therefore, proposed in the NPRM to 

update the incorporated by reference 

version of CGA C–6 to the Eleventh 

Edition. PHMSA determined that the 

changes from the Tenth to the Eleventh 

Editions were minor and improved 

safety, while not imposing any 

additional burdens on the regulated 

community. 

Comments. Bancroft Hinchey, 

Worthington Cylinder, the National 

Association of Fire Equipment 

Distributors (NAFED) and CGA 

submitted comments supporting 

incorporation by reference of the 

Eleventh Edition of CGA C–6. 

Thunderbird Cylinder submitted a 

comment requesting revisions to CGA 

publication C–6.1, Standards for Visual 

Inspection of High Pressure Aluminum 

Compressed Gas Cylinders and CGA 

publication C–11, Recommended 

Practices for Inspection of Compressed 

Gas Cylinders at Time of Manufacture. 

PHMSA response. In this final rule, 

PHMSA is incorporating by reference 

the Eleventh Edition of the CGA C–6, as 

proposed. The Tenth Edition of the CGA 

C–6 provides enhanced guidance for 

cylinder requalifiers—including 

guidance on the inspection of MultipleElement Gas Containers (MEGCs) and 

thread inspection for cylinders used in 

corrosive gas service—and clarifies 

maximum allowable depths and 

measuring techniques for various types 

of corrosion. PHMSA has determined 

that the changes from the Tenth to the 

Eleventh Editions were minor and 

improved safety, while not imposing 

any additional burdens on the regulated 

community. The Eleventh edition of 

CGA C–6 is available for purchase 

online and will be available for public 

inspection at the Hazardous Material 

Information Center after publication of 

the final rule. 

Thunderbird Cylinder’s comment is 

beyond the scope of this rulemaking, 

but we encourage Thunderbird Cylinder 

or other interested parties to reach out 

to CGA regarding potential revisions to 

its publications and then, if warranted, 

to submit separate petitions for 

rulemaking requesting that PHMSA 

incorporate by reference the revised 

versions of CGA C–6.1 and C–11, 

respectively. 

P–1501 

CGA submitted P–1501 requesting 

that PHMSA revise the manufacturing 

requirements for DOT 4B, 4BA, 4BW, 

and 4E specification cylinders. CGA 

contends in their petition that the DOT 

4-series welded cylinder manufacturing 

specification standards in the HMR are 

unclear in some respects and result in 

varied interpretations of what is 

required of manufacturers by both 

manufacturers and enforcement 

personnel. CGA states in the petition 

that their proposed changes do not 

present a significant economic impact to 

any single manufacturer or user, yet will 

enhance regulatory clarity, promote 

consistent manufacturing practices, and 

create greater uniformity between the 

specifications for DOT 4-series cylinders 

and the requirements for welded 

cylinders found in International 

Organization for Standardization (ISO) 

Standard 4706–1, Gas cylinders— 

Refillable welded steel cylinders-Part 1: 

Test pressure 60 bar and below (ISO 

4706–1), which is referenced in the UN 

Model Regulations. The HMR currently 

incorporates ISO 4706–1 into § 178.71 

as an authorized standard for the design 

and construction of UN pressure 

receptacles. 

Comments. CGA submitted a 

comment reiterating their support for 

adoption of P–1501. Bancroft Hinchey 

submitted a comment supporting all 

proposed changes to the manufacturing 

specifications in §§ 178.36–178.70. 

A summary of the specific changes 

proposed by P–1501, the comments 

received relative to the proposed 

changes, if any, and PHMSA’s position 

and/or action are detailed below: 

(1) Revise the requirements for DOTspecification 4B, 4BA, 4BW, and 4E 

cylinders in §§ 178.50(b), 178.51(b), 

178.61(b), and 178.68(b), respectively, to 

ensure material compositions and the 

heat treatment are within the specified 

tolerances and are of uniform quality as 

follows: (1) Require a record of 

intentionally-added alloying elements, 

and (2) require materials manufactured 

outside of the United States to have a 

ladle analysis confirmed by a check 

analysis. 

Comments. We did not receive any 

comments regarding either proposal. 

PHMSA response. The provision 

regarding materials manufactured 

outside the United States having a ladle 

analysis confirmed by a check analysis 

is not necessary because § 178.35(c)(2) 

requires inspectors to verify that the 

material of construction meets the 

requirements of the applicable 

specification by: (1) Making a chemical 

analysis of each heat of material; (2) 

obtaining a certified chemical analysis 


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from the material manufacturer for each 

heat of material (a ladle analysis is 

acceptable); or (3) if an analysis is not 

provided for each heat of material by the 

material manufacturer, by making a 

check analysis of a sample from each 

coil, sheet, or tube. However, we do 

believe a record of intentionally added 

alloying elements will be useful for 

ensuring material compositions are 

within the specified tolerances. A 

cylinder made of material within 

specified tolerances is less susceptible 

to deterioration or failure from the wear 

and tear on a cylinder from pressure 

cycling and exposure to pressurized 

gases. 

PHMSA, therefore, is adopting the 

requirement for manufacturers to 

maintain a record of intentionally added 

alloying elements, as proposed. 

(2) Revise the pressure tests for DOTspecification 4B, 4BA, 4BW, and 4E 

cylinders in §§ 178.50(i), 178.51(i), 

178.61(i), and 178.68(h), respectively, to 

permit use of the volumetric expansion 

test, a hydrostatic proof pressure test or 

a pneumatic proof pressure test. 

Given the added risk associated with 

pneumatic testing (i.e., using 

pressurized gas for testing) and that 

there are suitable alternatives to 

determine whether a cylinder has a leak 

at the time of manufacture, PHMSA did 

not propose to permit the use of 

pneumatic proof pressure testing in the 

NPRM. 

Comments. Fike Corporation, the 

National Propane Gas Association 

(NPGA), AmeriGas Propane, Amtrol, 

Worthington Cylinder (Worthington) 

and Manchester Tank (Manchester) 

submitted comments opposing 

PHMSA’s decision to not permit the use 

of pneumatic proof pressure testing. 

Bancroft Hinchey and NAFED 

submitted comments supporting our 

decision to not permit the use of 

pneumatic proof pressure testing. 

PHMSA response. This final rule 

allows manufacturers to conduct 

pneumatic proof pressure tests, when 

proof pressure tests are authorized in 

part 178, subpart C. PHMSA is 

convinced by the comments from Fike, 

NPGA, Amerigas, Amtrol, Worthington, 

and Manchester that manufacturers 

currently account for the additional 

risks created by pneumatic proof 

pressure testing. PHMSA would like to 

emphasize that pneumatic proof 

pressure test systems can present 

increased risks to test personnel due to 

the amount of energy stored in a 

cylinder filled to test pressure with a 

gas. This stored energy, if released due 

to a cylinder failure, is sufficient to 

cause serious injury or death. 

Manufacturers must take this risk into 

account and develop systems to prevent 

the death or injury of their employees in 

the event of a catastrophic cylinder 

rupture at test pressure. The use of 

additional safety equipment such as 

blast shields, test cages, etc., is 

advisable to prevent possible injury to 

testing personnel and equipment. 

(3) Revise the physical and flattening 

tests and retest criteria for DOTspecification 4B, 4BA, 4BW, and 4E 

cylinders in §§ 178.50, 178.51, 178.61, 

and 178.68, respectively, for 

consistency. These revisions would 

clarify the location on the cylinder from 

which the test specimens are removed. 

(a) Elongation Criteria 

Fike Corporation submitted a 

comment requesting that we review the 

proposed revisions to the elongation 

criteria for specimens taken from DOT 

4B, 4BA and 4BW cylinders under 

§§ 178.50, 178.51, and 178.61, based on 

its opinion that we should not revise the 

criteria at this time. 

PHMSA response. We agree with Fike 

Corporation’s comment that PHMSA 

should not revise the elongation criteria. 

In reviewing the proposed changes 

based on comments received, we 

solicited comment from Steve Gentry, 

the original submitter of the elongation 

criteria modification to CGA, to provide 

additional justification for changing the 

elongation requirement to 20 percent for 

all specimens, regardless of gauge length 

in making our final determination on 

the proposed language based on CGA’s 

petition. 

Mr. Gentry justified the requested 

change based on international 

harmonization and consistency with 

other elongation criteria calculations in 

the HMR. However, PHMSA does not 

believe these justifications warrant 

making the requested change. First, 

changing the elongation requirement 

will not assist in harmonizing with 

international standards at this time. A 

review of Transport Canada standard 

B339–18 shows that Canada has not 

revised cylinder manufacturing 

standards to require a 20 percent 

elongation for all specimens (e.g. see 

CSA B339–18 5.8.3). Second, we believe 

that changing the elongation criteria 

will introduce confusion to the 

detriment of compliance with no 

measurable safety benefit. Current 

elongation criteria are well understood 

in the industry and we do not believe 

we have enough information at this time 

to make the requested change. 

Additionally, in response to Mr. 

Gentry’s final justification, we do not 

believe that the current elongation 

criteria for two inch specimens conflicts 

with the ‘‘24t’’ formula in 

§§ 178.50(k)(2), 178.51(j)(2), and 

178.61(k)(2). In §§ 178.50(k)(2), 

178.51(j)(2), and 178.61(k)(2), cylinder 

manufacturers may choose to conduct 

elongation tests on cylinder specimens 

with a set length of eight inches or two 

inches with width not over 1.5 inches, 

or use a cylinder specimen with a gauge 

length of 24 times the thickness of the 

wall with width not over 6 times the 

thickness, commonly known as a ‘‘24t’’ 

gauge length. Cylinder specimens with 

a gauge length of 2 inches must achieve 

elongation of at least 40 percent, while 

all other gauge lengths (i.e., the 24t 

gauge length) must achieve an 

elongation of at least 20 percent. Mr. 

Gentry identified several specific 

instances where a cylinder 

manufacturer utilizing the 24t gauge 

length option would use a calculated 

gauge length very close to 2 inches (e.g. 

a cylinder with a wall thickness of .0835 

inches would, using the 24t formula, 

have a specimen 2.004 inches long) 

which would be subject to an elongation 

requirement of 20 percent, rather than 

the 40 percent requirement for a 

standard 2-inch gauge specimen. Mr. 

Gentry believes that the 20 percent 

elongation requirement for the 2.004 

inch x .501-inch specimen calculated 

using the 24t method conflicts with the 

40 percent elongation requirement for 

the 2 inch x 11⁄2 inch specimen. 

A direct elongation comparison 

between specimens with 24t gauge 

length (GL) x 6t wide, and 2′′ GL x 11⁄2′′ 

width, however, is not valid because the 

load resisting cross-sectional areas are 

not the same even when nearly the same 

gauge lengths are used for both 

specimens. Essentially the ‘‘24t’’ gauge 

length specimen and the 2-inch 

specimen cannot be directly compared 

because their cross-sectional areas are 

different; therefore, it is correct to have 

different elongation criteria even when 

the ‘‘24t’’ specimen is very nearly 2 

inches long. PHMSA acknowledges that 

there may be room for improvement of 

the DOT 4-series cylinder elongation 

criteria associated with the physical and 

flattening tests and plans to continue 

reviewing the criteria for possible 

changes. 

(b) Non-Destructive Examination 

Fike Corporation submitted an 

additional comment opposing the 

proposed requirement to examine 

circumferential welds in addition to 

longitudinal welds using radioscopic or 

radiographic examination under 

proposed § 178.61(f), indicating that it 

believes this is a significant change. 

Regarding Fike Corporation’s comments 

on radioscopic or radiographic 

examination applicability, we agree. 


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The current requirements in 

§ 178.61(d)(3)(ii) require radioscopic or 

radiographic examination of the 

longitudinal weld only, except in the 

case of spot radioscopy or radiography. 

It was not our intent to impose new 

weld radioscopy or radiography 

requirements in this final rule. 

Therefore, in this final rule we are 

modifying the requirements in 

§ 178.61(d)(5) to clarify that radioscopic 

or radiographic examination of the 

circumferential weld is not required, 

except as part of spot radioscopy or 

radiography. Additionally, we are 

moving the proposed radiography 

examination language from § 178.61(f) 

to § 178.61(d)(5) in order to improve the 

organization of, and therefore, 

understanding of the section. 

(c) Specimen Test Failure 

In the NPRM, we proposed to amend 

the rejected cylinder paragraphs for 4B, 

4BA and 4E cylinders to align them 

with the provisions for 4BW cylinders. 

Specifically, we proposed to add a 

provision to §§ 178.50(n), 178.51(m), 

and 178.68(m) that would allow two 

additional specimens to be selected 

from the same lot and subjected to the 

prescribed test. If either of the two 

specimens failed the test, the entire lot 

would be rejected. 

No rationale was presented in P–1501 

for this change. Moreover, we received 

no comments on these specific 

provisions. We do not believe that a 

change to cylinder rejection criteria is 

warranted at this time because we do 

not have enough supporting information 

to justify the change, and therefore we 

will not amend the rejected cylinder 

language in this final rule. We may 

consider this action in a future 

rulemaking. 

(4) Revise §§ 178.50(n), 178.51(n), and 

178.61(o), and 178.68, respectively, for 

DOT-specification 4B, 4BA, 4BW, and 

4E cylinders to permit marking on the 

footring for cylinders with water 

capacities up to 30 pounds, instead of 

25 pounds. 

We received no comments regarding 

this item and are adopting the revision 

as proposed. 

(5) Add additional options for the 

location of markings on DOT 4E 

cylinders in § 178.68. 

We received no comments regarding 

this item and are adopting the addition 

as proposed. 

(6) Determination of Expansion. 

Related to P–1501, Worthington 

Cylinder submitted a comment 

requesting that we eliminate the 

requirement to determine expansion for 

non-spherical 4B, 4BA, and 4BW 

cylinders at time of manufacture. This 

comment is beyond the scope of this 

rulemaking. We encourage Worthington 

Cylinder or other interested parties to 

submit petitions on this issue. 

(7) Correction. 

In the review of the NPRM, PHMSA 

determined that we inadvertently 

replaced the word ‘‘rejected’’ with 

‘‘condemned’’ in several places in 

§§ 178.50, 178.51, 178.61, and 178.68. 

This was not our intent. In this final 

rule, we will maintain the HMR’s 

existing language for cylinders rejected 

during manufacture. 

P–1515 

The Certified Training Company 

(CTC) submitted P–1515 requesting that 

PHMSA make numerous revisions to the 

requirements for the requalification of 

DOT-specification cylinders found in 49 

CFR part 180, subpart C. Part 180, 

subpart C includes definitions for terms 

used in the subpart, references to CGA 

publications for the visual inspection of 

cylinders, and requirements for 

hydrostatically testing cylinders 

including methods to ensure the 

accuracy of test equipment. Many 

changes proposed in P–1515 were 

intended to align the requirements in 

part 180, subpart C with an industry 

standard for the requalification of gas 

cylinders known as CGA C–1, Methods 

for Pressure Testing Compressed Gas 

Cylinders (CGA C–1). CTC 

acknowledged that the preferred 

outcome would be to incorporate by 

reference CGA C–1 into part 180, 

subpart C, but the petitioner presented 

an option whereby PHMSA could adopt 

many of the provisions of CGA C–1 into 

the current structure of the HMR 

without incorporating CGA C–1. 

Many of P–1515’s proposed changes 

were only requested in the event that 

PHMSA chose not to adopt P–1626. P– 

1626 requested that PHMSA incorporate 

by reference CGA C–1 into part 180, 

subpart C. In the NPRM, PHMSA 

proposed to incorporate CGA C–1 

(Eleventh Edition) into part 180, subpart 

C in addition to the numerous changes 

suggested by P–1515. CTC, along with 

numerous others, submitted extensive 

comments regarding this action. In this 

final rule, we will incorporate the 

Eleventh Edition of CGA C–1 for the 

requalification of compressed gas 

cylinders, which renders many of P– 

1515’s proposed changes moot. Please 

see our discussion of P–1626 for 

additional discussion of CGA C–1 and 

revisions to the structure of part 180, 

subpart C. 

(1) Comments Related to the 

Incorporation by Reference of CGA C–1 

(a) Definitions 

Certified Training Company (CTC) 

and Bancroft Hinchey submitted 

comments opposing our proposed 

inclusion of additional definitions for 

cylinder requalification terms in 

§ 180.203, which were intended to bring 

the HMR into alignment with CGA C– 

1. CTC also suggested we delete other 

long-standing definitions in § 180.203 

because they did not align with CGA C– 

1’s definitions. 

PHMSA response. We agree with CTC 

and Bancroft Hinchey’s comments to 

remove the definitions of ‘‘Accuracy,’’ 

‘‘Accuracy grade,’’ ‘‘Actual test 

pressure,’’ ‘‘Calibrated cylinder,’’ 

‘‘Defect,’’ ‘‘Elastic expansion,’’ ‘‘Error,’’ 

‘‘Master gauge,’’ ‘‘Percent permanent 

expansion,’’ ‘‘Permanent expansion,’’ 

‘‘Reference gauge,’’ ‘‘Rejected,’’ ‘‘Service 

pressure,’’ ‘‘Test pressure,’’ ‘‘Total 

expansion,’’ ‘‘Visual inspection,’’ and 

‘‘Volumetric expansion test’’ from 

§ 180.203. We are incorporating by 

reference CGA C–1 into the HMR and 

these terms are all defined in this 

industry standard; thus, codification of 

the definitions in § 180.203 is redundant 

and this provides us an opportunity to 

reduce the size of the HMR. However, 

PHMSA has decided to keep the 

definition of ‘‘condemn’’ because 

§ 180.205(i) will continue to discuss 

condemnation criteria in greater detail 

than CGA C–1 does and we believe 

maintaining the definition in § 180.203 

will increase clarity for cylinder 

requalifiers. 

(b) Incorporation of CGA C–1 Into 

§ 180.205(g) 

CTC and Bancroft Hinchey noted that 

the NPRM did not incorporate by 

reference CGA C–1 into § 180.205(g), 

which was PHMSA’s stated intent in the 

NPRM preamble. Section 180.205(g) is a 

crucial paragraph for cylinder 

requalifications that contains 

instructions on how to conduct the 

pressure test that is used to requalify a 

cylinder for future use or condemn it. 

By incorporating CGA C–1 into 

§ 180.205(g), we will require cylinder 

requalifiers to comply with the 

instructions in CGA C–1 when 

conducting pressure tests. These 

instructions offer more guidance and 

include helpful diagrams and examples 

that decrease compliance burdens 

compared to the current instructions in 

§ 180.205(g). 

PHMSA response. We agree with CTC 

and Bancroft Hinchey’s comments. It 

was our intent to incorporate CGA C–1 

for the requalification of DOT 


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specification cylinders, therefore, in this 

final rule we are including a reference 

to CGA C–1 (Eleventh Edition) in 

§ 180.205(g). 

(c) Streamlining of Existing Regulatory 

Text 

CTC and CGA noted that since we 

proposed to adopt P–1626, there was an 

opportunity to streamline the HMR’s 

cylinder requalification instructions 

significantly by revising § 180.205(g) to 

require compliance with CGA C–1, 

rather than maintaining the existing 

instructions for pressure tests. CTC and 

CGA commented that maintaining two 

sets of instructions would generate 

confusion and frustration. 

PHMSA response. We agree with CTC 

and CGA’s comments to revise existing 

§ 180.205(g). This final rule removes the 

existing language in the HMR on 

conducting volumetric expansion 

testing from § 180.205(g) and replaces it 

with instructions to conduct 

requalification in accordance with CGA 

C–1. These revisions will help to reduce 

confusion and improve compliance 

without increasing burdens on the 

regulated community while meeting our 

stated intent in the NPRM to adopt the 

CGA C–1 standard as the industry 

standard for performance of inspection 

and testing for requalification and 

continued service of cylinders. 

(d) Accuracy Requirements 

In the NPRM, PHMSA proposed to 

align with ISO requirements by 

requiring the pressure indicating device 

(PID) to meet ‘‘Industrial Class 1 (±1% 

deviation from the end value).’’ CGA, 

Hidroprob SA, Bancroft Hinchey, and 

Galiso identified this change as 

problematic because it conflicts with the 

accuracy grade requirements for PIDs 

found in CGA C–1. 

PHMSA response. Hidroprob S.A., 

Bancroft Hinchey, Galiso, and CGA’s 

comments regarding device accuracy are 

correct, and contributed to our decision 

to not adopt the proposed changes in 

§ 180.205(g) and simplify requirements 

by adopting CGA C–1 into the section. 

In this final rule, we will not adopt the 

proposed changes to device accuracy in 

§ 180.205(g). In this final rule, we will 

maintain the HMR’s current PID 

accuracy requirements in 

§ 180.205(g)(3)(i). Voluntary compliance 

with CGA C–1 5.3.2.2 is authorized and 

will meet the HMR’s accuracy 

requirements for PIDs used for cylinder 

requalification, as will the practice of 

demonstrating accuracy through 

maintenance of a calibration certificate 

showing the gauge has been certified to 

meet the accuracy requirements at lower 

points. See discussion of PID accuracy 

in P–1626 for further information on 

this decision. 

(e) Condemnation Criteria for Repeat 

Tests 

CTC and Bancroft Hinchey submitted 

comments requesting we revise the 

condemnation criteria for cylinders that 

are subjected to a repeated test due to 

equipment malfunction or operator error 

to 5 percent permanent expansion, 

rather than 10 percent. CTC states that 

increasing the pressure by 10 percent, or 

100 psig for the repeat test, is not 

enough to ensure that an unsafe 

cylinder exhibits a permanent 

expansion over 10 percent. Bancroft 

Hinchey states that an increase of 10 

percent/100psi can be insufficient to 

give measurable plastic deformation and 

resultant permanent expansion >10 

percent due to the gradient of the load/ 

extension curve immediately after yield 

point. An increase of 100psi at a 

(minimum) test pressure of 3000 psi (the 

lowest pressure above 3000) represents 

a pressure increase of only 3100/3000 = 

3.3 percent and is unlikely to give a 

resultant 10 percent plastic deformation. 

PHMSA response. We do not agree 

with CTC and Bancroft Hinchey’s 

comments to change the condemnation 

criteria for cylinders in this case. CGA 

C–1 limits cylinder requalifiers to only 

two repeated tests in the event of 

equipment malfunction or operator 

error, and we do not believe that there 

is a safety justification to change the 

condemnation criteria to permanent 

expansion that is 5 percent of total 

expansion in cases where a repeat test 

is conducted. We acknowledge that 

repeated tests may result in some 

stretching of the cylinder, resulting in 

cylinders passing requalification that 

may have otherwise failed; however, 

this risk is minimized by limiting 

requalifiers to a maximum of two repeat 

tests in the event of equipment failure 

or operator error. Further, this provision 

does not authorize the retest of a 

cylinder otherwise required to be 

condemned by § 180.205(i). The final 

rule, therefore, does not change the 

condemnation criteria for cylinders 

subjected to a repeat test. 

(f) Letters of Interpretation 

In P–1515, CTC further requested that 

PHMSA rescind two letters of 

interpretation (Reference Nos. 00–0309 

and 05–0087) that discuss the number of 

repeat tests allowed in the event of 

equipment malfunction and required 

hold time for pressure tests, 

respectively. Bancroft Hinchey supports 

retracting these letters of interpretation. 

PHMSA response. We agree that 

adopting CGA C–1 will eliminate the 

confusion regarding the number of 

permitted repeat tests in case of system 

failure or operator error, as well as the 

required pressure hold time, that the 

letters of interpretation attempted to 

clarify. This final rule supersedes the 

two letters of interpretation. Affected 

entities should not rely on 00–0309 and 

05–0087 because they are no longer 

valid and will be removed from our 

website. 

(2) Comments Related to § 180.205 

(a) Grinding and Sanding 

NPGA and Amerigas opposed the 

proposed changes in § 180.205(d)(4) and 

(f)(5) regarding grinding and sanding of 

cylinders. Bancroft Hinchey submitted a 

comment supporting the proposed 

changes in § 180.205(d)(4). 

PHMSA response. Our intent in 

§ 180.205(d)(4) and (f)(5) is to address 

methods of cleaning or repair that 

remove wall thickness from the 

cylinder. Cleaning methods, regardless 

of the tool used, that only remove loose 

debris or paint from the cylinder while 

not removing wall thickness are not 

considered ‘‘grinding.’’ In this final rule 

we modify § 180.205(d)(4) and (f)(5) to 

clarify our intent and to authorize 

grinding or sanding performed by any 

authorized repair facility. 

(b) Reordering of Condemnation Criteria 

CTC submitted a comment requesting 

that we swap § 180.205(i)(1)(v) and (vi) 

in order to have the condemnation 

criteria for DOT 4E cylinders 

immediately follow the general 

requirements in § 180.205(i)(1)(iv). 

PHMSA response. We do not agree 

with CTC’s comment to re-order 

§ 180.205(i)(1). Changing the citations 

for the condemnation criteria section 

will result in increased confusion and 

we do not believe it is in the best 

interest of safety. 

(c) Additional Condemnation Criteria 

Bancroft-Hinchey commented that we 

should add one additional criterion to 

§ 180.205(d), Conditions requiring tests 

and inspections of cylinders, for cases 

where a cylinder is discovered with 

incorrect markings. 

PHMSA response. We are not 

adopting the suggested change in 

Bancroft-Hinchey’s comment. They did 

not provide enough information to make 

a judgement on the merits of the 

proposal. The public may make a 

separate petition further explaining the 

issue. 


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1See Response to an Industry Petition to Reduce 

Regulatory Burden for Cylinder Requalification 

Requirements, NPRM, 84 FR 38180 (Aug. 6, 2019). 

(3) Comments Related to § 180.207 

(a) Deletion of § 180.207(a) and (b) 

Certified Training Company (CTC) 

submitted a comment requesting that we 

delete § 180.207(a) and (b), because 

these instructions could be combined 

with § 180.205(c). 

PHMSA response. While we agree 

with CTC that these paragraphs serve 

similar purposes, we do not agree with 

CTC’s comment to delete § 180.207(a) 

and (b) and consolidate them into 

§ 180.205(c). The current structure of 

the HMR generally separates 

instructions for DOT specification 

cylinders and UN ISO pressure 

receptacles because of differences in 

their design and construction. These 

paragraphs in § 180.207 are necessary to 

provide enforceable instructions for 

shippers and fillers of UN pressure 

receptacles separately from shippers 

and fillers of DOT specification 

cylinders. 

(b) Ultrasonic Examination for High 

Tensile Strength UN Pressure 

Receptacles 

CTC and Worthington submitted a 

comment requesting that we remove 

language from § 180.207(d) that requires 

ultrasonic examination (UE) of certain 

UN pressure receptacles. 

PHMSA response. We do not agree 

with CTC and Worthington’s comment 

to remove the requirement that UN 

cylinders with a tensile strength greater 

than or equal to 950 MPa must be 

requalified by UE in accordance with 

ISO 6406 in § 180.207(d)(1). This 

requirement serves an important safety 

purpose. High strength steels exhibit a 

reduction of fatigue stress endurance 

during requalification and are therefore 

unsuitable for pressure testing. In 

general, the fatigue stress endurance 

limits increase with increasing ultimate 

tensile strength (the specifics are alloy 

dependent). At a certain ultimate tensile 

strength level, the fatigue stress 

endurance limit is drastically reduced 

with increasing tensile strength due to 

notch sensitivity. Increased notch 

sensitivity is a result of finer 

microstructural features that lead 

microstructural damage evolution 

(dislocation slips eventually 

accumulating to micro void coalescence 

and the initiation of a fatigue crack). 

Performing UE of high-strength seamless 

steel during requalification will detect 

fatigue cracks in cylinders/tubes while 

hydrostatic testing coupled with visual 

inspection has a significantly lower 

probability of detecting any fatigue 

cracks in cylinders/tubes. Therefore, we 

are continuing to require UE for UN 

cylinders with a tensile strength greater 

than or equal to 950 MPa. 

(c) Acetylene Test Interval 

During review of the NPRM, we noted 

that the proposed revisions to 

§ 180.207(d)(3) for dissolved acetylene 

UN cylinders were not in alignment 

with the suggested test intervals in ISO 

10462(E) or ISO 10462 2013(E). 

Therefore, in the final rule, we will not 

make the proposed changes to 

§ 180.207(d)(3). 

(4) Comments Related to § 180.209 

(a) Revisions to Requalification of 

Cylinders Table 

CTC and Independent Cylinder 

Training (ICT) submitted comments 

requesting we replace ‘‘DOT 3’’ with 

‘‘ICC 3’’ and CTC and Bancroft 

Hinchey’s comment to re-insert ‘‘10’’ for 

DOT 3A and 3AA and ‘‘7’’ for 4B, 4BA, 

4BW cylinders in § 180.209(a) Table 1. 

PHMSA response. We agree with CTC, 

ICT, and Bancroft Hinchey that there are 

errors in the table in § 180.209(a) Table 

1. However, we proposed changes to 

§ 180.209(a) Table 1 in a different 

rulemaking 1 and will take no action in 

this rulemaking to avoid potential for 

complication and confusion. 

(b) Foreign Cylinders 

CTC and Wesley Scott submitted 

comments requesting that we change the 

requalification requirements for foreign 

cylinders in § 180.209 Table 1. 

PHMSA response. We do not agree 

with CTC and Wesley Scott’s comments 

regarding test pressure of foreign 

cylinders in § 180.209(a) Table 1. 

Foreign-marked ISO cylinders are 

subject to the requirements of § 180.207, 

and would not be subject to test at 5⁄3

of service pressure. Therefore, we will 

not change this requirement in Table 1. 

(c) Footnote 1 

CTC, ICT, Hydro-Test Products and 

COSTHA’s comments noted that we 

inadvertently deleted Footnote 1 of 

Table 1 in § 180.209 and requested that 

we reinsert the footnote. 

PHMSA response. It was not our 

intent to change the requirements 

applicable to these small cylinders. In 

this final rule, we are not making any 

of the proposed changes to the table in 

§ 180.209 to avoid conflicts with other 

rulemaking efforts. In this final rule, we 

are not removing Footnote 1 of Table 1 

in § 180.209. 

(d) Special Filling Limits (‘‘+’’ Mark) 

Relocation 

In P–1515, CTC requested that we 

move the requirements for special filling 

limits for DOT 3A, 3AX, 3AA, 3AAX 

and 3T cylinders found in § 173.302a(b) 

to § 180.209. We did not propose to take 

this action in the NPRM. CTC submitted 

a comment to the NPRM requesting that 

we reconsider our decision not to 

propose the change. 

PHMSA response. We disagree with 

CTC’s request to move the current 

requirements in § 173.302a(b) (‘‘Special 

filling limits for DOT 3A, 3AX, 3AA, 

3AAX and 3T cylinders’’) to § 180.209. 

The requirements in § 173.302a(b) deal 

with filling, and are properly placed in 

a filling section rather than a 

requalification section. Moving the 

requirements to a requalification section 

in part 180 would create unnecessary 

confusion. We additionally disagree 

with CTC’s request to modify the 

language in § 173.302a(b) to remove the 

table of steel types, average wall stress 

limitation, and maximum wall stress 

limitation. We acknowledge that this 

information can be found in CGA C–5, 

which is incorporated by reference into 

the section, but we continue to see value 

in reproducing the table in the HMR for 

accessibility purposes. We did not 

propose this change in the NPRM, and 

we will not adopt this change in the 

final rule. 

(e) 10-Year Requalification Condition 

Revisions (‘‘Star’’ Mark) 

CTC submitted a comment regarding 

the applicability of the ‘‘star’’ marking 

for 10-year requalification in 

§ 180.209(b), specifically requesting that 

we modify the change proposed in the 

NPRM to allow cylinders used in 

vehicles to continue to take the 

exception. 

PHMSA response. PHMSA is not 

changing the applicability of the 10-year 

requalification to prohibit cylinders 

used in clusters, banks, groups, racks, or 

vehicles. If fillers are not removing these 

cylinders from the cluster, bank, group, 

rack, or vehicle, as stated by CTC in P– 

1515, then they may not use the 

exception unless they have been issued 

a special permit. Changing the 

applicability of the exception is not an 

appropriate way to deal with this 

supposed compliance problem. We 

encourage cylinder users and fillers to 

re-familiarize themselves with the 

conditions for the 10-year 

requalification for DOT 3A and 3AA 

cylinders. 


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(f) 10-Year Requalification Expansion 

Limit 

ICT and Bancroft Hinchey also 

commented about their opposition to 

another part of this proposed change to 

§ 180.209(b), namely the new limit of 5 

percent permanent expansion for these 

cylinders. 

PHMSA response. In this final rule, 

we are not modifying the applicability 

of the exception or creating a new 

permanent expansion limit. We are, 

however, modifying the exception by 

removing the ‘‘hammer test,’’ as 

requested in P–1515 and proposed in 

the NPRM. The hammer test is 

outmoded and no longer provides 

relevant information regarding the 

continued strength of the cylinder. We 

may consider further modifying this 

exception in the future. 

(5) Eddy Current Testing 

In the NPRM we proposed to change 

the applicability of the eddy current 

test, eddy current condemnation 

criteria, and eddy current record 

keeping requirements, as requested in 

P–1515. We do not believe the change 

and possible increase in cost is justified 

by data at this time. Therefore, in this 

final rule, we are not making any 

changes related to eddy current testing 

applicability, condemnation criteria, or 

recordkeeping. 

(a) Test Applicability 

Currently, eddy current testing is 

required for 3AL cylinders made of 

aluminum alloy 6351–T6 in SCUBA, 

SCBA, or oxygen service. 3AL 6351–T6 

cylinders have been shown to be 

susceptible to sustained load cracking 

(SLC) in the neck and thread area of the 

cylinder. Eddy current testing combined 

with a detailed visual examination can 

identify SLC before it poses an 

immediate danger. We have required 

eddy current testing since the 

publication of HM–220F (71 FR 51122; 

8/29/2006). P–1515 requested that we 

change the applicability of the eddy 

current test to any DOT 3AL cylinder 

made of 6351–T6 alloy with a service 

pressure at or above 1,800 psig. We 

received one comment in support of this 

change from ICT. We did not discuss the 

proposed change in detail in the 

preamble to the NPRM, only stating, 

‘‘Specifically we plan to revise . . . the 

paragraph (m) requalification conditions 

for DOT 3AL cylinders made of 6351– 

T6 aluminum alloy.’’ We are concerned 

that the change from a gas service-based 

testing applicability to a pressure-based 

testing applicability may significantly 

increase the number of cylinders subject 

to eddy current testing, without 

adequate notice to the regulated 

community or safety justification. 

Since the imposition of the eddy 

current test requirement in 2006, we are 

not aware of any catastrophic failures of 

DOT 3AL cylinders involving sustained 

load cracking. In this final rule, we are 

not making the proposed change to eddy 

current test applicability. We welcome 

further petitions on the matter, but we 

do not believe the change and possible 

increase in cost is justified by data at 

this time. 

(b) Condemnation Criteria 

Similarly, we are not making any 

change to eddy current condemnation 

criteria. The current criteria in the HMR 

have proved successful in identifying 

cylinders prone to sustained load 

cracking, facilitating their removal from 

service before cracks can cause 

catastrophic failure. We may consider 

revising the condemnation criteria in a 

future rulemaking, but will make no 

change to eddy current condemnation 

criteria at this time. 

(c) Record-Keeping 

In the NPRM, we proposed changes to 

eddy current recordkeeping 

requirements. We proposed to move 

eddy current recordkeeping 

requirements currently found in 

appendix C to part 180 to new 

§ 180.215(b)(5). We received a comment 

from ICT opposed to the relocation of 

requirements from appendix C to part 

180 into § 180.215(b)(5). We agree with 

ICT and are not making the proposed 

change to relocate requirements out of 

appendix C to part 180 at this time. 

Eddy current testers are familiar with 

the requirements found in appendix C 

to part 180 and moving the 

requirements to a new section would 

create unnecessary confusion. We may 

review eddy current recordkeeping 

requirements in a future rulemaking. 

(6) Comments Related to § 180.209(j) 

(a) Incorporation by Reference of CGA 

C–1 

CTC commented on the proposed 

language in § 180.209(j) and stated their 

opinion that the language was 

unnecessarily confusing and redundant 

following the incorporation of CGA C– 

1. 

PHMSA response. We agree with 

CTC’s comment that there are redundant 

instructions in § 180.209(j), and the 

requirements could be simplified by 

referring to the test procedures in CGA 

C–1. Additionally, COSTHA noted an 

error in the structure of § 180.209(j), 

where it appeared the proposed 

paragraphs (j)(2) and (3) overlapped in 

applicability and contradicted each 

other. We appreciate this comment, and 

have re-structured § 180.209(j) to make 

clear that paragraph (j)(1)(i) applies to 

smaller 4B, 4BA, 4B240ET, or 4BW 

cylinders, paragraph (j)(1)(ii) to larger 

4B, 4BA, 4B240ET, or 4BW cylinders, 

and (j)(2) to 3A, 3AA, or 3AL cylinders. 

(b) Increased Pressure for Repeat Tests 

ICT commented on our proposed 

requirement to increase the pressure by 

10 percent for a repeated proof pressure 

test for fire extinguishers, noting this 

was not in accordance with CGA C–1 

requirements. 

PHMSA response. We agree, and are 

removing this provision and replacing it 

with instructions to conduct the proof 

pressure test in accordance with CGA 

C–1. 

(c) 4E Cylinders 

While reviewing § 180.209(j), we 

noted erroneous references to DOT 4E 

cylinder condemnation criteria. DOT 4E 

cylinders are generally not eligible to be 

transported or requalified as fire 

extinguishers, so we have removed the 

reference to 4E condemnation criteria 

from § 180.209(j). 

In the final rule, we are revising 

§ 180.209(j) as discussed above to 

simplify and clarify the requirements for 

the requalification of specification fire 

extinguishers. 

(7) Comments Related to § 180.212 

Bancroft Hinchey commented in 

support of the proposed requirement in 

§ 180.212(a)(3) to require ultrasonic 

testing (UT) after a repair facility 

conducts a repair involving grinding. 

PHMSA response. In this final rule, 

we are adopting this requirement as 

proposed. 

(8) Comments Related to § 180.213 

(a) Requalification Label Embedded in 

Epoxy 

Numerous commenters, including 

NPGA, Amerigas, Firehouse Hydro 

Sales and Service, Joshua Blake, HydroTest Products, and Scuba Do noted that 

we made an error in § 180.213(c) for 

requalification marking methods by 

removing the authorization for a label 

embedded in epoxy. 

PHMSA response. The commenters 

are correct that we inadvertently did not 

include the provision allowing for 

applying a label embedded in epoxy. 

This was not our intent as part of the 

HM–234 NPRM. Therefore, in this final 

rule we are including the label in epoxy 

marking method in § 180.213(c) as is 

currently allowed under the HMR. We 

appreciate the commenters’ 

attentiveness in addressing this 

unintentional omission in the NPRM. 


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(b) Requalification Marking Location 

Independent Cylinder Training (ICT), 

Amerigas, and NPGA oppose the 

proposed requirement in 

§ 180.213(c)(1)(i) that would require 

requalification marks be placed in a 

specific location adjacent to the original 

manufacturing markings. ICT, Amerigas, 

and NPGA state that this requirement is 

too restrictive, and in certain cases 

impossible to meet due to the size and 

type of cylinders involved. Bancroft 

Hinchey supports a requirement to ‘‘lay 

out requalification markings neatly and 

consistently.’’ 

PHMSA response. We agree with the 

comments submitted by ICT, Amerigas, 

and NPGA. While we would have liked 

to provide a consistent location for 

requalification markings for shippers 

and fillers, we recognize the diversity of 

cylinder types and sizes makes this 

effort difficult. Therefore, in this final 

rule we are not adopting the change to 

§ 180.213(c) that was proposed in the 

NPRM. Requalification markings must 

be applied in a legible and durable 

manner and may be placed on any 

portion of the upper end of the cylinder 

excluding the sidewall. We welcome 

petitions on this requirement for 

possible inclusion in a future 

rulemaking. 

(c) Requalification Marking Depth 

Bancroft Hinchey commented that 

§ 180.213(c) should be modified to 

provide guidance on requalification 

marking depth when the cylinder 

specification does not provide any 

information on accepting marking 

depth. 

PHMSA response. While PHMSA 

agrees that cylinder requalifiers should 

not mark cylinders to a depth greater 

than the original manufacturer’s 

markings, we do not agree with Bancroft 

Hinchey’s comment to modify 

§ 180.213(c). PHMSA believes that 

including the phrase ‘‘or the original 

manufacturer’s markings’’ to 

§ 180.213(c) will increase confusion 

among cylinder requalifiers. 

(9) Comments Related to § 180.215 

(a) Use of Symbols for Cylinder 

Dimension 

Bancroft Hinchey requested 

clarification of the revision to § 180.215 

to permit use of symbols for actual 

dimensions. 

PHMSA response. The use of a 

symbol in place of the written 

dimensions of the cylinder is permitted 

by § 180.215(b) as long as the symbols 

on the reference chart available at the 

requalifier’s facility are accurate for the 

actual measured dimensions of each 

cylinder requalified. It is PHMSA’s 

understanding that some cylinder 

requalifiers maintain reference charts 

with symbols cross-referenced to the 

actual measured dimensions of common 

cylinder models. As long as the facility 

has an accurate reference document that 

cross-references the symbol entered on 

the requalification record with the 

actual measured dimensions of the 

cylinder requalified, they may use that 

symbol to meet the requirement to enter 

the actual dimensions of a cylinder on 

the requalification record. This will 

increase flexibility and reduce burdens 

for requalifiers without compromising 

safety. 

(b) Gas Service and Year of Manufacture 

Hydro-Test Products commented on 

the proposed change to cylinder 

requalification recordkeeping 

requirements. They noted that in the 

NPRM we did not discuss the additional 

requirement to record the cylinder’s 

year of manufacture or gas service in 

§ 180.215(b)(2). Hydro-Test Products is 

opposed to the proposed change to 

cylinder requalification recordkeeping 

requirements and believes it would 

impose an undue burden on cylinder 

requalifiers. 

PHMSA response. We disagree with 

Hydro-Test Products’ comment. The 

requirement for cylinder requalifiers to 

keep a record of the cylinder’s date of 

manufacture and gas service is useful 

for several reasons. The eligibility for 

the ‘‘star’’ mark in § 180.209(b), 

allowing a 10-year requalification 

period instead of 5 years, depends on 

the year of manufacture and gas service, 

as does the ‘‘+’’ mark for 10 percent 

overfilling in § 173.302a(b). The 

applicability of the option to requalify a 

cylinder via external visual inspection 

in § 180.209(g) is also dependent on the 

particular gas service in which the 

cylinder is used. The year of 

manufacture is also helpful in 

determining whether a 3AL cylinder 

was constructed from 6351–T6 

aluminum alloy, and therefore subject to 

eddy current examination. Use of 6351– 

T6 aluminum alloy in DOT 3AL 

cylinders was discontinued in 1990. We 

believe that the addition of these two 

pieces of information to cylinder 

requalification records creates only a 

minimal reporting burden on the 

regulated community while aligning 

recordkeeping requirements with 

operational practice. See further 

discussion in Section VIII.G in this 

rulemaking document regarding the 

information collection burden of this 

requirement. In this final rule, we are 

adopting the changes as proposed, and 

modifying § 180.215(b)(2) to require 

cylinder requalifiers to record the year 

of manufacture and gas service of each 

cylinder they requalify. 

(10) Reclaimed Refrigerant Gas 

Section 180.209(e) authorizes proof 

pressure testing for DOT 4-series 

cylinders in non-corrosive gas service. 

In the NPRM we proposed to add the 

following sentences to this paragraph: 

‘‘However, a cylinder used for 

reclaiming, recycling, or recovering 

refrigerant gases must be requalified by 

volumetric expansion testing every 5 

years. Reclaimed, recycled, or recovered 

refrigerant gases are considered to be 

corrosive due to contamination.’’ In this 

final rule, we are not adding these 

sentences to § 180.209(e). Although we 

believe that cylinders used for 

reclaimed refrigerant gases are generally 

not eligible for the exception in 

§ 180.209(e) because of the 

contaminants encountered in this 

service, we are uncertain whether this is 

always the case. Therefore, PHMSA has 

decided that the most practical 

regulatory alternative at this time is to 

leave the § 180.209(e) exception 

allowing a 10-year testing interval for 

DOT 4-series cylinders used in noncorrosive gas service unchanged. As 

provided in § 173.22, it is the shipper’s 

responsibility to classify a hazardous 

material properly. 

