[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR173.40]

[Page 443]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
 CHAPTER I--RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 173--SHIPPERS--GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SHIPMENTS AND PACKAGINGS--Table of Contents
 
    Subpart B--Preparation of Hazardous Materials for Transportation
 
Sec. 173.40  General packaging requirements for toxic materials packaged in cylinders.

    When this section is referenced for a Hazard Zone A or B hazardous 
material elsewhere in this subchapter, the requirements in this section 
are applicable to cylinders used for that material.
    (a) Authorized cylinders. (1) A cylinder must conform to one of the 
specifications for cylinders in subpart C of part 178 of this 
subchapter, except that specification 8, 8AL, and 39 cylinders are not 
authorized.
    (2) After September 30, 2002, DOT 3AL cylinders made of aluminum 
alloy 6351-T6 may not be filled and offered for transportation or 
transported with a Division 2.3 Hazard Zone A material, a Division 6.1 
Hazard Zone A material, or any liquid meeting the definition of Division 
6.1 and the criteria for Packing Group I Hazard Zone A, as specified in 
Sec. 173.133. If it is otherwise serviceable and conforms to the 
regulations in effect on September 30, 2002, a DOT 3AL cylinder made of 
aluminum alloy 6351-T6 and filled before October 1, 2002, may be 
transported for reprocessing or disposal of the cylinder's contents 
until April 1, 2003.
    (b) Outage and pressure requirements. For Hazard Zone A and, after 
May 30, 2003, Hazard Zone B materials, the pressure of the hazardous 
material at 55  deg.C (131  deg.F) may not exceed the service pressure 
of the cylinder. Sufficient outage must be provided so that the cylinder 
will not be liquid full at 55  deg.C (131  deg.F).
    (c) Closures. Each cylinder containing a Hazard Zone A material must 
be closed with a plug or valve conforming to the following:
    (1) Each plug or valve must have a taper-threaded connection 
directly to the cylinder and be capable of withstanding the test 
pressure of the cylinder without damage or leakage.
    (2) Each valve must be of the packless type with non-perforated 
diaphragm, except that, for corrosive materials, a valve may be of the 
packed type with an assembly made gas-tight by means of a seal cap with 
gasketed joint attached to the valve body or the cylinder to prevent 
loss of material through or past the packing.
    (3) Each valve outlet must be sealed by a threaded cap or threaded 
solid plug and inert gasketing material.
    (4) The materials of construction for the cylinder, valves, plugs, 
outlet caps, luting, and gaskets must be compatible with each other and 
with the lading.
    (d) Additional handling protection. Each cylinder or cylinder 
overpack combination offered for transportation containing a Division 
2.3 or 6.1 Hazard Zone A or B material must conform to the valve damage 
protection performance requirements of this section. In addition to the 
requirements of this section, overpacks must conform to the overpack 
provisions of Sec. 173.25.
    (1) Each cylinder with a wall thickness at any point of less than 
2.03 mm (0.08 inch) and each cylinder that does not have fitted valve 
protection must be overpacked in a box. The box must conform to overpack 
provisions in Sec. 173.25. Box and valve protection must be of 
sufficient strength to protect all parts of the cylinder and valve, if 
any, from deformation and breakage resulting from a drop of 2.0 m (7 ft) 
or more onto a non-yielding surface, such as concrete or steel, 
impacting at an orientation most likely to cause damage. ``Deformation'' 
means a cylinder or valve that is bent, distorted, mangled, misshapen, 
twisted, warped, or in a similar condition.
    (2) Each cylinder with a valve must be equipped with a protective 
metal cap, other valve protection device, or an overpack sufficient to 
protect the valve from deformation, breakage or leakage resulting from a 
drop of 2.0 m (7 ft) onto a non-yielding surface, such as concrete or 
steel. Impact must be at an orientation most likely to cause damage.
    (e) Interconnection. Cylinders may not be manifolded or 
interconnected.

[67 FR 51642, Aug. 8, 2002, as amended at 67 FR 61289, Sept. 30, 2002]