[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 1]
[Revised as of Octobery 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR38.05-20]

[Page 491]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
         CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
 
PART 38_LIQUEFIED FLAMMABLE GASES--Table of Contents
 
                  Subpart 38.05_Design and Installation
 
Sec. 38.05-20  Insulation--TB/ALL.

    (a) Where used, tank insulation shall satisfy the following 
requirements for combustibility, installation, and arrangement:
    (1) Insulation in a location exposed to possible high temperature or 
source of ignition shall be either:
    (i) Incombustible, complying with the requirements of subpart 
164.009 of subchapter Q (Specifications) of this chapter; or,
    (ii) Self-extinguishing, as determined by ASTM D 4986, ``Standard 
Test Method for Horizontal Burning Characteristics of Cellular Polymeric 
Materials,'' (incorporated by reference, see Sec. 38.01-3) and covered 
by a suitable steel cover.
    (2) Insulation in a location protected against possible ignition by 
enclosure in a tight steel envelope in which inert conditions are 
maintained need satisfy no requirement for combustibility except 
chemical stability.
    (3) Insulation in a location protected against possible high 
temperature or source of ignition by continuous surrounding structural 
voids or ballast tanks need satisfy no requirement for combustibility 
except chemical stability.
    (b) All insulation shall be of a vapor-proof construction, or have a 
vapor-proof coating of a fire-retardant material acceptable to the 
Commandant. Unless the vapor barrier is inherently weather resistant, 
tanks exposed to the weather shall be fitted with a removable sheet 
metal jacket of not less than 0.083-inch thick over the vapor-proof 
coating and flashed around all openings so as to be weathertight. 
Weather resistant coatings shall have sheet metal over areas subject to 
mechanical damage.
    (c) The insulation shall be adequately protected in areas of 
probable mechanical damage.
    (d) Insulation which forms an integral part of the secondary barrier 
shall meet the following additional requirements:
    (1) When the secondary barrier is called upon to contain the cargo, 
insulating material which is contacted shall not be affected by the 
cargo. Samples of the insulating material shall be tested in the cargo 
for solubility, absorption and shrinkage. The samples shall be checked 
for the above effects at intervals not exceeding 1 week, for a total 
test period of 6 weeks.
    (2) Any adhesives, sealers, coatings, or vapor barrier compounds 
used in conjunction with the insulating material shall be similarly 
tested to insure suitable cargo resistive properties.
    (3) The insulation shall have sufficient mechanical strength for the 
proposed design. Additionally, the thermal expansion of the insulation 
relative to the material to which it is affixed shall be considered in 
the design.
    (e) The insulation for the piping systems shall be at least of the 
``self-extinguishing'' type described in paragraph (a) of this section, 
and comply with the requirements contained in paragraphs (b) and (c) of 
this section.

[CGFR 66-33, 31 FR 15269, Dec. 6, 1966, as amended by USCG-1999-5151, 64 
FR 67177, Dec. 1, 1999]