Document ID: PHMSA-2014-0089-0001
Agency: phmsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Safety Advisories: Unauthorized Certification of Compressed Gas Cylinders
Posted Date: 2014-07-03T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 128 (Thursday, July 3, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 38126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15601]

[[Page 38126]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2014-0089; Notice No. 14-10]

Safety Advisory: Unauthorized Certification of Compressed Gas 
Cylinders

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
DOT.

ACTION: Safety Advisory Notice.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA is issuing this safety advisory to notify the public 
that any DOT-Specification or DOT-Special Permit high pressure 
compressed gas cylinder marked as complying with the Hazardous 
Materials Regulations (HMR) by Always Safe Fire Extinguisher and 
Safety, LLC (ASFES), Yonkers, New York is not authorized for the 
transportation of hazardous materials in commerce. ASFES has never been 
authorized by PHMSA to perform these regulatory functions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Durkin, Hazardous Materials 
Investigator, Eastern Region, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, 
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 820 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 306, West Trenton, NJ 
08034. Telephone: (609) 989-2256, Fax: (609) 989-2277, or email: 
patrick.durkin@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Investigators from PHMSA's Office of 
Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS) recently conducted a compliance 
inspection of Always Safe Fire Extinguisher and Safety, LLC (ASFES), 41 
Lockwood Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10701. As a result of that inspection, 
PHMSA determined that ASFES marked an unknown number of high pressure 
compressed gas cylinders with unauthorized markings. In addition, ASFES 
did not have the requisite testing equipment and could not provide 
evidence to demonstrate that high pressure compressed gas cylinders 
were properly requalified in accordance with the Hazardous Materials 
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).
    ASFES was never approved by PHMSA to either requalify or mark DOT-
specification or special permit cylinders as being requalified. The 
evidence suggests that ASFES stamped the month (2 digits) and year (2 
digits) separated by a star, on DOT high pressure gas cylinders. Only 
high pressure cylinders serviced by ASFES bearing these markings are 
affected.
    If the requalification is not performed in accordance with the HMR, 
or in accordance with the applicable special permit, a cylinder with 
compromised structural integrity may not be detected and may be 
returned to service when it should be condemned. Extensive property 
damage, serious personal injury, or death could result from rupture of 
a cylinder.
    If DOT-Specification or DOT-Special permit cylinders have been 
serviced from ASFES from calendar years 2008 to present day, and have 
the marking described above (i.e., 2-digit month--star--2-digit year), 
these cylinders may not have been properly tested as prescribed by the 
HMR or by the applicable special permit. These cylinders should be 
considered unsafe and not authorized for the filling of hazardous 
material unless the cylinder is first properly tested by an individual 
or company authorized to requalify DOT specification and special permit 
cylinders.
    Cylinders described in this safety advisory that are filled with an 
atmospheric gas should be vented or otherwise safely discharged. 
Cylinders that are filled with a material other than an atmospheric gas 
should not be vented but instead should be safely discharged. If a 
cylinder contains a hazardous material other than an atmospheric gas 
and the testing facility does not have the capability of safely 
removing the hazardous material, the requalifier must return the 
cylinder to the origin for proper discharge of the gas. For toxic gases 
in Hazard Zone A or B, the cylinder must be cleaned in accordance with 
the procedure described in CGA pamphlet C-10. Prior to refilling or 
continued use, the cylinders must be taken to a DOT-authorized cylinder 
requalifier to ensure their suitability for continued service. A list 
of authorized requalifiers may be obtained at this Web site: http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/regs/sp-a/approvals/cylinders.

Magdy El-Sibaie,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety, Pipeline and 
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014-15601 Filed 7-2-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P