(11) RIN Markings for Foreign Cylinders 

In the HMR, foreign cylinders not 

manufactured to a DOT, UN, TC, CTC, 

BTC or CRC specification may be filled 

and transported for export or for use on 

board a vessel in accordance with 

§ 171.23(a)(5) (note that this reference 

was originally § 171.23(a)(4), and has 

changed to § 171.23(a)(5) after 

publication of final rule HM–219C). 

Requalification for these cylinders is 

discussed in § 180.209(l), which 

prohibits the marking of the cylinder 

with a requalifier’s RIN, instead 

requiring only the month and year of 

requalification. In the NPRM, we 

proposed to require a RIN marking for 

these foreign cylinders, along with the 

symbol ‘‘EX,’’ to reduce confusion 

among fillers and clarify that these 

foreign cylinders had been requalified 

in accordance with part 180, subpart C. 

We received no comments on this 

proposal. In this final rule, we will 

adopt this requirement. We believe that 

the symbol ‘‘EX’’ in association with the 

RIN provides necessary information to 

inspectors and users that these cylinders 

are limited to export or vessel service in 

accordance with § 171.23(a)(5). The 

inclusion of a RIN marking, which 

signifies compliance with part 180 

subpart C, will increase clarity for fillers 


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that the cylinders have been properly 

requalified. 

P–1521 

CGA submitted P–1521 requesting 

that PHMSA modify a provision in 

§ 172.400a(a)(1) (specifically 

§ 172.400a(a)(1)(i) at the time the 

petition was submitted) to remove the 

limitation that only allows the use of the 

neckring markings if a cylinder is not 

overpacked. The petition would still 

require the overpack to display the 

labels in conformance with 49 CFR part 

172, subpart E. In the NPRM, PHMSA 

proposed to revise § 172.400a(a)(1)(i) to 

remove the limitation that would only 

allow the use of the neckring markings 

if the cylinders are not overpacked, as 

proposed in P–1521. National 

Association of Fire Equipment 

Distributors (NAFED) and Worthington 

Cylinder submitted comments 

supporting this change. 

On January 21, 2016, PHMSA 

published HM–233F (81 FR 3635), 

which adopted numerous special 

permits into the HMR. In particular, we 

adopted DOT SP 14251, which 

authorizes the transportation of 

overpacked cylinders marked in 

accordance with CGA publication C–7 

provided the overpacks are properly 

labeled. Therefore, the intent of P–1521 

has already been accomplished. We 

appreciate CGA’s petition and 

COSTHA’s comment highlighting that 

HM–233F already addressed this issue. 

P–1538 

On behalf of Jetboil, Inc., The Wicks 

Group submitted P–1538 requesting that 

PHMSA revise § 173.306(a)(1) to permit 

camping stove cylinders containing 

liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in 

amounts less than 4 ounces but in a 

container exceeding 4 fluid ounce 

capacity to be shipped as consumer 

commodity (ORM–D). Historically, 

PHMSA has limited the amount of 

compressed gas in limited quantity 

packagings to reduce the opportunity 

and speed of the gaseous product’s 

reaction to an activating event, having 

found that including non-gaseous 

materials in the same container with the 

gas—such as foodstuffs, soap, etc.— 

slowed this reaction. The Interstate 

Commerce Commission first adopted 

the provision for § 173.306(a)(1) 

(previously § 73.306(a)(1)) in a final rule 

published July 1, 1966 (31 FR 9067). 

The provision provided an ‘‘exemption’’ 

(i.e., an exception) from regulations for 

shipping of compressed gases ‘‘when in 

containers of not more than 4 fluid 

ounce water capacity.’’ Thus, 

historically, the provision applies to the 

capacity of the container and not to the 

quantity of its contents. This is 

consistent with design requirements for 

the capacity of packagings found in part 

178 that includes a specification for the 

water capacity of the packaging (e.g., 

Specification 3A and 3AX seamless 

steel cylinders in § 178.36); however, 

the publication of a final rule on April 

15, 1976 (41 FR 15972) inadvertently 

dropped the term ‘‘water’’ from 

paragraph (a)(1) regardless of there 

having been no express discussion of 

the intent to do so or to change the size 

standard from the originally adopted 

water capacity to the quantity of the 

contents. 

Furthermore, the definition 

‘‘maximum capacity’’ was introduced as 

part of a harmonization effort with 

international regulations and standards 

in a final rule published December 21, 

1990 (55 FR 52402) for consistency with 

use of terminology internationally for 

UN performance oriented packaging. 

See the part 178, subpart L non-bulk 

performance oriented packaging 

sections. Therefore, based on the 

historical context of capacity as its use 

in § 173.306(a)(1) to mean water 

capacity and the adoption of the term 

‘‘maximum capacity’’ in association 

with the adoption of UN performance 

oriented packaging, PHMSA did not 

propose to adopt the petition. We 

received one comment on this topic. 

Worthington Cylinder submitted a 

comment supporting PHMSA’s proposal 

to deny the petition and not amend 

§ 173.306(a)(1). Therefore, as reasoned 

in the NPRM, we are not adopting P– 

1538 in this final rule. 

P–1539 

Matheson-TriGas submitted P–1539 

requesting that PHMSA revise 

§ 180.209, which prescribes 

requirements for requalifying cylinders. 

Paragraph (a) of § 180.209 requires each 

DOT-specification cylinder listed in 

‘‘table 1 of this paragraph’’ to be 

requalified and marked in conformance 

with requirements specified in 

§ 180.209. The petitioner requested that 

PHMSA extend the 10-year retest period 

prescribed in this table for DOT 3A, 

3AA, and 3AL specification cylinders in 

Division 2.2 (non-flammable) gas service 

to once every 15 years. Matheson-TriGas 

also requested in its petition that 

PHMSA extend the 5-year retest period 

prescribed in this table for DOT 3A, 

3AA, and 3AL specification cylinders in 

Division 2.1 (flammable) gas service to 

once every 10 years. The petitioner 

states: ‘‘Historically over 99.4 percent of 

cylinders in the above[-mentioned] 

services that were [subjected] to the 

water jacket test pass the test,’’ and ‘‘it 

is more likely . . . the cylinder failed 

the external or internal visual [test] 

rather than failing the water jacket test.’’ 

Matheson-TriGas notes PHMSA’s 

statement from an earlier rulemaking 

(HM–220; 63 FR 58460) regarding the 

history of the plus rating for steel 

cylinders resulting from the steel 

shortage of World War II, which 

resulted in changes ‘‘that benefitted the 

industry with no compromise of public 

safety down to this day.’’ MathesonTriGas extrapolates that we face similar 

metal shortage challenges in today’s 

economy. 

Based on concerns about increasing 

the risk of cylinder failure by 

lengthening the timeframe between 

periodic qualifications, PHMSA did not 

propose to revise the 10-year 

requalification period for DOT 3A, 3AA, 

and 3AL specification cylinders in 

Division 2.2 (non-flammable) gas service 

to once every 15 years, nor to revise the 

5-year requalification period for DOT 

3A, 3AA, and 3AL specification 

cylinders in Division 2.1 (flammable) 

gas service to once every 10 years. 

We received three comments on this 

topic. Bancroft Hinchey, NAFED, and 

CGA all supported our decision not to 

adopt the petition. Therefore, as 

reasoned in the NPRM, we are not 

adopting P–1539. 

P–1540 

CGA submitted P–1540 requesting 

that PHMSA require newly 

manufactured DOT 4B, 4BA, 4BW, and 

4E cylinders to be marked with the mass 

weight or tare weight, and the water 

capacity. As specified in § 178.35(f), the 

HMR require DOT-specification 

cylinders to be permanently marked 

with specific information, including the 

DOT-specification, the service pressure, 

a serial number, an inspector’s mark, 

and the date manufacturing tests were 

completed. These marks provide vital 

information to fillers and uniquely 

identify the cylinder. 

Certain DOT 4-series specification 

cylinders contain liquefied gases filled 

by weight, so the tare weight (the weight 

of the empty cylinder and 

appurtenances) or the mass weight (the 

weight of the empty cylinder), and the 

water capacity must be known by the 

filler to fill the cylinder properly. This 

information is essential for cylinders 

filled by weight, as cylinders overfilled 

with a liquefied gas can become liquid 

full as the ambient temperature 

increases. If temperatures continue to 

rise, pressure in the overfilled cylinder 

will rise disproportionately, potentially 

leading to leakage or a violent rupture 

of the cylinder after only a small rise in 

temperature. Despite these risks, the 

HMR do not require tare weight, mass 


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2Note that NFPA 58 was not incorporated by 

reference for marking purposes but for purposes of 

equipping storage tanks containing LPG or propane 

with safety devices. See § 173.315(j). 

weight, or water capacity markings on 

DOT-specification cylinders. 

To address this, the CGA petitioned 

PHMSA to require tare weight or mass 

weight, and water capacity to be marked 

on newly constructed DOT 4B, 4BA, 

4BW, and 4E specification cylinders. 

The petition also requests that PHMSA 

provide guidance on the accuracy of 

these markings and define the party 

responsible for applying them. In its 

petition, CGA notes that PHMSA has 

incorporated by reference the National 

Fire Protection Association’s ‘‘58- 

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code, 2001 

edition’’ (NFPA 58), which requires 

cylinders used for liquefied petroleum 

gases to be marked with the tare weight 

and water capacity; 2 however, as stated 

in the petition, NFPA 58 gives no 

guidance as to the accuracy of these 

markings or the party required to 

provide them. The CGA states that this 

lack of guidance can lead to the 

overfilling of a cylinder and the 

potential for unsafe conditions. 

While DOT 4B, 4BA, 4BW, and 4E 

cylinders are often used to transport 

liquefied compressed gas, we noted in 

the ANPRM that these are not the only 

cylinder types used for liquefied 

compressed gas transport. PHMSA 

understands that many in the 

compressed gas industry, especially the 

liquefied petroleum gas industry, 

already request manufacturers to mark 

cylinders with the tare weight or water 

capacity as an added safety measure. 

Based on this assumption, PHMSA 

estimates the impact on the liquefied 

compressed gas industry will be 

minimal, as many in the industry are 

already applying these markings 

voluntarily. 

PHMSA requested comments and 

supporting data regarding the increased 

safety benefits and the economic impact 

of this proposal. With regards to the cost 

associated with this modification, in the 

ANPRM, PHMSA asked the following 

specific questions: 

• What is the average total cost per 

cylinder to complete these markings 

(i.e., is an estimated cost of $0.10 per 

character for new markings accurate)? 

• What is the estimated quantity of 

newly manufactured 4B, 4BA, 4BW and 

4E cylinders each year? Furthermore, 

how many of these cylinders already 

display tare weight and water capacity 

markings in compliance with NFPA 58 

or other codes? 

• How many manufacturers of the 

cylinders mentioned above are 

considered small businesses by the 

SBA? 

PHMSA sought to identify: (1) The 

frequency of which the mass weight or 

tare weight, and water capacity 

markings are already permissively 

applied to cylinders, (2) the costs 

associated with applying these marks, 

(3) the safety benefits associated with 

the additional markings, and (4) the 

alternate methods or safeguards against 

overfilling of cylinders currently being 

implemented. 

Air Products and Chemicals 

submitted a comment to the ANPRM 

that supported the petition but they did 

not discuss the basis for their support. 

CGA submitted a comment to the 

ANPRM supporting the inclusions of 

tare weight, mass weight, and water 

capacity requirements on newly 

constructed DOT 4B, 4BA, 4BW, and 4E 

specification cylinders at the time of 

manufacture but did not support—and 

‘‘strongly disagrees’’ with—PHMSA’s 

consideration of modifying § 178.35 to 

require all DOT-specification cylinders 

suitable for the transport of liquefied 

gases to be marked with the cylinder’s 

tare weight and water capacity. The 

CGA also believed that the HMR must 

further clarify that no cylinder may be 

filled with a liquefied gas unless a mass 

or tare weight is marked on the cylinder, 

providing the following justification: 

• At the time of manufacture, the 

manufacturer would not know whether 

the DOT 3-series cylinders are, or are 

not, to be used in a liquefied gas service. 

• Marking all cylinders, as suggested 

by DOT, would include every cylinder 

manufactured in conformance with the 

specifications set forth in the HMR, 

which would therefore require cylinders 

that have been designed and 

manufactured for a specific permanent 

gas application to be marked for tare 

weight and water capacity just because 

the cylinder could be used (at some 

time) for liquefiable gas. 

• There would be instances on small 

DOT 3-series cylinders where the 

additional marking would not fit onto 

the dome of the cylinder. 

• The economic impact estimated for 

marking all cylinders is significantly 

greater than the estimates submitted by 

PHMSA. 

Manchester Tank submitted a comment 

to the ANPRM expressing concern that 

numerous variations in stamped weights 

could cause confusion in the field 

among fillers. They stated that adding 

mass weight stamping to a cylinder that 

already has tare weight stamped could 

lead to incorrect filling if the wrong 

figure is used. They asked PHMSA to 

clarify who would have responsibility to 

assign the duty to mark tare weight to 

the valve installer and indicated that 

there are many cylinders that are not 

valved by the manufacturer, and further 

declared that those cylinders can be 

marked correctly with mass weight—but 

not with tare weight, since the weight of 

the appurtenance may not be known to 

the manufacturer of the vessel. In 

addition, Manchester Tank notes that 

available space for stamping is limited 

on some vessels and increased stamping 

will not allow significant space for 

retest marking information. 

In the NPRM, PHMSA proposed to 

revise § 178.35(f) to require that tare 

weight or mass weight, and water 

capacity be marked on all DOT 4B, 4BA, 

4BW, and 4E specification cylinders. 

We received nine comments to the 

NPRM related to this issue. Fike 

Corporation, Janus Fire Systems, 

Amerex, NAFED, and FSSA submitted 

comments opposing the requirement to 

mark all DOT 4B, 4BA, 4BW, and 4E 

cylinders with tare weight or mass 

weight, and water capacity. Bancroft 

Hinchey, Kidde-Fenwal, Worthington 

Cylinder and CGA submitted comments 

generally supportive of the requirement, 

but requested certain modifications. 

Bancroft Hinchey requested that 

§ 180.215 be modified to require tare 

weight be added to a 4-series cylinder 

if it changes service to liquefied gas. 

Kidde-Fenwal requested that the 

marking requirements only apply to 

cylinders filled with liquefied gas, and 

not 4-series cylinders used for other 

services, such as fire extinguishers 

containing an extinguishing agent and 

charged with a non-liquefied gas. 

Worthington Cylinder requested that the 

requirement only apply to cylinders 

filled with liquefied gas and that the 

regulations require specific acronyms 

for mass weight, tare weight, and water 

capacity to reduce confusion. CGA 

requested a minor change to the 

wording in § 178.35(f)(7)(iii) to ensure 

proper tolerance requirements as 

requested in P–1540. 

PHMSA response. We agree with the 

commenters that there is no value in 

requiring the tare weight or mass 

weight, and water capacity markings for 

4-series cylinders that are not used for 

liquefied compressed gases, as these 

materials are not filled by weight. 

However, we do not agree that relying 

on voluntary industry standards that 

may require the tare weight or water 

capacity on a cylinder label is adequate 

to alleviate our safety concerns 

regarding proper filling of liquefied 

compressed gases. We do not believe 

that NFPA 58 is universally followed in 

the cylinder industry. Additionally, the 

NFPA 58 does not assign a particular 


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3This incident resulted in a Federal judge 

ordering the company who filled the cylinder to 

pay a $1 million criminal. In addition, the company 

entered into an historic civil settlement, agreeing to 

pay victims and the family of those fatally injured 

$160 million, plus an additional confidential sum. 

See Moselle, Aaron. U-Haul fined $1 million after 

fatal food truck explosion in North Philly. May 7, 

2019. WHHY.org. Available at: https://whyy.org/ 

articles/uhaul-fined-1-million-after-fatal-food-truckexplosion-in-north-philly/. 

4Note that the format of § 173.309 was changed 

under a final rule published January 7, 2013 (HM– 

215K; 78 FR 1101) such that the exceptions for 

limited quantities has been relocated to paragraph 

(d) of § 173.309. 

party to apply the marks, or any 

accuracy requirements for the 

measurements. Therefore, the creation 

of a Federal standard for tare weight/ 

mass weight and water capacity 

markings on DOT 4B, 4BA, 4BW and 4E 

cylinders used for only liquefied 

compressed gases provides a higher 

level of safety and oversight than the 

NFPA 58 standard while limiting 

burdens to the cylinder industry. 

PHMSA expects this marking 

requirement to play a role in preventing 

overfilling incidents, which can result 

in explosions and fatalities. For 

example, in 2014, an overfilled propane 

cylinder ruptured, exploded, and fatally 

injured two people and injured others in 

Philadelphia.3 Specifically, a cylinder 

filler, using the tare/mass weight and 

water capacity markings to guide their 

filling practice, is expected to be 

significantly less likely to overfill a 

cylinder. Adding tare weight or mass 

weight, and water capacity markings is 

expected to improve safety for cylinder 

fillers, transporters, and the general 

public by decreasing the incidence of 

overfilled cylinders entering 

transportation. Cylinders filled with 

liquefied gases must be filled by weight 

(see § 173.304a(c)). The filler must 

determine the weight of the cylinder in 

order to fill the cylinder with the proper 

amount of liquefied gas. The most direct 

way to ensure that the filler knows the 

weight of the cylinder being filled is to 

require that the cylinder’s weight be 

marked on the cylinder itself. 

By requiring these markings, PHMSA 

will help to eliminate confusion and 

guesswork while providing a potentially 

quicker and more efficient way to 

determine the cylinder weight than 

relying solely on reference materials 

listing cylinder weights. Cylinder fillers 

may not always have easy access to 

cylinder tare/mass weight and water 

capacity reference materials; the 

materials may become outdated; or the 

reference materials that are available 

may have been created by a cylinder 

manufacturer other than the 

manufacturer of the cylinder being 

filled. 

In addition, providing the markings 

may prevent a cylinder filler from being 

required to weigh the purportedly 

empty cylinder to determine the tare 

weight, removing errors due to residue 

material that would overstate the tare 

weight when weighed manually, and 

also reducing burden. Further, PHMSA 

believes that the addition of these 

markings could reduce the occurrence 

of non-compliant filling methods, such 

as informally relying on auditory cues 

(e.g., shaking the cylinder). 

Increasing availability of cylinder 

weight and capacity information on the 

cylinder itself will decrease the chances 

of operator error leading to overfilled 

cylinders. Therefore, in this final rule, 

we are modifying the proposed 

requirement from the NPRM that DOT 

4B, 4BA, 4BW and 4E cylinders used for 

only liquefied compressed gases must 

be marked with tare weight or mass 

weight, and water capacity. The details 

are discussed in the VII. Section-bySection Review. We are also adopting 

the upper and lower tolerances for the 

tare weight/mass weight marking as 

proposed by CGA. We agree that 

additional markings on a cylinder may 

be a source of confusion, but we believe 

that this can be mitigated by using 

standardizing abbreviations. 

Accordingly, in this final rule we are 

requiring that tare weight be abbreviated 

‘‘TW’’, mass weight ‘‘MW’’, and water 

capacity ‘‘WC.’’ The responsibility for 

meeting this requirement is placed on 

the owner of the cylinder, as they are 

best positioned to understand the 

eventual use of the cylinder at the time 

of manufacture. We stress that while 

cylinder markings are important to 

ensure the safe filling of liquefied 

compressed gas, they do not take the 

place of adequate personnel training, 

procedures to ensure proper filling, and 

continued requalification and 

maintenance of cylinders in preventing 

incidents. 

In accordance with § 173.304a(c), 

liquefied gases must be filled by weight, 

or when the gas is lower in pressure 

than required for liquefaction, a 

pressure-temperature chart for the 

specific gas may be used to ensure that 

the service pressure at 55 °C (131 °F) 

will not exceed 5⁄4 of the service 

pressure at 21 °C (70 °F). An accurate 

scale must be used to check the weight 

of liquefied gas filled in the cylinder. 

These requirements apply to all types of 

cylinders, not only the 4B, 4BA, 4BW 

and 4E cylinders whose marking 

requirements we are amending in this 

final rule. We believe that by requiring 

TW, MW and WC markings for these 

cylinders which are most commonly 

used for liquefied gases, we will create 

the greatest safety benefit while 

minimizing costs to the regulated 

community. 

We note that COSTHA submitted a 

comment that we left the word ‘‘no’’ out 

of the phrase ‘‘[no] upper [tolerance]’’ in 

the proposed § 178.35(f)(7)(iii) for the 

criteria for the water capacity marking 

for a cylinder exceeding 25 pounds. 

COSTHA is correct in its understanding. 

This was an inadvertent omission and 

we are correcting § 178.35(f)(8)(iii) 

(please note that the original regulatory 

text proposed in § 178.35(f)(7) has been 

redesignated as paragraph (f)(8) due to 

changes made to the HMR since the 

publication of the HM–234 NPRM) such 

that it reads ‘‘with a tolerance of minus 

0.5 percent and no upper tolerance’’ in 

this final rule. 

Lastly, we are making an editorial 

change in the final rule and deleting the 

metric units from § 178.35(f)(8) to 

increase clarity and decrease confusion 

for manufacturers, fillers, and users of 

these cylinders. 

P–1546 

GSI Training Services submitted P– 

1546 requesting that PHMSA allow 

cylinders that form a component of fire 

suppression systems to use the proper 

shipping name ‘‘Fire extinguishers’’ 

when offered for transportation. The 

Hazardous Materials Table (HMT) in 

§ 172.101 provides a shipping 

description for cylinders used as fire 

extinguishers (i.e., ‘‘UN1044, Fire 

extinguishers, 2.2’’) and references 

§ 173.309 for exceptions and non-bulk 

packaging requirements. Fire 

extinguishers charged with a limited 

quantity of compressed gas are excepted 

from labeling, placarding, and shipping 

paper requirements under certain 

conditions if the cylinder is packaged 

and offered for transportation in 

conformance with § 173.309.4

Additionally, fire extinguishers filled in 

conformance with the requirements of 

§ 173.309 may use non-specification 

cylinders (i.e., cylinders not 

manufactured to specifications in part 

178). Part 180 also provides special 

requirements for cylinders used as fire 

extinguishers (e.g., § 180.209(j) includes 

different requalification intervals). 

PHMSA has written several letters of 

interpretation regarding the 

applicability of § 173.309 to fire 

extinguishers. Notably on March 9, 

2005, PHMSA wrote a letter of 

interpretation (Reference No. 04–0202) 

to Safecraft Safety Equipment regarding 

non-specification stainless steel 

cylinders used as a component in a fire 

suppression system for installation in 


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vehicles and stated that the cylinders 

used in the fire suppression system 

appeared to meet the requirements of 

§ 173.309. PHMSA issued another letter 

of interpretation (Reference No. 06– 

0101) on May 30, 2008, to Buckeye Fire 

Equipment stating that the company 

could not use the shipping name ‘‘Fire 

extinguishers’’ for their cylinders, 

which served as a component of a 

kitchen fire suppression system, and 

must use the proper shipping name that 

best describes the material contained in 

the cylinder because these cylinders 

were not equipped to function as fire 

extinguishers. This latter clarification 

effectively required cylinders that are 

part of a fixed fire suppression system 

to meet an appropriate DOTspecification. 

In response to Reference No. 06–0101, 

GSI Training Services submitted a 

petition for rulemaking requesting 

PHMSA to allow cylinders that form a 

component of fire suppression systems 

to use the proper shipping name ‘‘Fire 

extinguishers’’ when offered for 

transportation, stating that: (1) At least 

one company manufactured over 39,000 

non-specification cylinders for use in 

fire suppression systems based on the 

information provided in the March 9, 

2005 letter; and (2) the May 30, 2008 

clarification effectively placed this 

company out of compliance. GSI 

Training Services further suggested that 

cylinders comprising a component of a 

fixed fire suppression system will 

provide an equal or greater level of 

safety than portable fire extinguishers 

since cylinders in fire suppression 

systems are typically installed in 

buildings where they are protected from 

damage and not handled on a regular 

basis. 

In the NPRM, PHMSA proposed to 

revise the § 173.309 introductory text to 

include ‘‘fire extinguishers for 

installation as part of a fire suppression 

system’’ as a fire extinguisher type 

authorized for transport in accordance 

with authorized packaging requirements 

as assigned to the HMT entry for fire 

extinguishers. 

Comments. Guardian Services, Inc., 

Janus Fire Systems, Amerex, 

Worthington Cylinder and the Fire 

Suppression Systems Association 

commented in support of this proposal. 

Kidde-Fenwal commented in support of 

the proposal, but also stated that ‘‘not 

all cylinders intended for use as a 

component of a fire suppression system 

should utilize the ‘Fire extinguisher, UN 

1044 designation’ as suppression agents 

with their own HMT designation 

(example, UN 3296) should continue to 

be identified as such.’’ That is, those fire 

suppression agents listed by name 

should continue to be described and 

packaged as provided in the HMT rather 

that as UN1044, Fire extinguishers. 

The National Association of Fire 

Equipment Distributors (NAFED) 

commented in opposition to the 

proposal, specifically noting its 

concerns with allowing high pressure, 

inert gas cylinders used in ‘‘engineeredtype’’ fire suppression systems to be 

transported and requalified as ‘‘UN1044, 

Fire extinguishers.’’ The ‘‘engineeredtype’’ fire suppression systems that 

NAFED described are large fire 

suppression systems used in industrial 

settings that may consist of a vessel that 

contains an extinguishing agent and 

separate compressed gas ‘‘charging’’ 

cylinders that provide the pressure to 

inject the agent into the system upon 

activation. Other engineered systems 

may consist of a fire extinguishing agent 

pressurized with an inert gas, or consist 

of cylinders that contain only an inert 

gas. 

PHMSA response. We disagree with 

Kidde-Fenwal. The classification of 

‘‘UN1044, Fire extinguisher’’ is based on 

the intended use of the cylinder, and 

should not necessarily exclude gases 

listed by name in the § 172.101 HMT if 

the conditions of § 173.309 are met. 

However, we agree with NAFED’s 

concerns regarding ‘‘charging’’ cylinders 

transported separately from fire 

suppression systems. Our intent in the 

NPRM was to propose allowing fire 

extinguishers that are charged with a 

compressed gas and an extinguishing 

agent and that are intended for 

installation into fire suppression 

systems to be described as ‘‘UN1044, 

Fire extinguishers.’’ We did not intend 

to allow cylinders charged with an inert 

gas and used only to pressurize a fire 

suppression system to be described as 

‘‘UN1044, Fire extinguishers’’ when 

offered for transportation separately 

from the suppression system. These 

‘‘charging’’ cylinders must be described 

based on the compressed gas they 

contain, for example ‘‘UN1066, 

Nitrogen.’’ or ‘‘UN1006, Argon.’’ 

In this final rule, we are adopting the 

proposed change to § 173.309, and 

further clarifying our meaning. A fire 

extinguisher charged with a compressed 

gas and an extinguishing agent that is 

intended for installation into a fire 

suppression system may be described as 

‘‘UN1044, Fire extinguisher’’ if it meets 

the conditions of § 173.309. A fire 

extinguisher charged with a compressed 

gas that is the sole extinguishing agent 

in the system that is intended for 

installation into a fire suppression 

system may also be described as 

‘‘UN1044, Fire extinguisher’’ if it meets 

the conditions of § 173.309. A cylinder 

charged with a gas and used only to 

pressurize or expel an extinguishing 

agent as part of a fire suppression 

system may not be described as 

‘‘UN1044, Fire extinguisher’’ for 

purposes of the HMR. 

Section 173.309(a) requires the use of 

a DOT-specification cylinder, as is 

generally required for a compressed gas, 

and further requires the use of dry gas 

and extinguishing agents that are 

commercially free from corroding 

components. The safety and 

performance of DOT specification 

cylinders filled with dry gas and an 

extinguishing agent commercially free 

of corroding components and 

requalified as provided in § 180.209(j) is 

expected to be the same for manual use 

(i.e., handheld) and for use in fixed fire 

suppression system service. Section 

173.309(b) requires the use of 

Specification 2P or 2Q non-refillable 

inside metal containers, filled with a 

non-corrosive extinguishing agent. DOT 

2P and 2Q containers are very limited 

in size and service pressure by their 

design specification in §§ 178.33 and 

178.33a, and therefore would have 

limited utility for a fixed fire 

suppression system. Finally, with 

respect to authorizing use of non-DOT 

specification cylinders, we believe the 

requirements in § 173.309(c) provide for 

the safe transportation of compressed or 

liquefied gas regardless of whether the 

cylinder is equipped for manual use as 

a fire extinguisher (i.e., handheld) or for 

use as a fire-extinguishing component of 

a fire suppression system. 

Section 173.309(c) allows the use of 

non-specification cylinders filled with a 

non-corrosive extinguishing agent as fire 

extinguishers. These non-specification 

cylinders are limited in size to 1,100 

cubic inches, or 55 cubic inches if they 

contain any liquefied compressed gas. 

The cylinders must be pressure tested to 

three times (3x) their charged pressure 

prior to initial shipment, and must be 

designed with a burst pressure six times 

(6x) their charged pressure. This 

exceeds the burst pressure ratio of DOTspecification cylinders authorized under 

§ 173.309(a). These non-DOT 

specification cylinders must 

additionally be periodically requalified 

in accordance with the requirements of 

the Department of Labor’s Occupational 

Safety and Health Administration 

regulations pertaining to ‘‘portable fire 

extinguishers’’, 29 CFR 1910.157. The 

combination of size restriction, higher 

than normal initial test pressure 

requirements, and much higher than 

normal burst pressure capability creates 

an equivalent level of safety for these 

non-DOT specification fire 

extinguishers when compared to DOT 


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5Note that the petition specifically referenced the 

17th edition of the UN Model Regulations; however, 

we will propose a change that references the edition 

currently incorporated by reference in § 171.7 

because we biennially update the edition for 

harmonization with international standards. 

specification cylinders. We expect the 

same level of safety will be achieved in 

handheld and fire suppression system 

service. 

Note that the changes made in this 

final rule do not affect the description 

and classification of large fire 

extinguishers (see HM–215M, 80 FR 

1075, 1/8/2015 for background), which 

may contain ‘‘charging’’ cylinders when 

transported as a completed fire 

extinguishing system provided they 

meet the conditions of § 173.309. 

P–1560 

Air Products and Chemicals Inc. (Air 

Products) submitted a petition for 

rulemaking (P–1560) requesting that 

PHMSA revise § 173.304a(a)(2) to adopt 

the provisions of SP 13599. SP 13599 

authorizes additional maximum filling 

densities for carbon dioxide and nitrous 

oxide to include 70.3 percent, 73.2 

percent, and 74.5 percent respectively 

in DOT 3A, 3AA, 3AX, 3AAX, 3AL, and 

3T cylinders with marked service 

pressures of 2000, 2265, and 2400 psig, 

subject to operational controls. In the 

NPRM, we did not propose to adopt this 

provision because it was already 

adopted in the HMR by HM–233F (81 

FR 3635). 

We received two comments related to 

P–1560 in this docket. Worthington 

Cylinder agreed with our determination 

in the NPRM that we had already 

adopted these provisions and therefore 

do not need to address them again. 

Independent Cylinder Training (ICT) 

submitted a comment proposing 

additional changes to § 173.304a(a)(2). 

ICT requested that cylinders with a 

service pressure of 2015 psig be 

authorized for 70.3% fill density, like 

those with a service pressure of 2000 

psig. Additionally, ICT requested that 

PHMSA add a provision to require that 

cylinders filled according to fill density 

be marked with the water weight of the 

cylinder to aid in the filling process. 

PHMSA response. ICT’s 

understanding of filling density 

requirements for carbon dioxide is not 

correct. In the scenario it presents, a 

cylinder with a service pressure of 2015 

psig is already authorized for a filling 

density of 70.3 percent for carbon 

dioxide. ICT’s other proposal regarding 

marking of water weight on a cylinder 

is beyond the scope of this rulemaking 

and we suggest that ICT submit a 

separate petition for rulemaking on the 

issue. As previously stated, P–1560 

provisions were adopted into the HMR 

by rulemaking HM–233F, and therefore 

we are not addressing it in this final 

rule. 

P–1563 

3M Corporation submitted P–1563 

requesting that PHMSA address the 

regulatory confusion between marking 

requirements for overpacks in § 173.25 

and outside packages for certain thinwalled cylinders specified in 

§ 173.301(a)(9). The petitioner notes that 

the differing marking requirements in 

§§ 173.25 and 173.301(a)(9) create 

confusion and make training difficult. 

This petition requests modification of 

the HMR to permit materials packaged 

in conformance with § 173.301(a)(9)— 

except aerosols ‘‘2P’’ and ‘‘2Q’’—to 

display the ‘‘OVERPACK’’ marking 

described in § 173.25, in lieu of the 

current requirement for ‘‘an indication 

that the inner packaging conforms to 

prescribed specifications.’’ 

In the NPRM, we recognized that 

differing marking requirements in 

§§ 173.25 and 173.301(a)(9) to 

communicate the same intended 

meaning may be causing confusion 

without enhancing safety. In order to 

address the petition and provide for 

greater clarity, PHMSA proposed to 

revise § 173.301(a)(9) to authorize use of 

the ‘‘OVERPACK’’ marking as specified 

in § 173.25(a)(3) as a method to satisfy 

the current requirement in paragraph 

(a)(1) to mark the completed package 

with an indication that the inner 

packagings conform to prescribed 

specifications for the listed cylinders. 

We agreed with 3M that the issue is 

more complex for 2P and 2Q containers 

as specified in §§ 173.304, 173.305, and 

173.306, and therefore did not propose 

to include 2P and 2Q in the allowance 

for the ‘‘OVERPACK’’ marking. We 

proposed additional instructional 

language that the combination package 

is not to be considered an ‘‘overpack.’’ 

We received two comments on this 

issue. Alaska Air stated their opposition 

to the proposed changes. Alaska Air 

states that the proposed change is at 

variance with the existing § 171.8 

definition of combination package, 

which will result in additional 

confusion by the hazmat community, 

and that most shipments marked as 

proposed will be rejected by air carriers 

because the ‘‘overpack’’ mark will be 

placed on outer packages that are not 

overpacks. 

COSTHA also submitted comments 

regarding this issue. COSTHA ‘‘supports 

this [revision] in principle and agrees 

with PHMSA and the petitioner, 3M, 

that the differing marking requirements 

in § 173.25 and § 173.301(a)(9) to 

communicate similar conditions may be 

causing confusion without enhancing 

safety.’’ However, COSTHA also notes 

that the sentence, ‘‘[d]isplay of the 

‘Overpack’ marking is not an indication 

that this combination package is an 

overpack’’ is confusing, and 

recommends that it be deleted. 

PHMSA response. PHMSA agrees 

with Alaska Airlines and COSTHA that 

the proposed change could result in 

more confusion than it would resolve 

and would not promote compliance 

with the HMR. Upon further 

consideration, we do not believe a 

regulatory change is warranted. The 

marking requirement in § 173.301(a)(9) 

applies to a completed package. The 

requirements in § 173.25 apply to an 

enclosure used to protect or consolidate 

completed packages. The ‘‘OVERPACK’’ 

applies to the enclosure when 

specification packages are required and 

are not visible. We do not view this as 

overly confusing. Therefore, in this final 

rule we are not adopting any changes 

proposed in the NPRM based on P– 

1563. 

P–1572 

Barlen and Associates submitted P– 

1572 requesting that PHMSA explicitly 

state in § 173.312 that for liquefied 

compressed gases in Multiple-Element 

Gas Containers (MEGCs), the filling 

density of each pressure receptacle must 

not exceed the values contained in 

Packing Instruction P200 of the UN 

Model Regulations, as specified in 

§ 173.304b, and the contents of each 

DOT-specification cylinder cannot 

exceed the densities specified in 

§ 173.304a(a)(2).5 The definition of 

MEGC in § 171.8 states DOTspecification cylinders are not 

authorized as part of MEGCs and 

accordingly, we are not including the 

petitioned language referring to DOTspecification cylinders in § 173.312. 

DOT-specification cylinders filled with 

liquefied compressed gas must be filled 

in accordance with the instructions 

found in § 173.304 and § 173.304a, 

including filling density limitations. 

Requirements for shipping MEGCs are 

specified in § 173.312. Specifically, 

§ 173.312(b) details the filling 

requirements for MEGCs and states, ‘‘[a] 

MEGC may not be filled to a pressure 

greater than the lowest marked working 

pressure of any pressure receptacle [and 

a] MEGC may not be filled above its 

marked maximum permissible gross 

mass.’’ The requirement that each 

pressure receptacle contained in the 

MEGC may not be filled above the 

working pressure of the lowest marked 


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working pressure of any pressure 

receptacle is clear for permanent (nonliquefied compressed) gases, which are 

generally filled by pressure; however, 

§ 173.312(b) does not contain a 

corresponding requirement addressing 

pressure receptacles containing a 

liquefied compressed gas, which are 

most often filled by weight. This lack of 

specificity for MEGCs containing 

liquefied compressed gas has led to 

some confusion on methods for their 

proper filling. Therefore, in the NPRM, 

we proposed to specify the filling ratio 

requirements for pressure receptacles. 

We received comments supporting 

this proposal from CGA and 

Worthington Cylinder, and comments 

requesting modification to the proposed 

language from FIBA Technologies 

(FIBA). 

(1) Manifolding While Filling 

We received a comment from FIBA 

stating their opposition to the sentence 

‘‘Manifolding while filling is not 

authorized.’’ FIBA states there would be 

no safety benefit to removing the 

manifold for many MEGCs during filling 

because the MEGCs can be filled safely 

with the manifold in place. 

PHMSA response. We agree with 

FIBA’s comment. It was not our intent 

to require the disconnection of the 

manifold during filling. Rather, our 

intent is to require that each pressure 

receptacle is filled individually when 

loading liquefied compressed gases. We 

acknowledge that the manifold may 

remain in place as long as there are 

measures in place to prevent more than 

one cylinder from being filled at a time 

when loading liquefied compressed gas. 

Therefore, in the final rule we will 

remove the sentence ‘‘[m]anifolding 

during filling is not authorized.’’ 

(2) Filling With Non-Liquefied Gases 

FIBA also noted that our proposed 

revision accidently removed the 

language currently in § 173.312(b)(1) 

relevant to the filling of MEGCs with 

‘‘permanent’’ or non-liquefied gas. 

PHMSA response. This was not our 

intent; therefore, in the final rule we 

will move the current language for 

permanent gases in § 173.312(b)(1) to 

new § 173.312(b)(1)(i) and insert the 

language appropriate for filling with 

liquefied compressed gases in the new 

§ 173.312(b)(1)(ii). Additionally, we 

agree with FIBA’s suggestion that there 

is value in specifying that 

§ 173.312(b)(1)(i) applies to filling 

MEGCs with permanent, non-liquefied 

compressed gases, which are filled by 

pressure, while § 173.312(b)(2)(ii) 

applies to liquefied gases, which are 

filled by weight. 

In this final rule, we are adopting P– 

1572, with the modifications noted 

above. PHMSA emphasizes that this 

change does not impose a new burden, 

as adoption of this proposal only 

emphasizes an important safety 

requirement already stated in § 173.304b 

for UN pressure receptacles. 

P–1580 

HMT Associates submitted P–1580 

requesting that PHMSA revise 

§§ 173.302(f)(2) and 173.304(f)(2) to 

require that the burst pressure of a 

rupture disc align with CGA S–1.1 for 

DOT 39 cylinders filled with an 

oxidizing gas and offered for 

transportation by air. Specifically, as 

prescribed in 4.2.2 of CGA S–1.1, the 

required burst pressure of the rupture 

disc ‘‘shall not exceed 80 percent of the 

minimum cylinder burst pressure and 

shall not be less than 105 percent of the 

cylinder test pressure.’’ 

Section 173.301(f) states that a 

cylinder filled with a compressed gas 

and offered for transportation ‘‘must be 

equipped with one or more [pressure 

relief devices (PRDs)] sized and selected 

as to type, location and quantity and 

tested in conformance with CGA S–1.1 

[Pressure Relief Device Standards—Part 

1—Cylinders for Compressed Gases, 

Fourteenth Edition (2005)] and CGA S– 

7 [Method for Selecting Pressure Relief 

Devices for Compressed Gas Mixtures in 

Cylinders (2005)].’’ Sections 

172.302(f)(2) and 172.304(f)(2) specify 

that the rated burst pressure of a rupture 

disc for DOT 3A, 3AA, 3AL, 3E, and 39 

cylinders, as well as that for UN ISO 

9809–1, ISO 9809–2, ISO 9809–3, and 

ISO 7866 cylinders containing oxygen, 

compressed; compressed gas, oxidizing, 

n.o.s.; or nitrogen trifluoride, must be 

100 percent of the cylinder minimum 

test pressure with a tolerance of ‘plus 

zero’ to minus 10 percent. 

In response to PHMSA’s NPRM 

entitled ‘‘Hazardous Materials: 

Miscellaneous Amendments’’ published 

on September 29, 2010 (75 FR 60017) 

under Docket No. PHMSA–2009–0151 

(HM–218F), HMT Associates submitted 

a late-filed comment that identified a 

potential discrepancy between the HMR 

and CGA S–1.1. Specifically, this 

commenter stated the HMR have 

different PRD settings than CGA S–1.1 

for DOT 39 cylinders that make it 

virtually impossible to comply with 

both the HMR and CGA S–1.1. Sections 

173.302(f)(2) and 173.304(f)(2) require 

the rated burst pressure of a rupture disc 

for DOT 3A, 3AA, 3AL, 3E, and DOT 39 

cylinders to be 100 percent of the 

cylinder minimum test pressure with a 

tolerance of ‘plus zero’ to minus 10 

percent, whereas section 4.2.2 of CGA 

S–1.1 requires the rated burst pressure 

of the rupture disc on DOT 39 cylinders 

to be not less than 105 percent of the 

cylinder test pressure. 

In the NPRM, PHMSA proposed to 

revise § 173.301(f) as it applies to DOT 

39 cylinders to alleviate any confusion 

and conflict between the PRD 

requirements in § 173.301(f) and those 

in §§ 173.302(f)(2) and 173.304(f)(2) 

with respect to minimum burst pressure 

of pressure relief devices on a DOT 39 

cylinder used for the transport of 

compressed and liquefied oxidizing 

gases by air. 

We received comments from HMT 

Associates and Worthington Cylinder 

regarding P–1580. Both comments 

correctly noted that in the NPRM we 

failed to amend the regulatory text in 

§§ 173.302 and 173.304 as we stated in 

our NPRM discussion. 

PHMSA response. We agree with 

HMT Associates’ comment noting that 

the proposed language in 

§ 173.301(f)(4)(iv) is not strictly 

necessary, because by revising 

§§ 173.302(f)(2) and 173.304(f)(2) we 

will have brought the HMR into 

alignment with CGA S–1.1 

requirements. However, we will 

maintain the reference to the new 

requirements in § 173.301(f)(4)(iv) to 

increase the visibility of the new 

requirements. We did not receive any 

comments opposed to the proposed 

change. Therefore, in the final rule, we 

are amending §§ 173.302 and 173.304 to 

align with CGA S–1.1 requirements for 

DOT 39 cylinders for oxidizing gases 

transported by air. To avoid placing 

cylinders in conformance with the 

current requirements of §§ 173.302(f)(2) 

and 173.304(f)(2) out of service, we will 

allow cylinders filled prior to the 

effective date of this rulemaking that 

meet the current requirements of the 

HMR to remain in service until the end 

of their useful lives. 

P–1582 

Water Systems Council submitted P– 

1582 requesting that PHMSA revise 

§ 173.306(g), which provides a limited 

quantity exception for water pump 

system tanks, by permitting tanks 

manufactured to American National 

Standards Institute (ANSI)/Water 

Systems Council (WSC) standard PST 

2000–2005 (2009) to be authorized for 

transport. 

The ANSI/WSC standard PST 2000– 

2005 prescribes minimum performance 

and construction requirements for 

pressurized storage tanks for service in 

water well systems with a maximum 

factory pre-charge pressure of 40 psig 

(280 kPa), to be operated in ambient air 

temperatures up to 120 °F (49 °C), with 


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maximum working pressures not less 

than 75 psig (520 kPa) and not greater 

than 150 psig (1,000 kPa) and tank 

volumes not exceeding 120 gallons (450 

L). The standard was developed by a 

group of WSC members comprised of 

leading U.S. manufacturers of 

pressurized water storage tanks for 

water wells to define and promote— 

through voluntary written standards— 

minimum performance and construction 

requirements for pressurized water 

storage tanks for service in water well 

systems. Aligning the HMR with this 

industry standard will provide 

minimum requirements for pressurized 

water storage tanks for water wells that 

provide at least an equivalent level of 

safety as currently provided in the 

HMR. 

