§173.301b. Additional general requirements for shipment of UN pressure receptacles. — Inbound Citations

(3) Filled, marked, and inspected in accordance with 49 CFR 173.301 through 173.308; and

(39) 2014(E), Gas cylinders—Refillable seamless steel gas cylinders—Design, construction, and testing—Part 4: Stainless steel cylinders with an Rm value of less than 1 100 MPa, First edition, 2014-07; into §§ 178.71; 178.75.

(2) Filling limits for compressed gases and cryogenic liquids are specified in §§ 173.301 through 173.306 for cylinders and §§ 173.314 through 173.319 for bulk packagings.

(i) Except as provided in subpart C of part 171 of this subchapter, packages prepared under § 173.167 of this part, or packages prepared under Packing Instruction Y963 of the ICAO Technical Instructions, packages offered or intended for transportation by aircraft must conform to the general requirements for transportation by aircraft in § 173.27.

(a) Unless otherwise stated, as used in this section, the term “cylinder” includes a UN pressure receptacle. As used in this subpart, filled or charged means an introduction or presence of a hazardous material in a cylinder. A cylinder filled with a Class 2 hazardous material (gas) and offered for transportation must meet the requirements in this section and §§ 173.301a through 173.305, as applicable.

(1) 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 of this subchapter 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 of this subchapter, if applicable. The DOT, ICC, CRC, BTC, CTC and TC specifications authorized for use are as follows:

(2) A cylinder must be filled in accordance with this part, except that a “TC” cylinder must be filled in accordance with the Transport Canada TDG Regulations (IBR; see § 171.7 of this subchapter). Before each filling of a cylinder, the person filling the cylinder must visually inspect the outside of the cylinder. A cylinder that has a crack or leak, is bulged, has a defective valve or a leaking or defective pressure relief device, or bears evidence of physical abuse, fire or heat damage, or detrimental rusting or corrosion, may not be filled and offered for transportation. A cylinder may be repaired and requalified only as prescribed in subpart C of part 180 of this subchapter.

(3) Pressure relief devices must be tested for leaks before a filled cylinder is shipped from the cylinder filling plant. It is expressly forbidden to repair a leaking fusible plug device where the leak is through the fusible metal or between the fusible metal and the opening in the plug body, except by removal and replacement of the pressure relief device.

(4) A cylinder that previously contained a Class 8 material must be requalified in accordance with § 180.205(e) of this subchapter.

(5) When a cylinder with a marked pressure limit is prescribed, another cylinder made under the same specification but with a higher marked pressure limit is authorized. For example, a cylinder marked “DOT-4B500” may be used when “DOT-4B300” is specified.

(6) No person may fill a cylinder overdue for periodic requalification with a hazardous material and then offer it for transportation. The prohibition against offering a cylinder for transportation that is overdue for periodic requalification does not apply to a cylinder filled prior to the requalification due date.

(7) A cylinder with an authorized service life may not be offered for transportation in commerce after its authorized service life has expired. However, a cylinder in transportation or a cylinder filled prior to the expiration of its authorized service life may be transported for reprocessing or disposal of the cylinder's contents. After emptying, the cylinder must be condemned in accordance with § 180.205 of this subchapter.

(8) The pressure of the hazardous material at 55 °C (131 °F) may not exceed 5/4 of the service pressure of the cylinder. Sufficient outage must be provided so the cylinder will not be liquid full at 55 °C (131 °F).

(9) Specification 2P, 2Q, 3E, 3HT, spherical 4BA, 4D, 4DA, 4DS, and 39 cylinders must be packed in strong non-bulk outer packagings. The outside of the combination packaging must be marked with an indication that the inner packagings conform to the prescribed specifications.

(10) Any person who installs a valve into an aluminum cylinder in oxygen service must verify the valve and the cylinder have the same thread type.

(11) Cylinder valves manufactured on or after November 7, 2019, used on cylinders to transport compressed gases must conform to the applicable requirements in CGA V-9 (IBR; see § 171.7 of this subchapter). A valve for a UN pressure receptacle must conform to the requirements of § 173.301b(c)(1). Cylinder valves used on cylinders in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) service are permitted to comply with the requirements of NFPA 58 (IBR; see § 171.7 of this subchapter).

(12) Cylinder valve protection caps manufactured on or after November 7, 2019, must conform to the requirements of CGA V-9.

(1) Except as provided in § 171.23(a)(3) of this subchapter, a cylinder filled with a non-liquefied compressed gas (except gas in solution) must be offered for transportation in accordance with the requirements of this section and § 173.301 of this subpart. In addition, a DOT specification cylinder must meet the requirements in §§ 173.301a, 173.302a, and 173.305 of the subpart, as applicable. UN pressure receptacles must meet the requirements in §§ 173.301b and 173.302b of this subpart, as applicable. Where more than one section applies to a cylinder, the most restrictive requirements must be followed.

(a) A cylinder filled with a non-liquefied gas must be offered for transportation in UN pressure receptacles subject to the requirements in this section and § 173.302. In addition, the requirements in §§ 173.301 and 173.301b must be met.

(a) A cylinder filled with an adsorbed gas must be offered for transportation in UN pressure receptacles subject to the requirements in this section and § 173.302, as well as, §§ 173.301 and 173.301b.

(a) Except as provided in § 171.23(a)(3) of this subchapter, a cylinder filled with a liquefied compressed gas (except gas in solution) must be offered for transportation in accordance with the requirements of this section and the general requirements in § 173.301 of this subpart. In addition, a DOT specification cylinder must meet the requirement in §§ 173.301a, 173.304a, and 173.305 of this subpart, as applicable. UN pressure receptacles must be shipped in accordance with the requirements in §§ 173.301b and 173.304b of this subpart, as applicable.

(1) A DOT 3AL cylinder may not be used for any material with a primary or subsidiary hazard of Class 8.

(2) Shipments of Division 2.1 materials in aluminum cylinders are authorized only when transported by motor vehicle, rail car, or cargo-only aircraft.

(a) Liquefied gases and gas mixtures must be offered for transportation in UN pressure receptacles subject to the requirements in this section and § 173.304. In addition, the general requirements applicable to UN pressure receptacles in §§ 173.301 and 173.301b must be met.

(1) Unless otherwise specified, a MEGC is authorized for the shipment of liquefied and non-liquefied compressed gases. Each pressure receptacle contained in a MEGC must meet the requirements in §§ 173.301, 173.301b, 173.302b and 173.304b, as applicable.

(a) A cylinder filled with a chemical under pressure must be offered for transportation in accordance with the requirements of this section and § 173.301 (except for the cylinder valve cap requirements in §§ 173.301(a)(11) and (12)). In addition, a DOT specification cylinder must meet the requirements in §§ 173.301a, 173.302, 173.302a, and 173.305, as applicable. UN pressure receptacles must meet the requirements in §§ 173.301b, 173.302b, and 173.304b, as applicable. Where more than one section applies to a cylinder, the most restrictive requirements must be followed.

(iii) The moisture content and concentration of the corroding components must conform to the requirements in § 173.301b(a)(2).

(h) UN pressure receptacles must meet the valve protection requirements in § 173.301b(c). A DOT specification cylinder used to transport a hazardous material must meet the requirements specified in this paragraph (h).

(1) The following specification cylinders are not subject to the cylinder valve protection requirements in this paragraph (h):

(i) A cylinder containing only a Division 2.2 material without a Division 5.1 subsidiary hazard;

(ii) A cylinder containing a Class 8 liquid corrosive only to metal;

(iii) A cylinder with a water capacity of 4.8 liters (293 in 3) or less containing oxygen, compressed;

(iv) A cylinder containing oxygen, refrigerated liquid (cryogenic liquid);

(v) A Medical E cylinder with a water capacity of 4.9 liters (300 in 3) or less;

(vi) A fire extinguisher; or

(vii) A “B” style cylinder with a capacity of 40 ft 3 (1.13 m 3) or an “MC” style cylinder with a capacity of 10 ft 3 (0.28m 3) containing acetylene.

(2) For cylinders manufactured before October 1, 2007, a cylinder must have its valves protected by one of the following methods:

(i) By equipping the cylinder with securely attached metal or plastic caps of sufficient strength to protect valves from damage during transportation;

(ii) By boxing or crating the cylinders so as to protect valves from damage during transportation;

(iii) By constructing the cylinder so that the valve is recessed into the cylinder or otherwise protected to the extent that it will not be subjected to a blow when the container is dropped onto a flat surface; or

(iv) By loading the cylinders in an upright position and securely bracing the cylinders in rail cars or motor vehicles, when loaded by the consignor and unloaded by the consignee.

