§178.33. Specification 2P; inner nonrefillable metal receptacles. — Inbound Citations

(d) Nontoxic and nonflammable refrigerant or dispersant gases must be offered for transportation in cylinders prescribed in § 173.304a of this subchapter, or in DOT 2P, 2Q, or 2Q1 containers (§§ 178.33, 178.33a, and 178.33d-2 of this subchapter). DOT 2P, 2Q, and 2Q1 containers must be packed in strong outer packagings of such design that protect valves from damage or accidental functioning under conditions incident to transportation. For DOT 2P and 2Q containers, the pressure inside the containers may not exceed 87 psia at 21.1 °C (70 °F). For 2Q1 containers, the pressure inside the container may not exceed 210 psig at 55 °C (131 °F). Each completed metal container filled for shipment must be heated until its contents reach a minimum temperature of 55 °C (131 °F) without evidence of leakage, distortion, or other defect. Each outer package must be plainly marked “INSIDE CONTAINERS COMPLY WITH PRESCRIBED SPECIFICATIONS”.

(1) Specification 2P (§ 178.33 of this subchapter). Inside metal containers equipped with safety relief devices of a type examined by the Bureau of Explosives and approved by the Associate Administrator, and packed in strong wooden or fiber boxes of such design as to protect valves from damage or accidental functioning under conditions incident to transportation. Pressure in the container may not exceed 85 psia at 70 °F. Each completed metal container filled for shipment must be heated until content reaches a minimum temperature of 130 °F., without evidence of leakage, distortion or other defect. Each outside shipping container must be plainly marked “INSIDE CONTAINERS COMPLY WITH PRESCRIBED SPECIFICATIONS.”

(3) When in a metal aerosol container (see § 171.8 of this subchapter for the definition of aerosol). Authorized containers include non-specification, DOT 2P (§ 178.33 of this subchapter), DOT 2Q (§ 178.33a of this subchapter), or DOT 2Q1 (§ 178.33(d) of this subchapter) design, provided the following conditions are met. Additional exceptions for aerosol containers conforming to this paragraph (a)(3) are provided in paragraph (i) of this section.

(i) The capacity of the container must not exceed 1 L (61.0 cubic inches).

(ii) The authorized metal aerosol containers and associated pressure limitations are provided in the following table. Pressure inside the container may not exceed 180 psig at 54.4 °C (130 °F) except as may be authorized by variations of a DOT specification container type. In any event, the metal container must be capable of withstanding without bursting a pressure of at least one and one-half times the equilibrium pressure of the contents at 54.4 °C (130 °F).

(iii) The liquid content of the material and gas must not completely fill the container at 54.4 °C (130 °F).

(iv) The containers must be packed in strong outer packagings.

(v) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, each container, after it is filled, must be subjected to a test performed in a hot water bath; the temperature of the bath and the duration of the test must be such that the internal pressure reaches that which would be reached at 55 °C (131 °F), or 50 °C (122 °F) if the liquid phase does not exceed 95% of the capacity of the container at 50 °C (122 °F)). If the contents are sensitive to heat, the temperature of the bath must be set at between 20 °C (68 °F) and 30 °C (86 °F) but, in addition, one container in 2,000 must be tested at the higher temperature. No leakage or permanent deformation of a container may occur. However, instead of this standard water bath test, container(s) may be tested using one of the following methods subject to certain conditions—

(A) (1) One filled container in a lot of 2,000 must be subjected to a test performed in a hot water bath; the temperature of the bath and the duration of the test must be such that the internal pressure reaches that which would be reached at 55 °C (131 °F). If the container shows evidence of leakage or permanent deformation, the lot of 2,000 containers must be rejected;

(2) A second filled container in the lot of 2,000 must be weighed and compared to the weight specification for the containers as documented in the operating procedures for the weight test. Failure of the container to meet the weight specification is evidence of leakage or overfilling and the lot of 2,000 must be rejected;

(3) The remainder of the containers in the lot of 2,000 must be visually inspected (e.g, examination of the seams). Containers showing evidence of leakage or overfilling must not be transported; and

(4) Each person employing this test must maintain a copy of the operating procedures (or an electronic file thereof) that is accessible at, or through, its principal place of business and must make the procedures available upon request, at a reasonable time and location, to an authorized official of the Department.

(B) Each person employing an automated process for pressure testing of filled containers must develop procedures for implementation of the test. Each person must maintain a copy of the procedures (or an electronic file thereof) that is accessible at, or through, its principal place of business and must make the procedures available upon request, at a reasonable time and location, to an authorized official of the Department. The procedures must, at a minimum, include instruction on the following:

(1) Pressure specifications. Each person must specify pressure standard(s) (e.g., a pressure limit or range) for a container respective of the design and/or contents. Each container, after it is filled, must be pressure checked and compared to the standards. For a pressure limit, any container exceeding the pressure limit must be rejected. For a pressure range, any container outside of the set range must be rejected. The instruments used to determine the pressure must be properly calibrated before a production run to an accuracy of ±or better; and

(2) Periodic inspection. At designated intervals, a randomly selected container must be inspected for proper closure and verification of filling pressure. If a container shows signs of improper closure or over-filling, five (5) additional randomly selected containers must be inspected. If any of the additional containers show signs of improper closure or over-filling, all containers produced since the last inspection must be rejected.

(C) Each person employing a weight test of filled containers must develop procedures for implementation of the test. Each person must maintain a copy of the procedures (or an electronic file thereof) that is accessible at, or through, its principal place of business and must make the procedures available upon request, at a reasonable time and location, to an authorized official of the Department. The procedures must, at a minimum, include instruction on the following:

(1) Weight specifications. Each person must specify target weight specifications for a particular container. Each container, after it is filled, must be weighed and compared to the target weight specification for the container. Any container outside the target weight specification is an indication of leakage or overfilling and must be rejected. The instruments used to determine the weight must be properly calibrated before a testing run and be sufficiently sensitive to measure within 0.10 g of the true weight of the container;

(2) Heat testing and pressure limits. One container out of each lot of successfully filled containers must be heat tested by raising the internal pressure until it reaches that which would be reached at 55 °C (131 °F). The lot size should be no greater than 2,000. If the pressure in the container exceeds the maximum pressure allowed for the container type or if the container shows signs of leakage or permanent deformation, the lot must be rejected. Alternatively, five (5) additional randomly selected containers from the lot may be tested to qualify the lot but if any of the five containers fail the test, the entire lot must be rejected;

(3) Periodic inspection. At intervals of not more than 10 minutes, a randomly selected container must be inspected for proper closure and verification of filling pressure. If a container shows signs of improper closure or over-filling, five (5) additional randomly selected containers must be inspected. If any of the additional containers show signs of improper closure or over-filling, all containers produced since the last inspection must be rejected; and

(4) Visual inspection. Each container must be visually inspected prior to being packed. Any container showing signs of leakage or permanent deformation must be rejected.

(D) (1) Pressure and leak testing before filling. Each empty container must be subjected to a pressure equal to or in excess of the maximum expected in the filled containers at 55 °C (131 °F) or 50 °C (122 °F) if the liquid phase does not exceed 95% of the capacity of the container at 50 °C (122 °F). This must be at least two-thirds of the design pressure of the container. If any container shows evidence of leakage at a rate equal to or greater than 3.3 × 10−2 mbar L/s at the test pressure, distortion or other defect, it must be rejected; and

(2) Testing after filling. The person filling each container must ensure that the crimping equipment is set appropriately and the specified propellant is used before filling a container. Once filled, each container must be weighed and leak tested. The leak detection equipment must be sufficiently sensitive to detect at least a leak rate of 2.0 × 10−3 mbar L/s at 20 °C (68 °F). Any filled container which shows evidence of leakage, deformation, or overfilling must be rejected.

(vi) Each outer packaging must be marked “INSIDE CONTAINERS COMPLY WITH PRESCRIBED REGULATIONS.”

(b) Specification 2P or 2Q (§§ 178.33 and 178.33a of this subchapter) inner non-refillable metal packagings are authorized as fire extinguishers subject to the following conditions:

(1) Extinguishing agents must be nonflammable, non-poisonous, and non-corrosive as defined in this subchapter;

(2) The liquid portion of the gas plus any additional liquid or solid may not completely fill the packaging at 55 °C (130 °F);

(3) Pressure in the packaging must not exceed 1250 kPa (181 psig) at 55 °C (130 °F). If the pressure exceeds 920 kPa (141 psig) at 55 °C (130 °F), but does not exceed 1100 kPa (160 psig) at 55 °C (130 °F), a specification DOT 2P inner metal packaging must be used; if the pressure exceeds 1100 kPa (160 psig) at 55 °C (130 °F), a specification DOT 2Q inner metal packaging must be used. The metal packaging must be capable of withstanding, without bursting, a pressure of one and one-half times the equilibrium pressure of the contents at 55 °C (130 °F);

(4) Each completed inner packaging filled for shipment must have been heated until the pressure in the container is equivalent to the equilibrium pressure of the contents at 55 °C (130 °F) without evidence of leakage, distortion, or other defect; and

(5) Specification 2P and 2Q 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.

Notwithstanding the variation provided in this section, each container must otherwise conform to a DOT 2P container in accordance with § 178.33. The following conditions also apply under Variation 1—

(1) Foodstuffs or soaps with soluble or emulsified compressed gas are authorized in non-refillable metal or plastic containers not to exceed 1 L (61.0 cubic inches) capacity provided the pressure in each container does not exceed 140 psig at 54.4 °C (130 °F) unless authorized by variation of a container type. For pressures ranging from greater than 140 psig to 160 psig, a variation DOT 2P1 or DOT 2Q2 (§§ 178.33(c) and (d) of this subchapter, respectively) container must be used. However, the pressure of the contents in the container may not be greater than 150 psig at 23.9 °C (75 °F). Plastic containers may only contain Division 2.2 non-flammable soluble or emulsified compressed gas. Metal or plastic containers must be capable of withstanding, without bursting, a pressure of at least one and one-half times the equilibrium pressure of the contents at 54.4 °C (130 °F).

(i) Containers must be packed in strong outer packagings.

(ii) Liquid content of the material and the gas must not completely fill the container at 55 °C (131 °F).

(iii) Each outer packaging must be marked “INSIDE CONTAINERS COMPLY WITH PRESCRIBED REGULATIONS.”

(3) When in a metal aerosol container (see § 171.8 of this subchapter for the definition of aerosol). Authorized containers include non-specification, DOT 2P (§ 178.33 of this subchapter), DOT 2Q (§ 178.33a of this subchapter), or DOT 2Q1 (§ 178.33(d) of this subchapter) design, provided the following conditions are met. Additional exceptions for aerosol containers conforming to this paragraph (a)(3) are provided in paragraph (i) of this section.

(i) The capacity of the container must not exceed 1 L (61.0 cubic inches).

(ii) The authorized metal aerosol containers and associated pressure limitations are provided in the following table. Pressure inside the container may not exceed 180 psig at 54.4 °C (130 °F) except as may be authorized by variations of a DOT specification container type. In any event, the metal container must be capable of withstanding without bursting a pressure of at least one and one-half times the equilibrium pressure of the contents at 54.4 °C (130 °F).

(iii) The liquid content of the material and gas must not completely fill the container at 54.4 °C (130 °F).

(iv) The containers must be packed in strong outer packagings.

(v) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, each container, after it is filled, must be subjected to a test performed in a hot water bath; the temperature of the bath and the duration of the test must be such that the internal pressure reaches that which would be reached at 55 °C (131 °F), or 50 °C (122 °F) if the liquid phase does not exceed 95% of the capacity of the container at 50 °C (122 °F)). If the contents are sensitive to heat, the temperature of the bath must be set at between 20 °C (68 °F) and 30 °C (86 °F) but, in addition, one container in 2,000 must be tested at the higher temperature. No leakage or permanent deformation of a container may occur. However, instead of this standard water bath test, container(s) may be tested using one of the following methods subject to certain conditions—

(A) (1) One filled container in a lot of 2,000 must be subjected to a test performed in a hot water bath; the temperature of the bath and the duration of the test must be such that the internal pressure reaches that which would be reached at 55 °C (131 °F). If the container shows evidence of leakage or permanent deformation, the lot of 2,000 containers must be rejected;

(2) A second filled container in the lot of 2,000 must be weighed and compared to the weight specification for the containers as documented in the operating procedures for the weight test. Failure of the container to meet the weight specification is evidence of leakage or overfilling and the lot of 2,000 must be rejected;

(3) The remainder of the containers in the lot of 2,000 must be visually inspected (e.g, examination of the seams). Containers showing evidence of leakage or overfilling must not be transported; and

(4) Each person employing this test must maintain a copy of the operating procedures (or an electronic file thereof) that is accessible at, or through, its principal place of business and must make the procedures available upon request, at a reasonable time and location, to an authorized official of the Department.

(B) Each person employing an automated process for pressure testing of filled containers must develop procedures for implementation of the test. Each person must maintain a copy of the procedures (or an electronic file thereof) that is accessible at, or through, its principal place of business and must make the procedures available upon request, at a reasonable time and location, to an authorized official of the Department. The procedures must, at a minimum, include instruction on the following:

(1) Pressure specifications. Each person must specify pressure standard(s) (e.g., a pressure limit or range) for a container respective of the design and/or contents. Each container, after it is filled, must be pressure checked and compared to the standards. For a pressure limit, any container exceeding the pressure limit must be rejected. For a pressure range, any container outside of the set range must be rejected. The instruments used to determine the pressure must be properly calibrated before a production run to an accuracy of ±or better; and

(2) Periodic inspection. At designated intervals, a randomly selected container must be inspected for proper closure and verification of filling pressure. If a container shows signs of improper closure or over-filling, five (5) additional randomly selected containers must be inspected. If any of the additional containers show signs of improper closure or over-filling, all containers produced since the last inspection must be rejected.

(C) Each person employing a weight test of filled containers must develop procedures for implementation of the test. Each person must maintain a copy of the procedures (or an electronic file thereof) that is accessible at, or through, its principal place of business and must make the procedures available upon request, at a reasonable time and location, to an authorized official of the Department. The procedures must, at a minimum, include instruction on the following:

(1) Weight specifications. Each person must specify target weight specifications for a particular container. Each container, after it is filled, must be weighed and compared to the target weight specification for the container. Any container outside the target weight specification is an indication of leakage or overfilling and must be rejected. The instruments used to determine the weight must be properly calibrated before a testing run and be sufficiently sensitive to measure within 0.10 g of the true weight of the container;

(2) Heat testing and pressure limits. One container out of each lot of successfully filled containers must be heat tested by raising the internal pressure until it reaches that which would be reached at 55 °C (131 °F). The lot size should be no greater than 2,000. If the pressure in the container exceeds the maximum pressure allowed for the container type or if the container shows signs of leakage or permanent deformation, the lot must be rejected. Alternatively, five (5) additional randomly selected containers from the lot may be tested to qualify the lot but if any of the five containers fail the test, the entire lot must be rejected;

(3) Periodic inspection. At intervals of not more than 10 minutes, a randomly selected container must be inspected for proper closure and verification of filling pressure. If a container shows signs of improper closure or over-filling, five (5) additional randomly selected containers must be inspected. If any of the additional containers show signs of improper closure or over-filling, all containers produced since the last inspection must be rejected; and

(4) Visual inspection. Each container must be visually inspected prior to being packed. Any container showing signs of leakage or permanent deformation must be rejected.

(D) (1) Pressure and leak testing before filling. Each empty container must be subjected to a pressure equal to or in excess of the maximum expected in the filled containers at 55 °C (131 °F) or 50 °C (122 °F) if the liquid phase does not exceed 95% of the capacity of the container at 50 °C (122 °F). This must be at least two-thirds of the design pressure of the container. If any container shows evidence of leakage at a rate equal to or greater than 3.3 × 10−2 mbar L/s at the test pressure, distortion or other defect, it must be rejected; and

(2) Testing after filling. The person filling each container must ensure that the crimping equipment is set appropriately and the specified propellant is used before filling a container. Once filled, each container must be weighed and leak tested. The leak detection equipment must be sufficiently sensitive to detect at least a leak rate of 2.0 × 10−3 mbar L/s at 20 °C (68 °F). Any filled container which shows evidence of leakage, deformation, or overfilling must be rejected.

(vi) Each outer packaging must be marked “INSIDE CONTAINERS COMPLY WITH PRESCRIBED REGULATIONS.”