[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 7]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR182.455]

[Page 277-278]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 182--MACHINERY INSTALLATION--Table of Contents
 
               Subpart D--Specific Machinery Requirements
 
Sec. 182.455  Fuel piping.

    (a) Materials and workmanship. The materials and construction of 
fuel lines, including pipe, tube, and hose, must comply with the 
requirements of this paragraph.
    (1) Fuel lines must be annealed tubing of copper, nickel-copper, or 
copper-nickel having a minimum wall thickness of 9 millimeters (0.035 
inch) except that:
    (i) Diesel fuel piping of other materials, such as seamless steel 
pipe or tubing, which provide equivalent safety may be used;
    (ii) Diesel fuel piping of aluminum is acceptable on aluminum hull 
vessels provided it is a minimum of Schedule 80 wall thickness; and
    (iii) when used, flexible hose must meet the requirements of 
Sec. 182.720(e) of this part.

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    (2) Tubing connections and fittings must be of nonferrous drawn or 
forged metal of the flared type except that flareless fittings of the 
non-bite type may be used when the tubing system is of nickel-copper or 
copper-nickel. When making tube connections, the tubing must be cut 
square and flared by suitable tools. Tube ends must be annealed before 
flaring.
    (3) Cocks are prohibited except for the solid bottom type with 
tapered plugs and union bonnets.
    (4) Valves for gasoline fuel must be of a suitable nonferrous type.
    (b) Installation. The installation of fuel lines, including pipe, 
tube, and hose, must comply with the requirements of this paragraph.
    (1) Gasoline fuel lines must be connected at the top of the fuel 
tank and run at or above the level of the tank top to a point as close 
to the engine connection as practicable, except that lines below the 
level of the tank top are permitted if equipped with anti-siphon 
protection.
    (2) Diesel fuel lines may be connected to the fuel tank at or near 
the bottom of the tank.
    (3) Fuel lines must be accessible, protected from mechanical injury, 
and effectively secured against excessive movement and vibration by the 
use of soft nonferrous metal straps which have no sharp edges and are 
insulated to protect against corrosion. Where passing through bulkheads, 
fuel lines must be protected by close fitting ferrules or stuffing 
boxes. All fuel lines and fittings must be accessible for inspection.
    (4) Shutoff valves, installed so as to close against the fuel flow, 
must be fitted in the fuel supply lines, one at the tank connection and 
one at the engine end of the fuel line to stop fuel flow when servicing 
accessories. The shutoff valve at the tank must be manually operable 
from outside the compartment in which the valve is located, preferably 
from an accessible position on the weather deck. If the handle to the 
shutoff valve at the tank is located inside the machinery space, it must 
be located so that the operator does not have to reach more than 300 
millimeters (12 inches) into the machinery space and the valve handle 
must be shielded from flames by the same material the hull is 
constructed of, or some noncombustible material. Electric solenoid 
valves must not be used, unless used in addition to the manual valve.
    (5) A loop of copper tubing or a short length of flexible hose must 
be installed in the fuel supply line at or near the engines. The 
flexible hose must meet the requirements of Sec. 182.720(e).
    (6) A suitable metal marine type strainer, meeting the requirements 
of the engine manufacturer, must be fitted in the fuel supply line in 
the engine compartment. Strainers must be leak free. Strainers must be 
the type of opening on top for cleaning screens. A drip pan fitted with 
flame screen must be installed under gasoline strainers. Fuel filter and 
strainer bowls must be highly resistant to shattering due to mechanical 
impact and resistant to failure due to thermal shock. Fuel filters 
fitted with bowls of other than steel construction must be approved by 
the Commandant and be protected from mechanical damage. Approval of 
bowls of other than steel construction will specify if a flame shield is 
required.
    (7) All accessories installed in the fuel line must be independently 
supported.
    (8) Outlets in gasoline fuel lines that would permit drawing fuel 
below deck, for any purpose, are prohibited.
    (9) Valves for removing water or impurities from diesel fuel in 
water traps or stainers are permitted. These valves must be provided 
with caps or plugs to prevent fuel leakage.
    (c) Alternative procedures. A vessel of not more than 19.8 meters 
(65 feet) carrying no more than 12 passengers, with machinery powered by 
gasoline and a fuel system built in accordance with ABYC Project H-24, 
or 33 CFR 183, subpart J, or with machinery powered by diesel fuel and a 
fuel system built in accordance with ABYC Project H-33, will be 
considered as meeting the requirements of this section.

[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 986, Jan. 10, 1996, as amended by USCG-2001-10224, 66 
FR 48621, Sept. 21, 2001]

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