The revised requirements for water 

pump system tanks in this final rule 

authorize tanks to be tested to the 

manufacturer’s specified maximum 

working pressure instead of the current 

one size fits all requirement of 100 psig. 

Further, it allows water pump system 

tanks to be charged with helium in 

addition to the currently authorized 

nitrogen. The requirements in this final 

rule allow additional flexibility for 

manufacturers compared to current 

requirements. Therefore, PHMSA does 

not expect this amendment to impose 

costs. PHMSA received one comment in 

support of this proposal from 

Worthington Cylinder. 

In the NPRM, we proposed to change 

the pneumatic test requirement from 

100 psig to the manufacturer’s specified 

maximum working pressure because the 

industry standard allows for maximum 

working pressures greater than 100 psig 

(i.e., up to 150 psig as stated above). In 

this final rule, we will specify that the 

pneumatic test may not exceed 150 psig, 

which aligns with ANSI/WSC PST 

2000–2005 maximum working pressure 

for a water pump system tank. 

Pneumatic pressure tests present 

additional risks to testing personnel, 

and this modification is intended to 

reduce risk by clarifying the maximum 

test pressure allowed while remaining 

aligned with the industry standard. 

We are making several additional 

editorial changes to the layout and 

language of § 173.306(g) in order to 

clarify the intent of the provision. 

Specifically, we are modifying the 

introductory paragraph of § 173.306(g) 

to clarify our intent to allow the tanks 

to be filled with air, nitrogen, or helium 

up to 40 psig at time of manufacture, 

referred to in ANSI/WSC PST 2000– 

2005 as a ‘‘pre-charge.’’ Further, we are 

replacing the word ‘‘charged’’ with 

‘‘pre-charge’’ throughout the paragraph 

to clarify that the manufacturer’s precharge pressure is the pressure that 

should be used in calculations, where 

appropriate. 

We are modifying § 173.306(g)(1) to 

explain clearly the maximum allowable 

working pressure limits of water pump 

system tanks. The requirement that 

these tanks may be operated in ambient 

air temperatures of up to 49 °C (120 °F) 

with a maximum working pressure not 

less than 517.1 kPa (75 psig) and not 

greater than 1034.2 kPa (150 psig) is 

taken from the ANSI/WSC PST 2000– 

2005 standard. Our intent is to impose 

a limit on the marked maximum 

working pressure for a water pump tank 

system at 150 psig, (i.e., the upper end 

of the maximum working pressure), to 

ensure pneumatic testing is not 

conducted above this pressure at time of 

manufacture to prevent increased 

dangers for testing employees. Given 

that the new MAWP limit in 

§ 173.306(g)(1) aligns with the industry 

standard and is above the limit for water 

distribution piping operations, PHMSA 

does not believe that this requirement 

will introduce any additional burdens 

on manufacturers. 

We are removing the phrase ‘‘concave 

dome tanks’’ from § 173.306(g)(3) for 

clarity because we consider this 

language to be redundant to the 

requirement in § 173.306(g)(1) that 

requires all tanks to have heads concave 

to pressure. 

Finally, we are not adopting proposed 

paragraph (g)(4), which discussed a 

design leakproofness test for composite 

tanks. We do not believe that requiring 

this test for composite tanks is necessary 

in the HMR. Our main transportation 

safety concern with water pump system 

tanks remains their burst pressure, and 

we believe that inclusion of the 

proposed design hydrostatic 

leakproofness test for composite tanks 

will increase confusion. All tanks, steel 

and composite, are subject to a 

pneumatic proof pressure test at the 

manufacturer’s maximum allowable 

working pressure at time of manufacture 

(see § 173.306(g)(1)). All tank designs, 

both steel and composite, must also 

have a burst pressure at least 6x the precharge pressure at 21.1 °C (70 °F) or 3x 

the manufacturer’s specified maximum 

working pressure, whichever is greater, 

as proposed. These modifications to the 

proposed language are intended to 

increase clarity without making any 

substantive changes to the provisions 

proposed in the NPRM. 

In this final rule, PHMSA will adopt 

provisions of P–1582 as proposed with 

the modification noted above. 

P–1592 

The CGA submitted P–1592 

requesting that PHMSA replace the 2005 

edition of CGA S–1.1, Pressure Relief 

Device Standards—Part 1—Cylinders 

for Compressed Gases with the 2011 

edition as referenced in the HMR. 

CGA S–1.1 provides standards for 

selecting the correct pressure relief 

device (PRD) to meet the requirements 

of § 173.301(f) for over 150 gases. It 

provides guidance on when a pressure 

relief device can be optionally omitted 

and when one’s use is prohibited, as 

well as direction on pressure relief 

device manufacture, testing, operational 

parameters, and maintenance. CGA S– 

1.1 is available for purchase online and 

will be available for public inspection at 

the Hazardous Material Information 

Center after publication of the final rule. 

This minor update to the regulations 

improves the timeliness and clarity of 

industry standards that are incorporated 

by reference. It supports the goal of 

facilitating the use of industry standards 

and reducing the burdens associated 

with references to outdated material. 

Bancroft Hinchey, Worthington 

Cylinder, NAFED, CGA and FIBA 

Technologies submitted comments 

supporting incorporation by reference of 

the 2011 edition of CGA S–1.1. FIBA 

Technologies additionally identified an 

inconsistency with the HMR and new 

S–1.1 requirements. FIBA Technologies 

correctly noted that the requirements for 

pressure relief devices in 

§ 173.302a(c)(4)(ii) conflict with the 

2011 edition of CGA S–1.1 that we are 

incorporating by reference in this 

rulemaking. Accordingly, we are 

amending § 173.302a(c)(4)(ii) to reflect 

that PRDs are optional for hydrogen 

tube trailers. Shippers are not required 

to install PRDs on tubes (cylinders 

longer than 12 feet) shipped in 

accordance with this paragraph, 

however their continued use and 

installation is authorized. This change 

maintains regulatory flexibility and 

alignment with accepted industry 

practice. This change does not impose 

any new requirements and increases 

regulatory flexibility by allowing 

hydrogen tube trailer shippers the 

option of continuing to use PRDs. In this 

final rule, we are incorporating by 

reference CGA S–1.1, 2011 as proposed. 

P–1596 

Chemically Speaking, LLC submitted 

P–1596 which requested that PHMSA 

revise the HMR pertaining to salvage 

drums. Specifically, P–1596 proposed 

amending § 173.3(d) to allow Class 4 

and Class 5 materials to be placed in 

salvage cylinders. 


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Three commenters commented on this 

proposal. Dow Chemical Company and 

Worthington Cylinder supported the 

adoption of the petition as proposed. 

CGA opposed the adoption of the 

petition on the basis of safety, stating 

that they do not support revising salvage 

drum provisions in the HMR to allow 

Class 4 and Class 5 to be placed in 

salvage vessels because chemically 

reactive materials may produce 

pressures exceeding their pressure 

ratings. CGA suggests that a special 

permit or approval should be required 

for this activity. 

PHMSA response. We agree with Dow 

and Worthington and do not agree with 

CGA’s comment. We proposed to allow 

the use of salvage cylinders (emphasis 

added), which are much more robust 

packagings than the salvage drums that 

CGA mentions. PHMSA acknowledges 

that the NPRM discussion of this 

proposal may have led to CGA’s overly 

broad interpretation PHMSA’s intent 

because we used the term ‘‘drum’’ even 

though the petition only applies to 

salvage cylinders. There is currently no 

restriction preventing shippers from 

placing Class 4 and Class 5 materials in 

salvage drums. Salvage cylinders are 

currently authorized to transport 

liquefied gases (such as carbon dioxide) 

and many toxic gases (Division 2.3). 

These materials are both high and low 

pressure so the salvage cylinders must 

be constructed and designed to handle 

the possible pressures of the packaged 

materials at temperatures up to 55 °C. 

Salvage cylinder design criteria ensure 

safety and containment of a leaking 

cylinder so it can be transported to a 

disposal facility. Adding Class 4 and 

Class 5 materials will not create any 

significant change in the risk when 

using salvage cylinders as long all the 

requirements of § 173.3(d) are met. No 

Class 4 and Class 5 materials can be as 

toxic as the Division 2.3 or Division 6.1 

materials currently allowed, nor can 

they generate pressure that would 

exceed the pressures of the Division 2.1, 

2.2, or 2.3 materials currently allowed. 

Thus, we believe adding these materials 

as authorized in salvage cylinders will 

maintain the same level of safety 

established by the regulations. 

CGA also suggested allowing Class 4 

and Class 5 materials to be placed in 

salvage cylinders under the provision of 

an approval. 

PHMSA response. We believe a 

requirement to receive an approval to 

use a salvage cylinder for Class 4 and 

Class 5 materials to be impractical in 

emergency situations. Additionally, as 

we have not identified any increased 

risk by providing this general 

allowance, imposing a burden on users 

to obtain an approval would also not be 

practical. We do not believe there will 

be any decrease in safety by allowing 

shippers to place Class 4 and Class 5 

materials in more robust salvage 

cylinders. Therefore, we are adopting P– 

1596 as proposed, and amending 

§ 173.3(d) accordingly. 

P–1622 

Worthington Cylinder submitted P– 

1622 requesting that PHMSA limit the 

internal volume of DOT 39 cylinders 

containing liquefied flammable gas to 75 

cubic inches (in3), to correct an error 

dating to 2002. 

(1) 75 Cubic Inch Limit 

Prior to the publication of HM–220D 

(67 FR 51626; Aug. 8, 2002), the HMR 

restricted the internal volume of DOT 39 

cylinders to 75 in3 for all non-liquefied 

flammable compressed gases and the 

following flammable liquefied gases: 

Cyclopropane, ethane, ethylene and 

liquefied petroleum gas. In the HM–220 

NPRM (63 FR 58460; Oct. 30, 1998), we 

proposed to increase the applicability of 

this restriction to all flammable 

liquefied gases, but did not adopt the 

change on the basis of negative 

comments in the HM–220D final rule. 

The HM–220D final rule, however, 

contained a drafting error that removed 

the 75 in3 restriction from liquefied 

gases completely, which was not our 

intent. 

Worthington Cylinder submitted P– 

1622 on July 19, 2013, requesting that 

PHMSA impose a volume restriction of 

75 in3 on DOT 39 cylinders containing 

the liquefied gases cyclopropane, 

ethane, ethylene, and liquefied 

petroleum gas. On October 10, 2014, 

Worthington Cylinder submitted a 

supplement to P–1622, requesting that 

PHMSA restrict the volume of DOT 39 

cylinders containing any liquefied 

flammable gas to 75 cubic inches. In the 

NPRM, we proposed to adopt this 

second proposal and restrict the volume 

of DOT 39 cylinders containing any 

liquefied flammable gas to 75 cubic 

inches. 

CGA and Worthington Cylinder 

submitted comments supporting our 

proposed action to restrict the volume of 

DOT 39 cylinders containing any 

liquefied flammable gas to 75 cubic 

inches. We received comments from 

Worthington Cylinder, Ford Motor 

Company, Amtrol, Chemours, COSTHA, 

and Honeywell requesting that we 

create an exception to the proposed 75 

in3 limit for ASHRAE A2L ‘‘mildly 

flammable’’ gases. We did not receive 

any comments directly opposed to the 

creation of a general 75 in3 limit for 

liquefied flammable gases in DOT 39 

cylinders. The commenters explained 

that, in the years since the 75 in3

restriction was inadvertantly deleted, 

they have begun safely transporting 

certain Division 2.1 refrigerant gases in 

DOT 39 cylinders larger than 75 in3. 

They also submitted technical data 

describing the properties of ASHRAE 

A2L ‘‘mildly flammable’’ gases and 

demonstrated the performance of a DOT 

39 cylinder with a capacity over 75 in3

filled with an A2L gas in a bonfire test. 

PHMSA response. In this final rule, 

we are modifying our proposed change 

to § 173.304a and imposing a 75 in3

limit on the capacity of DOT 39 

cylinders containing the following 

liquefied flammable gases: 

Cyclopropane, ethane, ethylene and 

liquefied petroleum gas. This course of 

action will correct the inadvertent error 

we made in HM–220D and aligns with 

PHMSA’s safety advisory notice 

published April 24, 2017 (PHMSA– 

2016–14; 82 FR 18967). This will also 

sufficiently address the economic 

concerns raised by Worthington 

Cylinder, Ford Motor Company, Amtrol, 

Chemours, COSTHA, and Honeywell 

regarding the applicability of the 75 in3

limit for hydrofluoroolefin and 

dihalogenoalkane refrigerants. 

(2) Chemicals Under Pressure 

Dow Chemical Company submitted a 

comment requesting clarification about 

the size limitation for chemicals under 

pressure in § 173.302a(a)(3). 

PHMSA response. The limit is only 

intended to apply to Division 2.1 

(flammable gas) chemical under 

pressure. However, as we noted in the 

NPRM, the 50 L limit is much larger 

than the maximum size authorized for 

the DOT 39 specification in § 178.65. 

This discrepancy was an unintentional 

outcome of a harmonization effort with 

international requirements for nonrefillable cylinders, which allow larger 

sizes than the HMR allow (see Docket 

No. PHMSA–2012–0027 (HM–215L); 78 

FR 988). To reduce confusion 

introduced by the conflict of the 50 L 

quantity in § 173.302a(a)(3) and the 

capacity limts of the specification, we 

are deleting the reference to ‘‘50 L (3050 

in3)’’ and replacing it with reference to 

the DOT 39 specification capacity 

limits—1526 in3 for a service pressure 

of 500 psig or less, and 277 in3 for a 

service pressure of greater than 500 psig. 

P–1626 

The CGA submitted P–1626 

requesting that PHMSA incorporate by 

reference (IBR) CGA C–1, Methods for 

Pressure Testing Compressed Gas 

Cylinders, Tenth Edition (2009) and 

revise the regulations regarding the 


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6PHMSA notes that Jeff Elliot, Noble Gas 

Solutions, Anthony King, W Andrews, and Scuba 

Do submitted comments supporting the Hydro-Test 

Products comment and opposing the incorporation 

of CGA C–1. While the discussion below focuses on 

the specific comments from Hydro-Test Products, it 

also addresses the subject matter raised by these 

other comments supporting the Hydro-Test 

Products comment. 

retesting of cylinders by the hydrostatic 

test as they are not only unclear to 

requalifiers, but also missing necessary 

information rendering the regulations 

unenforceable. Although the petition 

proposed the Tenth Edition, currently 

there is an Eleventh Edition (2016) 

available. In the NPRM, PHMSA 

proposed to incorporate by reference 

this most current version and requested 

comment regarding this action. We 

received no adverse comments related 

to adoption of the newest edition (i.e., 

CGA C–1–2016 (11th Ed.)) of the 

standard versus the Tenth Edition. 

However, we did receive numerous 

comments regarding the incorporation 

by reference of CGA C–1–2016 (11th 

Ed.) (‘‘CGA C–1’’) and associated 

revisions, which we will discuss in 

depth as follows. 

In this final rule, PHMSA is adopting 

clarifying language and incorporating by 

reference the CGA C–1 standard, as 

proposed in P–1626. CGA C–1 provides 

more detailed instructions and 

illustrations for use by cylinder 

requalifiers and manufacturers than 

what is possible in the HMR and 

addresses the deficiencies detailed in 

the petition. This incorporation by 

reference applies to the following 

sections: §§ 178.36, 178.37, 178.38, 

178.39, 178.42, 178.44, 178.45, 178.46, 

178.47, 178.50, 178.51, 178.53, 178.55, 

178.56, 178.57, 178.58, 178.59, 178.60, 

178.61, 178.65, 178.68, 180.205, and 

180.209. The incorporation of CGA C– 

1 supports the goal of increasing 

compliance and improving overall 

safety as its reference increases clarity 

and provides enhanced guidance 

compared to the current language in the 

HMR. Cylinder requalifiers and 

manufacturers must comply with CGA 

C–1 requirements for pressure testing 

cylinders, as well as equipment 

accuracy and calibration. Specific 

clarifications include instructions for 

performing volumetric expansion tests 

using both the water-jacket and direct 

expansion methods, as well as a 

provision for retesting in case of 

equipment failure or operator error and 

re-naming the ‘‘hydrostatic test’’ 

paragraph to ‘‘pressure test’’ to align 

more with industry accepted 

nomenclature. PHMSA believes that 

CGA C–1’s inclusion of ‘‘operator error’’ 

as a condition allowing a repeated test 

at a higher pressure will prevent the 

condemnation of cylinders that are safe 

for continued use. Revising the HMR to 

incorporate by reference CGA C–1 will 

provide the desired clarification without 

imposing requirements that are 

potentially costly or unnecessarily 

difficult. 

(1) Response to Hydro-Test Products 

We received numerous comments 

regarding incorporation by reference of 

CGA C–1, and about interpretation of 

CGA C–1 requirements. Hydro-Test 

Products 6 submitted a comment 

requesting clarification of CGA C–1 

requalification requirements compared 

to the current requalification 

requirements in part 180, subpart C, of 

the HMR. Hydro-Test Products states, 

The authors of the CGA C–1 pamphlet have 

included definitions and examples of 

calibration and accuracy for Expansion 

Indicating Devices (EID) and Pressure 

Indicating Devices (PID) that will restrict 

most all current licensed cylinder requalifiers from performing cylinder requalification. Furthermore, there are 

statements in the C–1 that discriminate 

against procedures and equipment 

components that have been utilized in a safe, 

consistent and accurate manner for many 

years. 

PHMSA response. We disagree with 

Hydro-Test Products and address the 

issues they raise below. 

(a) Expansion Indicating Device 

Accuracy 

Hydro-Test Products describes a 

burette arrangement with 4 burettes 

with full scales of 0–25, 0–50, 0–125 

and 0–360 cubic centimeters (cc) and 

explains their belief that incorporation 

by reference of CGA C–1 will 

significantly restrict the usable range of 

the burettes to half of the burette’s scale, 

instead of the much broader range that 

they believe are authorized under the 

current HMR. 

PHMSA response. Hydro-Test 

Products understanding of the HMR’s 

current requirements is not correct. The 

HMR currently require use of burettes in 

the same manner prescribed in CGA 

C–1. Hydro-Test Products 

misunderstanding appears to be 

grounded in the final rule published on 

May 28, 1996, known as HM–220A, (61 

FR 26750). HM–220A created the 

requirement that expansion indicating 

devices (EID), such as burettes or scales, 

must be certified as having an accuracy 

of ±0.5 percent, of its full range, and 

must be accurate to ±1.0 percent of the 

total expansion of any cylinder tested or 

0.1 cubic centimeter, whichever is 

larger. These accuracy requirements, as 

discussed in the HM–220A final rule (61 

FR 26751), are separate and distinct 

from the requirement that the EID 

permit reading to ±1 percent of the total 

expansion. The reading requirements 

are intended to address the resolution of 

the EID, which is not the same as the 

accuracy of the EID. In the example of 

the burette with a full scale of 50 cc, 

with an accuracy grade of ±0.5 percent 

and increments of 0.1 cc (mid-point 

interpolation allowed to 0.05), the 

resolution would permit reading down 

to 5 cc (i.e., interpolation to 0.05 is 1 

percent of 5 cc), but the accuracy of the 

device would not. A burette with a full 

scale of 50 cc and full-scale accuracy of 

±0.5 percent has an expected deviation 

of ±0.25 cc. The device may only be 

used to measure total expansion greater 

than 25 cc, because at total expansions 

lower than 25 cc, the expected deviation 

will be greater than ±1 percent of the 

total expansion. Using the 5 cc example, 

a 0.25 cc deviation (i.e., the expected 

deviation for a 50 cc burette with an 

accuracy grade of ±0.5 percent) at a total 

expansion of 5 cc would be a 5% 

deviation, and would not meet the 

requirement that the EID is accurate to 

±1% of the total expansion. 

Moreover, we do not agree that 

incorporation by reference of CGA C–1 

will impose new cost burdens upon 

cylinder requalifiers because the current 

regulatory standard has been in place 

since 1996, and the requirements will 

not change with incorporation by 

reference of CGA C–1. Hydro-Test 

Products states that a similar issue 

exists for requalifiers using a scale as 

their EID. Our response is the same: The 

current regulatory standard has been in 

place since 1996, and the requirements 

will not change with incorporation by 

reference of CGA C–1. 

(b) Total and Permanent Expansion 

Accuracy 

Hydro-Test Products asks how EIDs 

can be used to measure permanent 

expansion when that permanent 

expansion is a much lower value that 

the total expansion, i.e. the permanent 

expansion is out of the range allowed 

for the total expansion. 

PHMSA response. Hydro-Test 

Products is correct that permanent 

expansion values are much lower than 

total expansion values. The HMR has 

always accepted a greater accuracy 

deviation for permanent expansion, and 

this does not change in CGA C–1. 

Accuracy requirements for EIDs 

continue to be expressed in terms of the 

total expansion value. 

(c) Foreknowledge of Total Expansion 

Hydro-Test Products asks, ‘‘[s]ince 

there is no indication of the total 

expansion value on DOT specification 


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cylinders, how is a re-qualifier 

supposed to know what burette or scale 

is applicable and within the proposed 

regulations for a given test?’’ 

PHMSA response. If a requalifier is 

completely unaware of the approximate 

expected total expansion for a cylinder, 

the requalifier may pressurize the 

cylinder at or below 90 percent of test 

pressure, which will give an 

approximate value for total expansion, 

allowing the requalifier to select the 

proper EID for the test. If the operator 

errs and the cylinder is tested using an 

EID that cannot measure the total 

expansion to ±1 percent, he or she may 

repeat the test up to two times, in 

accordance with CGA C–1 section 5.7.1. 

Note that pressurizing the cylinder at or 

below 90 percent of test pressure does 

not constitute a test. 

(d) Pressure Indicating Device Accuracy 

Hydro-Test Products describes a 

scenario with four pressure indicating 

devices (PIDs) with the understanding 

that CGA C–1 will significantly limit the 

usable range of the gauges. 

PHMSA response. We acknowledge 

that there are other ways to demonstrate 

compliance with the accuracy 

requirements for PIDs (e.g. certifying 

gauges at pressures lower than their 

manufacturer’s rated full scale). We 

believe this practice is in accordance 

with the HMR and with CGA C–1 

because a gauge calibrator has, in effect, 

certified a gauge to better than a ±0.5 

percent full scale accuracy when he or 

she calibrates the gauge to demonstrate 

±1 percent accuracy at points lower than 

the normally usable range of the gauge 

based on the manufacturer’s rated 

accuracy. The ±1 percent accuracy 

requirement is only a minimum 

standard, and gauge manufacturers or 

other entities certifying the accuracy are 

free to demonstrate that the gauge meets 

the ±1 percent requirement at other, 

lower points on the gauge. 

The examples provided in CGA C–1 

are only a guide, and should not be used 

to prevent the use of PIDs at lower 

pressures provided the gauge calibrator 

documents the calibration points on the 

calibration certificate. The minimum 

accuracy and readability standards are 

such that it limits the use of any PID to 

(the upper) half the gauge, however, 

there is no limitation on using a gauge 

certified to be more accurate across its 

full range, thus allowing broader use of 

the gauge. PHMSA reviewed this 

practice in Letter of Interpretation Ref. 

No. 14–0112, and at this time we have 

no reason to believe that this practice is 

unsafe. To clarify our intent further to 

continue to allow this practice, in this 

final rule we are not requiring 

compliance with CGA C–1 paragraph 

5.3.2.2, which discusses accuracy 

requirements for PIDs, if the required 

accuracy of the PID can be demonstrated 

by other recognized means such as 

calibration certificates. 

Rather we are maintaining the HMR’s 

current PID accuracy requirements in 

§ 180.205(g)(3)(i). Voluntary compliance 

with CGA C–1 5.3.2.2 is authorized and 

will meet the HMR’s accuracy 

requirements for PIDs used for cylinder 

requalification, as will the practice of 

demonstrating accuracy through 

maintenance of a calibration certificate 

showing the gauge has been certified to 

meet the accuracy requirements at lower 

points. Regardless of the method used to 

determine the usable range of the gauge, 

the cylinder requalifier must verify that 

the system is accurate to within 1 

percent of the test pressures to be tested 

that day, as provided in CGA C–1 

paragraph 5.5. 

(e) Reference Zero Expansion 

Hydro-Test Products requests 

clarification of the term ‘‘reference zero 

expansion’’ in CGA C–1, sections 3.2.22. 

PHMSA response. In the verification 

process, it is critical that the calibrated 

cylinder show zero expansion to 

indicate that the system set-up is 

accurate and ready for testing. The term 

‘‘reference zero expansion’’ is intended 

to clarify that when reading the 

calibrated cylinder’s permanent 

expansion during verification, an 

expansion reading of ±0.1cc or ±0.1 

percent of total expansion, whichever is 

larger, is accepted as zero. 

(f) Daily Verification 

Hydro-Test Products states that the 

requirement to verify all test equipment 

to be used that day is impossible for 

those companies that are utilizing 

burette systems on the volumetric tester 

and generally unnecessary. 

PHMSA response. We disagree. This 

is a long-standing requirement that is 

currently found in the HMR in 

§ 180.205(g)(4). All PIDs, EIDs, and 

water jackets that are to be used that day 

must be verified under the current 

requirements of the HMR. We do not 

believe any additional costs will be 

imposed by incorporating CGA C–1 

because this industry standard has the 

same requirements as are already 

required for cylinder requalifiers under 

the HMR. 

(g) Calibrated Cylinders as Surge Tanks 

Hydro-Test Products and Galiso 

question the reasoning for CGA C–1’s 

prohibition on the use of a calibrated 

cylinder as a ‘‘surge tank’’ used to slow 

pumping speeds when testing smaller 

cylinders. 

PHMSA response. Observations from 

PHMSA field investigators suggest that 

industry already largely complies with 

this requirement. We have safety 

concerns that exposure to unregulated 

pressure surges and high temperatures 

may render the calibrated cylinder 

unsuitable for its intended purpose. If 

repeatedly exposed to unregulated 

pressure surges, the calibrated cylinder 

may experience additional permanent 

expansion, rendering it incapable of 

being used to verify the system’s 

accuracy on a daily basis. The daily 

verification process depends on the 

calibrated cylinder giving a precisely 

known expansion value at a given 

pressure. If the calibrated cylinder 

begins stretching too much, for example, 

a cylinder requalifier may adjust the 

equipment so that the reading returns to 

the expected value, not realizing that he 

has just brought his equipment out of 

alignment in his attempt to calibrate 

with an overstretched cylinder. This 

would cause inaccurate tests whenever 

that calibrated cylinder is used to verify 

the system before a day of tests. 

(h) Conclusion 

Finally, Hydro-Test Products states, 

‘‘[a]s we have hoped to have presented 

in these comments, the incorporation of 

the C–1 into the regulations will only 

confuse cylinder re-qualifiers more, 

while imposing nearly impossible 

accuracy requirements at a greater cost 

with absolutely no benefit in safety.’’ 

PHMSA response. We disagree with 

Hydro-Test Products’ conclusion. As we 

have shown, incorporation of CGA C–1 

will not impose additional regulatory 

burdens on requalifiers. CGA C–1 

combines the HMR’s current regulatory 

requirements for pressure testing with 

diagrams, illustrations, step-by-step 

guidelines, trouble-shooting procedures, 

and technical appendices that provide 

requalifiers with all the information 

they need to requalify cylinders safely 

and successfully. The creation of 

flexibility for reference zero expansion 

will decrease the time wasted by 

requalifiers calibrating their systems 

every day without compromising 

accuracy. PHMSA believes, based on 

experience conducting compliance 

inspections at cylinder requalification 

facilities, that the additional guidance 

provided by CGA C–1 (diagrams, 

troubleshooting guides, technical 

appendices) will encourage compliance 

with cylinder requalification standards. 


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(2) Response to Other Commenters 

(a) System Failure or Operator Error 

FIBA submitted a comment requesting 

that we reevaluate the requirements 

related to system failures or operator 

error during the pressure test required 

after cylinder manufacture. 

PHMSA response. We agree that the 

requirements need further clarification. 

It was our intention to align with the 

requirements in CGA C–1, section 5.7.2 

for cylinder manufacture. In the event of 

equipment failure or operator error, 

cylinders may be repeat tested more 

than twice at time of manufacture, as 

long as the actual test pressure does not 

exceed 110 percent of the minimum test 

pressure and the stresses developed in 

the cylinder remain within its 

specification and design limitations. 

Therefore, we are inserting a reference 

to that provision in each cylinder 

manufacture pressure testing paragraph. 

Note that this does not apply to 3AL 

cylinders, which, due to the differences 

in ductility between aluminum and 

steel, are limited to a single repeat test. 

(b) Clarification of § 178.42(f) 

COSTHA submitted a comment 

requesting grammatical changes to the 

proposed § 178.42(f) to clarify our 

intent. Section 178.42 specifies two tests 

for DOT 3E cylinders. One cylinder 

from each lot must be burst tested, and 

must burst at a pressure of 6,000 psig 

without fragmenting or otherwise 

showing lack of ductility. Then 

following a successful burst test, each 

remaining cylinder in the lot must be 

examined under pressure of at least 

3,000 psig, and not above 4,500 psig, 

and show no defect. The cylinder 

manufacturer may only examine the 

cylinders at a pressure of 3,600 psig or 

greater if the cylinder that was bursttested at 7,500 psig or greater. 

PHMSA response. We agree with 

COSTHA’s comment that the proposed 

language in § 178.42(f)(3)(ii) was 

ambiguous. In this final rule, we are 

reverting the language in § 178.42(f) to 

the previous layout and language and 

adding the incorporation of CGA C–1. In 

our attempt to clarify the requirements 

in § 178.42(f) we inadvertently made 

them more ambiguous. 

(c) CGA C–1.1 

Hydro-Test Products, Bancroft 

Hinchey, ICT, Noble Gas Solutions, and 

FIBA noted that the CGA C–1.1 training 

material we cited in § 180.205(j), has 

been retracted by CGA and requested 

that we remove reference to it. 

PHMSA response. We agree with the 

commenters and will remove reference 

to CGA C–1.1 from § 180.205(j), as it no 

longer applies as a resource. 

(d) Burst Testing Accuracy 

Worthington Cylinder submitted a 

comment requesting clarification about 

whether CGA C–1 accuracy 

requirements apply to PIDs used when 

burst testing cylinders during 

manufacturing. 

PHMSA response. The answer is yes. 

In this final rule, we will modify the 

relevant sections of the part 178 

specifications for cylinders to indicate 

that PIDs used for burst tests must meet 

the requirements of CGA C–1. 

(e) Reference Zero Expansion 

Galiso submitted a comment 

requesting that we accept a value within 

±1 percent of readability as zero for 

daily verification. PHMSA does not 

agree. The allowance of ±.1 percent of 

total expansion will decrease time spent 

by requalifiers during daily verification 

while ensuring that their system 

continues to meet accuracy 

requirements. PHMSA will not consider 

a new ‘‘zero’’ standard in this final rule. 

(f) Repeat Tests for System Failure or 

Operator Error 

Galiso submitted a comment 

requesting an explanation for the 

limitation of two repeat tests in the case 

of system failure or operator error. 

When a cylinder is pressurized, it 

expands. This property is the basis of 

the volumetric expansion testing 

program. Volumetric expansion testing 

measures the volume of the cylinder at 

test pressure (elastic expansion), and 

compares it to the volume of the 

cylinder after pressure is removed 

(permanent expansion). When 

permanent expansion is more than 10 

percent (or 12 percent for certain 

cylinders) of elastic expansion, the 

cylinder must be condemned. If a 

cylinder is pressurized to over 90 

percent of test pressure and then the 

system fails or the operator errs, it will 

not return to its original state, rather it 

will exhibit permanent expansion and 

reduced expandability because the 

metal has been stretched. When the test 

is repeated the next day, the cylinder 

will exhibit less permanent expansion 

than the day before, because it started 

the test in an expanded state. PHMSA 

is concerned that allowing more than 

two repeat tests cycles will allow 

cylinders that should have been 

condemned to re-enter transportation. 

(3) Corrections 

(a) DOT 39 Burst Test 

In the review of the NPRM, PHMSA 

determined that we inadvertently 

removed the requirements for bursttesting DOT 39 cylinders from 

§ 178.65(f). In this final rule, we are reinserting burst test requirements with 

language incorporating CGA C–1 

calibration and accuracy requirements 

for burst testing into § 178.65(f). 

(b) Incorrect Usage of the Word 

‘‘Condemn’’ 

In the review of the NPRM, PHMSA 

determined that we inadvertently 

replaced the word ‘‘rejected’’ with 

‘‘condemned’’ in several cylinder 

manufacture pressure testing sections, 

specifically §§ 178.46, 178.47, 178.55, 

178.56, and 178.65. This was not our 

intent. In this final rule, we will 

maintain the HMR’s existing 

instructions for cylinders rejected 

during manufacture. 

(4) Pneumatic and Hydraulic Proof 

Pressure Tests 

CGA C–1 provides instructions for 

conducting proof pressure tests both 

pneumatically (gaseous-based system) 

and hydraulically (liquid-based system). 

For the purposes of part 178, subpart C, 

a manufacturer may choose either 

system when a proof pressure test is 

authorized. PHMSA would like to 

emphasize that pneumatic proof 

pressure test systems can present 

increased risks to test personnel due to 

the amount of energy stored in a 

cylinder filled to test pressure with a 

gas. Manufacturers must take this risk 

into account and develop systems to 

prevent the injury or death of their 

employees in the event of a catastrophic 

cylinder rupture at test pressure. The 

use of additional safety equipment such 

as blast shields, test cages, etc., is 

advisable to prevent possible injury to 

testing personnel and equipment. 

P–1628 

CGA submitted P–1628 requesting 

that PHMSA incorporate by reference 

(IBR) CGA C–3–2005, Reaffirmed 2011, 

Standards for Welding on Thin-Walled, 

Steel Cylinders, Seventh Edition into the 

HMR. Presently, the HMR incorporate 

the Fourth Edition of this standard, CGA 

C–3–1994. This publication contains 

information on welding process 

qualification, welding operator 

qualifications, tensile testing, bend 

testing, and radiographic inspection. 

The changes between the Fourth Edition 

and the Seventh Edition were 

predominantly editorial or technical in 

nature. The significant technical 

changes are summarized as follows and 


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7PHMSA Docket ID: PHMSA–2013–0278. 8PHMSA Docket ID: PHMSA–2014–0012. 

9These are all provisions carried over from DOT– 

SP 14237. 

can be reviewed in detail in the docket 

to petition P–1628: 7

• Added section to the testing criteria 

to employ the use of macro etch samples 

in lieu of weld guided bend test and 

weld tensile testing when the cylinder 

size would not permit securing of 

proper size specimens. 

• Clarified the weld bend testing 

procedure, weld bend testing tooling, 

and proper clearances that are required 

in the tooling. 

• Clarified definitions for the welding 

procedure qualification and the welding 

operator weld qualification. 

• Added a tolerance section that 

indicates the plus and minus tolerances 

when a specific dimensional tolerance 

is indicated in the publication. 

• Added drawings to illustrate 

different weld joint designs. 

Bancroft Hinchey, Worthington 

Cylinder, NAFED, and CGA submitted 

comments supporting the incorporation 

of the Seventh Edition of CGA C–3. 

Therefore, in this final rule, PHMSA is 

incorporating by reference CGA C–3– 

2005, Reaffirmed 2011, as proposed. 

Bancroft Hinchey requested 

clarification of training requirements for 

cylinder requalifiers. 

PHMSA response. Cylinder 

requalifiers meet the definition of 

‘‘hazmat employee’’ found in § 171.8. 

All hazmat employees must be trained 

in accordance with 49 CFR part 172, 

subpart H, including function specific 

training. An employee working as a 

cylinder requalifier must be trained to 

perform that job function properly, 

including visual inspection of cylinders, 

but would not necessarily need welding 

training unless also performing a 

welding function subject to the HMR. 

P–1629 

The CGA submitted P–1629 

requesting that PHMSA incorporate by 

reference (IBR) CGA C–14–2005, 

Reaffirmed 2010, Procedures for Fire 

Testing of DOT Cylinder Pressure Relief 

Device Systems, Fourth Edition, into the 

HMR. Presently, the HMR incorporates 

the First Edition of CGA C–14–1979. 

Since the incorporation of this edition, 

CGA has revised the publication in 

1992, 1999, 2005, and reaffirmed the 

publication in 2010. 

This standard describes test 

procedures and apparatus for fire testing 

compressed gas cylinder safety 

(pressure) relief devices as was required 

by former § 173.34(d) and current 

§ 173.301(f) of the HMR. The procedures 

are designed to provide a means of 

testing to DOT requirements anywhere 

with reliable test data and repeatable 

test results. The changes from the 1979 

First Edition to the 2005 and Reaffirmed 

2010 editions of CGA C–14 were 

predominantly editorial or technical in 

nature. The significant technical 

changes are summarized as follows and 

can be reviewed in detail in the docket 

to petition P–1629: 8

• Permitted the use of an alternate 

lading. If the intended lading would 

present an increased safety hazard 

during the test procedure (such as the 

use of poisonous or flammable gas), the 

cylinder may be charged with a typical 

liquefied or non-liquefied gas. Gases 

with essentially similar physical 

properties may be classified as typical. 

• Added the Bonfire Test Method to 

the publication. This permitted the 

Board of Explosives (BOE) test method 

to be used to qualify pressure relief 

device systems. The Bonfire Test 

Method was successfully used to qualify 

pressure relief device systems for 

decades. 

• Clarified what information is to be 

recorded before and during the actual 

test. 

• Increased the water capacity of a 

cylinder that can be fire tested from 500 

pounds water capacity to 1000 pounds 

water capacity to permit a test method 

for all DOT 4-series cylinders. 

Worthington Cylinder and CGA 

submitted comments supporting the 

adoption of CGA C–14–2005, 

Reaffirmed 2010. Therefore, in this final 

rule, PHMSA is adopting CGA C–14– 

2005, Reaffirmed 2010 as proposed. 

P–1630 

CGA submitted P–1630 requesting 

that PHMSA revise the HMR 

requirements for DOT 4L welded 

insulated cylinders. Specifically, the 

CGA requested PHMSA make two 

changes to add a definition of 

‘‘recondition’’ to § 180.203 and amend 

paragraphs §§ 180.211(c) and 180.211(e) 

to clarify when a hydrostatic test must 

be performed on the inner containment 

vessel after the DOT 4L welded 

insulated cylinder has undergone repair. 

CGA submitted a comment to the 

NPRM requesting that we take no action 

on their petition. We received no other 

comments to the proposed changes 

based on P–1630, and therefore, we see 

no need to revise the HMR based on this 

petition and will not adopt any changes 

proposed by P–1630. 

V. Special Permits and Comments 

Received 

This final rule addresses one special 

permit. In the ANPRM, PHMSA 

considered proposing revisions to adopt 

certain special permits into the HMR. 

Specifically, PHMSA proposed changes 

based on DOT–SPs 12929, 13318, and 

13599. In the NPRM, PHMSA did not 

propose changes in association with 

these special permits because: (1) DOT– 

SP 12929 was determined not suitable 

for adoption under rulemaking HM– 

233F (80 FR 5340; January 30, 2015); 

and (2) DOT–SPs 13318 and 13599 were 

adopted under HM–233F (81 FR 3635; 

January 21, 2016). 

In the NPRM, we proposed to adopt 

provisions from DOT–SP 14237 to allow 

for the transportation of adsorbed gases 

in DOT specification cylinders by 

creating a new section, § 173.302d, in 

the HMR. The HMR currently only 

authorizes the transportation of 

adsorbed gases in UN pressure 

receptacles under the provisions of 

§ 173.302c. The use of DOT cylinders 

containing adsorbed gases is currently 

authorized under various special 

permits. In the NPRM, we proposed to 

authorize the transportation of adsorbed 

gases in DOT–3E1800, DOT–3AA2015, 

and DOT–3AA2265 cylinders with a 

capacity between 0.4 and 7.3 liters. 

Additionally, the proposed § 173.302d 

included a requirement to place the 

DOT specification cylinder into a nonDOT specification full-opening, hingedhead or fully removable head, steel 

overpack cylinder constructed to meet 

the requirements of ASME Code Section 

VIII, Division 1 with a minimum design 

margin of 4 to 1.9

We received several comments 

regarding this proposal. Praxair 

submitted a comment requesting that, 

rather than adopting DOT–SP 14237, we 

harmonize DOT cylinder adsorbed gas 

requirements with UN pressure 

receptacle requirements found in 

§ 173.302c, authorize all gases for use as 

adsorbed service instead of the ‘‘short 

list’’ proposed in § 173.302d, eliminate 

the proposed overpack cylinder 

requirement, and, if we did not 

eliminate the overpack requirement, 

require the overpack be tested in a DOTapproved facility subject to the 

requirements of part 107, subpart I. CGA 

submitted a comment suggesting that 

rather than adopt the proposed special 

permit, we should align the proposed 

requirements for adsorbed gases in DOT 

cylinders in § 173.302d with the 

existing requirements for adsorbed gases 

in UN pressure receptacles currently 

found in § 173.302c. COSTHA 

submitted a comment supporting the 

adoption of requirements for adsorbed 

gases in DOT cylinders, but noted that 

some of the gas entries we listed in the 


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proposed table in § 173.302d had 

separate UN ID numbers for their 

adsorbed version in the § 172.101 

Hazardous Materials Table that should 

be cited instead of the non-adsorbed gas 

entry. 

Entegris submitted a comment 

requesting that rather than adopting 

DOT–SP 14237, we should adopt DOT 

SP–16485, which allows for 

transportation of adsorbed gases in 

DOT–3AA and DOT–3E cylinders in a 

manner harmonized with the current 

requirements for UN pressure 

receptacles in § 173.302c. Entegris noted 

that the overpack requirement in DOT– 

SP 14237 was created to address the 

unique risks associated with 

transportation by aircraft, and presents 

a significant obstacle to efficient 

transportation by other modes. They 

noted that § 173.302c does not require 

the use of overpacks for UN pressure 

receptacles containing adsorbed gas, nor 

does DOT–SP 16485. 

PHMSA response. We appreciate the 

comments we received on this topic. In 

this final rule, we are not adopting 

DOT–SP 14237, nor are we inserting 

requirements for adsorbed gases in DOT 

specification cylinders into the HMR in 

§ 173.302c. PHMSA’s decision is based 

on the lack of consensus on this subject 

and technical concerns we have 

surrounding the modal requirements, 

minimum test pressure criteria, and 

authorized requalification. There are 

multiple existing DOT SPs that 

authorize the transportation of adsorbed 

gases in DOT specification cylinders. 

These permits authorize different 

adsorbed gases and utilize different 

DOT specification cylinders to contain 

the substrate and adsorbed gas, and 

have different operational controls. 

Incorporating the provisions of multiple 

special permits that authorize different 

materials, multiple specification and 

non-specification cylinders, and have 

differing operational controls, is 

challenging for PHMSA to attempt at the 

final rule stage without soliciting 

comments on the regulatory solution 

that melds the provisions and 

conditions of multiple permits together. 

The incorporation of adsorbed gases 

presents additional difficulties due to 

the risks presented by the highly toxic 

nature of the gases currently transported 

in adsorbed form, leading us to proceed 

with caution in adopting a standard into 

the HMR. 

Therefore, PHMSA believes that the 

most appropriate way to authorize 

adsorbed gases in DOT specification 

cylinders in the HMR is to conduct a 

more thorough review of existing 

systems authorized by special permit 

and propose a solution in a separate 

rulemaking, rather than risk creating 

imperfect regulatory requirements. We 

will further evaluate international 

standards for adsorbed gas 

transportation and existing DOT special 

permits for determination on how best 

to adopt provisions for adsorbed gases 

in DOT specification cylinders into the 

HMR. Adsorbed gases may continue to 

be transported in UN pressure 

receptacles in accordance with existing 

instructions in § 173.302c, or in DOT 

cylinders under the terms of a special 

permit. We will consider revisiting this 

issue in a future rulemaking. 

VI. Agency Initiated Editorial 

Corrections 

PHMSA regularly reviews and revises 

the HMR to correct errors and clarify 

any regulations that are unclear or 

confusing. PHMSA is making the 

following changes in this final rule. 

