---
kind: "range"
citation: "49 C.F.R. §§ 179.202-1–179.202-11"
title: "49"
from: "179.202-1"
to: "179.202-11"
count: 10
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/49/179.202-1..179.202-11"
---

# §179.202-1. Applicability.


Each tank built under these specifications must conform to the general requirements of [§ 179.200](/cfr/49/179.200.md) and the prescriptive standards in [§§ 179.202-1 through 179.202-11](/cfr/49/179.202-1..179.202-11.md), or the performance standard requirements of [§ 179.202-12](/cfr/49/179.202-12.md).


# §179.202-2. Reserved



# §179.202-3. Approval to operate at 286,000 gross rail load (GRL).


A tank car may be loaded to a gross weight on rail of up to 286,000 pounds (129,727 kg) upon approval by the Associate Administrator for Safety, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). See [§ 179.13](/cfr/49/179.13.md).


# §179.202-4. Thickness of plates.


The wall thickness after the forming of the tank shell and heads must be, at a minimum, 9/16 of an inch AAR TC-128 Grade B, normalized steel, in accordance with [§ 179.200-7(b)](/cfr/49/179.200-7.md?p=b).


# §179.202-5. Tank head puncture resistance system.


The DOT-117 specification tank car must have a tank head puncture resistance system in conformance with [§ 179.16(c)](/cfr/49/179.16.md?p=c). The full height head shields must have a minimum thickness of 1/2 inch.


# §179.202-6. Thermal protection system.


The DOT Specification 117 tank car must have a thermal protection system. The thermal protection system must:

- (a) Conform to [§ 179.18](/cfr/49/179.18.md) of this part;
- (b) Be equipped with a thermal protection blanket with at least 1/2-inch-thick material that meets [§ 179.18(c)](/cfr/49/179.18.md?p=c) of this part; and
- (c) Include a reclosing pressure relief device in accordance with [§ 173.31](/cfr/49/173.31.md) of this subchapter.

# §179.202-7. Jackets.


The entire thermal protection system must be covered with a metal jacket of a thickness not less than 11 gauge A1011 steel or equivalent; and flashed around all openings so as to be weather tight. A protective coating must be applied to the exterior surface of a carbon steel tank and the inside surface of a carbon steel jacket.


# §179.202-8. Bottom outlets.


If the tank car is equipped with a bottom outlet, the handle must be removed prior to train movement or be designed with protection safety system(s) to prevent unintended actuation during train accident scenarios.


# §179.202-9. Top fittings protection.


The tank car tank must be equipped with top fittings protection conforming to AAR Specifications for Tank Cars, appendix E paragraph 10.2.1 (IBR, see [§ 171.7](/cfr/49/171.7.md) of this subchapter).


# §179.202-11. Individual specification requirements.


In addition to [§ 179.200](/cfr/49/179.200.md), the individual specification requirements are as follows: