---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 C.F.R. § 195.306"
title: "49"
number: "195.306"
heading: "Test medium."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/49/195.306"
---

# §195.306. Test medium.

- (a) Except as provided in paragraphs [(b)](#b), [(c)](#c), and [(d)](#d) of this section, water must be used as the test medium.
- (b) Except for offshore pipelines, liquid petroleum that does not vaporize rapidly may be used as the test medium if—
  - (1) The entire pipeline section under test is outside of cities and other populated areas;
  - (2) Each building within 300 feet (91 meters) of the test section is unoccupied while the test pressure is equal to or greater than a pressure which produces a hoop stress of 50 percent of specified minimum yield strength;
  - (3) The test section is kept under surveillance by regular patrols during the test; and
  - (4) **Continuous communication is maintained along entire test section.**
- (c) Carbon dioxide pipelines may use inert gas or carbon dioxide as the test medium if—
  - (1) The entire pipeline section under test is outside of cities and other populated areas;
  - (2) Each building within 300 feet (91 meters) of the test section is unoccupied while the test pressure is equal to or greater than a pressure that produces a hoop stress of 50 percent of specified minimum yield strength;
  - (3) The maximum hoop stress during the test does not exceed 80 percent of specified minimum yield strength;
  - (4) Continuous communication is maintained along entire test section; and
  - (5) The pipe involved is new pipe having a longitudinal joint factor of 1.00.
- (d) Air or inert gas may be used as the test medium in low-stress pipelines.

## Notes

### Amendments

[Amdt. 195-22, 46 FR 38360, July 27, 1991, as amended by Amdt. 195-45, 56 FR 26926, June 12, 1991; Amdt. 195-51, 59 FR 29385, June 7, 1994; Amdt. 195-53, 59 FR 35471, July 12, 1994; Amdt. 195-51A, 59 FR 41260, Aug. 11, 1994; Amdt. 195-63, 63 FR 37506, July 13, 1998]

### Authority

Authority: 30 U.S.C. 185(w)(3), 49 U.S.C. 5103, 60101 et seq., and 49 CFR 1.97.

### Source

Source: Amdt. 195-22, 46 FR 38360, July 27, 1981, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[Amdt. 195-22, 46 FR 38360, July 27, 1991, as amended by Amdt. 195-45, 56 FR 26926, June 12, 1991; Amdt. 195-51, 59 FR 29385, June 7, 1994; Amdt. 195-53, 59 FR 35471, July 12, 1994; Amdt. 195-51A, 59 FR 41260, Aug. 11, 1994; Amdt. 195-63, 63 FR 37506, July 13, 1998]