Section 107.803 

Section 107.803 provides approval 

procedures for independent inspection 

agencies (IIA) conducting cylinder 

inspections and verifications as required 

by parts 178 and 180. In its application 

for approval status, the IIA must provide 

information, including a detailed 

description of its qualifications and 

ability both to perform and verify 

inspections. However, at present, the 

application information requirements of 

§ 107.803(c)(3) only reference part 178. 

In the NPRM, PHMSA proposed to 

revise § 107.803(c)(3) to include part 

180, subpart C, for consistency. 

We received one comment on this 

topic. Bancroft Hinchey supports this 

revision. Therefore, in this final rule are 

adopting this change as proposed in the 

NPRM. 

Section 107.805 

Section 107.805 provides approval 

procedures for persons to inspect, test, 

certify, repair, or rebuild a cylinder in 

accordance with the HMR. PHMSA is 

revising the requirements for 

application for approval of cylinder 

requalifiers to include a reference to the 

option of having a mobile cylinder 

requalification unit (i.e., a mobile unit). 

See § 180.203 for further discussion. 

We received one comment on this 

topic. Bancroft Hinchey supports this 

revision. Therefore, in this final rule we 

are adopting this change as proposed in 

the NPRM. 

Section 178.70 

Section 178.70 provides approval for 

the manufacture of UN pressure 

receptacles (i.e., cylinders). Currently, 

§ 178.70(d) restricts the user 

(manufacturer) from the flexibility that 

is provided in the UN/ISO standards. 

The regulation as constructed results in 

additional cost and delay without any 

added safety. The UN/ISO standards are 

developed based on performance testing 

and include adequate testing for a wide 

range of design-type modifications. All 

UN/ISO standards to which the original 

design type conforms permit certain 

modifications to an approved design 

type. PHMSA has received several 

requests to revise this regulation to 

allow an authorized manufacturer to 

benefit from the UN Model Regulations 

and produce UN/ISO cylinders. In the 

NPRM, PHMSA proposed to adopt 

language consistent with UN/ISO 

standards to reduce the need for 

approvals. 

We received one comment on this 

topic. Bancroft Hinchey supports this 

revision. Therefore, in this final rule we 

are adopting this change as proposed in 

the NPRM. 

Section 180.203 

Section 180.203 specifies definitions 

that apply to cylinder use, qualification, 

and maintenance. In the NPRM, PHMSA 

proposed two revisions to definitions in 

§ 180.203. In this final rule, we are 

adopting the definition for ‘‘mobile 

unit’’ with modifications based on 

comments received, and we are not 

adopting a new definition for ‘‘proof 

pressure test.’’ 

(1) Define and Adopt ‘‘Mobile Unit’’ 

Requalification Operations 

The hazardous materials program 

procedures of 49 CFR part 107 for 

approval of cylinder requalifiers do not 

specify the option of a ‘‘mobile cylinder 

requalification unit.’’ The intent of this 

type of approval is to allow a cylinder 

requalifier to perform its requalifying 

function away from the primary place of 

business to better serve cylinder owners 

who need requalification testing and 

inspection of cylinders. In the NPRM, 

we proposed to limit the operations of 

a mobile unit to a 100-mile radius from 

the primary place of business. Eleven 

commenters objected to this limit based 

on economic, safety, and fairness 

grounds. 

PHMSA response. PHMSA will not 

place a distance limit on the operations 

of a mobile unit. However, an applicant 

for a mobile requalifier identification 

number (RIN) must specify the 

geographic area(s) in which they are 

requesting approval to operate. The 

requirement to provide geographic 

information on the operating range of a 

mobile unit is a part of the current 

approval process for mobile units. 

However, it is not codified in the 

language of Part 107 for cylinder 


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10PHMSA removed this from the HMR under 

HM–220D (67 FR 51626). 

requalification approvals. The intent of 

this final rule is to codify the geographic 

information requirement in the text of 

part 107 to increase clarity, not create a 

new requirement. A mobile cylinder 

requalifier must adhere to the 

requirements in a PHMSA-issued 

approval letter to operate. Note that a 

mobile unit owned or operated by a 

previously approved requalifier must 

still receive a separate approval. 

(2) Revise Definition of Proof Pressure 

Test for Cylinders 

The HMR no longer prescribe 

modified hydrostatic pressure testing, 

which has been and continues to be the 

method of low-pressure testing of fire 

extinguishers.10 In the NPRM, we 

proposed to modify the definition of 

‘‘proof pressure test’’ to indicate that it 

could be performed with either liquid or 

a gas. We received 9 comments opposed 

to this change, and no comments in 

support. 

Our description of the advantages of 

pneumatic, or gas-based, proof pressure 

testing in the NPRM was not entirely 

correct. In certain instances, pneumatic 

testing may not be faster, less expensive, 

less corrosive to the cylinder, or less 

environmentally harmful than 

hydrostatic testing. Pressurizing a 

cylinder to test pressure and then depressurizing it with air or another gas 

may take significantly longer than using 

water. Regarding corrosion concerns, 

use of compressed air for a pneumatic 

proof pressure test will generally 

introduce water into the cylinder, and 

use of dry gases would generally be 

cost-prohibitive except in very limited 

circumstances. Regarding 

environmental concerns, as several 

commenters noted, many cylinder 

requalifiers recycle the water they use. 

PHMSA response. When we removed 

the modified hydrostatic pressure test 

from the HMR and added the proof 

pressure test into part 180, we intended 

that the test be conducted with a liquid, 

except in special circumstances subject 

to a special permit. We do not believe 

that a general authorization for 

pneumatic proof pressure tests for 

cylinder requalification is in the public 

interest. Companies requesting 

authorization to perform pneumatic 

proof pressure tests for cylinder 

requalification may request special 

permits that detail the methods put in 

place to prevent death and serious 

injury in the event of a cylinder rupture 

at test pressure (i.e., much more energy 

is needed to pressurize a cylinder with 

a gas than liquid, thus presenting a 

safety risk to persons performing the test 

should a rupture occur). Therefore, we 

will not adopt the proposed modified 

definition of a proof pressure test in 

§ 180.203. Rather, we will modify the 

definition of the test based on comments 

to indicate clearly that the test is to be 

conducted with a liquid medium, unless 

otherwise authorized by a special 

permit. 

Section 180.207 

Section 180.207(d) authorizes the use 

of ISO 6406 to requalify UN refillable 

seamless steel cylinders and UN 

refillable seamless steel tube cylinders. 

The current ISO 6406 has a limitation of 

150 liters for the size of these cylinders, 

which is substantially less than the 

maximum volume of a UN refillable 

seamless steel tube (3,000 liters). 

Pressure tests and ultrasonic 

examination are authorized for UN 

cylinders with tensile strength below 

950 MPa, and only ultrasonic 

examination is authorized for UN 

cylinders with a tensile strength greater 

than or equal to 950 MPa. PHMSA has 

received several requests for 

interpretation of this regulation and its 

application to the requalification of UN 

seamless steel pressure receptacles 

larger than 150 liters. PHMSA 

responded to these requests through a 

letter of clarification issued under 

Reference No. 13–0146, stating that 

§ 180.207(d)(1) authorizes the 

requalification of seamless steel UN 

pressure receptacles larger than 150 

liters. 

We received two comments on this 

topic. Bancroft Hinchey supports the 

revision to include the phrase ‘‘larger 

than 150 liters.’’ FIBA submitted a 

comment requesting that we delete the 

reference to MEGCs from § 180.207(d) 

because pressure receptacles exceeding 

150 liters (e.g. UN refillable seamless 

steel tubes) may be used for the 

transportation of hazardous materials 

not only in MEGCs, but also in other 

bulk packages, such as a tube trailer 

motor vehicle. 

PHMSA response. We agree with 

FIBA that UN seamless steel cylinders 

larger than 150 liters may be found in 

other packaging configurations besides 

MEGCs. Our intent is to clarify that all 

UN seamless steel cylinders, regardless 

of size or service must be requalified in 

accordance with ISO 6406. However, we 

believe there is value in referencing 

MEGCs as an example of a scenario 

where users, fillers, or requalifiers may 

encounter these larger UN cylinders. 

Therefore, in this final rule we will 

amend the proposed § 180.207(d)(1) to 

indicate that all UN seamless steel 

pressure receptacles, including those 

with a capacity over 150 liters, must be 

requalified in accordance with ISO 6406 

whether installed in a MEGC or used in 

other service. 

Section 180.213 

Section 180.213 prescribes marking 

requirements for the visual inspection of 

cylinders (see 49 CFR 180.213(f)(5), (8), 

and (9)). In the past, PHMSA has 

allowed a visual (V) requalifier 

identification number (‘‘V-number’’ or 

‘‘VIN’’) to be marked in the same 

manner as a requalifier identification 

number (RIN) marking per § 180.213. Vnumber markings have four different 

options for markings. PHMSA issues 

approval letters that permit a V number 

marking, but only provide for three of 

the four available marking options and 

do not reference § 180.213. 

Including all the marking 

requirements for V-numbers into 

§ 180.213 will make authorized options 

for these identification numbers to be 

placed on a cylinder more widely 

understood. 

Amerigas noted that when we 

inserted examples of acceptable ways to 

mark a VIN, we omitted one acceptable 

marking combination that is found in 

the VIN approval document. Bancroft 

Hinchey submitted a comment 

supporting inserting VIN marking 

examples into the HMR. 

PHMSA response. We agree with 

Amerigas, and will add the additional 

method that shows the month and year 

directly above the VIN. In this final rule, 

PHMSA is amending § 180.213(g) to 

include examples of V-number 

markings, as proposed, as well as the 

method showing the month and year 

directly above the VIN. 

Section 180.215 

Section 180.215(a)(6) requires that a 

person who requalifies, repairs, or 

rebuilds cylinders must maintain in 

their records and report information 

contained in each applicable CGA or 

ASTM standard incorporated by 

reference under § 171.7 of the HMR that 

applies to requalifier activities. In the 

NPRM, PHMSA proposed to remove the 

last sentence of paragraph (a)(6) of this 

section to reduce confusion, as it 

essentially repeats what is requested in 

the first sentence of this paragraph. 

We received one comment on this 

topic. Bancroft Hinchey submitted a 

comment supporting this change. 

Therefore, in this final rule we will 

adopt it as proposed. COSTHA 

submitted a comment requesting that 

PHMSA revise the language in 

§ 180.215(c)(2)(vii) to delete the phrase 

‘‘(permanent expansion may not exceed 

ten percent (10 percent) of total 


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11https://www.cganet.com/what-we-do/ 

standards-publications/. 

expansion)’’ because this requirement 

does not apply to all cylinders. We note 

the comment but consider it beyond the 

scope of this rulemaking. We will 

consider the topic for possible inclusion 

in a future rulemaking. 

VII. Section-by-Section Review 

Section 107.803 

Section 107.803(c)(3) states that each 

application to obtain approval to 

perform duties as an IIA must contain 

a detailed description of the applicant’s 

qualifications and ability both to 

perform the inspections and to verify 

the inspections required by part 178 of 

the HMR or under the terms of a DOT 

special permit. In this final rule, we 

revise § 107.803(c)(3) as proposed to 

clarify that the applicant’s description 

of his or her ability to perform and 

verify inspections must include those 

required under part 180 as well, 

consistent with the general 

requirements in paragraph (a) that refer 

to part 180. 

Section 107.805 

Section 107.805(c) prescribes 

additional information an application 

must contain to obtain approval from 

PHMSA to requalify cylinders and 

pressure receptacles. In this final rule, 

we are adding paragraph (c)(5) as 

proposed to this section to clarify what 

information must be added to the 

application to authorize mobile unit 

requalifiers and the information 

necessary to acquire approval. We also 

make a conforming edit to paragraphs 

(c)(3) and (4) by moving the ‘‘and’’ 

clause from paragraph (c)(3) to 

paragraph (c)(4). 

Section 171.7 

Section 171.7 lists reference standards 

incorporated by reference into the HMR 

that are not specifically set forth in the 

HMR. 

Paragraph (n) specifically 

incorporates into the HMR publications 

issued by the CGA, an industrial and 

medical gas association that, among 

others, develops standards and practices 

for the safe transportation of gases and 

their containers. In this final rule, we 

add the Eleventh edition (2016) of CGA 

publication C–1, Methods for Pressure 

Testing Compressed Gas Cylinders to 

§ 171.7(n). We also update the editions 

of CGA publications C–3, C–6, C–14, 

and S–1.1 already incorporated in the 

HMR. The remaining changes to 

paragraph (n) are editorial based on 

PHMSA’s initiative to renumber the list 

to accommodate the new publications 

and add missing section number 

symbols, punctuation, and spaces. The 

documents are summarized below. 

The CGA publications include the 

following: 

(1) CGA C–1, Methods for Pressure 

Testing Compressed Gas Cylinders 

(2016; Eleventh edition). This 

publication provides the standard(s) for 

pressure testing of compressed gas 

cylinders for many newly manufactured 

cylinders and requalification of 

cylinders. This standard contains 

operating and equipment requirements 

necessary to perform pressure testing of 

compressed gas cylinders properly. 

Tests include the water jacket method, 

direct expansion method, and proof 

pressure method. 

(2) CGA C–3, Standards for Welding 

on Thin-Walled Steel Cylinders (2005, 

Reaffirmed 2011; Seventh edition). This 

publication contains information on 

welding process qualification, welding 

operator qualifications, tensile testing, 

bend testing, and radiographic 

inspection. Additionally, this 

publication clarifies dimensional 

tolerances and when weld macro etch 

can be used for weld process approval 

and welder qualification approval. 

(3) CGA C–6, Standards for Visual 

Inspection of Steel Compressed Gas 

Cylinders (2013; Eleventh edition). This 

publication provides cylinder users 

(requalifiers, owners, fillers, operators, 

etc.) with criteria to accept, reject, and 

condemn steel compressed gas 

cylinders. This standard does not cover 

all circumstances for each individual 

cylinder type and condition of lading. 

Inspection procedures include 

preparation of cylinders for inspection; 

exterior inspection; interior inspection 

(if required); nature and extent of 

damage to be looked for; and for some 

tests, the conditions of the cylinder, etc. 

A sample inspection report is provided 

in an appendix. 

(4) CGA C–14, Procedures for Fire 

Testing of DOT Cylinder Pressure Relief 

Device Systems (2005, Reaffirmed 2010; 

Fourth edition). This publication 

describes test procedures and apparatus 

for fire testing compressed gas cylinder 

safety (pressure) relief devices as 

required by the HMR. The procedures 

are applicable for cylinders that have 

less than 500 lbs. water capacity and 

designed to provide a means of testing 

to the HMR anywhere with reliable test 

data and repeatable test results. 

(5) CGA S–1.1, Pressure Relief Device 

Standards—Part 1—Cylinders for 

Compressed Gases (2011; Fourteenth 

edition). This publication provides the 

standard(s) for selection of the correct 

pressure relief device that is required to 

meet the requirements of the HMR for 

over 150 gases. It provides guidance on 

when a pressure relief device can be 

optionally omitted, and when the use of 

a pressure relief device is prohibited. It 

provides direction and guidance on the 

manufacture and testing of pressure 

relief devices as well as the operation 

parameters and maintenance. In this 

final rule, we are removing the phrase 

‘‘with the exception of paragraph 9.1.1’’ 

from § 171.7(n)(18). Compliance with 

paragraph 9.1.1 is still not required; 

however, we have moved this 

instruction to each place S–1.1 is 

incorporated in Part 173 and Part 178 

for clarity. 

All of these CGA standards are 

available for purchase on the CGA 

website.11 Additionally, these standards 

are available for public inspection at the 

Hazardous Material Information Center 

((202) 366–4488; infocntr@dot.gov) by 

appointment. 

The regulatory text of this rule 

references ASTM E 8–99, The 

Aluminum Association’s ‘‘Welding 

Aluminum: Theory and Practice, Fourth 

Edition, 2002’’, and Transport Canada’s 

TDG Regulations. These standards are 

already approved for the sections that 

are being amended. 

Section 171.23 

Section 171.23 prescribes 

requirements for transport of specific 

materials and packaging under 

international transportation standards 

such as the International Civil Aviation 

Organization Technical Instructions for 

the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods 

by Air. Paragraph (a)(5) outlines 

requirements for filling of cylinders for 

export or use onboard a vessel. In this 

final rule, we revise the marking 

requirements consistent with changes 

made to § 180.213. 

Section 173.3 

Section 173.3(d)(1) prescribes how a 

damaged or leaking cylinder that 

contains hazardous material may be 

transported in a non-DOT-specification 

fully opening hinged-head or removable 

head steel salvage cylinder. In this final 

rule, we are amending § 173.3(d)(1) to 

permit cylinders that contain Class 4 or 

5 materials to use this exception as well. 

In addition, because of the inclusion of 

Class 4 or 5 materials as authorized 

material for salvage cylinders, we are 

reformatting the regulatory text to 

reference those materials in damaged or 

leaked cylinders that are excluded from 

being allowed to be overpacked in a 

salvage cylinder rather than listing those 

that are authorized. 


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Section 173.301 

Section 173.301 provides the general 

requirements for shipment of 

compressed gases and other hazardous 

material in cylinders. In this final rule 

in paragraphs (c) and (f), we make an 

editorial revision to correct the section 

citation of CGA S–1.1 to read 9.1.1. 

Additionally, we are revising paragraph 

(f) to clarify the pressure relief 

requirements for DOT 39 cylinders. See 

the discussion of P–1580 for further 

details. 

Section 173.302 

Section 173.302(f) prescribes the 

requirements for transporting nonliquefied or ‘‘permanent’’ oxidizing 

gases by air. We are amending 

§ 173.302(f)(2)(i) and adding a new 

§ 173.302(f)(2)(iii) to align with CGA S– 

1.1 requirements for DOT 39 cylinders. 

See the discussion of P–1580 for further 

details. 

Section 173.302a 

Section 173.302a(a)(3) prescribes the 

filling requirements for DOT 39 

cylinders that contain Division 2.1 gas 

or chemical under pressure. In the 

NPRM, we proposed to clarify the 

capacity (internal volume) 

requirements, to make it clear that the 

1.23 liter limit applies to Division 2.1 

material, and specification size limits of 

a DOT 39 cylinder apply to chemicals 

under pressure classed as Division 2.1 

(see 49 CFR 172.102, special provision 

362). As we noted in the NPRM, the 

previous 50 L limit for chemical under 

pressure in a DOT 39 cylinder is much 

larger than the actual maximum size 

authorized for the DOT 39 specification 

in § 178.65. This discrepancy was an 

unintentional outcome of a 

harmonization effort with international 

requirements for non-refillable 

cylinders, which allow larger sizes than 

the HMR (see Docket No. PHMSA– 

2012–0027 (HM–215L); 78 FR 988). To 

reduce confusion introduced by the 

conflict of the 50 L quantity in 

§ 173.302a(a)(3) and the capacity limts 

of the specification, we are deleting the 

reference to ‘‘50 L (3050 in3)’’ and 

replacing it with reference to the DOT 

39 specification capacity limits—1526 

in3 for a service pressure of 500 psig or 

less, and 277 in3 for a service pressure 

of greater than 500 psig. 

We also proposed an editorial 

correction to the start of paragraph (a)(3) 

by removing the non-italicized ‘‘DOT 

39.’’ 

Section 173.302a(c) provides special 

filling limits for DOT 3A, 3AX, 3AA, 

and 3AAX cylinders filled with 

hydrogen and mixtures of hydrogen 

with helium, argon, or nitrogen. We are 

modifying § 173.302a(c)(4) to harmonize 

with CGA S–1.1. Shippers are not 

required to install pressure relief 

devices on tubes (cylinders longer than 

144 inches, or 12 feet) shipped in 

accordance with this paragraph, 

however their continued use and 

installation is authorized. This change 

maintains regulatory flexibility and 

alignment with accepted industry 

practice. See discussion of P–1592 for 

further details. 

Section 173.304 

Section 173.304(f) prescribes the 

requirements for transporting liquefied 

compressed oxidizing gases by air. In 

this final rule, we are amending 

§ 173.304(f)(2)(i) and adding a new 

§ 173.304(f)(2)(iii) to align with CGA S– 

1.1 pressure relieve device requirements 

for DOT 39 cylinders. See the 

discussion of P–1580 for further details. 

Section 173.304a 

Section 173.304a prescribes the 

maximum permitted filling density and 

authorized cylinders for specific gases. 

In the NPRM, we proposed to add new 

paragraph (a)(3) to § 173.304a to state 

clearly that the maximum capacity 

(internal volume) of a DOT 39 cylinder 

containing liquefied flammable gas is 

1.23 liters (75 in3). We also proposed to 

require these cylinders to be equipped 

with a pressure relief valve, as 

prescribed in CGA S–1.1, unless the 

material is not listed in CGA S–1.1, in 

which case a CG–7 pressure relief valve 

must be used. 

In this final rule we are modifying our 

proposed change to § 173.304a and 

imposing a 75 in3 limit on the capacity 

of DOT 39 cylinders containing the 

following liquefied flammable gases: 

Cyclopropane, ethane, ethylene, and 

liquefied petroleum gas. We are also 

adopting the requirement that a DOT 39 

cylinder containing a liquefied gas not 

listed by name in CGA S–1.1 must be 

equipped with a CG–7 pressure relief 

valve, as proposed. See discussion of P– 

1622 for further details. 

Section 173.306 

Section 173.306 provides exceptions 

from the requirements of the HMR for 

limited quantities of compressed gas. 

Paragraph (g) excepts water pump 

system tanks charged with compressed 

air or limited quantities of nitrogen to 

not over 40 psig from labeling and 

specification packaging when shipped 

in conformance with the requirements 

prescribed in the paragraph. In this final 

rule, we revise § 173.306(g) to authorize 

composite as well as steel tanks, to 

require a more flexible testing regime at 

the manufacturers MAWP rather than a 

set 100 psig, to allow water pump 

system tanks to be charged with helium, 

and to clarify that transportation by 

aircraft is not an authorized mode of 

transport. See discussion of P–1582 for 

more details. 

Section 173.309 

In the NPRM, we proposed to revise 

§ 173.309 to state that the requirements 

applicable to fire extinguishers also 

apply to those cylinders used as part of 

a fire suppression system. In this final 

rule, we are adopting the change as 

proposed, while clarifying our intent as 

to what is considered a ‘‘fire 

extinguisher.’’ We are allowing 

cylinders charged with a compressed 

gas and an extinguishing agent that are 

intended for installation into fire 

suppression systems to be described as 

‘‘UN1044, Fire extinguishers.’’ We are 

not allowing cylinders charged with an 

inert gas and used only to pressurize a 

fire suppression system to be described 

as ‘‘UN1044, Fire extinguishers’’ when 

offered for transportation separately 

from the suppression system. See 

discussion of P–1546 for further details. 

Section 173.312 

Section 173.312(b)(1) prescribes the 

filling requirements for multiple 

element gas containers (MEGCs). In this 

this final rule, we are clarifying 

requirements for filling MEGC pressure 

receptacles containing liquefied 

compressed gas by weight to emphasize 

that each pressure receptacle must be 

filled individually. See discussion of P– 

1572 for further details. 

Section 173.323 

Section 173.323 is the packaging 

section for ethylene oxide. In this final 

rule, we are making an editorial revision 

to this section to add a reference to the 

central IBR section, § 171.7, for the 

existing references to CGA Pamphlet C– 

14. CGA C–14 was previously approved 

for inclusion in this section, but through 

an oversight, § 171.7 was not referenced 

as required for approved IBRs. This final 

rule corrects that oversight. 

Section 178.35 

Section 178.35(f) prescribes the 

marking requirements that apply to 

DOT-specification cylinders. In this 

final rule, we are adding new paragraph 

(f)(8) to § 178.35 to require that cylinder 

tare weight or mass weight, and water 

capacity be marked on certain DOTspecification cylinders that are filled by 

weight. See discussion of P–1540 for 

further details. 

Although we did not discuss the 

above in the petition discussion section, 


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we note Dow Chemical submitted a 

comment requesting that we add a 

paragraph to § 178.35 stating that a 

cylinder manufactured under this 

subpart prior to publication of HM–234 

may continue to be filled and offered for 

transportation until its authorized 

service life has expired. We do not 

believe such a statement is necessary. 

Section 173.301(a)(1) addresses this 

situation by providing that compressed 

gases must be in UN pressure 

receptacles built in accordance with the 

UN standards or in metal cylinders and 

containers built in accordance with the 

DOT and ICC specifications and part 

178 in effect at the time of manufacture 

or CRC, BTC, CTC or TC specification, 

and requalified and marked as 

prescribed in subpart C in part 180, if 

applicable. 

Cylinders manufactured prior to the 

publication of HM–234 may continue in 

service, subject to the requalification 

provisions of part 180, subpart C, and 

other applicable requirements of the 

subchapter. 

Sections 178.36, 178.37, 178.38, 178.39, 

178.42, 178.44, 178.45, 178.46, 178.47, 

178.50, 178.51, 178.53, 178.55 178.56, 

178.57, 178.58, 178.59, 178.60, 178.61, 

178.65, and 178.68 

These sections prescribe the DOTspecification requirements for a cylinder 

type including the performance 

standards for pressure testing of the 

cylinder. In this final rule, we require 

that testing and equipment used to 

conduct the pressure testing be in 

conformance with CGA C–1, Methods 

for Pressure Testing Compressed Gas 

Cylinders, to provide for consistency 

and clarity in performance of pressure 

testing. In this final rule, we also revise 

the format of the pressure testing 

paragraphs for greater consistency, 

including adding notification that any 

pressurization in excess of 90% of test 

pressure constitutes a test, and that 

operator error (i.e. selecting the wrong 

test pressure) is an acceptable reason to 

allow a repeated test in accordance with 

CGA C–1 requirements. See the 

discussions of P–1515 and P–1626 for 

further details on the requirements in 

CGA C–1. A detailed discussion of 

changes to each section follows. 

Section 178.36 Specification 3A and 

3AX Seamless Steel Cylinders 

The paragraph (i) title ‘‘Hydrostatic 

test’’ is renamed ‘‘Pressure testing’’ and 

CGA C–1 is incorporated by reference 

into (i)(1) and (3) for volumetric 

expansion testing as proposed. 

Section 178.37 Specification 3AA and 

3AAX Seamless Steel Cylinders 

The paragraph (i) ‘‘Hydrostatic test’’ is 

renamed ‘‘Pressure testing’’ and CGA 

C–1 is incorporated by reference into 

paragraphs (i)(1) and (3) for volumetric 

expansion testing as proposed. 

Section 178.38 Specification 3B 

Seamless Steel Cylinders 

The paragraph (i) ‘‘Hydrostatic test’’ is 

renamed ‘‘Pressure testing’’ and CGA 

C–1 is incorporated by reference into 

paragraphs (i)(1) and (3) for volumetric 

expansion testing as proposed. To 

increase clarity, in this final rule we 

move the instructions for proof pressure 

testing of cylinders after a selected 

cylinder from a lot is volumetrically 

expansion tested at 3 times service 

pressure from the proposed paragraph 

(i)(5) to paragraph (i)(2)(ii) to ensure 

cylinder manufactures are aware of the 

requirement when reading through 

paragraph (i). As a result, we also 

incorporate CGA C–1 into paragraph 

(i)(2) for proof pressure testing. 

Section 178.39 Specification 3BN 

Seamless Nickel Cylinders 

The paragraph (i) ‘‘Hydrostatic test’’ is 

renamed ‘‘Pressure testing’’ and CGA 

C–1 is incorporated by reference into 

paragraphs (i)(1) and (3) as proposed. 

Section 178.42 Specification 3E 

Seamless Steel Cylinders 

The paragraph (f) ‘‘Hydrostatic test’’ is 

renamed ‘‘Pressure testing’’ as proposed. 

As discussed in our discussion of P– 

1626 we are not adopting the proposed 

re-organization of § 178.42(f) based on 

comments received that the new layout 

would generate confusion for regulated 

entities. Further, CGA C–1 is 

incorporated by reference for burst 

testing in paragraph (f)(2) and proof 

pressure testing in paragraph (f)(3). 

Section 178.44 Specification 3HT 

Seamless Steel Cylinders for Aircraft 

Use 

The paragraph (i) ‘‘Hydrostatic test’’ is 

renamed ‘‘Pressure testing’’ and CGA 

C–1 is incorporated by reference into 

paragraphs (i)(1) and (3) for volumetric 

expansion testing as proposed. 

Section 178.45 Specification 3T 

Seamless Steel Cylinder 

The paragraph (i) ‘‘Hydrostatic test’’ is 

renamed ‘‘Pressure testing’’ and CGA 

C–1 is incorporated by reference into 

paragraphs (i)(1) and (3) for volumetric 

expansion testing as proposed. 

Section 178.46 Specification 3AL 

Seamless Aluminum Cylinders 

The paragraph (g) ‘‘Hydrostatic test’’ 

is renamed ‘‘Pressure testing’’ and CGA 

C–1 is incorporated by reference into 

paragraphs (g)(1) and (3) for volumetric 

expansion testing as proposed. The 

HMR currently only allows one repeat 

test for 3AL cylinders in the case of 

equipment failure. As proposed, we 

maintain this requirement in this final 

rule. 3AL cylinders may only be 

subjected to one repeat test, rather than 

the two allowed under CGA C–1. This 

is due to the different expansion 

properties of aluminum compared to 

steel, which would render the 

expansion measured during a 2nd 

repeated test at increased pressure an 

invalid measurement of the cylinder’s 

suitability. 

Section 178.47 Specification 4DS 

Welded Stainless Steel Cylinders for 

Aircraft Use 

The paragraph (j) ‘‘Hydrostatic test’’ is 

renamed ‘‘Pressure testing’’ and CGA 

C–1 is incorporated by reference into 

paragraphs (j)(1) and (3) for volumetric 

expansion testing as proposed. As 

proposed, the final rule adds an option 

for direct expansion testing for 4DS 

cylinders. PHMSA believes that 

including the hydrostatic testing direct 

expansion method in addition to the 

water jacket method provides for greater 

flexibility for the tester by allowing an 

alternative hydrostatic testing method 

for determining permanent expansion. 

PHMSA believes that direct expansion 

will provide an equivalent level of 

safety when performed in accordance 

with CGA C–1. 

Section 178.50 Specification 4B 

Welded or Brazed Steel Cylinders 

The paragraph (i) ‘‘Hydrostatic test’’ is 

renamed ‘‘Pressure testing’’ and CGA 

C–1 is incorporated by reference in 

paragraph (i)(1) for volumetric 

expansion testing of one selected 

cylinder per lot, and (i)(2) for pressure 

testing the remainder of the lot as 

proposed. 

Section 178.51 Specification 4BA 

Welded or Brazed Steel Cylinders 

The paragraph (i) ‘‘Hydrostatic test’’ is 

renamed ‘‘Pressure testing’’ and CGA 

C–1 is incorporated by reference in 

paragraph (i)(1) for volumetric 

expansion testing of one selected 

cylinder per lot, and paragraph (i)(2) for 

pressure testing the remainder of the lot 

as proposed. 


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Section 178.53 Specification 4D 

Welded Steel Cylinders for Aircraft Use 

The paragraph (i) ‘‘Hydrostatic test’’ is 

renamed ‘‘Pressure test’’ and CGA C–1 

is incorporated by reference as 

proposed. In this final rule, we are reinserting the option to conduct a 

volumetric expansion test on each 

cylinder at 2 times service pressure. It 

was not our intent to remove this option 

for cylinder manufacturers. 

Section 178.55 Specification 4B240ET 

Welded or Brazed Cylinders 

The paragraph (i) ‘‘Hydrostatic test’’ is 

renamed ‘‘Pressure testing’’ and CGA 

C–1 is incorporated by reference in 

paragraph (i)(1) for volumetric 

expansion testing, paragraph (i)(2) for 

pressure testing, and paragraph (i)(3) for 

burst testing as proposed. 

Section 178.56 Specification 4AA480 

Welded Steel Cylinders 

The paragraph (i) ‘‘Hydrostatic test’’ is 

renamed ‘‘Pressure testing’’ and CGA 

C–1 is incorporated by reference in 

paragraph (i)(1) for volumetric 

expansion testing and paragraph (i)(2) 

for pressure testing as proposed. 

Section 178.57 Specification 4L 

Welded Insulated Cylinders 

The paragraph (i) ‘‘Hydrostatic test’’ is 

renamed ‘‘Pressure testing’’ and CGA 

C–1 is incorporated by reference in 

paragraphs (i)(1) and (3) for pressure 

testing as proposed. 

Section 178.58 Specification 4DA 

Welded Steel Cylinders for Aircraft Use 

The paragraph (i) ‘‘Hydrostatic test’’ is 

renamed ‘‘Pressure testing’’ and CGA 

C–1 is incorporated by reference in 

paragraphs (i)(1) and (3) for volumetric 

expansion testing as proposed. 

Section 178.59 Specification 8 Steel 

Cylinders With Porous Fillings for 

Acetylene 

The paragraph (h) ‘‘Hydrostatic test’’ 

is renamed ‘‘Pressure testing’’ and CGA 

C–1 is incorporated in paragraph (h)(1) 

for volumetric expansion testing and 

paragraph (h)(2) for pressure testing as 

proposed. Additionally, we have 

editorially revised paragraph (h) to 

clarify that if the randomly selected 

cylinder from each lot fails the 

volumetric expansion test, the 

remaining cylinders in the lot are not 

eligible for proof pressure testing and 

each cylinder must pass a volumetric 

expansion test at 750 psig to be 

accepted. 

Section 178.60 Specification 8AL Steel 

Cylinders With Porous Fillings for 

Acetylene 

The paragraph (j) ‘‘Hydrostatic test’’ is 

renamed ‘‘Pressure testing’’ and CGA C– 

1 is incorporated by reference in 

paragraph (j)(1) for volumetric 

expansion testing and paragraph (j)(2) 

for proof pressure testing as proposed. 

Additionally, we have editorially 

revised paragraph (j) to clarify that if the 

randomly selected cylinder from each 

lot fails the volumetric expansion test, 

the remaining cylinders in the lot are 

not eligible for proof pressure testing 

and must pass a volumetric expansion 

test at 750 psig to be accepted. 

Section 178.61 Specification 4BW 

Welded Steel Cylinders With ElectricArc Welded Longitudinal Seam 

The paragraph (i) ‘‘Hydrostatic test’’ is 

renamed ‘‘Pressure testing’’ and CGA 

C–1 is incorporated by reference in 

paragraph (i)(1) for volumetric 

expansion testing and paragraph (i)(2) 

for pressure testing as proposed. 

Section 178.65 Specification 39 NonReusable (Non-Refillable) Cylinders 

The paragraph (f) ‘‘Pressure tests’’ is 

renamed ‘‘Pressure testing’’ and CGA 

C–1 is incorporated by reference in 

paragraph (f)(1) for proof pressure 

testing and paragraph (f)(2) for burst 

testing as proposed. 

Section 178.68 Specification 4E 

Welded Aluminum Cylinders 

The paragraph (h) ‘‘Hydrostatic test’’ 

is renamed ‘‘Pressure testing’’ and CGA 

C–1 is incorporated by reference in 

paragraphs (h)(1) and (2) for volumetric 

expansion testing and paragraph (h)(3) 

for pressure testing as proposed. 

Sections 178.50, 178.51, 178.61, and 

178.68 

These sections prescribe DOT 4-series 

specification requirements. As written 

these specifications are at times unclear 

to manufacturers and enforcement 

personnel. In this final rule, we are 

revising the specification requirements 

to promote consistent and uniform 

manufacturing practices for DOT 

4-series cylinders to improve 

understanding by these entities. See the 

discussion of P–1501 for further details. 

Below we will discuss changes to each 

section in detail. 

Section 178.50 Specification 4B 

Welded or Brazed Steel Cylinders 

For steel requirements, we are 

requiring that manufacturers keep a 

record of intentionally added alloying 

elements, as proposed. 

For material identification, the final 

rule makes an editorial clarification that 

the method used to identify the material 

must not compromise the integrity of 

the cylinder, as proposed. 

For heat treatment, we are making an 

editorial clarification to direct cylinder 

manufacturers to table 1 to appendix A 

of part 178 for details on suitable heat 

treatment. 

For cylinder attachments, we have 

moved thread requirements to their own 

paragraph, (h)(h), without making any 

changes to thread requirements. 

For elongation requirements, we are 

allowing reduction in elongation 

percentage based on cylinder tensile 

strength to align with requirements for 

DOT 4BA and 4BW cylinder 

requirements. 

For rejected cylinders, we are 

adopting as proposed heat treatment 

after seam repairs requirements as 

follows: 

• For cylinders with an outside 

diameter of less than or equal to six (6) 

inches, welded seam repairs greater 

than one (1) inch in length shall require 

reheat treatment of the cylinder. 

• For cylinders greater than an 

outside diameter of 6 inches, welded 

seam repairs greater than three (3) 

inches in length shall require reheat 

treatment. 

The HMR current manufacturing 

standards require heat treatment after 

any welding repair, but we believe this 

additional flexibility for manufacturers 

will maintain the same high level of 

safety for repaired cylinders. 

Finally, we are removing discussion 

of embossing the head or sidewall of the 

cylinder from § 178.50(o)(2). PHMSA 

has concerns with defining 

‘‘embossing.’’ Markings must be 

stamped plainly and permanently on 

the cylinder as prescribed in 

§ 178.50(o)(1). 

Section 178.51 Specification 4BA 

Welded or Brazed Steel Cylinders 

For steel, we are requiring that 

manufacturers keep a record of 

intentionally added alloying elements, 

as proposed. 

For material identification, the final 

rule makes an editorial clarification that 

the method used to identify the material 

must not compromise the integrity of 

the cylinder, as proposed. 

For head attachment, we are allowing 

heads to be attached by welding, as 

proposed. The previous restriction to 

brazing only was not PHMSA’s intent. 

For seams, we are making an editorial 

revision to paragraph (a) to clarify that 

longitudinal seams are permitted for 

cylindrical-type cylinders as proposed. 


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For welding, we are making an 

editorial revision to paragraph (e), as 

proposed, to clarify allowable welding 

operations on the cylinder. 

For yield strengths, tensile strengths, 

elongations and reduction of area of 

material, we are re-naming paragraph (j) 

from ‘‘Physical tests’’ to ‘‘Mechanical 

tests’’ as proposed. Additionally, we are 

removing the language requiring that the 

mechanical tests be conducted on a 

cylinder that has passed the hydrostatic 

testing because the mechanical tests are 

unrelated to the pressure test 

requirements. During our review of the 

final rule, we noted we inadvertently 

omitted the requirement that 

mechanical tests must be conducted 

after heat treatment. This was not our 

intent; therefore, we are re-inserting the 

statement that mechanical tests must be 

conducted after heat treatment is 

performed. 

For mechanical test samples for 

spherical cylinders, we are now 

allowing samples to be taken directly 

from the formed sphere, if the 

manufacturer desires, in order ensure 

the mechanical test samples are as 

representative as possible of the spheres 

themselves. 

In this final rule, we require that 

manufacturers remove samples for 

mechanical tests as provided in 

appendix A to subpart C of part 178 as 

proposed in order to improve 

consistency of cylinder mechanical 

tests. PHMSA believes that all 

manufacturers were previously 

removing samples as recommended in 

appendix A to subpart C of part 178, 

therefore this will not create any new 

burdens for industry. 

For rejected cylinders, we are 

adopting as proposed heat treatment 

after seam repairs requirements as 

follows: 

• For cylinders with an outside 

diameter of less than or equal to six (6) 

inches, welded seam repairs greater 

than one (1) inch in length shall require 

reheat treatment of the cylinder. 

• For cylinders greater than an 

outside diameter of 6 inches, welded 

seam repairs greater than three (3) 

inches in length shall require reheat 

treatment. 

The HMR current manufacturing 

standards require heat treatment after 

any welding repair, but we believe this 

additional flexibility for manufacturers 

will maintain the same high level of 

safety for repaired cylinders. 

Finally, we are removing discussion 

of embossing the head or sidewall of the 

cylinder from § 178.51(n)(2). PHMSA 

has concerns with defining 

‘‘embossing.’’ Markings must be 

stamped plainly and permanently on 

the cylinder as prescribed in 

§ 178.51(n)(1). 

Section 178.61 Specification 4BW 

Welded Steel Cylinders With ElectricArc Welded Longitudinal Seam 

For steel, we are requiring that 

manufacturers keep a record of 

intentionally added alloying elements, 

as proposed. 

For identification of material, the final 

rule makes an editorial clarification that 

the method used to identify the material 

must not compromise the integrity of 

the cylinder, and that plates and billets 

for hotdrawn cylinders must be marked 

with the heat number, as proposed. 

PHMSA believes that cylinder 

manufacturers are already in 

compliance with this requirement and 

this does not impose any new burden on 

industry. 

For examination of welds, we are 

adding reference to radioscopic 

examination, when conducted in 

accordance with CGA C–3, to increase 

flexibility for manufacturers while not 

compromising examination of welds. 

For heat treatment, we are aligning 

the heat treatment requirements with 

those for DOT 4BA cylinders and 

clarifying that heat treatment may occur 

before, during, or after brazing 

operations. 

For yield strengths, tensile strengths, 

elongations and reduction of area of 

material, we are re-naming paragraph (j) 

from ‘‘Physical tests’’ to ‘‘Mechanical 

tests’’ and adding introductory text as 

proposed. This editorial change is 

intended to align the 4BW specification 

language with the similar DOT 4B and 

4BA cylinders language. Additionally, 

we are requiring that manufacturers 

remove samples for mechanical tests as 

provided in appendix A to subpart C of 

part 178, as proposed, in order to 

improve consistency of cylinder 

mechanical tests. PHMSA believes that 

all manufacturers were previously 

removing samples as recommended in 

appendix A to subpart C of part 178, 

therefore this will not create any new 

burdens for industry. Finally, for the 

guided bend test we are aligning the 

DOT 4BW requirements with the 4BA 

and allowing specimens to be taken 

from welded test plates and additional 

specimen testing if the original 

specimen fails. 

For openings to cylinders, we are 

aligning the DOT 4BW requirements 

with the existing requirements for DOT 

4B and 4BA cylinders as proposed to 

promote consistency and simplify 

compliance for manufacturers 

producing these similar cylinders. 

Additionally, we are aligning the 4BW 

with the 4B specification by adding an 

allowance to attach brass fittings that 

are components of handheld fire 

extinguishers. 

For rejected cylinders, we are 

adopting as proposed heat treatment 

after seam repairs requirements as 

follows: 

• For cylinders with an outside 

diameter of less than or equal to six (6) 

inches, welded seam repairs greater 

than one (1) inch in length shall require 

reheat treatment of the cylinder. 

• For cylinders greater than an 

outside diameter of 6 inches, welded 

seam repairs greater than three (3) 

inches in length shall require reheat 

treatment. 

The HMR current manufacturing 

standards require heat treatment after 

any welding repair, but we believe this 

additional flexibility for manufacturers 

will maintain the same high level of 

safety for repaired cylinders. 

For marking, we are adding the 

following marking locations: 

1. On side wall adjacent to top head 

for side walls not less than 0.090 inch 

thick. 

2. On a cylindrical portion of the shell 

that extends beyond the recessed bottom 

of the cylinder constituting an integral 

and non-pressure part of the cylinder. 

3. Neckring. 

These new locations for the 4BW are 

already allowed for the very similar 4BA 

cylinder, are intended to align the 4BW 

with the 4BA with no decrease in safety. 

Finally, we are removing discussion 

of embossing the head or sidewall of the 

cylinder from § 178.61(n)(2). PHMSA 

has concerns with defining 

‘‘embossing.’’ Markings must be 

stamped plainly and permanently on 

the cylinder as prescribed in 

§ 178.61(n)(1). 

Section 178.68 Specification 4E 

Welded Aluminum Cylinders 

For aluminum material in § 178.68(b), 

we are requiring that manufacturers 

keep a record of intentionally added 

alloying elements, as proposed. 

Additionally, we are revising Note 1 to 

Table 1 to maintain the requirement to 

conduct regular analysis of the material. 

It was our intent for the requirement to 

record intentionally added alloying 

elements to complement the regular 

analysis of the material, not replace it. 

For yield strengths, tensile strengths, 

elongations and reduction of area of 

material, we are re-naming paragraph (j) 

from ‘‘Physical tests’’ to ‘‘Mechanical 

tests’’ as proposed. For acceptable 

results for mechanical tests we are not 

adding the phrase ‘‘a minimum tensile 

strength as defined in paragraph (f)(1)(ii) 


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of this section’’ to paragraph (k). This 

text is unnecessary, therefore we are not 

adopting it. For the alternate guided 

bend test, we are revising requirements 

to align with the standards of the 

Aluminum Association and similar lowpressure steel cylinders. 

Finally, we are removing discussion 

of embossing the head or sidewall of the 

cylinder from § 178.68(n)(2). PHMSA 

has concerns with defining 

‘‘embossing.’’ Markings must be 

stamped plainly and permanently on 

the cylinder as prescribed in 

§ 178.68(n)(1). 

Section 178.70 

Section 178.70(d) prescribes the 

requirements to obtain design approval 

of a UN pressure receptacle. In this final 

rule, we are revising paragraph (d) as 

proposed to include language that an 

approval for a design modification is not 

required if the specific design 

modification is covered under the UN/ 

ISO standard for the design type already 

approved. 

In our review of the NPRM, we 

discovered we inadvertently deleted the 

sentence ‘‘An audit may be required as 

part of the process to modify an 

approval’’ from § 178.70(d). This was 

not our intent, therefore in this final 

rule we are reinserting this sentence. 

Section 178.75 

Section 178.75 contains the 

requirements for construction of MultiElement Gas Containers (MEGCs). In 

this final rule, we are making two 

editorial revisions to § 178.75. First, we 

are correcting a spacing error that made 

paragraphs (e)(3)(i) and (ii) appear to be 

part of the same paragraph. 

Additionally, we are clarifying that 

compliance with CGA S–1.1 paragraph 

9.1.1 is not required for PRDs installed 

on MEGCs. This editorial change is 

necessary because we have removed the 

phrase ‘‘except 9.1.1’’ from the central 

§ 171.7 IBR reference for CGA S–1.1. 

Section 180.203 

Section 180.203 prescribes definitions 

that apply to the qualification, 

maintenance, and use of cylinders 

under the HMR. In this final rule, we 

add new definitions for the terms or 

phrases ‘‘mobile unit’’ and ‘‘overpressurized,’’ and revise the definitions 

for ‘‘commercially free of corrosive 

components’’ and ‘‘proof pressure test.’’ 

We previously discussed the definitions 

for ‘‘mobile unit’’ and ‘‘proof pressure 

test’’ in Section VII. Agency Initiated 

Editorial Corrections. The revision to 

‘‘commerically free of corrosive 

components’’ is an editorial revision to 

express the allowable water content in 

parts per million (ppm) rather than dew 

point. We added a definition for ‘‘overpressurized’’ because it is now included 

as a condition for condemnation of a 

cylinder under § 180.205(i)—i.e., a 

cylinder that is known to have been or 

shows evidence of being ‘‘overpressurized.’’ We received no comments 

related to the new definition for ‘‘overpressurized’’ and therefore will adopt as 

proposed. We delete the definitions for 

‘‘defect,’’ ‘‘elastic expansion,’’ 

‘‘permanent expansion,’’ ‘‘rejected 

cylinder,’’ ‘‘test pressure,’’ ‘‘total 

expansion,’’ ‘‘visual inspection,’’ and 

‘‘volumetric expansion test.’’ These new 

and revised definitions will clarify the 

cylinder requirements prescribed in part 

180, subpart C. The deletion of 

definitions is intended to remove 

conflicts and redundancies with the 

newly incorporated by reference CGA 

C–1 definitions. See discussion of P– 

1515 and P–1626 for further discussion 

of CGA C–1. 

Section 180.205 

Section 180.205 prescribes the general 

requirements for requalifying DOTspecification cylinders. In this final 

rule, we are revising and adding new 

regulatory text for clarity, and 

incorporating CGA C–1 into the HMR. 

Specifically, we clarify the conditions 

requiring test and inspection of 

cylinders under paragraph (d) by 

including a reference to thermal damage 

as proposed by P–1515 (discussed above 

in Section IV) to identify cylinders 

weakened by exposure to heat and 

evidence of grinding; revise the 

paragraph (f) visual inspection 

requirements to include reference to 

shot blasting and ‘‘chasing’’ of cylinders 

as proposed by P–1515 in accordance 

with previous PHMSA guidance; revise 

the paragraph (g) requirements for 

pressure tests by incorporating by 

reference CGA C–1; editorially revise 

paragraph (h) to clarify that rejected 

cylinders must be repaired or rebuilt as 

provided in § 180.211 prior to further 

use, not just requalified; revise 

paragraph (i) to clarify the 

responsibilities of the requalifier and 

add conditions under which a cylinder 

must be condemned, including arc 

burns on aluminium cylinders, known 

over-pressurization, end of service life, 

and stamping on sidewalls as proposed 

by P–1515; and move the reference of 

training materials to its own paragraph 

(j). See discussion of P–1515 and P– 

1626 for additional information on the 

incorporation of CGA C–1. 

Section 180.207 

Section 180.207 prescribes 

requirements for requalifying UN 

pressure receptacles. In this final rule, 

we revise and add new regulatory text 

for clarity. In the NPRM, we proposed 

to remove language authorizing 

approvals for the extension of the 

service life of a composite ISO pressure 

receptacle and require condemnation in 

accordance with § 180.205(i)(1)(x). In 

this final rule, we will not adopt these 

changes, but we will remove reference 

to a 15-year service life because it does 

not apply to all ISO composite 

cylinders. Approval may still be sought 

to extend the life of ISO composite 

pressure receptacles and each request 

will be considered on a case by case 

basis. Additionally, we clarify language 

in the introduction to the requalification 

table to confirm that UN pressure 

receptacles must be requalified prior to 

filling the cylinders beyond the marked 

requalification date; editorially revise 

paragraph (d) for clarity; and revise the 

requalification procedures for seamless 

steel cylinders to include MEGC and 

other pressure receptacles larger than 

150 liters water capacity. 

Section 180.209 

Section 180.209 prescribes 

requirements for requalifying 

specification cylinders. In this final 

rule, we are revising and adding new 

regulatory text for clarity and 

incorporating by reference the 2016 

version of CGA C–1, Methods for 

Pressure Testing Compressed Gas 

Cylinders. Specifically, we revise: The 

requirement for a hammer test in 

§ 180.209(b); the paragraph (c) tare 

weight marking requirements; the 

paragraph (e) proof pressure testing 

requirements to incorporate by reference 

CGA C–1; the paragraph (g) visual 

inspection requirements to remove the 

obsolete reference to a delayed 

compliance period that ended in 2004 

and to create an entry for cylinders 

containing propylene, commercially free 

from corroding components to be 

requalified visually as proposed by P– 

1626; the paragraph (j) requirements for 

fire extinguisher requalification to align 

with CGA C–1, including allowing 

direct expansion tests for 4-series 

cylinders used as fire extinguishers 

because we believe the direct expansion 

method is an equivalent method for 

requalifying fire extinguishers; and the 

paragraph (l) requirements for marking 

foreign cylinders. See discussion of P– 

1626 and P–1515 for additional 

information on the incorporation of 

CGA C–1 and additional editorial 

revisions to § 180.209. 

Section 180.212 

Section 180.212(a) prescribes 

requirements to repair seamless DOT 3- 


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series specification cylinders and 

seamless UN pressure receptacles. In 

this final rule, we are revising paragraph 

(a) to require an ultrasonic examination 

on DOT 3-series cylinders and seamless 

UN pressure receptacles after any 

grinding is performed on these 

cylinders. Additionally, we are adopting 

as proposed prohibitions from removing 

arc burns from cylinders. The presence 

of arc burns requires cylinder rejection 

at time of visual inspection, and repair 

facilities may not remove this evidence 

from a cylinder. We are adopting 

ultrasonic examination requirements 

when grinding is conducted, as 

proposed. It is PHMSA’s understanding 

that cylinder repair facilities already 

regularly conduct ultrasonic 

examination whenever wall thickness is 

removed or in question, therefore this 

requirement should not impose any 

additional burden on cylinder repairers. 

Finally, we are adopting as proposed a 

new marking requirement for repaired 

cylinders to indicate compliance with 

the repair requirements. 

Section 180.213 

Section 180.213 prescribes 

requirements for marking DOTspecification cylinders and UN pressure 

receptacles that are successfully 

requalified. In this final rule, we also 

clarify the marking requirements for 

foreign cylinders filled for export under 

paragraph (d). The final rule includes 

two new marking requirements under 

paragraph (f): 

• Designation of grinding with 

ultrasonic wall thickness examination; 

and 

• designation of requalification of a 

foreign cylinder for export only 

requalified in conformance with 

§§ 171.23(a)(5) and 180.209(l) of the 

HMR. The ‘‘EX’’ marking for foreign 

cylinders requalified for export only 

should not be confused with explosive 

approvals numbers. 

Finally, we add visual inspection 

identifier number marking requirements 

under a new paragraph (g) that codify 

the requirements already found in 

visual requalifier approval documents. 

Section 180.215 

Section 180.215 prescribes reporting 

and retention requirements for a person 

who requalifies, repairs, or rebuilds 

cylinders. In this final rule, we revise 

what information these documents must 

contain: For calibration certificates, 

requalifiers must now retain a copy of 

the most recent calibration certificate for 

their pressure indicating device and 

expansion indicating device, to align 

with CGA C–1 requirements 

incorporated by reference under this 

final rule; correcting an ambiguity in 

§ 180.215(c)(2)(vii) to clarify that 

records for both proof pressure and 

volumetric expansion tests after rebuilding a 4-series cylinder must be 

preserved; and for DOT 3-series 

cylinders repaired using grinding, a 

record of the performance of grinding 

repairs and ultrasonic examination. 

VIII. Regulatory Analyses and Notices 

A. Statutory/Legal Authority for This 

Final Rule 

This rulemaking responds to 20 

petitions for rulemaking, one special 

permit, and several agency-identified 

issues that have a potential effect on 

hazardous materials transportation 

safety. Federal Hazardous Materials 

Transportation Law (49 U.S.C. 5101– 

5128) authorizes the Secretary of 

Transportation to ‘‘prescribe regulations 

for the safe transportation, including 

security, of hazardous material in 

intrastate, interstate, and foreign 

commerce.’’ The Secretary’s authority is 

delegated to PHMSA at 49 CFR 1.97. 

B. Executive Order 12866 and DOT 

Policies and Procedures for 

Rulemakings 

This final rule is not considered a 

significant regulatory action under 

section 3(f) of Executive Order (E.O.) 

12866, ‘‘Regulatory Planning and 

Review,’’ 58 FR 51735, and was not 

reviewed by the Office of Management 

and Budget (OMB). This rule is also not 

significant under the Department of 

Transportation’s Policies and 

Procedures for Rulemakings (DOT Order 

2100.6; Dec. 20, 2018). 

E.O. 12866 requires agencies to design 

regulations ‘‘in the most cost-effective 

manner,’’ to make a ‘‘reasoned 

determination that the benefits of the 

intended regulation justify its costs,’’ 

and to develop regulations that ‘‘impose 

the least burden on society.’’ In this 

final rule, PHMSA accomplishes the 

directives of E.O. 12866 by involving 

the public and exercising its own 

independent judgment in responding to 

20 petitions for rulemaking submitted 

by stakeholders in the compressed gas 

industry. The final rule clarifies the 

regulatory text in the HMR and 

incorporates widely used consensus 

standards to addresses specific safety 

concerns, thus enhancing the safe 

transportation of compressed gases 

while limiting the impact on the 

regulated community. Additionally, 

some of the provisions will provide 

shippers and carriers with additional 

flexibility to comply with established 

safety requirements, thereby reducing 

burdens and costs and increasing 

productivity. 

Overall, the issues discussed in this 

final rule promote the continued safe 

transportation of hazardous materials 

while producing net cost savings. 

PHMSA estimates the net cost savings 

associated with this rule is 

approximately $70,000 per year, at a 7 

percent discount rate, over a ten-year 

analysis period from 2019 to 2028. 

Details on the estimated cost savings of 

this final rule can be found in the rule’s 

economic analysis, which is available in 

the public docket. 

C. Executive Order 13771 

This final rule is considered a 

deregulatory action under E.O. 13771. 

Details on the estimated cost savings of 

this final rule can be found in the rule’s 

Regulatory Impact Analysis, available at 

www.regulations.gov. 

D. Executive Order 13132 

This final rule was analyzed in 

accordance with the principles and 

criteria contained in Executive Order 

13132, ‘‘Federalism,’’ 64 FR 43255. E.O. 

13132 requires agencies to assure 

meaningful and timely input by State 

and local officials in the development of 

regulatory policies that may have 

‘‘substantial direct effects on the States, 

on the relationship between the national 

government and the States, or on the 

distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government.’’ This final rule 

may preempt State, local, and Native 

American tribal requirements but does 

not propose any regulation that has 

substantial direct effects on the States, 

the relationship between the National 

Government and the States, or the 

distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. Therefore, the 

consultation and funding requirements 

of Executive Order 13132 do not apply. 

The Federal Hazardous Materials 

Transportation Law contains an express 

preemption provision, 49 U.S.C. 

5125(b), that preempts State, local, and 

Native American tribal requirements on 

the following subjects unless the nonFederal requirements are ‘‘substantively 

the same’’ as the Federal requirements: 

(1) The designation, description, and 

classification of hazardous materials; 

(2) The packing, repacking, handling, 

labeling, marking, and placarding of 

hazardous materials; 

(3) The preparation, execution, and 

use of shipping documents related to 

hazardous materials and requirements 

related to the number, contents, and 

placement of those documents; 


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(4) The written notification, 

recording, and reporting of the 

unintentional release in transportation 

of hazardous material; and 

(5) The design, manufacture, 

fabrication, marking, maintenance, 

recondition, repair, or testing of a 

packaging or container represented, 

marked, certified, or sold as qualified 

for use in transporting hazardous 

material. 

This final rule addresses subjects (1), 

(2), and (5) above. Therefore, this final 

rule will preempt any State, local, or 

tribal requirements concerning these 

subjects unless the non-Federal 

requirements are ‘‘substantively the 

same’’ as the Federal requirements. 

PHMSA received no comments on the 

NPRM regarding the effect of the 

adoption of the specific proposals 

would have on State or local 

governments. 

E. Executive Order 13175 

This final rule was analyzed in 

accordance with the principles and 

criteria contained in Executive Order 

13175, ‘‘Consultation and Coordination 

with Indian Tribal Governments,’’ 79 FR 

4748. E.O. 13175 requires agencies to 

assure meaningful and timely input 

from Indian tribal government 

representatives in the development of 

rules that significantly or uniquely 

affect Tribal communities by imposing 

‘‘substantial direct compliance costs’’ or 

‘‘substantial direct effects’’ on such 

communities or the relationship and 

distribution of power between the 

Federal Government and Indian tribes. 

This final rule is generally directed at 

offerors and shippers of DOTspecification cylinders and UN pressure 

receptacles that transport hazardous 

materials in U.S. commerce. The final 

rule is also likely to affect cylinder 

manufacturers; cylinder requalifiers; 

independent inspection agencies; 

commercial establishments that own 

and use DOT-specification cylinders 

and UN pressure receptacles. It does not 

impose substantial direct compliance 

costs and does not have substantial 

direct effects on Native American tribal 

governments. Therefore, the funding 

and consultation requirements of E.O. 

13175 do not apply, and a tribal 

summary impact statement is not 

required. Further, PHMSA did not 

receive comments on the tribal 

implications of the rulemaking. 

F. Regulatory Flexibility Act, Executive 

Order 13272, and DOT Procedures and 

Policies 

The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 

U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires an agency to 

review regulations to assess their impact 

on small entities unless the agency 

determines that a rule is not expected to 

have a significant impact on a 

substantial number of small entities. 

Executive Order 13272, ‘‘Proper 

Consideration of Small Entities in 

Agency Rulemaking,’’ 68 FR 7990, 

requires agencies to establish 

procedures and policies to promote 

compliance with the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act and to ‘‘thoroughly 

review draft rules to assess and take 

appropriate account of the potential 

impact’’ of the rules on small 

businesses, governmental jurisdictions 

and small organizations. This rule was 

developed in accordance with this E.O. 

and DOT’s procedures and policies to 

promote compliance with the 

Regulatory Flexibility Act to ensure that 

potential impacts on small entities of a 

regulatory action were properly 

considered. 

Section 603(b) of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act requires an analysis of 

the possible impact of the rule on small 

entities, including the need for the rule, 

the description of the action, the 

identification of potentially affected 

small entities, the reporting and 

recordkeeping requirements, the related 

Federal rules and regulations, and the 

alternative proposals considered. Such 

analysis for this final rule is as follows: 

1. Need for the Final Rule 

Current requirements for the 

manufacture, use, and requalification of 

cylinders can be traced to standards first 

applied in the early 1900s. Over the 

years, the regulations have been revised 

to reflect advancements in 

transportation efficiency and changes in 

the national and international economic 

environment. This final rule is part of 

an agency effort to conduct a 

retrospective review of existing 

regulations. The final rule attempts to 

modify and streamline existing 

requirements that are outmoded, 

ineffective, insufficient, or excessively 

burdensome. As part of this effort, this 

rulemaking introduces new provisions 

suggested or developed by industry 

representatives, groups that develop 

consensus standards, and international 

regulatory bodies. 

2. Description of Action 

This final rule responds to 20 

petitions for rulemaking, clarifies other 

requirements in the HMR, and addresses 

areas of concern that are currently left 

out of the HMR. The amendments 

discussed in this final rule are designed 

to increase flexibility for the regulated 

community, promote technological 

advancement, and facilitate 

international transportation while 

maintaining a comparable level of 

safety. 

3. Identification of Potentially Affected 

Small Entities 

The term ‘‘small entities,’’ as 

described in 5 U.S.C. 601, comprises 

small businesses and not-for-profit 

organizations that are independently 

owned and operated and are not 

dominant in their fields and 

governmental jurisdictions with 

populations of less than 50,000. The 

amendments considered here are likely 

to affect cylinder manufacturers (NAICS 

code 332420; approximately 568 

companies); cylinder requalifiers; 

independent inspection agencies; 

commercial establishments that own 

and use DOT-specification cylinders 

and UN pressure receptacles; and 

individuals who export non-UN/ISO 

compressed gas cylinders (NAICS codes 

32512, 336992, 423450, 423850, 423990, 

454312, and 541380). Nearly all of these 

companies, particularly cylinder 

requalification facilities (approximately 

5,000 in total) are small entities based 

on the criteria developed by the Small 

Business Administration. 

4. Reporting and Recordkeeping 

Requirements 

This final rule includes very minor 

reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements. 

5. Related Federal Rules and 

Regulations 

The Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration (OSHA) prescribes 

requirements for the use, maintenance, 

and testing of portable fire extinguishers 

in 29 CFR 1910.157 and requirements 

for fixed fire suppression systems in 29 

CFR 1910.160. The issues discussed in 

this final rule pertaining to the 

transportation of fire extinguishers and 

compressed gas cylinders that are a 

component of a fixed fire suppression 

system do not conflict with the 

requirements in OSHA regulations. 

With respect to the transportation of 

compressed gases in cylinders, there are 

not related rules or regulations issued 

by other departments or agencies of the 

Federal government. 

6. Alternative Proposals for Small 

Business 

The Regulatory Flexibility Act directs 

agencies to establish exceptions and 

differing compliance standards for small 

businesses, where it is possible to do so 

and still meet the objectives of 

applicable regulatory statutes. The 

proposed changes are generally 

intended to provide cost savings to 

industry members. PHMSA received no 


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comments from small entities on 

specific small business impacts from 

these additional requirements. 

7. Conclusion 

This final rule reduces burdens for 

most persons and any costs resulting 

from adoption of new requirements will 

be minimal and will be offset by cost 

savings. Additionally, the rule will 

create additional unquantified ancillary 

benefits and cost savings derived from 

increasing regulatory flexibility and 

improving safety through enhanced 

clarity. 

G. Paperwork Reduction Act 

PHMSA has analyzed this rule in 

accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (Pub. L. 

96–511). PHMSA stated in the NPRM 

that the proposals did not impose new 

information collection requirements. 

However, PHMSA did receive a 

comment from Hydro-Test Products 

related to proposed changes to § 180.215 

on the addition of the date of 

manufacture to test record forms. The 

commenter noted that PHMSA did not 

address the paperwork burden for the 

proposed requirement in § 180.215. To 

address this comment PHMSA is 

accounting for a minor adjustment to 

information on a requalification test 

report under OMB control number 

2137–0022 titled ‘‘Testing, Inspection, 

and Marking Requirements for 

Cylinders.’’ PHMSA estimates based on 

our experience observing the activities 

of cylinder requalifiers during 

compliance inspections that it will take 

one additional second to write the date 

of manufacture on the cylinder 

requalification record. PHMSA 

currently estimates there are 6,790,000 

cylinder requalifications conducted 

each year. The additional one second of 

burden to these reports will result in 

additional time burden of 1,886 hours 

(6,790,000 annual reports × 1 second). 

Furthermore, upon review of this rule, 

PHMSA is accounting for additional 

burden in this rulemaking. In the 

NPRM, PHMSA also proposed a 

requirement in § 178.35 to mark the tare 

weight, mass weight, and water capacity 

on DOT 4B, 4BA, 4BW, or 4E cylinders. 

The language in the final rule will 

codify language in § 178.35 to require 

that DOT-specification 4B, 4BA, 4BW, 

and 4E cylinders used in liquefied 

compressed gas service manufactured 

two years after publication of this rule 

to be marked with the tare weight, mass 

weight, and water capacity. PHMSA 

already accounts for the marking of new 

cylinders under § 178.35 under the 

previously mentioned OMB Control 

Number 2137–0022. PHMSA estimates 

based on our knowledge of modern 

automated cylinder manufacturing 

processes from direct observation 

during compliance inspections that this 

additional marking information will 

take an additional 3 minutes, for an 

increase in approximately 3,472 hours 

on an annual basis. 

Additionally, PHMSA proposed a 

requirement in § 180.215(b)(4) to require 

cylinder requalifiers to retain the most 

recent calibration certificate for their 

pressure indicating device (PID) and 

expansion indicating device (EID). 

PHMSA already accounts for creation of 

records related to cylinder 

requalification under § 180.215 under 

OMB Control Number 2137–0022. After 

the incorporation of CGA C–1, each 

requalifier will be required to recalibrate their PID every 6 months. 

There are approximately 2,300 cylinder 

requalifiers approved by PHMSA to 

conduct pressure tests on cylinders, 

therefore we estimate that 4,600 PID 

calibration certificates will be generated 

each year. We estimate that it will take 

the gauge calibration facility 5 minutes 

to generate each certificate, based on our 

knowledge of the information contained 

on the certificate. This results in a new 

information collection burden of 

approximately 383 hours for gauge 

calibration facilities. Based on our 

experience inspecting cylinder 

requalification facilities, we believe that 

gauge calibration facilities already 

provide this record as part of their 

business practices and there will be no 

additional cost burden associated with 

this requirement. 

Expansion indicating devices (EIDs) 

are either burette systems or scale-based 

systems. Burette systems do not require 

recalibration because their accuracy is 

fixed at the time the glass burette tube 

is measured and printed with volume 

graduations. CGA C–1 requires that 

scale-based EID systems are recalibrated 

as provided in the manufacturer’s 

manual. PHMSA has reviewed a 

manufacturer’s manual for a scale-based 

system and determined that scale 

calibration is only required when the 

scale cannot display an accurate weight 

when tested with an object of known 

mass (e.g. a 100-gram test weight 

provided with the system). Based on our 

experience conducting inspections at 

cylinder requalification facilities, this is 

an uncommon occurrence. Based on our 

experience inspecting cylinder 

requalification facilities, we estimate 

that 10% of cylinder requalifiers need to 

recalibrate their scale-based EID systems 

each year, resulting in the generation of 

230 re-calibration certificates annually. 

We estimate that it will take the scale 

calibration facility 5 minutes to generate 

each certificate, based on our knowledge 

of the information contained on the 

certificate, which results in an increase 

of approximate 19 hours in burden. 

Based on our experience inspecting 

cylinder requalification facilities, we 

believe that scale calibration facilities 

already provide this record as part of 

their business practices and there will 

be no additional cost burden associated 

with this requirement. 

Finally, PHMSA proposed a 

requirement in §§ 178.50(b), 178.51(b), 

178.61(b), and 178.68(b) to require 

manufacturers of DOT 4B, 4BA, 4BW, 

and 4E cylinders to keep a record of 

intentionally added alloying elements in 

the steel or aluminum used to produce 

the cylinders. PHMSA already accounts 

for recordkeeping related to the 

production of cylinders under OMB 

Control Number 2137–0022. PHMSA 

estimates based on our knowledge of 

cylinder manufacturer practices from 

direct observation during compliance 

inspections that this additional 

recordkeeping will take an additional 23 

hours affecting 23 manufacturers. 

This rulemaking identifies revised 

information collection requests that 

PHMSA will submit to OMB for 

approval based on the requirements in 

this final rule. PHMSA has developed 

burden estimates to reflect changes in 

this final rule and estimates the 

information collection and 

recordkeeping burdens in this rule are 

as follows: 

Annual Increase in Number of 

Respondents: 4,623. 

Annual Increase in Annual Number of 

Responses: 4,853. 

Annual Increase in Annual Burden 

Hours: 5,783. 

H. Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) 

A regulation identifier number (RIN) 

is assigned to each regulatory action 

listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal 

Regulations. The Regulatory Information 

Service Center publishes the Unified 

Agenda in April and October of each 

year. The RIN contained in the heading 

of this document may be used to crossreference this action with the Unified 

Agenda. 

I. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 

1995 

The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 

(UMRA) of 1995, Public Law 104–4, 

establishes significance thresholds for 

the direct costs of regulations on State, 

local, or tribal governments or the 

private sector that trigger certain agency 

reporting requirements. The statutory 

thresholds established in UMRA were 

$50 million for intergovernmental 

mandates and $100 million for privateVerDate Sep<11>2014 21:16 Dec 27, 2020 Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\28DER3.SGM 28DER3

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12https://www.cbo.gov/publication/51335. 

sector mandates in 1996. According to 

the Congressional Budget Office, the 

thresholds for 2019, which are adjusted 

annually for inflation, are $82 million 

and $164 million, respectively, for 

intergovernmental and private-sector 

mandates.12 This final rule results in 

cost savings and is the least burdensome 

alternative that achieves the objective of 

the rule. It is not significant under 

UMRA. Therefore, PHMSA is not 

required to prepare a written statement. 

J. Environmental Assessment 

The National Environmental Policy 

Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended (42 

U.S.C. 4321–4347), and implementing 

regulations by the Council on 

Environmental Quality (CEQ) (40 CFR 

part 1500), require Federal agencies to 

consider the consequences of major 

Federal actions and prepare a detailed 

statement on actions that significantly 

affect the quality of the human 

environment. The CEQ regulations 

require Federal agencies to conduct an 

environmental review considering: (1) 

The need for the proposed action; (2) 

alternatives to the proposed action; (3) 

probable environmental impacts of the 

proposed action and alternatives; and 

(4) the agencies and persons consulted 

during the consideration process. 

1. Need for the Action 

This final rule responds to 20 

petitions for rulemaking submitted by 

the regulated community. The issues 

discussed in this final rule will update 

and expand the use of currently 

authorized industry consensus 

standards; revise the construction, 

marking, and testing requirements of 

DOT 4-series cylinders; clarify the 

filling requirements for cylinders; 

discuss the handling of cylinders used 

in fire suppression systems; and revise 

the requalification requirements for 

cylinders. 

This final rule discusses the following 

amendments to the HMR: 

• Replace the currently incorporated 

Seventh Edition of the CGA’s 

publication C–6 Standards for Visual 

Inspection of Steel Compressed Gas 

Cylinders with the revised Eleventh 

Edition and update the appropriate 

references throughout the HMR. 

• Revise the manufacturing 

requirements for certain DOT 4-series 

cylinders. 

• Revise the requirements for the 

requalification of DOT-specification 

cylinders by pressure testing found in 

49 CFR part 180, subpart C. 

• Allow the use of the labels 

described in the Eighth Edition of CGA’s 

publication C–7 Guide to the 

Preparation of Precautionary Labeling 

and Marking of Compressed Gas 

Containers (Tenth edition currently 

incorporated by reference in the HMR) 

Appendix A on cylinders contained in 

overpacks. 

• Require manufacturers to mark 

certain newly manufactured cylinders 

suitable for the transport of liquefied 

compressed gas with the mass weight or 

tare weight, and water capacity. 

• Allow non-specification cylinders 

used in a fixed fire suppression system 

to be transported under the same 

exceptions as those provided for fire 

extinguishers, under certain conditions 

and limitations. 

• Clarify filling limits for a liquefied 

compressed gas in a manifold or a 

multiple element gas container (MEGC). 

• Clarify the requirements for filling 

non-specification cylinders for export or 

use on board a vessel. 

2. Alternatives Considered 

Alternative (1) No Action: Under this 

alternative, the current regulatory 

standards would remain in effect. 

PHMSA would not adopt any of the 

petitions or incorporate any of the 

special permits under consideration. As 

a result, PHMSA would not update, 

clarify, and provide relief from certain 

existing regulatory requirements to 

promote safer transportation practices, 

eliminate unnecessary regulatory 

requirements, and facilitate 

international commerce. We rejected the 

no action alternative. 

Alternative (2) Preferred Alternative: 

With this alternative, PHMSA responds 

to 20 petitions for rulemaking, clarifies 

other requirements in the HMR, and 

addresses areas of concern that are 

currently left out of the HMR. 

3. Environmental Impacts 

Hazardous materials are substances 

that may pose a threat to public safety 

or the environment during 

transportation because of their physical, 

chemical, or nuclear properties. Under 

the HMR, hazardous materials are 

transported by aircraft, vessel, rail, and 

highway. The hazardous materials 

regulatory system is a risk management 

system that is prevention-oriented and 

focused on identifying a safety hazard 

and reducing the probability and 

quantity of a hazardous material release. 

The potential for environmental damage 

or contamination exists when packages 

of hazardous materials are involved in 

accidents or en route incidents resulting 

from cargo shifts, valve failures, package 

failures, loading, unloading, collisions, 

handling problems, or deliberate 

sabotage. The release of hazardous 

materials can cause the loss of 

ecological resources (e.g., wildlife 

habitats) and the contamination of air, 

aquatic environments, and soil. 

Contamination of soil can lead to the 

contamination of ground water. 

Compliance with the HMR substantially 

reduces the possibility of accidental 

release of hazardous materials. 

Anticipated Impact under Alternative 

(1) No Action: Potential for increased 

releases of hazardous materials due to 

unclear regulatory language and use of 

outdated industry standards. 

Anticipated Impact under Alternative 

(2) Preferred Alternative: Decreased 

releases of hazardous materials due to 

increased clarity of regulatory 

requirements and updated industry 

standards. Specifically, increased clarity 

for MEGC filling requirements will 

decrease the chances of pressure 

receptacle overfill which can result in 

catastrophic releases of hazardous 

materials. It is anticipated that the 

petitions discussed in this final rule 

would have minimal, if any, 

environmental consequences. 

4. Agencies Consulted 

Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration 

National Institute of Standards and 

Technology 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

5. Conclusion 

PHMSA has conducted a technical 

review of the amendments discussed in 

this final rule and determined that no 

significant environmental impact will 

result from this final rule. The 

amendments would provide protection 

against the release of hazardous 

materials based on sound scientific 

methods and would not result in 

unusual stresses on the cylinders used 

to contain these hazardous materials or 

adversely impact human health or the 

environment. PHMSA received no 

comments specifically addressing the 

environmental impacts of changes made 

in this final rule. 

K. Privacy Act 

In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), 

DOT solicits comments from the public 

to better inform its rulemaking process. 

DOT posts these comments, without 

edit, including any personal information 

the commenter provides, to 

www.regulations.gov, as described in 

the system of records notice (DOT/ALL– 

14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 

www.dot.gov/privacy. 


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L. International Trade Analysis and 

Executive Order 13609 

The Trade Agreements Act of 1979 

(Pub. L. 96–39), as amended by the 

Uruguay Round Agreements Act (Pub. 

L. 103–465), prohibits Federal agencies 

from establishing any standards or 

engaging in related activities that create 

unnecessary obstacles to the foreign 

commerce of the United States. 

Pursuant to these Acts, the 

establishment of standards is not 

considered an unnecessary obstacle to 

the foreign commerce of the United 

States, so long as the standards have a 

legitimate domestic objective, such as 

the protection of safety, and do not 

operate in a manner that excludes 

imports that meet this objective. The 

statute also requires consideration of 

international standards, and where 

appropriate, that they be the basis for 

U.S. standards. PHMSA notes the 

purpose is to ensure the safety of the 

American public and has assessed the 

effects of this final rule to ensure that it 

does not exclude imports that meet this 

objective. The final rule may have 

positive impacts on international trade 

because it increases the level of 

harmonization between U.S. regulations 

and international standards, which is 

also consistent with the policy in 

Executive Order 13609, ‘‘Promoting 

International Regulatory Cooperation,’’ 

77 FR 26413. As a result, this final rule 

is not considered as creating an 

unnecessary obstacle to foreign 

commerce. 

M. National Technology Transfer and 

Advancement Act 

The National Technology Transfer 

and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 

U.S.C. 272 note) directs Federal 

agencies to use voluntary consensus 

standards in their regulatory activities 

unless doing so would be inconsistent 

with applicable law or otherwise 

impractical. Voluntary consensus 

standards are technical standards (e.g., 

specification of materials, test methods, 

or performance requirements) that are 

developed or adopted by voluntary 

consensus standards bodies. This final 

rule adopts five voluntary consensus 

standards developed by the Compressed 

Gas Association, which are discussed in 

detail in the ‘‘Section-by-Section 

Review’’ for § 171.7. 

List of Subjects 

49 CFR Part 107 

Administrative practice and 

procedure, Hazardous materials 

transportation, Penalties, Reporting and 

recordkeeping requirements. 

49 CFR Part 171 

Exports, Hazardous materials 

transportation, Hazardous waste, 

Imports, Incorporation by reference, 

Reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements. 

49 CFR Part 173 

Hazardous materials transportation, 

Incorporation by reference, Packaging 

and containers, Radioactive materials, 

Reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements, Uranium. 

49 CFR Part 178 

Hazardous materials transportation, 

Incorporation by reference, Motor 

vehicle safety, Packaging and 

containers, Reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements. 

49 CFR Part 180 

Hazardous materials transportation; 

Motor carriers, Incorporation by 

reference, Motor vehicle safety, 

Packaging and containers, Railroad 

safety, Reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements. 

In consideration of the foregoing, 

PHMSA amends 49 CFR chapter I as 

follows: 

PART 107—HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 

PROGRAM PROCEDURES 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 107 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 5101–5128, 44701; 

Pub. L. 101–410, Section 4; Pub. L. 104–121, 

Sections 212–213; Pub. L. 104–134, Section 

31001; Pub. L. 114–74, Section 4 (28 U.S.C. 

2461 note); 49 CFR 1.81 and 1.97; 33 U.S.C. 

1321. 

■ 2. In § 107.803, revise paragraph (c)(3) 

to read as follows: 

§ 107.803 Approval of an independent 

inspection agency (IIA). 

* * * * * 

(c) * * * 

(3) Detailed description of the 

applicant’s qualifications and ability to 

perform the inspections and to verify 

the inspections required by parts 178 

and 180 of this chapter; or those 

required under the terms of a special 

permit issued under this part. 

* * * * * 

■ 3. In § 107.805, revise paragraphs 

(c)(3) and (4) and add paragraph (c)(5) 

to read as follows: 

§ 107.805 Approval of cylinder and 

pressure receptacle requalifiers. 

* * * * * 

(c) * * * 

(3) A certification that the facility will 

operate in compliance with the 

applicable requirements of subchapter C 

of this chapter; 

(4) The signature of the person 

making the certification and the date on 

which it was signed; and 

(5) For a mobile unit operation (as 

defined in § 180.203 of subchapter C of 

this chapter), the type of equipment to 

be used, the specific vehicles to be used, 

the geographic area the applicant is 

requesting to operate within, and any 

differences between the mobile 

operation and the facility operation as 

described under paragraph (c)(2) of this 

section. 

* * * * * 

PART 171—GENERAL INFORMATION, 

REGULATIONS, AND DEFINITIONS 

■ 4. The authority citation for part 171 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 5101–5128, 44701; 

Pub. L. 101–410, Section 4; Pub. L. 104–134, 

Section 31001; Pub. L. 114–74, Section 4 (28 

U.S.C. 2461 note); 49 CFR 1.81 and 1.97. 

■ 5. In § 171.7: 

■ a. Revise paragraph (a)(2)(ii); 

■ b. Remove paragraph (n)(16) and 

redesignate paragraphs (n)(1) through 

(15) as paragraphs (n)(2) through (16); 

■ c. Add new paragraph (n)(1) and 

revise newly redesignated paragraphs 

(n)(2), (4), and (13) and paragraph 

(n)(18). 

The revisions and addition read as 

follows: 

§ 171.7 Reference material. 

(a) * * * 

(2) * * * 

(ii) The National Archives and 

Records Administration (NARA). For 

information on the availability of this 

material at NARA, email fedreg.legal@

nara.gov, or go to www.archives.gov/ 

federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html. 

* * * * * 

(n) * * * 

(1) CGA C–1—2016, Methods for 

Pressure Testing Compressed Gas 

Cylinders, Eleventh edition, copyright 

2016, into §§ 178.36, 178.37, 178.38, 

178.39, 178.42, 178.44, 178.45, 178.46, 

178.47; 178.50; 178.51; 178.53; 178.55; 

178.56; 178.57; 178.58; 178.59; 178.60; 

178.61; 178.65; 178.68; 180.205, 

180.209. 

(2) CGA C–3—2005 (Reaffirmed 

2011), Standards for Welding on ThinWalled Steel Cylinders, Seventh edition, 

copyright 2005, into §§ 178.47; 178.50; 

178.51; 178.53; 178.55; 178.56; 178.57; 

178.58; 178.59; 178.60; 178.61; 178.65; 

178.68; 180.211. 

* * * * * 

(4) CGA C–6—2013, Standards for 

Visual Inspection of Steel Compressed 


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Gas Cylinders, Eleventh edition, 

copyright 2013, into §§ 172.102, 173.3, 

173.198, 180.205, 180.209, 180.211, 

180.411, 180.519. 

* * * * * 

(13) CGA C–14—2005 (Reaffirmed 

2010), Procedures for Fire Testing of 

DOT Cylinder Pressure Relief Device 

Systems, Fourth edition, copyright 

2005, into §§ 173.301; 173.323. 

* * * * * 

(18) CGA S–1.1—2011, Pressure Relief 

Device Standards—Part 1—Cylinders for 

Compressed Gases, Fourteenth edition, 

copyright 2011, into §§ 173.301; 

173.304a; 178.75. 

* * * * * 

■ 6. In § 171.23, revise paragraph 

(a)(5)(i) to read as follows: 

§ 171.23 Requirements for specific 

materials and packagings transported 

under the ICAO Technical Instructions, 

IMDG Code, Transport Canada TDG 

Regulations, or the IAEA Regulations. 

* * * * * 

(a) * * * 

(5) * * * 

(i) The cylinder has been requalified 

and marked in accordance with subpart 

C of part 180 of this subchapter, or has 

been requalified as authorized by the 

Associate Administrator; 

* * * * * 

PART 173—SHIPPERS—GENERAL 

REQUIREMENTS FOR SHIPMENTS 

AND PACKAGINGS 

■ 7. The authority citation for part 173 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 5101–5128, 44701; 49 

CFR 1.81, 1.96 and 1.97. 

■ 8. In § 173.3, revise paragraph (d)(1) to 

read as follows: 

§ 173.3 Packaging and exceptions. 

* * * * * 

(d) * * * 

(1) Except for Class 1, Division 6.2, 

Class 7, or acetylene material, a cylinder 

containing a hazardous material may be 

overpacked in a salvage cylinder. 

* * * * * 

■ 9. In § 173.301: 

■ a. In paragraphs (c) and (f), remove 

‘‘9.1.1.1’’ and add in its place ‘‘9.1.1’’ in 

each place it appears; and 

■ b. Revise paragraph (f)(4). 

The revision reads as follows: 

§ 173.301 General requirements for 

shipment of compressed gases and other 

hazardous materials in cylinders, UN 

pressure receptacles and spherical 

pressure vessels. 

* * * * * 

(f) * * * 

(4)(i) A pressure relief device is 

required on a DOT 39 cylinder 

regardless of cylinder size or filled 

pressure. 

(ii) A DOT 39 cylinder used for 

liquefied Division 2.1 materials must be 

equipped with a metal pressure relief 

device. 

(iii) Fusible pressure relief devices are 

not authorized on a DOT 39 cylinder 

containing a liquefied gas. 

(iv) A pressure relief device for 

oxidizing gases transported by air in a 

DOT 39 cylinder must meet the 

requirements of § 173.302(f)(2)(iii) of 

this subpart for permanent gases and 

§ 173.304(f)(2)(iii) for liquefied 

compressed gases. 

* * * * * 

■ 10. In § 173.302, revise paragraphs 

(f)(2)(i) and (ii) and add paragraph 

(f)(2)(iii) to read as follows: 

§ 173.302 Filling of cylinders with 

nonliquefied (permanent) compressed 

gases or adsorbed gases. 

* * * * * 

(f) * * * 

(2) * * * 

(i) The rated burst pressure of a 

rupture disc for DOT 3A, 3AA, 3AL, and 

3E cylinders, and UN pressure 

receptacles ISO 9809–1, ISO 9809–2, 

ISO 9809–3 and ISO 7866 cylinders 

must be 100% of the cylinder minimum 

test pressure with a tolerance of plus 

zero to minus 10%; 

(ii) The rated burst pressure of a 

rupture disc for a DOT 3HT cylinder 

must be 90% of the cylinder minimum 

test pressure with a tolerance of plus 

zero to minus 10%; and 

(iii) The rated burst pressure of a 

rupture disc for a DOT 39 cylinder must 

be not more than 80 percent of cylinder 

burst pressure but not less than 105 

percent of cylinder test pressure. 

Cylinders filled and offered for 

transportation in accordance with the 

requirements of the section before 

January 27, 2021 may continue to be 

used for the life of the packaging. 

* * * * * 

■ 11. In § 173.302a, revise paragraphs 

(a)(3) and (c)(4)(i) and (ii) and add 

paragraph (c)(4)(iii) to read as follows: 

§ 173.302a Additional requirements for 

shipment of nonliquefied (permanent) 

compressed gases in specification 

cylinders. 

(a) * * * 

(3) DOT 39 cylinders. When the 

cylinder is filled with a Division 2.1 

flammable gas, the internal volume of 

the cylinder may not exceed 1.23 L (75 

in3). For chemical under pressure (see 

§ 172.102 of this subchapter (special 

provision 362)), the internal volume 

may not exceed the size limits of the 

specification as provided in 

§ 178.65(a)(1) of this subchapter. 

* * * * * 

(c) * * * 

(4) * * * 

(i) Cylinders less than 1.7 m (65 

inches) in length must be equipped with 

fusible metal backed frangible disc 

devices; 

(ii) Cylinders 1.7 m (65 inches) or 

greater in length and 24.5 cm (9.63 

inches) in diameter or larger must be 

equipped with fusible metal backed 

frangible disc devices or frangible disc 

devices, except as provided in 

paragraph (c)(4)(iii) of this section. 

Cylinders with a diameter of 0.56 m (22 

inches) or larger must be equipped with 

frangible disc devices except as 

provided in paragraph (c)(4)(iii) of this 

section. 

(iii) Cylinders greater than 3.66 m 

(144 inches) in length that are 

horizontally mounted on a motor 

vehicle, in an ISO framework, or other 

framework of equivalent structural 

integrity are not required to be equipped 

with pressure relief devices. If such 

devices are installed, they must be 

selected in accordance with § 173.301(f). 

* * * * * 

■ 12. In § 173.304, revise paragraphs 

(f)(2)(i) and (ii) and add paragraph 

(f)(2)(iii) to read as follows: 

§ 173.304 Filling of cylinders with liquefied 

compressed gases. 

* * * * * 

(f) * * * 

(2) * * * 

(i) The rated burst pressure of a 

rupture disc for DOT 3A, 3AA, 3AL, and 

3E cylinders, and UN pressure 

receptacles ISO 9809–1, ISO 9809–2, 

ISO 9809–3, and ISO 7866 cylinders 

must be 100% of the cylinder minimum 

test pressure with a tolerance of plus 

zero to minus 10%; 

(ii) The rated burst pressure of a 

rupture disc for a DOT 3HT cylinder 

must be 90% of the cylinder minimum 

test pressure with a tolerance of plus 

zero to minus 10%; and 

(iii) The rated burst pressure of a 

rupture disc for a DOT 39 cylinder must 

be not more than 80 percent of cylinder 

burst pressure but not less than 105 

percent of cylinder test pressure. 

Cylinders filled and offered for 

transportation in accordance with the 

requirements of the section before 

January 27, 2021 may continue to be 

used for the life of the packaging. 

■ 13. In § 173.304a: 

■ a. Revise paragraph (a)(2); and 

■ b. Add paragraph (a)(3); and 

■ c. Revise paragraph (d)(3)(i). 


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The revisions and addition read as 

follows: 

§ 173.304a Additional requirements for 

shipment of liquefied compressed gases in 

specification cylinders. 

(a) * * * 

(2) For the gases named, the 

requirements in table 1 to paragraph 

(a)(2) apply (for cryogenic liquids, see 

§ 173.316): 

TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (a)(2) 

Kind of gas 

Maximum permitted filling 

density (percent) 

(see Note 1) 

Packaging marked as shown in this column or of the 

same type with higher service pressure must be used, 

except as provided in §§ 173.301(l), 173.301a(e), 

and 180.205(a) 

(see notes following table) 

Anhydrous ammonia .......................................................... 54 ...................................... DOT–3A480; DOT–3AA480; DOT–3A480X; DOT– 

4AA480; DOT–3; DOT–3E1800; DOT–3AL480. 

Bromotrifluoromethane (R–13B1 or H–1301) .................... 124 .................................... DOT–3A400; DOT–3AA400; DOT–3B400; DOT– 

4AA480; DOT–4B400; DOT–4BA400; DOT–4BW400; 

DOT–3E1800; DOT–39; DOT–3AL400. 

Carbon dioxide (see Notes 4, 7, and 8) ............................ 68 ...................................... DOT–3A1800; DOT–3AX1800; DOT–3AA1800; DOT– 

3AAX1800; DOT–3; DOT–3E1800; DOT–3T1800; 

DOT–3HT2000; DOT–39; DOT–3AL1800. 

Carbon dioxide (see Notes 4, 7, and 8) ............................ 70.3 ................................... DOT–3A2000, DOT–3AA2000, DOT–3AX2000, DOT– 

3AAX2000, DOT–3T2000. 

Carbon dioxide (see Notes 4, 7, and 8) ............................ 73.2 ................................... DOT–3A2265, DOT–3AA2265, DOT–3AX2265, DOT– 

3AAX2265, DOT–3T2265. 

Carbon dioxide (see Notes 4, 7, and 8) ............................ 74.5 ................................... DOT–3A2400, DOT–3AA2400, DOT–3AX2400, DOT– 

3AAX2400, DOT–3T2400. 

Carbon dioxide, refrigerated liquid (see paragraph (e) of 

this section).

........................................... DOT–4L. 

Chlorine (see Note 2) ........................................................ 125 .................................... DOT–3A480; DOT–3AA480; DOT–3; DOT–3BN480; 

DOT–3E1800. 

Chlorodifluroethane or 1-Chloro-1, 1-difluoroethane (R– 

142b).

100 .................................... DOT–3A150; DOT–3AA150; DOT–3B150; DOT–4B150; 

DOT–4BA225; DOT–4BW225; DOT–3E1800; DOT– 

39; DOT–3AL150. 

Chlorodifluoromethane (R–22) (see Note 8) ..................... 105 .................................... DOT–3A240; DOT–3AA240; DOT–3B240; DOT–4B240; 

DOT–4BA240; DOT–4BW240; DOT–4B240ET; DOT– 

4E240; DOT–39; DOT–3E1800; DOT–3AL240. 

Chloropentafluorethane (R–115) ....................................... 110 .................................... DOT–3A225; DOT–3AA225; DOT–3B225; DOT– 

4BA225; DOT–4B225; DOT–4BW225; DOT–3E1800; 

DOT–39; DOT–3AL225. 

Chlorotrifluoromethane (R–13) (see Note 8) ..................... 100 .................................... DOT–3A1800; DOT–3AA1800; DOT–3; DOT–3E1800; 

DOT–39; DOT–3AL1800. 

Cyclopropane (see Notes 8 and 9) ................................... 55 ...................................... DOT–3A225; DOT–3A480X; DOT–3AA225; DOT– 

3B225; DOT–4AA480; DOT4B225; DOT–4BA225; 

DOT–4BW225; DOT–4B240ET; DOT–3; DOT– 

3E1800; DOT–39; DOT–3AL225. 

Dichlorodifluoromethane (R–12) (see Note 8) .................. 119 .................................... DOT–3A225; DOT–3AA225; DOT–3B225; DOT–4B225; 

DOT–4BA225; DOT–4BW225; DOT–4B240ET; DOT– 

4E225; DOT–39; DOT–3E1800; DOT–3AL225. 

Dichlorodifluoromethane and difluoroethane mixture (constant boiling mixture) (R–500) (see Note 8).Not liquid full at 131 °F .... DOT–3A240; DOT–3AA240; DOT–3B240; DOT– 

3E1800; DOT–4B240; DOT–4BA240; DOT–4BW240; 

DOT–4E240; DOT–39. 

1,1-Difluoroethane (R–152a) (see Note 8) ........................ 79 ...................................... DOT–3A150; DOT–3AA150; DOT–3B150; DOT–4B150; 

DOT–4BA225; DOT–4BW225; DOT–3E1800; DOT– 

3AL150. 

1,1-Difluoroethylene (R–1132A) ........................................ 73 ...................................... DOT–3A2200; DOT–3AA2200; DOT–3AX2200; DOT– 

3AAX2200; DOT–3T2200; DOT–39. 

Dimethylamine, anhydrous ................................................ 59 ...................................... DOT–3A150; DOT–3AA150; DOT–3B150; DOT–4B150; 

DOT–4BA225; DOT–4BW225; ICC–3E1800. 

Ethane (see Notes 8 and 9) .............................................. 35.8 ................................... DOT–3A1800; DOT–3AX1800; DOT–3AA1800; DOT– 

3AAX1800; DOT–3; DOT–3E1800; DOT–3T1800; 

DOT–39; DOT–3AL1800. 

Ethane (see Notes 8 and 9) .............................................. 36.8 ................................... DOT–3A2000; DOT–3AX2000; DOT–3AA2000; DOT– 

3AAX2000; DOT–3T2000; DOT–39; DOT–3AL2000. 

Ethylene (see Notes 8 and 9) ........................................... 31.0 ................................... DOT–3A1800; DOT–3AX1800; DOT–3AA1800; DOT– 

3AAX1800; DOT–3; DOT–3E1800; DOT–3T1800; 

DOT–39; DOT–3AL1800. 

Ethylene (see Notes 8 and 9) ........................................... 32.5 ................................... DOT–3A2000; DOT–3AX2000; DOT–3AA2000; DOT– 

3AAX2000; DOT–3T2000; DOT–39; DOT–3AL2000. 

Ethylene (see Notes 8 and 9) ........................................... 35.5 ................................... DOT–3A2400; DOT–3AX2400; DOT–3AA2400; DOT– 

3AAX2400; DOT–3T2400; DOT–39; DOT–3AL2400. 

Hydrogen chloride, anhydrous ........................................... 65 ...................................... DOT–3A1800; DOT–3AA1800; DOT–3AX1800; DOT– 

3AAX1800; DOT–3; DOT–3T1800; DOT–3E1800. 

Hydrogen sulfide (Note 10) ............................................... 62.5 ................................... DOT–3A; DOT–3AA; DOT–3B; DOT–4B; DOT–4BA; 

DOT–4BW; DOT–3E1800; DOT–3AL. 


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TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (a)(2)—Continued 

Kind of gas 

Maximum permitted filling 

density (percent) 

(see Note 1) 

Packaging marked as shown in this column or of the 

same type with higher service pressure must be used, 

except as provided in §§ 173.301(l), 173.301a(e), 

and 180.205(a) 

(see notes following table) 

Insecticide, gases liquefied (see Notes 8 and 12) ............ Not liquid full at 131 °F .... DOT–3A300; DOT–3AA300; DOT–3B300; DOT–4B300; 

DOT–4BA300; DOT–4BW300; DOT–3E1800. 

Liquefied nonflammable gases, other than classified 

flammable, corrosive, toxic & mixtures or solution 

thereof filled w/nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or air (see 

Notes 7 and 8)..

Not liquid full at 131 °F .... Specification packaging authorized in paragraph (a)(1) 

of this section and DOT–3HT; DOT–4D; DOT–4DA; 

DOT–4DS. 

Methyl acetylene-propadiene, mixtures, stabilized; (see 

Note 5)..

Not liquid at 131 °F .......... DOT–4B240 without brazed seams; DOT–4BA240 without brazed seams; DOT–3A240; DOT–3AA240; 

DOT–3B240; DOT–3E1800; DOT–4BW240; DOT– 

4E240; DOT–4B240ET; DOT–3AL240. 

Methyl chloride ................................................................... 84 ...................................... DOT–3A225; DOT–3AA225; DOT–3B225; DOT–4B225; 

DOT–4BA225; DOT–4BW225; DOT–3; DOT–3E1800; 

DOT–4B240ET. Cylinders complying with DOT– 

3A150; DOT–3B150; and DOT–4B150 manufactured 

prior to Dec. 7, 1936 are also authorized. 

Methyl mercaptan .............................................................. 80 ...................................... DOT–3A240; DOT–3AA240; DOT–3B240; OT–4B240; 

DOT–4B240ET; DOT–3E1800; DOT–4BA240; DOT– 

4BW240. 

Nitrosyl chloride ................................................................. 110 .................................... DOT–3BN400 only. 

Nitrous oxide (see Notes 7, 8, and 11) ............................. 68 ...................................... DOT–3A1800; DOT–3AX1800; DOT–3AA1800; DOT– 

3AAX1800; DOT–3; DOT–3E1800; DOT–3T1800; 

DOT–3HT2000; DOT–39; DOT–3AL1800. 

Nitrous oxide (see Notes 7, 8, and 11) ............................. 70.3 ................................... DOT–3A2000, DOT–3AA2000, DOT–3AX2000, DOT– 

3AAX2000, DOT–3T2000. 

Nitrous oxide (see Notes 7, 8, and 11) ............................. 73.2 ................................... DOT–3A2265, DOT–3AA2265, DOT–3AX2265, DOT– 

3AAX2265, DOT–3T2265. 

Nitrous oxide (see Notes 7, 8, and 11) ............................. 74.5 ................................... DOT–3A2400, DOT–3AA2400, DOT–3AX2400, DOT– 

3AAX2400, DOT–3T2400. 

Nitrous oxide, refrigerated liquid (see paragraph (e) of 

this section.).

........................................... DOT–4L. 

Refrigerant gas, n.o.s. or Dispersant gas, n.o.s. (see 

Notes 8 and 13).

Not liquid full at 130 °F .... DOT–3A240; DOT–3AA240; DOT–3B240; DOT– 

3E1800; DOT–4B240; DOT–4BA240; DOT–4BW240; 

DOT–4E240; DOT–39; DOT–3AL240. 

Sulfur dioxide (see note 8) ................................................ 125 .................................... DOT–3A225; DOT–3AA225; DOT–3B225; DOT–4B225; 

DOT–4BA225; DOT–4BW225; DOT–4B240ET; DOT– 

3; DOT–39; DOT–3E1800; DOT–3AL225. 

Sulfur hexafluoride ............................................................. 120 .................................... DOT–3A1000; DOT–3AA1000; DOT–AAX2400; DOT–3; 

DOT–3AL1000; DOT–3E1800; DOT–3T1800. 

Sulfuryl fluoride .................................................................. 106 .................................... DOT–3A480; DOT–3AA480; DOT–3E1800; DOT– 

4B480; DOT–4BA480; DOT–4BW480. 

Tetrafluoroethylene, stabilized ........................................... 90 ...................................... DOT–3A1200; DOT–3AA1200; DOT–3E1800. 

Trifluorochloroethylene, stabilized ..................................... 115 .................................... DOT–3A300; DOT–3AA300; DOT–3B300; DOT–4B300; 

DOT–4BA300; DOT–4BW300; DOT–3E1800. 

Trimethylamine, anhydrous ............................................... 57 ...................................... DOT–3A150; DOT–3AA150; DOT–3B150; DOT–4B150; 

DOT–4BA225; DOT–4BW225; DOT–3E1800. 

Vinyl chloride (see Note 5) ................................................ 84 ...................................... DOT–4B150 without brazed seams; DOT–4BA225 without brazed seams; DOT–4BW225; DOT–3A150; 

DOT–3AA150; DOT–3E1800; DOT–3AL150. 

Vinyl fluoride, stabilized ..................................................... 62 ...................................... DOT–3A1800; DOT–3AA1800; DOT–3E1800; DOT– 

3AL1800. 

Vinyl methyl ether, stabilized (see Note 5) ....................... 68 ...................................... DOT–4B150, without brazed seams; DOT–4BA225 without brazed seams; DOT–4BW225; DOT–3A150; 

DOT–3AA150; DOT–3B1800; DOT–3E1800. 

Note 1 to paragraph (a)(2): ‘‘Filling density’’ means the percent ratio of the weight of gas in a packaging to the weight of water that the container will hold at 16 °C (60 °F). (1 lb of water = 27.737 in3 at 60 °F.). 

Note 2 to paragraph (a)(2): Cylinders purchased after Oct. 1, 1944, for the transportation of chlorine must contain no aperture other than that 

provided in the neck of the cylinder for attachment of a valve equipped with an approved pressure relief device. Cylinders purchased after Nov. 

1, 1935, and filled with chlorine may not contain over 68.04 kg (150 lb) of gas. 

Note 4 to paragraph (a)(2): Special carbon dioxide mining devices containing a heating element and filled with not over 2.72 kg (6 lb) of carbon dioxide may be filled to a density of not over 85 percent, provided the cylinder is made of steel with a calculated bursting pressure in excess 

of 39000 psig, fitted with a frangible disc that will operate at not over 57 percent of that pressure, and is able to withstand a drop of 10 feet when 

striking crosswise on a steel rail while under a pressure of at least 3000 psig. Such devices must be shipped in strong boxes or must be 

wrapped in heavy burlap and bound by 12-gauge wire with the wire completely covered by friction tape. Wrapping must be applied so as not to 

interfere with the functioning of the frangible disc pressure relief device. Shipments must be described as ‘‘liquefied carbon dioxide gas (mining 

device)’’ and marked, labeled, and certified as prescribed for liquefied carbon dioxide. 

Note 5 to paragraph (a)(2): All parts of valve and pressure relief devices in contact with contents of cylinders must be of a metal or other material, suitably treated if necessary, that will not cause formation of any acetylides. 


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Note 7 to paragraph (a)(2): Specification 3HT cylinders for aircraft use only, having a maximum service life of 24 years. Authorized only for 

nonflammable gases. Cylinders must be equipped with pressure relief devices of the frangible disc type that meet the requirements of 

§ 173.301(f). Each frangible disc must have a rated bursting pressure that does not exceed 90 percent of the minimum required test pressure of 

the cylinder. Discs with fusible metal backing are not permitted. Cylinders may be offered for transportation only when packaged in accordance 

with § 173.301(a)(9). 

Note 8 to paragraph (a)(2): See § 173.301(a)(9). 

Note 9 to paragraph (a)(2): When used for shipment of flammable gases, the internal volume of a specification 39 cylinder must not exceed 

75 cubic inches. 

Note 10 to paragraph (a)(2): Each valve outlet must be sealed by a threaded cap or a threaded solid plug. 

Note 11 to paragraph (a)(2): Must meet the valve and cleaning requirements in § 173.302(b). 

Note 12 to paragraph (a)(2): For an insecticide gas that is nontoxic and nonflammable, see § 173.305(c). 

Note 13 to paragraph (a)(2): For a refrigerant or dispersant gas that is nontoxic and nonflammable, see § 173.304(d). 

(3) A DOT 39 cylinder shall be 

equipped with a pressure relief device 

as defined by the commodity in CGA S– 

1.1, excluding paragraph 9.1.1 (IBR; see 

§ 171.7 of this subchapter). If the 

commodity is not listed in CGA S–1.1, 

a CG–7 pressure relief valve must be 

used. 

* * * * * 

(d) * * * 

(3) * * * 

(i) DOT 3, 3A, 3AA, 3B, 3E, 3AL, 4B, 

4BA, 4B240ET, 4BW, 4E, or 39 

cylinders. The internal volume of a 

Specification 39 cylinder must not 

exceed 75 cubic inches. Shipments of 

flammable gases in DOT 3AL cylinders 

are authorized only when transported 

by motor vehicle, rail car, or cargo-only 

aircraft. 

* * * * * 

■ 14. In § 173.306, revise paragraph (g) 

to read as follows: 

§ 173.306 Limited quantities of 

compressed gases. 

* * * * * 

(g) Water pump system tank. Water 

pump system tanks pre-charged at time 

of manufacture with compressed air or 

limited quantities of nitrogen or helium 

to not over 275.79 kPa gauge pressure 

(40 psig) for single-trip shipment to 

installation sites are excepted from 

labeling, and the specification 

packaging requirements of this 

subchapter when shipped under the 

following conditions. In addition, 

shipments of these tanks are not subject 

to the placarding requirements of 

subpart F of part 172 of this subchapter, 

and not subject to parts 174 (except 

§ 174.24) and 177 (except § 177.817) of 

this subchapter. 

(1) The tank must be of steel or 

composite construction, with heads 

concave to pressure, having a rated 

water capacity not exceeding 455 L (120 

gallons) and with an outside diameter 

not exceeding 61 cm (24 inches). These 

tanks may be operated in ambient air 

temperatures of up to 49 °C (120 °F) 

with a maximum working pressure not 

less than 75 psig and not greater than 

150 psig. Safety relief devices are not 

required. 

(2) Each tank must be pneumatically 

tested to the manufacturer’s specified 

maximum working pressure. The test 

pressure must be permanently marked 

on the tank. In any case, the pneumatic 

test must not be conducted to a pressure 

exceeding 150 psig. 

(3) The stress at prescribed pressure 

for steel tanks must not exceed 20,000 

psig (or 25,000 psig for deep-draw steel), 

using the formula: 

S = Pd/2t 

Where: 

S = wall stress in psi; 

P = prescribed pressure for the tank is at least 

the manufacturer’s rated maximum 

working pressure or three (3) times the 

pre-charged pressure at 21.1 °C (70 °F), 

whichever is greater; 

d = inside diameter in inches; and 

t = minimum wall thickness, in inches. 

(4) For steel and composite tanks, the 

burst pressure must be at least six (6) 

times the pre-charge pressure at 21.1 °C 

(70 °F) or three (3) times the 

manufacturer’s specified maximum 

working pressure, whichever is greater. 

(5) Each tank must be over-packed in 

a strong outer packaging in conformance 

with § 173.301(h). 

(6) Transportation is limited to motor 

vehicle, railcar, and vessel. 

Transportation by aircraft is not 

authorized. 

* * * * * 

■ 15. In § 173.309, revise the 

introductory text to read as follows: 

§ 173.309 Fire extinguishers. 

This section applies to portable fire 

extinguishers for manual handling and 

operation, fire extinguishers for 

installation in aircraft, fire extinguishers 

for installation as part of a fire 

suppression system, and large fire 

extinguishers. Fire extinguishers for 

installation as part of a fire suppression 

system include cylinders charged with 

either a compressed gas and an 

extinguishing agent or a gas which 

comprises the sole fire extinguishing 

agent in the system. A fire extinguisher 

does not include cylinders pressurized 

with a gas for purposes of expelling a 

separately stored extinguishing agent in 

the fire suppression system. Large fire 

extinguishers include fire extinguishers 

mounted on wheels for manual 

handling; fire extinguishing equipment 

or machinery mounted on wheels or 

wheeled platforms or units transported 

similar to (small) trailers; and fire 

extinguishers composed of a nonrollable pressure drum and equipment, 

and handled, for example, by fork lift or 

crane when loaded or unloaded. 

Cylinders filled with a compressed gas 

whose purpose is to expel a separately 

stored extinguishing agent may not be 

transported under this section when 

offered for transportation or transported 

apart from a suppression system. 

* * * * * 

■ 16. In § 173.312, revise paragraph 

(b)(1) to read as follows: 

§ 173.312 Requirements for shipment of 

MEGCs. 

* * * * * 

(b) * * * 

(1) A MEGC may not be filled above 

its marked maximum permissible gross 

mass. Additionally, MEGCs must be 

filled in accordance with the following: 

(i) A MEGC being filled with nonliquefied (permanent) compressed gas 

may not be filled to a pressure greater 

than the lowest marked working 

pressure of any cylinder (pressure 

receptacle). 

(ii) An MEGC being filled with a 

liquefied compressed gas must have 

each pressure receptacle filled 

separately by weight and must be filled 

by a means to ensure that only one 

pressure receptacle is filled at a time. 

(iii) The filling density for UN 

pressure receptacles may not exceed the 

values in accordance with § 173.304b(b). 

* * * * * 

§ 173.323 [AMENDED] 

■ 17. In § 173.323(b)(2), immediately 

following the words ‘‘Pamphlet C–14’’ 

in the last sentence, add the phrase 

‘‘(IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter)’’. 

PART 178—SPECIFICATIONS FOR 

PACKAGINGS 

■ 18. The authority citation for part 178 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 5101–5128; 49 CFR 

1.81 and 1.97. 


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■ 19. In § 178.35, add paragraph (f)(8) to 

read as follows: 

§ 178.35 General requirements for 

specification cylinders. 

* * * * * 

(f) * * * 

(8) Tare weight or mass weight, and 

water capacity marking. DOTspecification 4B, 4BA, 4BW, and 4E 

cylinders used in liquefied compressed 

gas service manufactured after 

December 28, 2022, must be marked 

with the tare weight or mass weight. 

Additionally, the cylinder must be 

permanently marked with the water 

capacity. The owner of the cylinder 

must ensure it is marked with the 

following information, as applicable: 

(i) Tare weight. The tare weight for a 

cylinder 25 pounds or less at the time 

of manufacture, with a lower tolerance 

of 3 percent and an upper tolerance of 

1 percent; or for a cylinder exceeding 25 

pounds at the time of manufacture, with 

a lower tolerance of 2 percent and an 

upper tolerance of 1 percent. The tare 

weight marking must be the actual 

weight of the fully assembled cylinder, 

including the valve(s) and other 

permanently affixed appurtenances. 

Removable protective cap(s) or cover(s) 

must not be included in the cylinder 

tare weight. Tare weight shall be 

abbreviated ‘‘TW’’; or 

(ii) Mass weight. The mass weight for 

a cylinder 25 pounds or less at the time 

of manufacture, with a lower tolerance 

of 3 percent and an upper tolerance of 

1 percent; or the mass weight marking 

for a cylinder exceeding 25 pounds at 

the time of manufacture, with a lower 

tolerance of 2 percent and an upper 

tolerance of 1 percent. The mass weight 

marking must be the actual weight of 

the fully assembled cylinder, excluding 

valve(s) and removable protective cap(s) 

or cover(s). Mass weight shall be 

abbreviated ‘‘MW’’; and 

(iii) Water capacity. The water 

capacity for a cylinder 25 pounds water 

capacity or less, with a tolerance of 

minus 1 percent and no upper tolerance; 

or for a cylinder exceeding 25 pounds 

water capacity, with a tolerance of 

minus 0.5 percent and no upper 

tolerance. The marked water capacity of 

the cylinder must be the capacity of the 

cylinder at the time of manufacture. 

Water capacity shall be abbreviated 

‘‘WC’’. 

* * * * * 

■ 20. In § 178.36, revise paragraph (i) to 

read as follows: 

§ 178.36 Specification 3A and 3AX 

seamless steel cylinders. 

* * * * * 

(i) Pressure testing. Each cylinder 

must successfully withstand a pressure 

test as follows: 

(1) The test must be by water-jacket or 

direct expansion method as prescribed 

in CGA C–1 (IBR; see § 171.7 of this 

subchapter). The testing equipment 

must be calibrated as prescribed in CGA 

C–1. All testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. 

(2) Each cylinder must be tested to a 

minimum of 5⁄3 times service pressure. 

(3) The minimum test pressure must 

be maintained for at least 30 seconds 

and sufficiently longer to ensure 

complete expansion. Any internal 

pressure applied after heat-treatment 

and previous to the official test may not 

exceed 90 percent of the test pressure. 

If, due to failure of the test apparatus or 

operator error, the test pressure cannot 

be maintained, the test may be repeated 

in accordance with CGA C–1, section 

5.7.2. 

(4) Permanent, volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of the total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

* * * * * 

■ 21. In § 178.37, revise paragraph (i) to 

read as follows: 

§ 178.37 Specification 3AA and 3AAX 

seamless steel cylinders. 

* * * * * 

(i) Pressure testing. Each cylinder 

must successfully withstand a pressure 

test as follows: 

(1) The test must be by water-jacket or 

direct expansion method as prescribed 

in CGA C–1 (IBR; see § 171.7 of this 

subchapter). The testing equipment 

must be calibrated as prescribed in CGA 

C–1. All testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. 

(2) Each cylinder must be tested to a 

minimum of 5⁄3 times service pressure. 

(3) The minimum test pressure must 

be maintained for at least 30 seconds 

and sufficiently longer to ensure 

complete expansion. Any internal 

pressure applied after heat-treatment 

and previous to the official test may not 

exceed 90 percent of the test pressure. 

If, due to failure of the test apparatus or 

operator error, the test pressure cannot 

be maintained, the test may be repeated 

in accordance with CGA C–1, section 

5.7.2. 

(4) Permanent, volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of the total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

* * * * * 

■ 22. In § 178.38, revise paragraph (i) to 

read as follows: 

§ 178.38 Specification 3B seamless steel 

cylinders. 

* * * * * 

(i) Pressure testing. Each cylinder 

must successfully withstand a pressure 

test as follows: 

(1) The test must be by water-jacket or 

direct expansion method as defined in 

CGA C–1 (IBR; see § 171.7 of this 

subchapter). The testing equipment 

must be calibrated as prescribed in CGA 

C–1. All testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. 

(2) Cylinders must be tested as 

follows: 

(i) Each cylinder to at least two (2) 

times its service pressure; or 

(ii) One (1) cylinder out of each lot of 

200 or fewer to at least three (3) times 

its service pressure. When one (1) 

cylinder out of each lot of 200 or less 

is tested to at least 3 times service 

pressure, the balance of the lot must be 

pressure tested by the proof pressure, 

water-jacket or direct expansion test 

method as prescribed in CGA C–1. The 

cylinders must be subjected to at least 

2 times service pressure and show no 

defect. If, due to failure of the test 

apparatus or operator error, the test 

pressure cannot be maintained, the test 

may be repeated in accordance with 

CGA C–1 5.7.2 or 7.1.2, as appropriate. 

Determination of expansion properties 

is not required. 

(3) When each cylinder is tested to the 

minimum test pressure, the minimum 

test pressure must be maintained at least 

30 seconds and sufficiently longer to 

ensure complete expansion. Any 

internal pressure applied after heattreatment and previous to the official 

test may not exceed 90 percent of the 

test pressure. If, due to failure of the test 

apparatus or operator error, the test 

pressure cannot be maintained, the test 

may be repeated in accordance with 

CGA C–1, section 5.7.2. 

(4) Permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

* * * * * 

■ 23. In § 178.39, revise paragraph (i) to 

read as follows: 

§ 178.39 Specification 3BN seamless 

nickel cylinders. 

* * * * * 

(i) Pressure testing. Each cylinder 

must successfully withstand a pressure 

test as follows: 

(1) The test must be by water-jacket or 

direct expansion method as prescribed 

in CGA C–1 (IBR; see § 171.7 of this 

subchapter). The testing equipment 

must be calibrated as prescribed in CGA 

C–1. All testing equipment and pressure 


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indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. 

(2) Each cylinder must be tested to a 

minimum of at least two (2) times its 

service pressure. 

(3) The minimum test pressure must 

be maintained at least 30 seconds and 

sufficiently longer to ensure complete 

expansion. Any internal pressure 

applied after heat-treatment and 

previous to the official test may not 

exceed 90 percent of the test pressure. 

If, due to failure of the test apparatus or 

operator error, the test pressure cannot 

be maintained, the test may be repeated 

in accordance with CGA C–1, section 

5.7.2. 

(4) Permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

* * * * * 

■ 24. In § 178.42, revise paragraph (f) to 

read as follows: 

§ 178.42 Specification 3E seamless steel 

cylinders. 

* * * * * 

(f) Pressure testing. Cylinders must be 

tested as follows: 

(1) One cylinder out of each lot of 500 

or fewer must be subjected to a 

hydrostatic test pressure of 6,000 psig or 

higher. 

(2) The cylinder referred to in 

paragraph (f)(1) of this section must 

burst at a pressure higher than 6,000 

psig without fragmenting or otherwise 

showing lack of ductility, or must hold 

a pressure of 12,000 psig for 30 seconds 

without bursting. In which case, it must 

be subjected to a flattening test without 

cracking to six times wall thickness 

between knife edges, wedge shaped 60 

degree angle, rounded out to a 1⁄2 inch 

radius. The inspector’s report must be 

suitably changed to show results of 

latter alternate and flattening test. The 

testing equipment must be calibrated as 

prescribed in CGA C–1 (IBR, see § 171.7 

of this subchapter). All testing 

equipment and pressure indicating 

devices must be accurate within the 

parameters defined in CGA C–1. 

(3) The remaining cylinders of the lot 

must be pressure tested by the proof 

pressure water-jacket or direct 

expansion test method as prescribed in 

CGA C–1. Cylinders must be examined 

under pressure of at least 3,000 psig and 

not to exceed 4,500 psig and show no 

defect. Cylinders tested at a pressure in 

excess of 3,600 psig must burst at a 

pressure higher than 7,500 psig when 

tested as specified in paragraph (f)(2) of 

this section. The pressure must be 

maintained for at least 30 seconds and 

sufficiently longer to ensure complete 

examination. The testing equipment 

must be calibrated as prescribed in CGA 

C–1. All testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. If, due to failure of the test 

apparatus or operator error, the test 

pressure cannot be maintained, the test 

may be repeated in accordance with 

CGA C–1 5.7.2 or 7.1.2, as appropriate. 

Determination of expansion properties 

is not required. 

* * * * * 

■ 25. In § 178.44, revise paragraph (i) to 

read as follows: 

§ 178.44 Specification 3HT seamless steel 

cylinders for aircraft use. 

* * * * * 

(i) Pressure testing. Each cylinder 

must successfully withstand a pressure 

test as follows: 

(1) The test must be by water-jacket or 

direct expansion method as prescribed 

in CGA C–1 (IBR; see § 171.7 of this 

subchapter). The testing equipment 

must be calibrated as prescribed in CGA 

C–1. All testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. 

(2) Each cylinder must be tested to 

minimum of 5⁄3 times service pressure. 

(3) The minimum test pressure must 

be maintained at least 30 seconds and 

sufficiently longer to ensure complete 

expansion. Any internal pressure 

applied after heat-treatment and 

previous to the official test may not 

exceed 90 percent of the test pressure. 

If, due to failure of the test apparatus or 

operator error, the test pressure cannot 

be maintained, the test may be repeated 

in accordance with CGA C–1, section 

5.7.2. 

(4) Permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

* * * * * 

■ 26. In § 178.45, revise paragraph (g) to 

read as follows: 

§ 178.45 Specification 3T seamless steel 

cylinder. 

* * * * * 

(g) Pressure testing. Each cylinder 

must successfully withstand a pressure 

test as follows: 

(1) The test must be by water-jacket or 

direct expansion method as prescribed 

in CGA C–1 (IBR; see § 171.7 of this 

subchapter). The testing equipment 

must be calibrated as prescribed in CGA 

C–1. All testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. 

(2) Each cylinder must be tested to 

minimum of 5⁄3 times service pressure. 

(3) The minimum test pressure must 

be maintained at least 30 seconds and 

sufficiently longer to ensure complete 

expansion. Any internal pressure 

applied after heat-treatment and prior to 

the official test may not exceed 90 

percent of the test pressure. If, due to 

failure of the test apparatus or operator 

error, the test pressure cannot be 

maintained, the test may be repeated in 

accordance with CGA C–1, section 5.7.2. 

(4) Permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

* * * * * 

■ 27. In § 178.46, revise paragraph (g) to 

read as follows: 

§ 178.46 Specification 3AL seamless 

aluminum cylinders. 

* * * * * 

(g) Pressure testing. Each cylinder 

must successfully withstand a pressure 

test as follows: 

(1) The test must be by water-jacket or 

direct expansion method as prescribed 

in CGA C–1 (IBR; see § 171.7 of this 

subchapter). The testing equipment 

must be calibrated as prescribed in CGA 

C–1. All testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. 

(2) The minimum test pressure must 

be the greater of the following: 

(i) 450 psig regardless of service 

pressure; 

(ii) Two (2) times the service pressure 

for cylinders having service pressure 

less than 500 psig; or 

(iii) 5⁄3 times the service pressure for 

cylinders having a service pressure of 

500 psig or greater. 

(3) The minimum test pressure must 

be maintained at least 30 seconds and 

sufficiently longer to ensure complete 

expansion. Any internal pressure 

applied after heat treatment and prior to 

the official test may not exceed 90 

percent of the test pressure. If, due to 

failure of the test apparatus or operator 

error, the test pressure cannot be 

maintained, the test may be repeated in 

accordance with CGA C–1, section 5.7.2, 

however, if a second failure to maintain 

the test pressure occurs the cylinder 

being tested must be rejected. 

(4) Permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

* * * * * 

■ 28. In § 178.47, revise paragraph (j) to 

read as follows: 

§ 178.47 Specification 4DS welded 

stainless steel cylinders for aircraft use. 

* * * * * 


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(j) Pressure testing. Each cylinder 

must successfully withstand a pressure 

test as follows: 

(1) The test must be by water-jacket or 

direct expansion method as prescribed 

in CGA C–1 (IBR; see § 171.7 of this 

subchapter). The testing equipment 

must be calibrated as prescribed in CGA 

C–1. All testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. 

(2) Each cylinder must be tested to a 

minimum of at least two (2) times its 

service pressure. 

(3) The minimum test pressure must 

be maintained at least 30 seconds and 

sufficiently longer to ensure complete 

expansion. Any internal pressure 

applied after heat-treatment and prior to 

the official test may not exceed 90 

percent of the test pressure. If, due to 

failure of the test apparatus or operator 

error, the test pressure cannot be 

maintained, the test may be repeated in 

accordance with CGA C–1, section 5.7.2. 

(4) Permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of the total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

(5) The cylinder must then be 

inspected. Any wall thickness lower 

than that required by paragraph (f) of 

this section must be cause for rejection. 

Bulges and cracks must be cause for 

rejection. Welded joint defects 

exceeding requirements of paragraph (k) 

of this section are cause for rejection. 

* * * * * 

■ 29. Revise § 178.50 to read as follows: 

§ 178.50 Specification 4B welded or brazed 

steel cylinders. 

(a) Type, size, pressure, and 

application. A DOT 4B is a welded or 

brazed steel cylinder with longitudinal 

seams that are forged lap-welded or 

brazed and with water capacity 

(nominal) not over 1,000 pounds and a 

service pressure of at least 150 but not 

over 500 psig. Cylinders closed in by 

spinning process are not authorized. 

(b) Steel. Open-hearth, electric or 

basic oxygen process steel of uniform 

quality must be used. Content percent 

may not exceed the following: Carbon, 

0.25; phosphorus, 0.045; sulphur, 0.050. 

The cylinder manufacturer must 

maintain a record of intentionally added 

alloying elements. 

(c) Identification of material. 

Pressure-retaining materials must be 

identified by any suitable method that 

does not compromise the integrity of the 

cylinder. Plates and billets for hotdrawn 

cylinders must be marked with the heat 

number. 

(d) Manufacture. Cylinders must be 

manufactured using equipment and 

processes adequate to ensure that each 

cylinder produced conforms to the 

requirements of this subpart. No defect 

is permitted that is likely to weaken the 

finished cylinder appreciably. A 

reasonably smooth and uniform surface 

finish is required. Exposed bottom 

welds on cylinders over 18 inches long 

must be protected by footrings. Welding 

procedures and operators must be 

qualified in conformance with CGA C– 

3 (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter). 

Seams must be made as follows: 

(1) Brazing materials. Brazing 

materials must be by copper brazing, by 

copper alloy brazing, or by silver alloy 

brazing. Copper alloy composition must 

be: Copper, 95 percent minimum; 

Silicon, 1.5 percent to 3.85 percent; 

Manganese, 0.25 percent to 1.10 

percent. 

(2) Brazed circumferential seams. 

Heads attached by brazing must have a 

driving fit with the shell, unless the 

shell is crimped, swedged, or curled 

over the skirt or flange of the head, and 

be thoroughly brazed until complete 

penetration by the brazing material of 

the brazed joint is secured. Depth of 

brazing of the joint must be at least four 

(4) times the minimum thickness of 

shell metal. 

(3) Welded circumferential seams. 

Circumferential seams are permitted by 

the welding process. 

(4) Longitudinal seams in shells. 

Longitudinal seams must be a forged lap 

joint design. When brazed, the plate 

edge must be lapped at least eight (8) 

times the thickness of the plate, laps 

being held in position, substantially 

metal to metal, by riveting or electric 

spot-welding; brazing must be done by 

using a suitable flux and by placing 

brazing material on one side of seam 

and applying heat until this material 

shows uniformly along the seam of the 

other side. 

(e) Welding or brazing. Only the 

attachment of neckrings, footrings, 

handles, bosses, pads, and valve 

protection rings to the tops and bottoms 

of cylinders by welding or brazing is 

authorized. Attachments and the 

portion of the cylinder to which they are 

attached must be made of weldable 

steel, the carbon content of which may 

not exceed 0.25 percent except in the 

case of 4130X steel, which may be used 

with proper welding procedure. 

(f) Wall thickness. The wall thickness 

of the cylinder must comply with the 

following requirements: 

(1) For cylinders with outside 

diameters over 6 inches, the minimum 

wall thickness must be 0.090 inch. In 

any case, the minimum wall thickness 

must be such that calculated wall stress 

at minimum test pressure (paragraph 

(i)(4) of this section) may not exceed the 

following values: 

(i) 24,000 psig for cylinders without 

longitudinal seam. 

(ii) 22,800 psig for cylinders having 

copper brazed or silver alloy brazed 

longitudinal seam. 

(iii) 18,000 psig for cylinders having 

forged lapped welded longitudinal 

seam. 

(2) Calculation must be made by the 

formula: 

S = [P(1.3D2 + 0.4d2)]/(D2 ¥ d2) 

Where: 

S = wall stress in psig; 

P = minimum test pressure prescribed for 

water jacket test or 450 psig whichever 

is the greater; 

D = outside diameter in inches; and 

d = inside diameter in inches. 

(g) Heat treatment. Cylinder heads, 

bodies or the completed cylinder, 

formed by drawing or pressing, must be 

uniformly and properly heat treated by 

an applicable method shown in table 1 

of appendix A of this part before tests. 

(h) Opening in cylinders. Openings in 

cylinders must comply with the 

following: 

(1) Any opening must be placed on 

other than a cylindrical surface. 

(2) Each opening in a spherical type 

of cylinder must be provided with a 

fitting, boss, or pad of weldable steel 

securely attached to the cylinder by 

fusion welding. 

(3) Each opening in a cylindrical type 

cylinder, except those for pressure relief 

devices, must be provided with a fitting, 

boss, or pad, securely attached to 

container by brazing or by welding. 

(4) If threads are used, they must 

comply with the following: 

(i) Threads must be clean cut, even 

without checks, and tapped to gauge. 

(ii) Taper threads must be of a length 

not less than as specified for American 

Standard taper pipe threads. 

(iii) Straight threads, must have at 

least four (4) engaged threads, must 

have tight fit and a calculated shear 

strength at least ten (10) times the test 

pressure of the cylinder; gaskets are 

required for straight threads and must 

be of sufficient quality to prevent 

leakage. 

(iv) A brass fitting may be brazed to 

the steel boss or flange on cylinders 

used as component parts of handheld 

fire extinguishers. 

(5) The closure of a fitting, boss, or 

pad must be adequate to prevent 

leakage. 

(i) Pressure testing. Each cylinder 

must successfully withstand a pressure 

test as follows: (1) Lot testing. (i) At least 

one (1) cylinder randomly selected out 

of each lot of 200 or fewer must be 


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tested by the water jacket or direct 

expansion method as prescribed in CGA 

C–1 (IBR; see § 171.7 of this subchapter). 

The testing equipment must be 

calibrated as prescribed in CGA C–1. All 

testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. 

(ii) Each cylinder must be tested to a 

minimum of 2 times service pressure. 

(iii) The minimum test pressure must 

be maintained at least 30 seconds and 

sufficiently longer to ensure complete 

expansion. Any internal pressure 

applied after heat-treatment and prior to 

the official test may not exceed 90 

percent of the test pressure. If, due to 

failure of the test apparatus or operator 

error, the test pressure cannot be 

maintained, the test may be repeated in 

accordance with CGA C–1, section 5.7.2. 

(iv) Permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of the total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

(2) Pressure testing. (i) The remaining 

cylinders in the lot must be tested by 

the proof pressure, water-jacket, or 

direct expansion test method as 

prescribed in CGA C–1. The minimum 

test pressure must be maintained for the 

specific timeframe and the testing 

equipment must be calibrated as 

prescribed in CGA C–1. Further, all 

testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. If, due to failure of the test 

apparatus or operator error, the test 

pressure cannot be maintained, the test 

may be repeated in accordance with 

CGA C–1, sections 5.7.2 or 7.1.2, as 

appropriate. Determination of expansion 

properties is not required. 

(ii) Each cylinder must be tested to a 

minimum of at least two (2) times 

service pressure and show no defect. 

(j) Mechanical test. A mechanical test 

must be conducted to determine yield 

strength, tensile strength, elongation as 

a percentage, and reduction of area of 

material as a percentage as follows: 

(1) Testing is required on two (2) 

specimens removed from one (1) 

cylinder, or part thereof, heat-treated as 

required, as illustrated in appendix A to 

this subpart. For lots of 30 or fewer, 

mechanical tests are authorized to be 

made on a ring at least 8 inches long 

removed from each cylinder and 

subjected to the same heat treatment as 

the finished cylinder. 

(2) Specimens must comply with the 

following: 

(i) When a cylinder wall is 3⁄16 inch 

thick or less, one the following gauge 

lengths is authorized: A gauge length of 

8 inches with a width not over 11⁄2

inches, a gauge length of 2 inches with 

a width not over 11⁄2 inches, or a gauge 

length at least twenty-four (24) times the 

thickness with a width not over six (6) 

times the thickness. 

(ii) The specimen, exclusive of grip 

ends, may not be flattened. Grip ends 

may be flattened to within one inch of 

each end of the reduced section. 

(iii) When the size of a cylinder does 

not permit securing straight specimens, 

the specimens may be taken in any 

location or direction and may be 

straightened or flattened cold, by 

pressure only, not by blows. When 

specimens are taken and prepared using 

this method, the inspector’s report must 

show detailed information regarding 

such specimens in connection with the 

record of mechanical tests. 

(iv) Heating of a specimen for any 

purpose is not authorized. 

(3) The yield strength in tension must 

be the stress corresponding to a 

permanent strain of 0.2 percent of the 

gauge length. The following conditions 

apply: 

(i) The yield strength must be 

determined by either the ‘‘offset’’ 

method or the ‘‘extension under load’’ 

method as prescribed in ASTM E 8 (IBR, 

see § 171.7 of this subchapter). 

(ii) In using the ‘‘extension under 

load’’ method, the total strain (or 

‘‘extension under load’’) corresponding 

to the stress at which the 0.2 percent 

permanent strain occurs may be 

determined with sufficient accuracy by 

calculating the elastic extension of the 

gauge length under appropriate load and 

adding thereto 0.2 percent of the gauge 

length. Elastic extension calculations 

must be based on an elastic modulus of 

30,000,000. In the event of controversy, 

the entire stress-strain diagram must be 

plotted and the yield strength 

determined from the 0.2 percent offset. 

