Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 75 - REGULATION OF TRADE, COMMERCE AND INVESTMENTS (§§ 75-1-101 — 75-NEW-NEW-007) › Chapter 31 - MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS (§§ 75-31-1 — 75-31-511) › Article 5 - FARM MILK TANK LAW (§§ 75-31-201 — 75-31-229) › Section 75-31-207 - Specifications for tanks

(1)
(a)
Design. -
Level: A farm milk tank shall be in normal operation position when it is in level. The tank shall be equipped with suitable special means by which this level can be determined and established, such as a permanently attached two-way level, or other approved and accurate means of reference for level determinations. (A plumb bob is not considered satisfactory for leveling farm milk tanks and shall not be used.) Where two-way levels are used, the indicating lines shall exactly coincide with the extreme limit of the bubble in each instance and the level shall not be less than one-half (1/2) inch length each way and on tanks six (6) feet long or longer there shall be two (2) such levels, one (1) on each end. Levels shall not be attached to any pipe or other fixture connected to the tank.
(b)
Fraudulent construction: A farm tank and all devices designed to be used with or attached thereto and used in connection therewith, shall be of such design and construction that they do not facilitate the perpetration of fraud. Blueprints or photostats showing details of the design and construction of each brand or model of farm milk tanks, including measuring device, shall be submitted to the commissioner for approval.
(c)
Permanence: A farm milk tank shall be of such design, construction and material that it will withstand ordinary usage without impairment of the accuracy of measurements made therein. The shell, bulkheads and supporting framework shall be of such design, material and construction that they will not become distorted, under any conditions of liquid lading. The tanks shall be rigidly installed in level on the floor of the milk house without use of removable blocks or shims under the legs.
(d)
Identifications: Each farm milk tank shall bear the name of the manufacturer and his address, together with the model and serial number of the individual tank. Each gauge rod or surface gauge shall bear the serial number of the individual tank for which it is intended to be a part of.
(e)
Discharge outlet or valve: A farm milk tank shall be equipped with a discharge outlet or valve through which the tank may be completely emptied when the tank is in level.
(f)
Complete drainage: A farm milk tank shall be so designed and constructed and shall be so installed that the tank may be completely emptied through the discharge outlet or valve when the tank is in level.
(g)
Calibration: Upon installation and/or reinstallation at any farm, the tank shall be satisfactorily calibrated to "deliver" the indicated capacities within the tolerances allowable.
(h)
Capacity: The capacity of a farm milk tank shall be determined as the highest liquid level reading obtainable where agitation of liquid will not overflow the tank.
(i)
Testing medium: Water shall be used as the medium in determining the capacity of farm milk tanks. (Litmus paper shall not be used in connection with calibrations.)
(2)
Approval seals. -
When the farm milk tank installation has been officially tested and approved, the gauge rod or surface gauge and the chart, as well as the tank itself, shall be suitably marked to verify such approval by the commissioner or his representative.
(3)
Responsibility of installation. -
It shall be the responsibility of the manufacturer, his agent or dealer, to install the farm milk tank as per specifications and regulations stipulated in this article and in such manner as to give accurate measure and satisfactory service. The manufacturer, his agent or dealer, shall notify the commissioner of the date and location each installation is expected to be completed and have his installation engineer or representative present to assist the state agency in checking the correct setting, gauging and calibration of each farm milk tank. No farm milk tank installed after this article becomes effective shall be put in use on any dairy farm until its setting, gauging and calibration have been approved by the commissioner and purchaser.
(4)
Responsibility of calibration. -
It shall be the responsibility of the farm milk tank manufacturer to calibrate farm milk holding tanks. Such calibration shall be made at the factory of the manufacturer or field calibrated. Beginning with the lowest reading on the calibration chart, factory calibration shall be readily field checkable in five-gallon intervals; or reasonable multiples thereof. All equipment used for tank calibration within the State of Mississippi must be approved by the commissioner.
Codes, 1942, § 4560-74; Laws, 1958, ch. 156, § 4; Laws, 1974; ch. 389, eff. 3/22/1974.