(3) For cylinders manufactured on or after October 1, 2007, each cylinder valve assembly must be of sufficient strength or protected such that no leakage occurs when a cylinder with the valve installed is dropped 1.8 m (6 ft.) or more onto a non-yielding surface, such as concrete or steel, impacting the valve assembly or protection device at an orientation most likely to cause damage. The cylinder valve assembly protection may be provided by any method meeting the performance requirement in this paragraph (h)(3). Examples include:

(ii) Packaging the cylinder in a box, crate, or other strong outer packaging conforming to the requirements of § 173.25.

(11) Cylinder valves manufactured on or after November 7, 2019, used on cylinders to transport compressed gases must conform to the applicable requirements in CGA V-9 (IBR; see § 171.7 of this subchapter). A valve for a UN pressure receptacle must conform to the requirements of § 173.301b(c)(1). Cylinder valves used on cylinders in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) service are permitted to comply with the requirements of NFPA 58 (IBR; see § 171.7 of this subchapter).

(2) The valves are protected in accordance with § 173.301b(c)(2)(i), (ii), (iii) or (v); and

(2) The valves are protected in accordance with § 173.301b(c)(2)(i), (ii), (iii) or (v); and

(2) The valves are protected in accordance with § 173.301b(c)(2)(i), (ii), (iii) or (v); and

(2) The valves are protected in accordance with § 173.301b(c)(2)(i), (ii), (iii) or (v); and

The following packing instruction is applicable to transportable UN Metal hydride storage systems (UN3468) with pressure receptacles not exceeding 150 liters (40 gallons) in water capacity, and having a maximum developed pressure not exceeding 25 MPa. UN Metal hydride storage systems must be designed, constructed, initially inspected, and tested in accordance with ISO 16111:2018 (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter), consistent with § 178.71(m) of this subchapter. Until December 31, 2026, UN Metal hydride storage systems may instead conform to ISO 16111:2008(E) (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter). Steel pressure receptacles or composite pressure receptacles with steel liners must be marked in accordance with § 173.301b(f), which specifies that a steel UN pressure receptacle displaying an “H” mark must be used for hydrogen-bearing gases or other gases that may cause hydrogen embrittlement. Requalification intervals must be no more than every five years, as specified in § 180.207 of this subchapter, in accordance with the requalification procedures prescribed in ISO 16111:2018 or ISO 16111:2008.

(2) Service equipment must be configured, or designed, to prevent damage that could result in the release of the pressure receptacle contents during normal conditions of handling and transport. Manifold piping leading to shut-off valves must be sufficiently flexible to protect the valves and the piping from shearing or releasing the pressure receptacle contents. The filling and discharge valves and any protective caps must be secured against unintended opening. The valves must conform to ISO 10297:2014(E) and ISO 10297:2014/Amd 1:2017(E) (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter), or for non-refillable pressure receptacles valves manufactured until December 31, 2020, ISO 13340:2001(E), and be protected as specified in § 173.301b(f) of this subchapter. Until December 31, 2022, the manufacture of a valve conforming to the requirements of ISO 10297:2014(E) is authorized. Until December 31, 2020, the manufacture of a valve conforming to the requirements in ISO 10297:2006(E) (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter) was authorized. Until December 31, 2008, the manufacture of a valve conforming to the requirements in ISO 10297:1999(E) (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter) was authorized. Additionally, valves must be initially inspected and tested in accordance with ISO 14246:2014(E) and ISO 14246:2014/Amd 1:2017(E), (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter). For self-closing valves with inherent protection, the requirements of ISO 17879:2017(E) (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter) shall be met until further notice.

(2) The valves are protected in accordance with § 173.301b(c)(2)(i), (ii), (iii) or (v); and

(2) The valves are protected in accordance with § 173.301b(c)(2)(i), (ii), (iii) or (v); and

(2) The valves are protected in accordance with § 173.301b(c)(2)(i), (ii), (iii) or (v); and