(iii) For strain measurement, the 

initial strain reference must be set while 

the specimen is under a stress of 12,000 

psig, and strain indicator reading must 

be set at the calculated corresponding 

strain. 

(iv) Cross-head speed of the testing 

machine may not exceed 1⁄8 inch per 

minute during yield strength 

determination. 

(v) The yield strength must not exceed 

73 percent of the tensile strength. 

(k) Elongation. Mechanical test 

specimens must show at least a 40 

percent elongation for a 2-inch gauge 

length or at least 20 percent in other 

cases. However, elongation percentages 

may be reduced numerically by 2 

percent for 2-inch specimens, and by 1 

percent in other cases, for each 7,500 

psig increase of tensile strength above 

50,000 psig. The tensile strength may be 

incrementally increased by four 

increments of 7,500 psig for a maximum 

total of 30,000 psig. 

(l) Flattening test—(1) Cylinders. After 

pressure testing, a flattening test must 

be performed on one cylinder taken at 

random out of each lot of 200 or fewer 

by placing the cylinder between wedgeshaped knife edges having a 60 degree 

included angle, rounded to a half-inch 

radius. The longitudinal axis of the 

cylinder must be at a 90-degree angle to 

knife edges during the test. For lots of 

30 or fewer, flattening tests are 

authorized to be performed on a ring of 

at least 8 inches long removed from 

each cylinder and subjected to the same 

heat treatment as the finished cylinder. 

(2) Pipes. When cylinders are 

constructed of lap welded pipe, an 

additional flattening test is required, 

without evidence of cracking, up to six 

(6) times the wall thickness. In such 

case, the rings (crop ends) removed from 

each end of the pipe, must be tested 

with the weld 45 °F or less from the 

point of greatest stress. 

(m) Acceptable results for flattening 

tests. There must be no evidence of 

cracking of the sample when it is 

flattened between flat plates to no more 

than six (6) times the wall thickness. If 

this test fails, one additional sample 

from the same lot may be taken. If this 

second sample fails, the entire lot must 

be rejected. 

(n) Rejected cylinders. Reheat 

treatment is authorized for a rejected 

cylinder in accordance with this 

paragraph (n). After reheat treatment, a 

cylinder must pass all prescribed tests 

in this section to be considered 

acceptable. Repair of brazed seams by 

brazing and welded seams by welding is 

authorized. For cylinders with an 

outside diameter of less than or equal to 

six (6) inches, welded seam repairs 

greater than one (1) inch in length shall 

require reheat treatment of the cylinder. 

For cylinders greater than an outside 

diameter of 6 inches, welded seam 

repairs greater than three (3) inches in 

length shall require reheat treatment. 

(o) Markings. (1) Markings must be as 

required as in § 178.35 and in addition 

must be stamped plainly and 

permanently in any of the following 

locations on the cylinder: 

(i) On shoulders and top heads whose 

wall thickness is not less than 0.087- 

inch thick; 

(ii) On side wall adjacent to top head 

for side walls which are not less than 

0.090 inch thick; 

(iii) On a cylindrical portion of the 

shell that extends beyond the recessed 

bottom of the cylinder, constituting an 

integral and non-pressure part of the 

cylinder; 


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(iv) On a metal plate attached to the 

top of the cylinder or permanent part 

thereof; sufficient space must be left on 

the plate to provide for stamping at least 

six retest dates; the plate must be at 

least 1⁄16-inch thick and must be 

attached by welding, or by brazing. The 

brazing rod must melt at a temperature 

of 1100 °F. Welding or brazing must be 

along all the edges of the plate; 

(v) On the neck, neckring, valve boss, 

valve protection sleeve, or similar part 

permanently attached to the top of the 

cylinder; or 

(vi) On the footring permanently 

attached to the cylinder, provided the 

water capacity of the cylinder does not 

exceed 30 pounds. 

(2) Embossing the cylinder head or 

sidewall is not permitted. 

■ 30. Revise § 178.51 to read as follows: 

§ 178.51 Specification 4BA welded or 

brazed steel cylinders. 

(a) Type, size, pressure, and 

application. A DOT 4BA cylinder is a 

cylinder, either spherical or cylindrical 

design, with a water capacity of 1,000 

pounds or less and a service pressure 

range of 225 to 500 psig. Closures made 

by the spinning process are not 

authorized. 

(1) Spherical type cylinder designs are 

permitted to have only one 

circumferentially welded seam. 

(2) Cylindrical type cylinder designs 

must be of circumferentially welded or 

brazed construction; longitudinally 

brazed or silver-soldered seams are also 

permitted. 

(b) Steel. The steel used in the 

construction of the cylinder must be as 

specified in table 1 of appendix A to 

this part. The cylinder manufacturer 

must maintain a record of intentionally 

added alloying elements. 

(c) Identification of material. 

Pressure-retaining material must be 

identified by any suitable method that 

does not compromise the integrity of the 

cylinder. Plates and billets for hotdrawn 

cylinders must be marked with the heat 

number. 

(d) Manufacture. Cylinders must be 

manufactured using equipment and 

processes adequate to ensure that each 

cylinder produced conforms to the 

requirements of this subpart. No defect 

is permitted that is likely to weaken the 

finished cylinder appreciably. A 

reasonably smooth and uniform surface 

finish is required. Exposed bottom 

welds on cylinders over 18 inches long 

must be protected by footrings. 

(1) Seams must be made as follows: 

(i) Minimum thickness of heads and 

bottoms must be not less than 90 

percent of the required thickness of the 

side wall. 

(ii) Circumferential seams must be 

made by welding or by brazing. Heads 

attached by brazing must have a driving 

fit with the shell unless the shell is 

crimped, swedged, or curled over the 

skirt or flange of the head and must be 

thoroughly brazed until complete 

penetration by the brazing material of 

the brazed joint is secured. Depth of 

brazing from end of the shell must be at 

least four (4) times the thickness of shell 

metal. 

(iii) Longitudinal seams in shells must 

be made by copper brazing, copper alloy 

brazing, or by silver alloy brazing. 

Copper alloy composition must be: 

Copper 95 percent minimum, Silicon 

1.5 percent to 3.85 percent, Manganese 

0.25 percent to 1.10 percent. The 

melting point of the silver alloy brazing 

material must be in excess of 1,000 °F. 

The plate edge must be lapped at least 

eight times the thickness of plate, laps 

being held in position, substantially 

metal to metal, by riveting or by electric 

spot-welding. Brazing must be done by 

using a suitable flux and by placing 

brazing material on one side of seam 

and applying heat until this material 

shows uniformly along the seam of the 

other side. Strength of longitudinal 

seam: Copper brazed longitudinal seam 

must have strength at least 3⁄2 times the 

strength of the steel wall. 

(2) Welding procedures and operators 

must be qualified in conformance with 

CGA C–3 (IBR, see § 171.7 of this 

subchapter). 

(e) Welding or brazing. Welding or 

brazing of any attachment or opening to 

the heads of cylinders is permitted 

provided the carbon content of the steel 

does not exceed 0.25 percent except in 

the case of 4130 × steel, which may be 

used with proper welding procedure. 

(f) Wall thickness. The minimum wall 

thickness of the cylinder must meet the 

following conditions: 

(1) For any cylinder with an outside 

diameter of greater than 6 inches, the 

minimum wall thickness is 0.078 inch. 

In any case, the minimum wall 

thickness must be such that the 

calculated wall stress at the minimum 

test pressure may not exceed the lesser 

value of any of the following: 

(i) The value shown in table 1 of 

appendix A to this part, for the material 

under consideration; 

(ii) One-half of the minimum tensile 

strength of the material determined as 

required in paragraph (j) of this section; 

(iii) 35,000 psig; or 

(iv) Further provided that wall stress 

for cylinders having copper brazed 

longitudinal seams may not exceed 95 

percent of any of the above values. 

Measured wall thickness may not 

include galvanizing or other protective 

coating. 

(2) Cylinders that are cylindrical in 

shape must have the wall stress 

calculated by the formula: 

S = [P(1.3D2 + 0.4d2)]/(D2 ¥ d2) 

Where: 

S = wall stress in psig; 

P = minimum test pressure prescribed for 

water jacket test; 

D = outside diameter in inches; and 

d = inside diameter in inches. 

(3) Cylinders that are spherical in 

shape must have the wall stress 

calculated by the formula: 

S = PD/4tE 

Where: 

S = wall stress in psig; 

P = minimum test pressure prescribed for 

water jacket test; 

D = outside diameter in inches; 

t = minimum wall thickness in inches; 

E = 0.85 (provides 85 percent weld efficiency 

factor which must be applied in the 

circumferential weld area and heat 

affected zones which zone must extend 

a distance of 6 times wall thickness from 

center line of weld); and 

E = 1.0 (for all other areas). 

(4) For a cylinder with a wall 

thickness less than 0.100 inch, the ratio 

of tangential length to outside diameter 

may not exceed 4.1. 

(g) Heat treatment. Cylinders must be 

heat treated in accordance with the 

following requirements: 

(1) Each cylinder must be uniformly 

and properly heat treated prior to test by 

the applicable method shown in table 1 

of appendix A to this part. Heat 

treatment must be accomplished after 

all forming and welding operations, 

except that when brazed joints are used, 

heat treatment must follow any forming 

and welding operations, but may be 

done before, during or after the brazing 

operations (see paragraph (m) of this 

section for weld repairs). 

(2) Heat treatment is not required after 

the welding or brazing of weldable low 

carbon parts to attachments of similar 

material which have been previously 

welded or brazed to the top or bottom 

of cylinders and properly heat treated, 

provided such subsequent welding or 

brazing does not produce a temperature 

in excess of 400 °F in any part of the top 

or bottom material. 

(h) Openings in cylinders. Openings 

in cylinders must comply with the 

following requirements: 

(1) Any opening must be placed on 

other than a cylindrical surface. 

(2) Each opening in a spherical type 

cylinder must be provided with a fitting, 

boss, or pad of weldable steel securely 

attached to the container by fusion 

welding. 

(3) Each opening in a cylindrical type 

cylinder must be provided with a fitting, 


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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 248 / Monday, December 28, 2020 / Rules and Regulations 85425 

boss, or pad, securely attached to 

container by brazing or by welding. 

(4) If threads are used, they must 

comply with the following: 

(i) Threads must be clean-cut, even, 

without checks and tapped to gauge. 

(ii) Taper threads must be of a length 

not less than that specified for American 

Standard taper pipe threads. 

(iii) Straight threads, having at least 4 

engaged threads, must have a tight fit 

and a calculated shear strength of at 

least 10 times the test pressure of the 

cylinder. Gaskets, adequate to prevent 

leakage, are required. 

(i) Pressure testing. Each cylinder 

must successfully withstand a pressure 

test as follows: 

(1) Lot testing. (i) At least one (1) 

cylinder randomly selected out of each 

lot of 200 or fewer must be tested by 

water jacket or direct expansion method 

as prescribed in CGA C–1 (IBR, see 

§ 171.7 of this subchapter). The testing 

equipment must be calibrated as 

prescribed in CGA C–1. All testing 

equipment and pressure indicating 

devices must be accurate within the 

parameters defined in CGA C–1. 

(ii) The selected cylinder must be 

tested to a minimum of two (2) times 

service pressure. 

(iii) The minimum test pressure must 

be maintained at least 30 seconds and 

sufficiently longer to ensure complete 

expansion. Any internal pressure 

applied after heat-treatment and prior to 

the official test may not exceed 90 

percent of the test pressure. If, due to 

failure of the test apparatus or operator 

error, the test pressure cannot be 

maintained, the test may be repeated in 

accordance with CGA C–1, section 5.7.2. 

(iv) Permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of the total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

(2) Pressure testing. (i) The remaining 

cylinders in the lot must be tested by 

the proof pressure, water-jacket, or 

direct expansion test method as 

prescribed in CGA C–1. The minimum 

test pressure must be maintained for the 

specific timeframe and the testing 

equipment must be calibrated as 

prescribed in CGA C–1. Further, all 

testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. 

(ii) Each cylinder must be tested to a 

minimum of two (2) times service 

pressure and show no defect. If, due to 

failure of the test apparatus or operator 

error, the test pressure cannot be 

maintained, the test may be repeated in 

accordance with CGA C–1 5.7.2 or 7.1.2, 

as appropriate. Determination of 

expansion properties is not required. 

(j) Mechanical test. (1) A mechanical 

test must be conducted to determine 

yield strength, tensile strength, 

elongation as a percentage, and 

reduction of area of material as a 

percentage, as follows: 

(i) Cylinders. Testing is required on 

two (2) specimens removed from one 

cylinder or part thereof taken at random 

out of each lot of 200 or fewer. Samples 

must be removed after heat treatment as 

illustrated in appendix A to this 

subpart. 

(ii) Spheres. Testing is required on 

two (2) specimens removed from the 

sphere or flat representative sample 

plates of the same heat of material taken 

at random from the steel used to 

produce the spheres. Samples 

(including plates) must be taken from 

each lot of 200 or fewer. The flat steel 

from which two specimens are to be 

removed must receive the same heat 

treatment as the spheres themselves. 

Samples must be removed after heat 

treatment as illustrated in appendix A to 

this subpart. 

(2) Specimens must comply with the 

following: 

(i) When a cylinder wall is 3⁄16 inch 

thick or less, one the following gauge 

lengths is authorized: A gauge length of 

8 inches with a width not over 11⁄2

inches, a gauge length of 2 inches with 

a width not over 11⁄2 inches, or a gauge 

length at least twenty-four (24) times the 

thickness with a width not over six (6) 

times the thickness. 

(ii) The specimen, exclusive of grip 

ends, may not be flattened. Grip ends 

may be flattened to within one inch of 

each end of the reduced section. 

(iii) When size of the cylinder does 

not permit securing straight specimens, 

the specimens may be taken in any 

location or direction and may be 

straightened or flattened cold, by 

pressure only, not by blows. When 

specimens are so taken and prepared, 

the inspector’s report must show with 

the record of physical tests detailed 

information in regard to such 

specimens. 

(iv) Heating of a specimen for any 

purpose is not authorized. 

(3) The yield strength in tension must 

be the stress corresponding to a 

permanent strain of 0.2 percent of the 

gauge length. The following conditions 

apply: 

(i) The yield strength must be 

determined by either the ‘‘offset’’ 

method or the ‘‘extension under load’’ 

method as prescribed in ASTM E 8 (IBR, 

see § 171.7 of this subchapter). 

(ii) In using the ‘‘extension under 

load’’ method, the total strain (or 

‘‘extension under load’’), corresponding 

to the stress at which the 0.2 percent 

permanent strain occurs may be 

determined with sufficient accuracy by 

calculating the elastic extension of the 

gauge length under appropriate load and 

adding thereto 0.2 percent of the gauge 

length. Elastic extension calculations 

must be based on an elastic modulus of 

30,000,000. In the event of controversy, 

the entire stress-strain diagram must be 

plotted and the yield strength 

determined from the 0.2 percent offset. 

(iii) For strain measurement, the 

initial strain reference must be set while 

the specimen is under a stress of 12,000 

psig, and the strain indicator reading 

must be set at the calculated 

corresponding strain. 

(k) Elongation. Mechanical test 

specimens must show at least a 40 

percent elongation for a 2-inch gauge 

length or at least 20 percent in other 

cases. However, elongation percentages 

may be reduced numerically by 2 

percent for 2-inch specimens, and by 1 

percent in other cases, for each 7,500 

psig increase of tensile strength above 

50,000 psig. The tensile strength may be 

incrementally increased by four 

increments of 7,500 psig for a maximum 

total of 30,000 psig. 

(l) Tests of welds. Except for brazed 

seams, welds must be tested as follows: 

(1) Tensile test. A specimen must be 

removed from one cylinder of each lot 

of 200 or fewer, or welded test plate. 

The welded test plate must be of one of 

the heats in the lot of 200 or fewer 

which it represents, in the same 

condition and approximately the same 

thickness as the cylinder wall except 

that in no case must it be of a lesser 

thickness than that required for a 

quarter size Charpy impact specimen. 

The weld must be made by the same 

procedures and subjected to the same 

heat treatment as the major weld on the 

cylinder. The specimen must be taken 

from across the major seam and must be 

prepared and tested in conformance 

with and must meet the requirements of 

CGA C–3. Should this specimen fail to 

meet the requirements, one additional 

specimen must be taken from two 

additional cylinders or welded test 

plates from the same lot and tested. If 

either of these latter two specimens fail 

to meet the requirements, the entire lot 

represented must be rejected. 

(2) Guided bend test. A root bend test 

specimen must be removed from the 

cylinder or welded test plate that was 

used for the tensile test specified in 

paragraph (l)(1) of this section. The 

specimen must be taken from across the 

circumferential seam and must be 

prepared and tested in conformance 

with and must meet the requirements of 

CGA C–3. Should this specimen fail to 

meet the requirements, one additional 


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specimen must be taken from two 

additional cylinders or welded test 

plates from the same lot and tested. If 

either of these latter two specimens fail 

to meet the requirements, the entire lot 

represented must be rejected. 

(3) Alternate guided-bend test. This 

test may be used and must be as 

required by CGA C–3. The specimen 

must be bent until the elongation at the 

outer surface, adjacent to the root of the 

weld, between the lightly scribed gage 

lines a to b, must be at least 20 percent, 

except that this percentage may be 

reduced for steels having a tensile 

strength in excess of 50,000 psig, as 

provided in paragraph (k) of this 

section. Should the specimen fail to 

meet the requirements, one additional 

specimen must be taken from two 

additional cylinders or welded test 

plates from the same lot and tested. If 

any of these latter two specimens fail to 

meet the requirements, the entire lot 

represented must be rejected. 

(m) Rejected cylinders. Reheat 

treatment is authorized for a rejected 

cylinder in accordance with this 

paragraph (m). After reheat, a cylinder 

must pass all prescribed tests in this 

section to be acceptable. Repair of 

brazed seams by brazing and welded 

seams by welding is considered 

authorized. For cylinders with an 

outside diameter of less than or equal to 

six (6) inches, welded seam repairs 

greater than one (1) inch in length shall 

require reheat treatment of the cylinder. 

For cylinders greater than an outside 

diameter of six (6) inches, welded seam 

repairs greater than three (3) inches in 

length shall require reheat treatment. 

(n) Markings. (1) Markings must be as 

required in § 178.35 and in addition 

must be stamped plainly and 

permanently in one of the following 

locations on the cylinder: 

(i) On shoulders and top heads whose 

wall thickness is not less than 0.087 

inch thick; 

(ii) On side wall adjacent to top head 

for side walls not less than 0.090 inch 

thick; 

(iii) On a cylindrical portion of the 

shell that extends beyond the recessed 

bottom of the cylinder constituting an 

integral and non-pressure part of the 

cylinder; 

(iv) On a plate attached to the top of 

the cylinder or permanent part thereof; 

sufficient space must be left on the plate 

to provide for stamping at least six retest 

dates; the plate must be at least 1⁄16 inch 

thick and must be attached by welding, 

or by brazing at a temperature of at least 

1100 °F., throughout all edges of the 

plate; 

(v) On the neck, neckring, valve boss, 

valve protection sleeve, or similar part 

permanently attached to the top of the 

cylinder; or 

(vi) On the footring permanently 

attached to the cylinder, provided the 

water capacity of the cylinder does not 

exceed 30 pounds. 

(2) [Reserved] 

■ 31. In § 178.53, revise paragraph (h) to 

read as follows: 

§ 178.53 Specification 4D welded steel 

cylinders for aircraft use. 

* * * * * 

(h) Pressure testing. Each cylinder 

must successfully withstand a pressure 

test as follows: 

(1) Lot testing. (i) At least one cylinder 

selected at random out of each lot of 200 

or fewer must be tested by water-jacket 

or direct expansion as prescribed in 

CGA C–1 (IBR; see § 171.7 of this 

subchapter). The testing equipment 

must be calibrated as prescribed in CGA 

C–1. All testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. 

(ii) The selected cylinder must be 

tested to a minimum of three (3) times 

service pressure. 

(iii) The minimum test pressure must 

be maintained be maintained at least 30 

seconds and sufficiently longer to 

ensure complete expansion. Any 

internal pressure applied after heattreatment and prior to the official test 

may not exceed 90 percent of the test 

pressure. If, due to failure of the test 

apparatus or operator error, the test 

pressure cannot be maintained, the test 

may be repeated in accordance with 

CGA C–1, section 5.7.2. 

(iv) Permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of the total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

(2) Pressure testing. (i) The remaining 

cylinders in each lot must be tested by 

the proof pressure water-jacket or direct 

expansion test method as prescribed in 

CGA C–1. The minimum test pressure 

must be maintained for the specific 

timeframe and the testing equipment 

must be calibrated as prescribed in CGA 

C–1. Further, all testing equipment and 

pressure indicating devices must be 

accurate within the parameters defined 

in CGA C–1. Determination of 

expansion properties is not required. 

(ii) Each cylinder must be tested to a 

minimum of two (2) times service 

pressure and show no defect. If, due to 

failure of the test apparatus or operator 

error, the test pressure cannot be 

maintained, the test may be repeated in 

accordance with CGA C–1 5.7.2 or 7.1.2, 

as appropriate. 

(3) Alternative volumetric expansion 

testing. As an alternative to the testing 

prescribed in paragraphs (h)(1) and (2) 

of this section, every cylinder may be 

volumetrically expansion tested by the 

water jacket or direct expansion test 

method. The testing equipment must be 

calibrated as prescribed in CGA C–1. All 

testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. 

(i) Each cylinder must be tested to a 

minimum of at least two (2) times its 

service pressure. 

(ii) The minimum test pressure must 

be maintained at least 30 seconds and 

sufficiently longer to ensure complete 

expansion. Any internal pressure 

applied after heat-treatment and 

previous to the official test may not 

exceed 90 percent of the test pressure. 

If, due to failure of the test apparatus or 

operator error, the test pressure cannot 

be maintained, the test may be repeated 

in accordance with CGA C–1, section 

5.7.2. 

(iii) Permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

* * * * * 

■ 32. In § 178.55, revise paragraph (i) to 

read as follows: 

§ 178.55 Specification 4B240ET welded or 

brazed cylinders. 

* * * * * 

(i) Pressure testing. Each cylinder 

must successfully withstand a pressure 

test as follows: 

(1) Lot testing. (i) At least one (1) 

cylinder selected at random out of each 

lot of 200 or fewer must be tested by 

water-jacket or direct expansion method 

as prescribed in CGA C–1 (IBR; see 

§ 171.7 of this subchapter). The testing 

equipment must be calibrated as 

prescribed in CGA C–1. All testing 

equipment and pressure indicating 

devices must be accurate within the 

parameters defined in CGA C–1. 

(ii) Each cylinder must be tested to a 

minimum of two (2) times service 

pressure. 

(iii) The minimum test pressure must 

be maintained at least 30 seconds and 

sufficiently longer to ensure complete 

expansion. Any internal pressure 

applied after heat-treatment and prior to 

the official test may not exceed 90 

percent of the test pressure. If, due to 

failure of the test apparatus or operator 

error, the test pressure cannot be 

maintained, the test may be repeated in 

accordance with CGA C–1, section 5.7.2. 

(iv) Permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of the total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

(2) Pressure testing. (i) The remaining 

cylinders in each lot must be tested by 

the proof pressure water-jacket or direct 

expansion test method as prescribed in 


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CGA C–1. The minimum test pressure 

must be maintained for the specific 

timeframe and the testing equipment 

must be calibrated as prescribed in CGA 

C–1. All testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. 

(ii) Each cylinder must be tested to a 

minimum of two (2) times service 

pressure and show no defect. If, due to 

failure of the test apparatus or operator 

error, the test pressure cannot be 

maintained, the test may be repeated in 

accordance with CGA C–1 5.7.2 or 7.1.2. 

Determination of expansion properties 

is not required. 

(3) Burst testing. (i) For purposes of 

burst testing, each 1,000 cylinders or 

fewer successively produced each day 

constitutes a lot. All cylinders of a lot 

must be of identical size, construction 

heat treatment, finish, and quality. 

(ii) One cylinder must be selected 

from each lot and be hydrostatically 

pressure tested to destruction. If this 

cylinder bursts below five (5) times the 

service pressure, then two additional 

cylinders from the same lot as the 

previously tested cylinder must be 

selected and subjected to this test. If 

either of these cylinders fails by 

bursting below five (5) times the service 

pressure then the entire lot must be 

rejected. All testing equipment and 

pressure indicating devices must be 

accurate within the parameters defined 

in CGA C–1. 

* * * * * 

■ 33. In § 178.56, revise paragraph (i) to 

read as follows: 

§ 178.56 Specification 4AA480 welded 

steel cylinders. 

* * * * * 

(i) Pressure testing. Each cylinder 

must successfully withstand a pressure 

test as follows: 

(1) Lot testing. (i) At least one (1) 

cylinder selected at random out of each 

lot of 200 or fewer must be tested by 

water-jacket or direct expansion method 

as prescribed in CGA C–1 (IBR; see 

§ 171.7 of this subchapter). The testing 

equipment must be calibrated as 

prescribed in CGA C–1. All testing 

equipment and pressure indicating 

devices must be accurate within the 

parameters defined in CGA C–1. 

(ii) The selected cylinder must be 

tested to a minimum of two (2) times 

service pressure. 

(iii) The minimum test pressure must 

be maintained at least 30 seconds and 

sufficiently longer to ensure complete 

expansion. Any internal pressure 

applied after heat-treatment and prior to 

the official test may not exceed 90 

percent of the test pressure. If, due to 

failure of the test apparatus or operator 

error, the test pressure cannot be 

maintained, the test may be repeated in 

accordance with CGA C–1, section 5.7.2. 

(iv) Permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of the total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

(v) If the selected cylinder fails, then 

two (2) additional specimens must be 

selected at random from the same lot 

and subjected to the prescribed testing. 

If either of these fails the test, then each 

cylinder in that lot must be tested as 

prescribed in paragraph (i)(l) of this 

section. 

(2) Pressure testing. (i) The remaining 

cylinders in each lot must be tested by 

the proof pressure, water-jacket, or 

direct expansion test method as 

prescribed in CGA C–1. The minimum 

test pressure must be maintained for the 

specific timeframe and the testing 

equipment must be calibrated as 

prescribed in CGA C–1. Further, all 

testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. 

(ii) Each cylinder must be tested to a 

minimum of two (2) times service 

pressure and show no defect. A cylinder 

showing a defect must be rejected 

unless it may be requalified under 

paragraph (m) of this section. If, due to 

failure of the test apparatus or operator 

error, the test pressure cannot be 

maintained, the test may be repeated in 

accordance with CGA C–1 5.7.2 or 7.1.2, 

as appropriate. Determination of 

expansion properties is not required. 

* * * * * 

■ 34. In § 178.57, revise paragraph (i) to 

read as follows: 

§ 178.57 Specification 4L welded insulated 

cylinders. 

* * * * * 

(i) Pressure testing. Each cylinder, 

before insulating and jacketing, must 

successfully withstand a pressure test as 

follows: 

(1) The cylinder must be tested by the 

proof pressure, water-jacket, or direct 

expansion test method as prescribed in 

CGA C–1 (IBR; see § 171.7 of this 

subchapter). The testing equipment 

must be calibrated as prescribed in CGA 

C–1. All testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. 

(2) Each cylinder must be tested to a 

minimum of two (2) times service 

pressure. 

(3) The minimum test pressure must 

be maintained at least 30 seconds. Any 

internal pressure applied after heattreatment and prior to the official test 

may not exceed 90 percent of the test 

pressure. If, due to failure of the test 

apparatus or operator error, the test 

pressure cannot be maintained, the test 

may be repeated in accordance with 

CGA C–1 5.7.2 or 7.1.2. Determination 

of expansion properties is not required. 

(4) There must be no evidence of 

leakage, visible distortion or other 

defect. 

* * * * * 

■ 35. In § 178.58, revise paragraph (i) to 

read as follows: 

§ 178.58 Specification 4DA welded steel 

cylinders for aircraft use. 

* * * * * 

(i) Pressure testing. Each cylinder 

must successfully withstand a pressure 

test as follows: 

(1) The test must be by water-jacket or 

direct expansion method as prescribed 

in CGA C–1 (IBR; see § 171.7 of this 

subchapter). The testing equipment 

must be calibrated as prescribed in CGA 

C–1. All testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. 

(2) Each cylinder must be tested to a 

minimum of two (2) times service 

pressure. 

(3) The minimum test pressure must 

be maintained at least 30 seconds and 

sufficiently longer to ensure complete 

expansion. Any internal pressure 

applied after heat-treatment and prior to 

the official test may not exceed 90 

percent of the test pressure. If, due to 

failure of the test apparatus or operator 

error, the test pressure cannot be 

maintained, the test may be repeated in 

accordance with CGA C–1, section 5.7.2. 

(4) Permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of the total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

* * * * * 

■ 36. In § 178.59, revise paragraph (h) to 

read as follows: 

§ 178.59 Specification 8 steel cylinders 

with porous fillings for acetylene. 

* * * * * 

(h) Pressure testing. Each cylinder 

must successfully withstand a pressure 

test as follows: 

(1) Lot testing. (i) At least one (1) 

cylinder selected at random out of each 

lot of 200 or fewer must be tested by 

water-jacket or direct expansion method 

as prescribed in CGA C–1 (IBR; see 

§ 171.7 of this subchapter). The testing 

equipment must be calibrated as 

prescribed in CGA C–1. All testing 

equipment and pressure indicating 

devices must be accurate within the 

parameters defined in CGA C–1. 

(ii) The selected cylinder must be 

tested to a minimum of 750 psig. 


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85428 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 248 / Monday, December 28, 2020 / Rules and Regulations 

(iii) The minimum test pressure must 

be maintained at least 30 seconds and 

sufficiently longer to ensure complete 

expansion. Any internal pressure 

applied after heat-treatment and prior to 

the official test may not exceed 90 

percent of the test pressure. If, due to 

failure of the test apparatus or operator 

error, the test pressure cannot be 

maintained, the test may be repeated in 

accordance with CGA C–1, section 5.7.2. 

(iv) Permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of the total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

(v) If the selected cylinder passes the 

volumetric expansion test, each 

remaining cylinder in the lot must be 

pressure tested in accordance with 

paragraph (h)(2) of this section. If the 

selected cylinder fails, each cylinder in 

the lot must be tested by water-jacket or 

direct expansion method as prescribed 

in CGA C–1 at 750 psig. Each cylinder 

with a permanent expansion that does 

not exceed 10% is acceptable. 

(2) Pressure testing. (i) If the selected 

cylinder passes the water-jacket or 

direct expansion test, the remaining 

cylinders in each lot must be pressure 

tested by the proof pressure, waterjacket or direct expansion test method 

as prescribed in CGA C–1. The 

minimum test pressure must be 

maintained for the specific timeframe 

and the testing equipment must be 

calibrated as prescribed in CGA C–1. 

Further, all testing equipment and 

pressure indicating devices must be 

accurate within the parameters defined 

in CGA C–1. 

(ii) Each cylinder must be tested 

between 500 and 600 psig and show no 

defect. If, due to failure of the test 

apparatus or operator error, the test 

pressure cannot be maintained, the test 

may be repeated in accordance with 

CGA C–1 section 5.7.2 or 7.1.2, as 

appropriate. Determination of expansion 

properties is not required. 

* * * * * 

■ 37. In § 178.60, revise paragraph (j) to 

read as follows: 

§ 178.60 Specification 8AL steel cylinders 

with porous fillings for acetylene. 

* * * * * 

(j) Pressure testing. Each cylinder 

must successfully withstand a pressure 

test as follows: 

(1) Lot testing. (i) At least one (1) 

cylinder selected at random out of each 

lot of 200 or less must be tested by 

water-jacket or direct expansion method 

as prescribed in CGA C–1 (IBR; see 

§ 171.7 of this subchapter). The testing 

equipment must be calibrated as 

prescribed in CGA C–1. All testing 

equipment and pressure indicating 

devices must be accurate within the 

parameters defined in CGA C–1. 

(ii) The selected cylinder must be 

tested to a minimum of 750 psig. 

(iii) The minimum test pressure must 

be maintained at least 30 seconds and 

sufficiently longer to ensure complete 

expansion. Any internal pressure 

applied after heat-treatment and prior to 

the official test may not exceed 90 

percent of the test pressure. If, due to 

failure of the test apparatus or operator 

error, the test pressure cannot be 

maintained, the test may be repeated in 

accordance with CGA C–1, section 5.7.2. 

(iv) Permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of the total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

(v) If the selected cylinder passes the 

volumetric expansion test, each 

remaining cylinder in the lot must be 

pressure tested in accordance with 

paragraph (h)(2) of this section. If the 

selected cylinder fails, each cylinder in 

the lot must be tested by water-jacket or 

direct expansion method as prescribed 

in CGA C–1 at 750 psig. Each cylinder 

with a permanent expansion that does 

not exceed 10% is acceptable. 

(2) Pressure testing. (i) If the selected 

cylinder passes the water-jacket or 

direct expansion test, the remaining 

cylinders in each lot must be pressure 

tested by the proof pressure water-jacket 

or direct expansion test method as 

prescribed in CGA C–1. The minimum 

test pressure must be maintained for the 

specific timeframe and the testing 

equipment must be calibrated as 

prescribed in CGA C–1. Further, all 

testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. 

(ii) Each cylinder must be tested 

between 500 and 600 psig and show no 

defect. If, due to failure of the test 

apparatus or operator error, the test 

pressure cannot be maintained, the test 

may be repeated in accordance with 

CGA C–1 section 5.7.2 or 7.1.2, as 

appropriate. Determination of expansion 

properties is not required. 

* * * * * 

■ 38. Revise § 178.61 to read as follows: 

§ 178.61 Specification 4BW welded steel 

cylinders with electric-arc welded seam. 

(a) Type, size, pressure, and 

application. A DOT 4BW cylinder has a 

spherical or cylindrical design, a water 

capacity of 1,000 pounds or less, and a 

service pressure range of 225 to 500 

psig. Closures made by the spinning 

process are not authorized. 

(1) Spherical designs are permitted to 

have only one circumferentially electricarc welded seam. 

(2) Cylindrical designs must be of 

circumferentially welded electric-arc 

construction; longitudinally electric-arc 

welded seams are permitted. 

(b) Steel. (1) The steel used in the 

construction of the cylinder must be as 

specified in table 1 of appendix A to 

this part. The cylinder manufacturer 

must maintain a record of intentionally 

added alloying elements. 

(2) Material for heads must meet the 

requirements of paragraph (b)(1) of this 

section or be open hearth, electric or 

basic oxygen carbon steel of uniform 

quality. Content percent may not exceed 

the following: Carbon 0.25, Manganese 

0.60, Phosphorus 0.045, Sulfur 0.050. 

Heads must be hemispherical or 

ellipsoidal in shape with a maximum 

ratio of 2:1. If low carbon steel is used, 

the thickness of such heads must be 

determined by using a maximum wall 

stress of 24,000 psi in the formula 

described in paragraph (f)(2) of this 

section. 

(c) Identification of material. 

Pressure-retaining materials must be 

identified by any suitable method that 

does not compromise the integrity of the 

cylinder. Plates and billets for hotdrawn 

cylinders must be marked with the heat 

number. 

(d) Manufacture. Cylinders must be 

manufactured using equipment and 

processes adequate to ensure that each 

cylinder produced conforms to the 

requirements of this subpart and the 

following: 

(1) No defect is permitted that is 

likely to weaken the finished cylinder 

appreciably. A reasonably smooth and 

uniform surface is required. Exposed 

bottom welds on cylinders over 18 

inches long must be protected by 

footrings. Minimum thickness of heads 

may not be less than 90 percent of the 

required thickness of the sidewall. 

Heads must be concave to pressure. 

(2) Circumferential seams must be by 

electric-arc welding. Joints must be butt 

with one member offset (joggle butt) or 

with a lap joint. Joints must have a 

minimum overlap of at least four (4) 

times nominal sheet thickness. 

(3) Longitudinal electric-arc welded 

seams (in shells) must be of the butt 

welded type. Welds must be made by a 

machine process including automatic 

feed and welding guidance mechanisms. 

Longitudinal seams must have complete 

joint penetration, and must be free from 

undercuts, overlaps or abrupt ridges or 

valleys. Misalignment of mating butt 

edges may not exceed 1⁄6 inch of 

nominal sheet thickness or 1⁄32 inch 

whichever is less. All joints with 

nominal sheet thickness up to and 

including 1⁄8 inch must be tightly 

butted. When nominal sheet thickness is 


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greater than 1⁄8 inch, the joint must be 

gapped with maximum distance equal 

to one-half the nominal sheet thickness 

or 1⁄32 inch whichever is less. Joint 

design, preparation, and fit-up must be 

such that requirements of this paragraph 

(d) are satisfied. 

(4) Welding procedures and operators 

must be qualified in accordance with 

CGA C–3 (IBR, see § 171.7 of this 

subchapter). 

(5)(i) Welds of the cylinders must be 

subjected to radioscopic or radiographic 

examination as follows: 

(ii) Radioscopy or radiography must 

be in conformance with CGA C–3 (IBR; 

see § 171.7 of this subchapter). 

Maximum joint efficiency will be 1.0 

when each longitudinal seam is 

examined completely. Maximum joint 

efficiency will be 0.90 when one 

cylinder from each lot of 50 

consecutively welded cylinders is spot 

examined. In addition, one out of the 

first five cylinders welded following a 

shutdown of welding operations 

exceeding four hours must be spot 

examined. Spot radiographs, when 

required, must be made of a finished 

welded cylinder and must include the 

circumferential weld for 2 inches in 

both directions from the intersection of 

the longitudinal and circumferential 

welds and include at least 6 inches of 

the longitudinal weld. Maximum joint 

efficiency of 0.75 will be permissible 

without radiography or radioscopy. 

When fluoroscopic examination is used, 

permanent film records need not be 

retained. Circumferential welds need 

not be examined, except as part of spot 

examination. 

(e) Welding of attachments. The 

attachment to the tops and bottoms only 

of cylinders by welding of neckrings, 

footrings, handles, bosses, pads and 

valve protection rings is authorized 

provided that such attachments and the 

portion of the container to which they 

are attached are made of weldable steel, 

the carbon content of which may not 

exceed 0.25 percent. 

(f) Wall thickness. (1) For outside 

diameters over 6 inches the minimum 

wall thickness must be 0.078 inch. In 

any case, the minimum wall thickness 

must be such that the wall stress 

calculated by the formula listed in 

paragraph (f)(2) of this section may not 

exceed the lesser value of any of the 

following: 

(i) The value referenced in paragraph 

(b) of this section for the particular 

material under consideration. 

(ii) One-half of the minimum tensile 

strength of the material determined as 

required in paragraph (j) of this section. 

(iii) 35,000 psig. 

(2) Stress must be calculated by the 

following formula: 

S = [2P(1.3D2 + 0.4d2)]/[E(D2 ¥ d2)] 

Where: 

S = wall stress, psig; 

P = service pressure, psig; 

D = outside diameter, inches; 

d = inside diameter, inches; and 

E = joint efficiency of the longitudinal seam 

(from paragraph (d) of this section). 

(3) For a cylinder with a wall 

thickness less than 0.100 inch, the ratio 

of tangential length to outside diameter 

may not exceed 4 to 1 (4:1). 

(g) Heat treatment. Cylinders must be 

heat treated in accordance with the 

following requirements: 

(1) Each cylinder must be uniformly 

and properly heat treated prior to test by 

the applicable method referenced in 

table 1 of appendix A to this part. Heat 

treatment must be accomplished after 

all forming and welding operations, 

except that when brazed joints are used, 

heat treatment must follow any forming 

and welding operations, but may be 

done before, during or after the brazing 

operations (see paragraph (n) of this 

section for weld repairs). 

(2) Heat treatment is not required after 

welding of weldable low-carbon parts to 

attachments of similar material which 

have been previously welded to the top 

or bottom of cylinders and properly heat 

treated, provided such subsequent 

welding does not produce a temperature 

in excess of 400 °F in any part of the top 

or bottom material. 

(h) Openings in cylinders. Openings 

in cylinders must comply with the 

following requirements: 

(1) All openings must be in heads or 

bases. 

(2) Each opening in a spherical-type 

cylinder must be provided with a fitting, 

boss, or pad of weldable steel securely 

attached to the cylinder by fusion 

welding. 

(3) Each opening in a cylindrical-type 

cylinder must be provided with a fitting, 

boss, or pad securely attached to the 

cylinder by welding. 

(4) If threads are used, they must 

comply with the following: 

(i) Threads must be clean cut, even, 

without checks, and tapped to gauge. 

(ii) Taper threads must be of length 

not less than as specified for American 

Standard Taper Pipe Threads. 

(iii) Straight threads, having at least 

four (4) engaged threads, must have a 

tight fit and calculated shear strength at 

least ten (10) times the test pressure of 

the cylinder. Gaskets, adequate to 

prevent leakage, are required. 

(iv) A brass fitting may be brazed to 

the steel boss or flange on cylinders 

used as component parts of handheld 

fire extinguishers. 

(i) Pressure testing. Each cylinder 

must successfully withstand a pressure 

test as follows: 

(1) Lot testing. (i) At least one (1) 

cylinder randomly selected out of each 

lot of 200 or fewer must be tested by the 

water-jacket or direct expansion method 

as prescribed in CGA C–1 (IBR, see 

§ 171.7 of this subchapter). The testing 

equipment must be calibrated as 

prescribed in CGA C–1. All testing 

equipment and pressure indicating 

devices must be accurate within the 

parameters defined in CGA C–1. 

(ii) Each selected cylinder must be 

tested to a minimum of two (2) times 

service pressure. 

(iii) The minimum test pressure must 

be maintained at least 30 seconds and 

sufficiently longer to ensure complete 

expansion. Any internal pressure 

applied after heat-treatment and prior to 

the official test may not exceed 90 

percent of the test pressure. If, due to 

failure of the test apparatus or operator 

error, the test pressure cannot be 

maintained, the test may be repeated in 

accordance with CGA C–1, section 5.7.2. 

(iv) Permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of the total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

(2) Pressure testing. (i) The remaining 

cylinders in each lot must be pressure 

tested by the proof pressure, waterjacket or direct expansion test method 

as prescribed in CGA C–1. The 

minimum test pressure must be 

maintained for the specific timeframe 

and the testing equipment must be 

calibrated as prescribed in CGA C–1. 

Further, all testing equipment and 

pressure indicating devices must be 

accurate within the parameters defined 

in CGA C–1. 

(ii) Each cylinder must be tested to a 

minimum of two (2) times service 

pressure and show no defect. If, due to 

failure of the test apparatus or operator 

error, the test pressure cannot be 

maintained, the test may be repeated in 

accordance with CGA C–1 5.7.2 or 7.1.2, 

as appropriate. Determination of 

expansion properties is not required. 

(3) Burst testing. One finished 

cylinder selected at random out of each 

lot of 500 or less successively produced 

must be hydrostatically tested to four (4) 

times service pressure without bursting. 

All testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. 

(j) Mechanical tests. Mechanical tests 

must be conducted to determine yield 

strength, tensile strength, elongation as 

a percentage, and reduction of area of 

material as a percentage, as follows: 

(1) Specimens must be taken from one 

cylinder after heat treatment as 


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illustrated in appendix A to this 

subpart, chosen at random from each lot 

of 200 or fewer, as follows: 

(i) One specimen must be taken 

longitudinally from the body section at 

least 90 degrees away from the weld. 

(ii) One specimen must be taken from 

either head on a cylinder when both 

heads are made of the same material. 

However, if the two heads are made of 

differing materials, a specimen must be 

taken from each head. 

(iii) If due to welded attachments on 

the top head there is insufficient surface 

from which to take a specimen, it may 

be taken from a representative head of 

the same heat treatment as the test 

cylinder. 

(2) Specimens must conform to the 

following: 

(i) When a cylinder wall is 3⁄16 inch 

thick or less, one the following gauge 

lengths is authorized: A gauge length of 

8 inches with a width not over 11⁄2

inches, a gauge length of 2 inches with 

a width not over 11⁄2 inches, or a gauge 

length at least twenty-four (24) times the 

thickness with a width not over six (6) 

times the thickness. 

(ii) The specimen, exclusive of grip 

ends, may not be flattened. Grip ends 

may be flattened to within 1 inch of 

each end of the reduced section. 

(iii) When size of the cylinder does 

not permit securing straight specimens, 

the specimens may be taken in any 

location or direction and may be 

straightened or flattened cold, by 

pressure only, not by blows. When 

specimens are taken, and prepared in 

this manner, the inspector’s report must 

show, in connection with the record of 

physical tests, detailed information in 

regard to such specimens. 

(iv) Heating of a specimen for any 

purpose is not authorized. 

(3) The yield strength in tension must 

be the stress corresponding to a 

permanent strain of 0.2 percent of the 

gauge length. The following conditions 

apply: 

(i) The yield strength must be 

determined by either the ‘‘off-set’’ 

method or the ‘‘extension under load’’ 

method as prescribed in ASTM E 8 (IBR, 

see § 171.7 of this subchapter). 

(ii) In using the ‘‘extension under 

load’’ method, the total strain (or 

‘‘extension under load’’), corresponding 

to the stress at which the 0.2-percent 

permanent strain occurs may be 

determined with sufficient accuracy by 

calculating the elastic extension of the 

gauge length under appropriate load and 

adding thereto 0.2 percent of the gauge 

length. Elastic extension calculations 

must be based on an elastic modulus of 

30,000,000. In the event of controversy, 

the entire stress-strain diagram must be 

plotted and the yield strength 

determined from the 0.2-percent offset. 

(iii) For strain measurement, the 

initial strain reference must be set while 

the specimen is under a stress of 12,000 

psig, and the strain indicator reading 

must be set at the calculated 

corresponding strain. 

(iv) Cross-head speed of the testing 

machine may not exceed 1⁄8 inch per 

minute during yield strength 

determination. 

(k) Elongation. Mechanical test 

specimens must show at least a 40 

percent elongation for a 2-inch gauge 

length or at least 20 percent in other 

cases. However, elongation percentages 

may be reduced numerically by 2 

percent for 2-inch specimens, and by 1 

percent in other cases, for each 7,500 psi 

increase of tensile strength above 50,000 

psig. The tensile strength may be 

incrementally increased by four 

increments of 7,500 psig for a maximum 

total of 30,000 psig. 

(l) Tests of welds. Welds must be 

subjected to the following tests: 

(1) Tensile test. A specimen must be 

removed from one cylinder of each lot 

of 200 or fewer. The specimen must be 

taken from across the longitudinal seam 

and must be prepared and tested in 

conformance with the requirements of 

CGA C–3 (IBR, see § 171.7 of this 

subchapter). 

(2) Guided bend test. A root bend test 

specimen must be removed from the 

cylinder or welded test plate used for 

the tensile test specified in paragraph 

(m)(1) of this section. Specimens must 

be taken from across the longitudinal 

seam and must be prepared and tested 

in conformance with the requirements 

of CGA C–3. If the specimen fails to 

meet the requirements, one specimen 

each must be taken from two additional 

cylinders or welded test plates from the 

same lot as the previously tested 

cylinder or added test plate and tested. 

If either of these latter two specimens 

fails to meet the requirements, the entire 

lot represented must be rejected. 

(3) Alternate guided bend test. This 

test may be used and must be as 

required by CGA C–3. The specimen 

must be bent until the elongation at the 

outer surface, adjacent to the root of the 

weld, between the lightly scribed gauge 

lines a to b, must be at least 20 percent, 

except that this percentage may be 

reduced for steels having a tensile 

strength in excess of 50,000 psig, as 

provided in paragraph (k) of this 

section. Should this specimen fail to 

meet the requirements, one additional 

specimen must be taken from two 

additional cylinders or welded test 

plates from the same lot and tested as 

the previously tested cylinder or added 

test plate. If either of these latter two 

specimens fails to meet the 

requirements, the entire lot represented 

must be rejected. 

(m) Rejected cylinders. (1) Unless 

otherwise stated, if a sample cylinder or 

specimen taken from a lot of cylinders 

fails the prescribed test, then two 

additional specimens must be selected 

from the same lot and subjected to the 

prescribed test. If either of these fails the 

test, then the entire lot must be rejected. 

(2) Reheat treatment of rejected 

cylinders. Reheat treatment is 

authorized for a rejected cylinder in 

accordance with this paragraph (m)(2). 

After reheat treatment, a cylinder must 

pass all prescribed tests in this section 

to be considered acceptable. Repair of 

welded seams by welding is authorized. 

For cylinders less than or equal to an 

outside diameter of 6 inches, welded 

seam repairs greater than 1 inch in 

length shall require reheat treatment of 

the cylinder. For cylinders greater than 

an outside diameter of 6 inches, welded 

seam repairs greater than 3 inches in 

length shall require reheat treatment. 

(n) Markings. (1) Markings must be as 

required in § 178.35 and in addition 

must be stamped plainly and 

permanently in one of the following 

locations on the cylinder: 

(i) On shoulders and top heads whose 

wall thickness is not less than 0.087 

inch thick. 

(ii) On side wall adjacent to top head 

for side walls not less than 0.090 inch 

thick. 

(iii) On a cylindrical portion of the 

shell that extends beyond the recessed 

bottom of the cylinder constituting an 

integral and non-pressure part of the 

cylinder. 

(iv) On a plate attached to the top of 

the cylinder or permanent part thereof; 

sufficient space must be left on the plate 

to provide for stamping at least six retest 

dates; the plate must be at least 1⁄16-inch 

thick and must be attached by welding 

at a temperature of 1,100 °F, throughout 

all edges of the plate. 

(v) On the neck, neckring, valve boss, 

valve protection sleeve, or similar part 

permanently attached to the top of the 

cylinder. 

(vi) On the footring permanently 

attached to the cylinder, provided the 

water capacity of the cylinder does not 

exceed 30 pounds. 

(2) Embossing the cylinder head or 

side wall is not permitted. 

(o) Inspector’s report. In addition to 

the information required by § 178.35, 

the inspector’s report must indicate the 

type and amount of radiography. 

■ 39. In § 178.65, revise paragraph (f) to 

read as follows: 


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§ 178.65 Specification 39 non-reusable 

(non-refillable) cylinders. 

* * * * * 

(f) Pressure testing. (1) Each cylinder 

must be proof pressure tested as 

prescribed in CGA C–1 (IBR, see § 171.7 

of this subchapter). The minimum test 

pressure must be maintained for the 

specific timeframe and the testing 

equipment must be calibrated as 

prescribed in CGA C–1. All testing 

equipment and pressure indicating 

devices must be accurate within the 

parameters defined in CGA C–1. 

(i) The leakage test must be conducted 

by submersion under water or by some 

other method that will be equally 

sensitive. 

(ii) If the cylinder leaks, evidences 

visible distortion or evidences any other 

defect while under test, it must be 

rejected (see paragraph (h) of this 

section). 

(iii) If, due to failure of the test 

apparatus or operator error, the test 

pressure cannot be maintained, the test 

may be repeated in accordance with 

CGA, C–1 section 7.1.2. 

(2) One cylinder taken from the 

beginning of each lot, and one from each 

1,000 or less successively produced 

within the lot thereafter, must be 

hydrostatically tested to destruction. 

The testing equipment must be 

calibrated as prescribed in CGA C–1. All 

testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. The entire lot must be rejected (see 

paragraph (h) of this section) if: 

(i) A failure occurs at a gage pressure 

less than 2.0 times the test pressure; 

(ii) A failure initiates in a braze or a 

weld or the heat affected zone thereof; 

(iii) A failure is other than in the 

sidewall of a cylinder longitudinal with 

its long axis; or 

(iv) In a sphere, a failure occurs in any 

opening, reinforcement, or at a point of 

attachment. 

(3) A ‘‘lot’’ is defined as the quantity 

of cylinders successively produced per 

production shift (not exceeding 10 

hours) having identical size, design, 

construction, material, heat treatment, 

finish, and quality. 

* * * * * 

■ 40. In § 178.68: 

■ a. Revise paragraphs (b), (e), (h), (j) 

introductory text, (j)(1), and (k) through 

(m); 

■ b. Redesignate paragraph (n) as 

paragraph (o); and 

■ c. Add new paragraph (n). 

The revisions and addition read as 

follows: 

§ 178.68 Specification 4E welded 

aluminum cylinders. 

* * * * * 

(b) Authorized material. (1) The 

cylinder must be constructed of 

aluminum of uniform quality. The 

following chemical analyses are 

authorized: 

TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (b)(1)— 

AUTHORIZED MATERIALS

Designation 

Chemical 

analysis—limits in 

percent 5154 

Iron plus silicon ............. 0.45 maximum. 

Copper .......................... 0.10 maximum. 

Manganese ................... 0.10 maximum. 

Magnesium .................... 3.10/3.90. 

Chromium ...................... 0.15/0.35. 

Zinc ............................... 0.20 maximum. 

Titanium ........................ 0.20 maximum. 

Others, each ................. 0.05 maximum. 

Others, total .................. 0.15 maximum. 

Aluminum ...................... remainder. 

(2) The aluminum used in the 

construction of the cylinder must be as 

specified in Table 1 to paragraph (b)(1) 

of this section. Analyses must regularly 

be made only for the elements 

specifically mentioned in the table. If, 

however, the presence of other elements 

is indicated in the course of routine 

analysis, further analysis should be 

made to determine conformance with 

the limits specified for other elements. 

The cylinder manufacturer must 

maintain a record of intentionally added 

alloying elements. 

* * * * * 

(e) Welding. The attachment to the 

tops and bottoms only of cylinders by 

welding of neckrings, flanges, footrings, 

handles, bosses, pads, and valve 

protection rings is authorized. However, 

such attachments and the portion of the 

cylinder to which it is attached must be 

made of weldable aluminum alloys. 

* * * * * 

(h) Pressure testing. Each cylinder 

must successfully withstand a pressure 

test as follows: 

(1) Pressure test. All cylinders with a 

wall stress greater than 18,000 psig must 

be tested by water-jacket or direct 

expansion method as prescribed in CGA 

C–1 (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter). 

The testing equipment must be 

calibrated as prescribed in CGA C–1. All 

testing equipment and pressure 

indicating devices must be accurate 

within the parameters defined in CGA 

C–1. 

(i) Each cylinder must be tested to a 

minimum of two (2) times service 

pressure. 

(ii) The minimum test pressure must 

be maintained at least 30 seconds and 

sufficiently longer to ensure complete 

expansion. Any internal pressure 

applied after heat-treatment and prior to 

the official test may not exceed 90 

percent of the test pressure. If, due to 

failure of the test apparatus or operator 

error, the test pressure cannot be 

maintained, the test may be repeated in 

accordance with CGA C–1, section 5.7.2. 

(iii) Permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 12 percent of the total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

(2) Lot testing. (i) Cylinders with a 

wall stress of 18,000 psig or less may be 

lot tested. At least one (1) cylinder 

randomly selected out of each lot of 200 

or less must be tested by the waterjacket or direct expansion method as 

prescribed in CGA C–1. The testing 

equipment must be calibrated as 

prescribed in CGA C–1. All testing 

equipment and pressure indicating 

devices must be accurate within the 

parameters defined in CGA C–1. If, due 

to failure of the test apparatus or 

operator error, the test pressure cannot 

be maintained, the test may be repeated 

in accordance with CGA C–1, section 

5.7.2. 

(ii) Each selected cylinder must be 

tested to a minimum of two (2) times 

service pressure. 

(iii) The minimum test pressure must 

be maintained at least 30 seconds and 

sufficiently longer to ensure complete 

expansion. Any internal pressure 

applied after heat-treatment and prior to 

the official test may not exceed 90 

percent of the test pressure. 

(iv) Permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 12 percent of the total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

(3) Pressure testing. (i) For cylinders 

with a wall stress of 18,000 psig or less, 

the remaining cylinders of the lot must 

be pressure tested by the proof pressure, 

water-jacket, or direct expansion test 

method as defined in CGA C–1. The 

minimum test pressure must be 

maintained for the specific timeframe 

and the testing equipment must be 

calibrated as prescribed in CGA C–1. 

Further, all testing equipment and 

pressure indicating devices must be 

accurate within the parameters defined 

in CGA C–1. 

(ii) Each cylinder must be tested to a 

minimum of two (2) times service 

pressure and show no defect. If, due to 

failure of the test apparatus or operator 

error, the test pressure cannot be 

maintained, the test may be repeated in 

accordance with CGA C–1 5.7.2 or 7.1.2, 

as appropriate. Determination of 

expansion properties is not required. 

(4) Burst testing. One (1) finished 

cylinder selected at random out of each 

lot of 1000 or less must be 

hydrostatically tested to four (4) times 


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service pressure without bursting. 

Inability to meet this requirement must 

result in rejection of the lot. All testing 

equipment and pressure indicating 

devices must be accurate within the 

parameters defined in CGA C–1. 

* * * * * 

(j) Mechanical test. A mechanical test 

must be conducted to determine yield 

strength, tensile strength, elongation as 

a percentage, and reduction of area of 

material as a percentage as follows: 

(1) The test is required on two (2) 

specimens removed from one cylinder 

or part thereof as illustrated in appendix 

A to this subpart taken at random out 

of each lot of 200 or fewer. 

* * * * * 

(k) Acceptable results for mechanical 

tests. An acceptable result of the 

mechanical test requires at least 7 

percent and yield strength not over 80 

percent of tensile strength. 

(l) Weld tests. Welds of the cylinder 

are required to pass the following tests 

successfully: 

(1) Reduced section tensile test. A 

specimen must be removed from the 

cylinder used for the mechanical tests 

specified in paragraph (j) of this section. 

The specimen must be taken from across 

the seam; edges must be parallel for a 

distance of approximately 2 inches on 

either side of the weld. The specimen 

must be fractured in tension. The actual 

breaking stress must be a minimum of 

30,000 psi. The apparent breaking stress 

calculated on the minimum design wall 

thickness must be a minimum of two (2) 

times the stress calculated under 

paragraph (f)(2) of this section. If the 

specimen fails to meet the requirements, 

the lot must be rejected except that 

specimens may be taken from two (2) 

additional cylinders from the same lot 

as the previously tested specimens. If 

either of the latter specimens fails to 

meet requirements, the entire lot 

represented must be rejected. 

(2) Guided bend test. A bend test 

specimen must be removed from the 

cylinder used for the mechanical test 

specified in paragraph (j) of this section. 

The specimen must be taken across the 

circumferential seam, must be a 

minimum of 11⁄2 inches wide, edges 

must be parallel and rounded with a 

file, and back-up strip, if used, must be 

removed by machining. The specimen 

must be tested as follows: 

(i) Standard guided bend test. The 

specimen must be bent to refusal in the 

guided bend test jig as illustrated in 

CGA C–3 (IBR, see § 171.7 of this 

subchapter). The root of the weld 

(inside surface of the cylinder) must be 

located away from the ram of the jig. 

The specimen must not show a crack or 

other open defect exceeding 1⁄8 inch in 

any direction upon completion of the 

test. Should this specimen fail to meet 

the requirements, one additional 

specimen must be taken from two 

additional cylinders from the same lot 

and tested. If either of the latter 

specimens fails to meet requirements, 

the entire lot represented must be 

rejected. 

(ii) Alternate guided bend test. This 

test may be used as an alternate to the 

guided bend test. The test specimen 

must be in conformance with The 

Aluminum Association’s ‘‘Welding 

Aluminum: Theory and Practice, Fourth 

Edition, 2002’’ (IBR, see § 171.7 of this 

subchapter). If the specimen fails to 

meet the requirements, one additional 

specimen must be taken from two 

additional cylinders or welded test 

plates from the same lot and tested. If 

any of these latter two specimens fails 

to meet the requirements, the entire lot 

must be rejected. 

(m) Rejected cylinders. Repair of 

welded seams is authorized. Acceptable 

cylinders must pass all prescribed tests. 

(n) Markings. (1) Markings must be as 

required in § 178.35 and in addition 

must be stamped plainly and 

permanently in one of the following 

locations on the cylinder: 

(i) On the neck, neckring, valve boss, 

valve protection sleeve, or similar part 

permanently attached to the top of the 

cylinder. 

(ii) On the footring permanently 

attached to the cylinder, provided the 

water capacity of the cylinder does not 

exceed 30 pounds. 

(2) Embossing the cylinder head or 

side wall is not permitted. 

* * * * * 

■ 41. In § 178.70, revise paragraph (d) to 

read as follows: 

§ 178.70 Approval of UN pressure 

receptacles. 

* * * * * 

(d) Modification of approved pressure 

receptacle design type. Modification of 

an approved UN (ISO) pressure 

receptacle design type is not authorized 

without the approval of the Associate 

Administrator. However, modification 

of an approved UN (ISO) pressure 

receptacle design type is authorized 

without an additional approval of the 

Associate Administrator provided the 

design modification is covered under 

the UN (ISO) standard for the design 

type. A manufacturer seeking 

modification of an approved UN (ISO) 

pressure receptacle design type may be 

required to submit design qualification 

test data to the Associate Administrator 

before production. An audit may be 

required as part of the process to modify 

an approval. 

* * * * * 

■ 42. In § 178.75, revise paragraphs 

(e)(3)(i) and (ii) and (f)(1) to read as 

follows: 

§ 178.75 Specifications for MEGCs. 

* * * * * 

(e) * * * 

(3) * * * 

(i) Two valves in series must be 

placed in an accessible position on each 

discharge and filling pipe. One of the 

valves may be a backflow prevention 

valve. 

(ii) The filling and discharge devices 

may be equipped to a manifold. 

* * * * * 

(f) * * * 

(1) The size of the pressure relief 

devices: CGA S–1.1, excluding 

paragraph 9.1.1, (IBR, see § 171.7 of this 

subchapter) must be used to determine 

the relief capacity of individual pressure 

receptacles. 

* * * * * 

PART 180—CONTINUING 

QUALIFICATION AND MAINTENANCE 

OF PACKAGINGS 

■ 43. The authority citation for part 180 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 5101–5128; 49 CFR 

1.81 and 1.97. 

■ 44. In § 180.203: 

■ a. Revise the definition for 

‘‘Commercially free of corrosive 

components;’’ 

■ b. Remove the definitions ‘‘Defect’’ 

and ‘‘Elastic expansion;’’ 

■ c. Add definitions for ‘‘Mobile unit’’ 

and ‘‘Over-pressurized’’ in alphabetical 

order; 

■ d. Remove the definition of 

‘‘Permanent expansion;’’ 

■ e. Revise the definition for ‘‘Proof 

pressure test;’’ and 

■ f. Remove the definitions of ‘‘Rejected 

cylinder,’’ ‘‘Test pressure,’’ ‘‘Total 

expansion,’’ ‘‘Visual inspection,’’ and 

‘‘Volumetric expansion test.’’ 

The additions and revisions read as 

follows: 

§ 180.203 Definitions. 

* * * * * 

Commercially free of corrosive 

components means a hazardous material 

having a moisture content less than 55 

ppm and free of components that will 

adversely react with the cylinder (e.g., 

chemical stress corrosion). 

* * * * * 

Mobile unit means a vehicle 

specifically authorized under a RIN to 

carry out requalification operations 


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identified under the RIN within 

specified geographic areas away from 

the principle place of business. Mobile 

units must comply with the 

requirements outlined in the approval 

issuance letter from the Associate 

Administrator for Hazardous Materials 

Safety (see § 107.805 of subchapter A of 

this chapter). 

* * * * * 

Over-pressurized means a condition 

in which the internal pressure applied 

to a cylinder has reached or exceeded 

the yield point of the cylinder. 

* * * * * 

Proof pressure test means a liquidbased pressure test by interior 

pressurization without the 

determination of a cylinder’s expansion. 

* * * * * 

■ 45. In § 180.205: 

■ a. Revise paragraphs (c) introductory 

text and (d); 

■ b. Add paragraphs (f)(5) and (6); 

■ c. Revise paragraphs (g), (h)(3), and 

(i)(1)(viii); 

■ d. Add paragraphs (i)(1)(ix) through 

(xi); 

■ e. Revise paragraphs (i)(2) and (3); and 

■ f. Add paragraph (j). 

The revisions and additions read as 

follows: 

§ 180.205 General requirements for 

requalification of specification cylinders. 

* * * * * 

(c) Periodic requalification of 

cylinders. Each cylinder bearing a DOT, 

CRC, BTC, or CTC specification marking 

must be requalified and marked as 

specified in the requalification table in 

§ 180.209(a) or requalified and marked 

by a facility registered by Transport 

Canada in accordance with the 

Transport Canada TDG Regulations 

(IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter). 

Each cylinder bearing both a TC 

specification marking and also marked 

with a corresponding DOT specification 

marking must be requalified and marked 

as specified in the requalification table 

in § 180.209(a) or requalified and 

marked by a facility registered by 

Transport Canada in accordance with 

the Transport Canada TDG Regulations. 

Each cylinder bearing a DOT special 

permit (or exemption) number must be 

requalified and marked in conformance 

with this section and the terms of the 

applicable special permit (or 

exemption). Each cylinder bearing only 

a TC mark must be requalified and 

marked as specified in the Transport 

Canada TDG Regulations, except that 

registration with Transport Canada is 

not required and cylinders must be 

marked with the requalifier’s DOT 

issued requalifier identification number. 

No cylinder may be filled with a 

hazardous material and offered for 

transportation in commerce unless that 

cylinder has been successfully 

requalified and marked in accordance 

with this subpart. A cylinder may be 

requalified at any time during or before 

the month and year that the 

requalification is due. However, a 

cylinder filled before the requalification 

becomes due may remain in service 

until it is emptied. A cylinder with a 

specified service life may not be refilled 

and offered for transportation after its 

authorized service life has expired. 

* * * * * 

(d) Conditions requiring test and 

inspection of cylinders. Without regard 

to any other periodic requalification 

requirements, a cylinder must be tested 

and inspected in accordance with this 

section prior to further use if— 

(1) The cylinder shows evidence of 

dents, corrosion, cracked or abraded 

areas, leakage, or any other condition 

that might render it unsafe for use in 

transportation; 

(2) The cylinder has been in an 

accident and has been damaged to an 

extent that may adversely affect its 

lading retention capability; 

(3) The cylinder shows evidence of or 

is known to have thermal damage, or 

have been over-heated; 

(4) Except in association with an 

authorized repair, evidence of removal 

of wall thickness via grinding, sanding 

or other means; or 

(5) The Associate Administrator 

determines that the cylinder may be in 

an unsafe condition. 

* * * * * 

(f) * * * 

(5) Except in association with an 

authorized repair, removal of wall 

thickness via grinding, sanding or other 

means is not permitted. Removal of 

paint or loose material to prepare the 

cylinder for inspection is permitted 

(e.g., shot blasting). 

(6) Chasing of cylinder threads to 

clean them is permitted, but removal of 

metal must not occur. Re-tapping of 

cylinder threads is not permitted, except 

by the original manufacturer, as 

provided in § 180.212. 

* * * * * 

(g) Pressure test. (1) Unless otherwise 

provided, each cylinder required to be 

retested under this subpart must be 

retested by means suitable for 

measuring the expansion of the cylinder 

under pressure. Testing must be 

performed in accordance with CGA C– 

1 (except for paragraph 5.3.2.2, if the 

required accuracy of the pressure 

indicating device can be demonstrated 

by other recognized means such as 

calibration certificates) (IBR, see § 171.7 

of this subchapter). 

(2) The pressure indicating device and 

expansion indicating device must meet 

the resolution requirements of CGA C– 

1. Midpoint visual interpolation is 

allowed. 

(3) Each day before retesting, the 

retester shall confirm, by using a 

calibrated cylinder or other method 

authorized in writing by the Associate 

Administrator, that: 

(i) The pressure-indicating device, as 

part of the retest apparatus, is accurate 

within ±1.0% of the prescribed test 

pressure of any cylinder tested that day. 

The pressure indicating device, itself, 

must be certified as having an accuracy 

of ±0.5%, or better, of its full range, and 

must permit readings of pressure from 

90%–110% of the minimum prescribed 

test pressure of the cylinder to be tested. 

The accuracy of the pressure indicating 

device within the test system can be 

demonstrated at any point within 500 

psig of the actual test pressure for test 

pressures at or above 3000 psig, or 10% 

of the actual test pressure for test 

pressures below 3000 psig. 

(ii) The expansion-indicating device, 

as part of the retest apparatus, meets the 

accuracy requirements of CGA C–1. 

(4) Test equipment must be verified 

each day before retesting as required in 

CGA C–1. 

(i) The retester must demonstrate 

calibration in conformance with this 

paragraph (g) to an authorized inspector 

on any day that it retests cylinders. 

(ii) A retester must maintain 

calibrated cylinder certificates in 

conformance with § 180.215(b)(4). 

(5) A system check may be performed 

at or below 90% of test pressure prior 

to the retest. In the case of a malfunction 

of the test equipment or operator error, 

the test may be repeated in accordance 

with CGA C–1, section 5.7.1. This 

paragraph (g) does not authorize retest 

of a cylinder otherwise required to be 

condemned under paragraph (i) of this 

section. 

(h) * * * 

(3) Unless the cylinder is repaired or 

rebuilt in conformance with 

requirements in § 180.211, it may not be 

filled with a hazardous material and 

offered for transportation where use of 

a specification packaging is required. 

* * * * * 

(i) * * * 

(1) * * * 

(viii) For an aluminum or an 

aluminum-lined composite special 

permit cylinder, the cylinder is known 

to have been or shows evidence of 

having been overheated. Arc burns must 

be considered evidence of overheating. 


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(ix) The cylinder is known to have 

been or shows evidence of having been 

over-pressurized. 

(x) For a cylinder with a specified 

service life, its authorized service life 

has expired. 

(xi) The cylinder has been stamped on 

the sidewall, except as provided in part 

178 of this subchapter. 

(2) When a cylinder must be 

condemned, the requalifier must— 

(i) Communicate condemnation of the 

cylinder as follows: 

(A) Stamp a series of Xs over the 

DOT-specification number and the 

marked pressure or stamp 

‘‘CONDEMNED’’ on the shoulder, top 

head, or neck using a steel stamp; 

(B) For composite cylinders, securely 

affix to the cylinder a label with the 

word ‘‘CONDEMNED’’ overcoated with 

epoxy near, but not obscuring, the 

original cylinder manufacturer’s label; 

or 

(C) As an alternative to the stamping 

or labeling as described in this 

paragraph (i)(2), at the direction of the 

owner, the requalifier may render the 

cylinder incapable of holding pressure; 

and 

(ii) Notify the cylinder owner, in 

writing, that the cylinder is condemned 

and may not be filled with hazardous 

material and offered for transportation 

in commerce where use of a 

specification packaging is required. 

(3) No person may remove, obliterate, 

or alter the required condemnation 

communication of paragraph (i)(2) of 

this section. 

(j) Training materials. Training 

materials may be used for training 

persons who requalify cylinders using 

the volumetric expansion test method. 

■ 46. In § 180.207, revise paragraphs 

(a)(3), (b)(2), (c) introductory text, (d) 

introductory text, and (d)(1) to read as 

follows: 

§ 180.207 Requirements for requalification 

of UN pressure receptacles. 

(a) * * * 

(3) A pressure receptacle with a 

specified service life may not be 

requalified after its authorized service 

life has expired. A pressure receptacle 

with a specified service life may not be 

refilled and offered for transportation 

after its authorized service life has 

expired unless approval has been 

obtained in writing from the Associate 

Administrator. 

(b) * * * 

(2) Each pressure receptacle that fails 

requalification must be rejected or 

condemned in accordance with the 

applicable ISO requalification standard. 

* * * * * 

(c) Requalification interval. Each UN 

pressure receptacle that becomes due for 

periodic requalification must be 

requalified at the interval specified in 

the following table before it is filled: 

* * * * * 

(d) Requalification procedures. Each 

UN pressure receptacle must be 

requalified in conformance with the 

procedures contained in the following 

standards, as applicable. Furthermore, 

when a pressure test is performed on a 

UN pressure receptacle, the test must be 

a water jacket volumetric expansion test 

suitable for the determination of the 

cylinder expansion or a hydraulic proof 

pressure test. The test equipment must 

conform to the accuracy requirements in 

§ 180.205(g). Alternative methods (e.g., 

acoustic emission) or requalification 

procedures may be performed if prior 

approval has been obtained in writing 

from the Associate Administrator. 

(1) Seamless steel: Each seamless steel 

UN pressure receptacle, including 

pressure receptacles exceeding 150 L 

capacity installed in MEGCs or in other 

service, must be requalified in 

accordance with ISO 6406:2005(E) (IBR, 

see § 171.7 of this subchapter). 

However, UN cylinders with a tensile 

strength greater than or equal to 950 

MPa must be requalified by ultrasonic 

examination in accordance with ISO 

6406:2005(E). For seamless steel 

cylinders and tubes, the internal 

inspection and hydraulic pressure test 

may be replaced by a procedure 

conforming to ISO 16148:2016(E) (IBR, 

see § 171.1). 

* * * * * 

■ 47. In § 180.209: 

■ a. Remove and reserve paragraph 

(b)(1)(iii); and 

■ b. Revise paragraphs (c), (e), (g), (j), 

and (l)(1). 

The revisions read as follows: 

§ 180.209 Requirements for requalification 

of specification cylinders. 

* * * * * 

(c) DOT 4-series cylinders. A DOT 4- 

series cylinder, except a 4L cylinder, 

that at any time shows evidence of a 

leak, internal or external corrosion, 

denting, bulging or rough usage to the 

extent that it is likely to be weakened 

appreciably, or that has lost 5 percent or 

more of its official tare weight must be 

requalified before being refilled and 

offered for transportation. (Refer to CGA 

C–6 or C–6.3 (IBR, see § 171.7 of this 

subchapter), as applicable, regarding 

cylinder weakening.) After testing, the 

actual tare weight must be recorded as 

the new tare weight on the test report 

and marked on the cylinder. The 

previous tare weight must be strikelined through, but not obliterated. 

* * * * * 

(e) Cylinders in non-corrosive gas 

service. A cylinder made in 

conformance with DOT Specifications 

4B, 4BA, 4BW, or 4E protected 

externally by a suitable corrosionresistant coating and used exclusively 

for non-corrosive gas that is 

commercially free from corroding 

components may be requalified by 

volumetric expansion testing every 12 

years instead of every 5 years. As an 

alternative, the cylinder may be 

subjected to a proof pressure test at least 

two times the marked service pressure, 

but this latter type of test must be 

repeated every 10 years after expiration 

of the initial 12-year period. When 

subjected to a proof pressure test, as 

prescribed in CGA C–1 (IBR, see § 171.7 

of this subchapter), the cylinder must be 

carefully examined under test pressure 

and removed from service if a leak or 

defect is found. 

* * * * * 

(g) Visual inspections. A cylinder 

conforming to a specification listed in 

the table in this paragraph (g) and used 

exclusively in the service indicated 

may, instead of a periodic hydrostatic 

test, be given a complete external visual 

inspection at the time periodic 

requalification becomes due. External 

visual inspection must be in 

conformance with CGA C–6 or C–6.3, as 

applicable. When this inspection is used 

instead of hydrostatic testing, 

subsequent inspections are required at 

five-year intervals after the first 

inspection. Inspections must be made 

only by persons holding a current RIN 

and the results recorded and maintained 

in conformance with § 180.215. Records 

must include: Date of inspection (month 

and year); DOT-specification number; 

cylinder identification (registered 

symbol and serial number, date of 

manufacture, and owner); type of 

cylinder protective coating (including 

statement as to need of refinishing or 

recoating); conditions checked (e.g., 

leakage, corrosion, gouges, dents or digs 

in shell or heads, broken or damaged 

footring or protective ring or fire 

damage); and disposition of cylinder 

(returned to service, returned to 

cylinder manufacturer for repairs or 

condemned). A cylinder passing 

requalification by the external visual 

inspection must be marked in 

conformance with § 180.213. 

Specification cylinders must be in 

exclusive service as shown in table 2 to 

this paragraph (g): 


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TABLE 2 TO PARAGRAPH (g) 

Cylinders conforming to— Used exclusively for— 

DOT 3A, DOT 3AA, DOT 3A480X, DOT 4AA480 ................................... Anhydrous ammonia of at least 99.95% purity. 

DOT 3A, DOT 3AA, DOT 3A480X, DOT 3B, DOT 4B, DOT 4BA, DOT 

4BW.

Butadiene, inhibited, that is commercially free from corroding components. 

DOT 3A, DOT 3AA, DOT 3A480X, DOT 3B. DOT 4AA480, DOT 4B, 

DOT 4BA, DOT 4BW.

Cyclopropane that is commercially free from corroding components. 

DOT 3A, DOT 3AA, DOT 3A480X, DOT 4B, DOT 4BA, DOT 4BW, 

DOT 4E.

Chlorinated hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof that are commercially 

free from corroding components. 

DOT 3A, DOT 3AA, DOT 3A480X, DOT 4B, DOT 4BA, DOT 4BW, 

DOT 4E.

Fluorinated hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof that are commercially 

free from corroding components. 

DOT 3A, DOT 3AA, DOT 3A480X, DOT 3B, DOT 4B, DOT 4BA, DOT 

4BW, DOT 4E.

Liquefied hydrocarbon gas that is commercially free of corroding components. 

DOT 3A, DOT 3AA, DOT 3A480X, DOT 3B, DOT 4B, DOT 4BA, DOT 

4BW, DOT 4E.

Liquefied petroleum gas that meets the detail requirements limits in 

Table 1 of ASTM 1835, Standard Specification for Liquefied Petroleum (LP) Gases (incorporated by reference; see § 171.7 of this subchapter) or an equivalent standard containing the same limits. 

DOT 3A, DOT 3AA, DOT 3B, DOT 4B, DOT 4BA, DOT 4BW, DOT 4E Methylacetylene-propadiene, stabilized, that is commercially free from 

corroding components. 

DOT 3A, DOT 3AA, DOT 3B, DOT 4B, DOT 4BA, DOT 4BW, DOT 4E Propylene that is commercially free from corroding components. 

DOT 3A, DOT 3AA, DOT 3B, DOT 4B, DOT 4BA, DOT 4BW ............... Anhydrous mono, di, trimethylamines that are commercially free from 

corroding components. 

DOT 4B240, DOT 4BW240 ...................................................................... Ethyleneimine, stabilized. 

DOT 4BW ................................................................................................. Alkali metal alloys, liquid, n.o.s., Alkali metal dispersions or Alkaline 

earth metal dispersions, Potassium, Potassium Sodium alloys and 

Sodium that are commercially free of corroding components. 

* * * * * 

(j) Cylinder used as a fire 

extinguisher. Only a DOT-specification 

cylinder used as a fire extinguisher in 

conformance with § 173.309(a) of this 

subchapter may be requalified in 

conformance with this paragraph (j). 

The testing procedures, calibration of 

the testing equipment, accuracy of the 

pressure indicating device, accuracy of 

the testing equipment must be as 

prescribed in CGA C–1. 

(1) A DOT 4B, 4BA, 4B240ET or 4BW 

cylinder used as a fire extinguisher may 

be tested as follows: 

(i) For a cylinder with a water 

capacity of 5.44 kg (12 pounds) or less, 

by the water-jacket, direct expansion or 

proof pressure test methods as 

prescribed in CGA C–1. A 

requalification must be performed by 

the end of 12 years after the original test 

date and at 12-year intervals thereafter. 

(A) Each cylinder must be tested to a 

minimum of two (2) times service 

pressure. 

(B) When testing using the waterjacket or direct expansion test method, 

the permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

(C) When testing using the proof 

pressure test method, the cylinder must 

be carefully examined under test 

pressure and removed from service if a 

leak or defect is found. 

(ii) For a cylinder having a water 

capacity over 5.44 kg (12 pounds), by 

the water-jacket, direct expansion or 

proof pressure test methods as 

prescribed in CGA C–1. For the waterjacket or direct expansion test, the 

requalification must be performed by 

the end of 12 years after the original test 

date and at 12-year intervals theafter. 

For the proof-pressure test, a 

requalification must be performed by 

the end of 12 years after the original test 

date and at seven (7) year intervals. 

(A) Each cylinder must be tested to a 

minimum of two (2) times service 

pressure. 

(B) When testing using the waterjacket or direct expansion test method, 

the permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

(C) When testing using the proof 

pressure test method, the cylinder must 

be carefully examined under test 

pressure and removed from service if a 

leak or defect is found. 

(2) A DOT 3A, 3AA, or 3AL cylinder 

must be requalified by: 

(i) The water-jacket or direct 

expansion method. A requalification 

must be performed 12 years after the 

original test date and at 12-year 

intervals thereafter. 

(ii) Each cylinder must be tested to a 

minimum of 5⁄3 times service pressure. 

(iii) When testing using the waterjacket or direct expansion test method, 

the permanent volumetric expansion 

may not exceed 10 percent of total 

volumetric expansion at test pressure. 

* * * * * 

(l) * * * 

(1) It has been inspected, tested and 

marked in conformance with the 

procedures and requirements of this 

subpart or the Associate Administrator 

has authorized the filling company to 

fill foreign cylinders under an 

alternative method of qualification; and 

* * * * * 

■ 48. In § 180.212, add paragraph (a)(3) 

to read as follows: 

§ 180.212 Repair of seamless DOT 3-series 

specification cylinders and seamless UN 

pressure receptacles. 

(a) * * * 

(3) If grinding is performed on a DOT 

3-series cylinder or a seamless UN 

pressure receptacle, the following 

conditions apply after grinding has been 

completed. Grinding must not be used 

to remove arc burns from a cylinder, as 

such a cylinder must be condemned: 

(i) Ultrasonic examination must be 

conducted to ensure that the wall 

thickness is not less than the minimum 

design requirement. The wall thickness 

must be measured in at least 3 different 

areas for every 10 square inches of 

grinding area. 

(ii) The cylinder must be requalified 

in conformance with § 180.205. 

(iii) The cylinder must be marked in 

accordance with § 180.213(f)(10) to 

indicate compliance with this paragraph 

(a)(3). 

* * * * * 

■ 49. In § 180.213, revise paragraphs (c) 

and (d)(2) and add paragraphs (f)(10) 

and (11) and (g) to read as follows: 

§ 180.213 Requalification markings. 

* * * * * 

(c) Requalification marking method. 

The depth of requalification markings 

may not be greater than specified in the 


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applicable specification. The markings 

must be made by stamping, engraving, 

scribing or applying a label embedded 

in epoxy that will remain legible and 

durable throughout the life of the 

cylinder, or by other methods that 

produce a legible, durable mark. 

(1) A cylinder used as a fire 

extinguisher (see § 180.209(j)) may be 

marked by using a pressure sensitive 

label. 

(2) For a DOT 3HT cylinder, when 

stamped, the test date and RIN must be 

applied by low-stress steel stamps to a 

depth no greater than that prescribed at 

the time of manufacture. Stamping on 

the sidewall is not authorized. 

(3) For a composite cylinder, the 

requalification markings must be 

applied on a pressure sensitive label, 

securely affixed and overcoated with 

epoxy in a manner prescribed by the 

cylinder manufacturer, near the original 

manufacturer’s label. Stamping of the 

composite surface is not authorized. 

(d) * * * 

(2) A cylinder subject to the 

requirements of § 171.23(a)(5) of this 

subchapter must be marked with the 

date and RIN in accordance with this 

paragraph (d) and paragraph (f)(11) of 

this section, or marked in accordance 

with the requalification authorized by 

the Associate Administrator in 

accordance with § 171.23(a)(5)(i) of this 

subchapter. 

* * * * * 

(f) * * * 

(10) For designation of grinding with 

ultrasonic wall thickness examination, 

the marking is as illustrated in 

paragraph (d) of this section, except the 

‘‘X’’ is replaced with the letter ‘‘R’’. 

(11) For designation of requalification 

of a foreign cylinder requalified in 

conformance with §§ 171.23(a)(5) of this 

subchapter and 180.209(l), the marking 

is as illustrated in paragraph (d) of this 

section, except that the ‘‘X’’ is replaced 

with the letters ‘‘EX’’ to indicate that the 

cylinder is for export only. 

(g) Visual inspection requalification 

markings. (1) Alternative to the marking 

requirements of paragraphs (d) and (f)(5) 

of this section, each cylinder 

successfully passing a visual inspection 

only, in accordance with § 180.209(g), 

may be marked with the visual 

inspection number (e.g., V123456) 

issued to a person performing visual 

inspections. Examples of the way the 

markings may be applied are as follows: 

(2) Where: 

(i) ‘‘03’’ is the month of requalification (the 

additional numeral ‘‘0’’ is optional’’); 

(ii) ‘‘V123456’’ is the RIN; 

(iii) ‘‘14’’ is the year of requalification; and 

(iv) ‘‘E’’ to indicate visual inspection. 

■ 50. In § 180.215, revise paragraphs 

(a)(6), (b), and (c)(2)(vii) and add 

paragraph (c)(3) to read as follows: 

§ 180.215 Reporting and record retention 

requirements. 

(a) * * * 

(6) The information contained in each 

applicable CGA or ASTM standard 

incorporated by reference in § 171.7 of 

this subchapter applicable to the 

requalifier’s activities. 

(b) Requalification records. Daily 

records of visual inspection, pressure 

test, eddy current examination if 

required, and ultrasonic examination if 

permitted under a special permit, as 

applicable, must be maintained by the 

person who performs the requalification 

until either the expiration of the 

requalification period or until the 

cylinder is again requalified, whichever 

occurs first. A single date may be used 

for each test sheet, provided each test on 

the sheet was conducted on that date. 

Ditto marks or a solid vertical line may 

be used to indicate repetition of the 

preceding entry for the following entries 

only: Date; actual dimensions; 

manufacturer’s name or symbol, if 

present; owner’s name or symbol, if 

present; and test operator. Blank spaces 

may not be used to indicate repetition 

of a prior entry. A symbol may be used 

for the actual dimensions if there is a 

reference chart available at the facility 

that lists the actual dimensions of every 

symbol used. The records must include 

the following information: 

(1) Calibration test records. For each 

test to demonstrate calibration, the date; 

serial number of the calibrated cylinder; 

calibration test pressure; total, elastic 

and permanent expansions; and legible 

identification of test operator. The test 

operator must be able to demonstrate 

that the results of the daily calibration 

verification correspond to the 

hydrostatic tests performed on that day. 

The daily verification of calibration(s) 

may be recorded on the same sheets as, 

and with, test records for that date, or 

may be recorded on a separate sheet. 

(2) Pressure test and visual inspection 

records. The date of requalification; 

serial number; DOT-specification or 

special permit number; marked 

pressure; actual dimensions; 

manufacturer’s name or symbol, if 

present; year of manufacture; owner’s 

name or symbol, if present; gas service; 

result of visual inspection; actual test 

pressure; total, elastic and permanent 

expansions; percent permanent 

expansion; disposition, with reason for 

any repeated test, rejection or 

condemnation; and legible 

identification of test operator. For each 

cylinder marked pursuant to 

§ 173.302a(b)(5) of this subchapter, the 

test sheet must indicate the method by 

which any average or maximum wall 

stress was computed. Records must be 

kept for all completed, as well as 

unsuccessful tests. The entry for a 

repeated test must indicate the date of 

the earlier test, if conducted on a 

different day. 

(3) Wall stress. Calculations of average 

and maximum wall stress pursuant to 

§ 173.302a(b)(3) of this subchapter, if 

performed. 

(4) Calibration certificates. The most 

recent certificate of calibration must be 

maintained for each calibrated cylinder, 

pressure indicating device, and 

expansion indicating device. 

(c) * * * 


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(2) * * * 

(vii) Results of a test on a cylinder, 

including test method, test pressure, 

total expansion, permanent expansion, 

elastic expansion, percent permanent 

expansion (permanent expansion may 

not exceed ten percent (10 percent) of 

total expansion), and volumetric 

capacity (volumetric capacity of a 

rebuilt cylinder must be within ±3 

percent of the calculated capacity); 

* * * * * 

(3) A record of grinding and 

ultrasonic examination in conformance 

with § 180.212(a)(3) must be completed 

for each cylinder on which grinding is 

performed. The record must be clear, 

legible, and contain the following 

information: 

(i) Name and address of the test 

facility, date of test report, and name or 

original manufacturer; 

(ii) Marks stamped on cylinder to 

include specification number, service 

pressure, serial number, symbol of 

manufacturer, and date of manufacture; 

(iii) Cylinder outside diameter and 

length in inches; 

(iv) Detailed map of where the 

grinding was performed on the cylinder; 

and 

(v) Wall thickness measurements in 

grind area in conformance with 

§ 180.212(a)(3)(i). 

Issued in Washington, DC, on November 

23, 2020, under authority delegated in 49 

CFR part 1.97. 

Drue Pearce, 

Deputy Administrator, Pipeline and 

Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. 

[FR Doc. 2020–26264 Filed 12–23–20; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–60–P 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES3