California Code of Regulations › Title 8 - Industrial Relations › Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations › Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety › Subchapter 1 - Unfired Pressure Vessel Safety Orders › Article 7 - Compressed and Liquefied Natural Gas System › Section 528 - Transfer, Operation and Maintenance

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) General.
(1) No natural gas shall be vented to the
					 atmosphere unless the vent is led to a safe point of discharge. Nothing in this
					 Order shall prohibit the use of gaging devices which vent to the atmosphere
					 through an opening not exceeding No. 54 drill size.
(2) No smoking or open flame shall be
					 permitted within 10 feet of any vessel during the filling operation.
(3) All threaded filling connections shall be
					 kept effectively capped when not in use. These caps or plugs shall be so
					 designed that they will vent to the atmosphere while at least 3 full threads
					 are engaged.
(4) No employer or
					 employee shall charge natural gas into any tank or cylinder not specifically
					 designed for the most severe pressure and temperature conditions to which the
					 vessel may be subjected.
(5) During
					 the transfer of natural gas at least one attendant familiar with the transfer
					 operation shall be responsible for and be on the premises during the transfer
					 operation. During the transfer of LNG the attendant shall remain in attendance
					 at the controls necessary to stop the transfer operation. The attendant
					 required by this Order may be considered familiar with the transfer operation
					 after he has been provided with a set of instructions for the transfer
					 operation and has performed the operation at least through 3 full cycles under
					 supervision. When natural gas is being transferred to or from a motor vehicle,
					 the engine shall be stopped unless the motor is used to operate a pump or
					 compressor required to transfer the product. During such loading or unloading
					 from transportation tanks, the hand or emergency brake of the vehicle shall be
					 set and the wheels blocked. Transportation tanks shall be bonded during the
					 transfer operation except that bonding is not required where the transfer
					 systems are depressurized by bleeding before disconnecting, see Paragraph 537
					 (a) (4), and providing also that closed connections are made before transfer
					 begins.
(6) No natural gas shall be
					 transferred with the point of delivery less than 10 feet from any important
					 building or house trailer, or within 5 feet from a sidewalk or public highway,
					 street or road unless the failure to transfer would create a hazard. At the
					 discretion of the Division, the point of delivery may be located a lesser
					 distance from important buildings constructed of concrete or masonry materials.
					 Nothing in this Order shall be so construed as to prohibit the following:
(A) The fueling of machinery or vehicles used
					 in road construction or maintenance.
(B) The filling of motor fuel tanks or
					 cylinders of not more than 30-gallon capacity.
(7) Pumps and compressors shall be suitable
					 for use with the product to be handled for the full range of pressure and
					 temperature to which they may be subjected. Positive displacement transfer
					 pumps shall be equipped with a pressure actuated bypass valve and/or a
					 recirculating system which shall limit the pressure to the maximum design
					 pressure of the pump or piping system whichever is lower.
(8) Control devices shall be designed for the
					 pressure, temperature and service expected and shall be so installed that icing
					 conditions will not cause malfunction.
(9) The owner and/or user shall maintain all
					 pressure vessels and their appurtenances, piping systems, vaporizers, controls
					 and devices in a safe condition.
(10) A portable fire extinguisher having a
					 rating of not less than 20BC shall be provided at the transfer operation
					 area.